So far, the three back system is a big improvement for the defense, which is a good place to start building the team this year. Fory looks like a really good pickup and can play LWB, and presumably Mosquera can on the other side, with Antony or E. Miller as backup. Ayala should start and presumably Ortiz, although I'd like to see a little more from him. I see skill but not a high work rate. Da Costa can play above the other two midfielders or side by side with Ortiz with Ayala underneath. Then you have the two forwards. I'd stick with the three back system, even with Da Costa in the fold as a 10. Phil will be tempted to go back to a 4-2-3-1 because he now has a "10." Based on your report Jeremy, and from what I've seen, he seems like a 8/10 which would work in the 3-5-2 (what they are running now). He can be like a Barella for Inter. I think being a 10 in the 4-2-3-1 would put a lot of pressure on him to produce big numbers and be the guy, whereas the other formation would take the creative load off of him and would cater to his strengths like ball progression and passing in tight areas.
I am struck by how much this seems to be a brand new start for PTFC...
Like 'em or not, the FO has turned this roster in a very new direction, with much more height and speed from the OBs forward. Because of injuries and missing players, Phil is playing 3-back lineups, and seems to have cancelled zonal marking on set pieces, with positive defensive results. And now, Evander's departure (and Jona's/JDMs injuries) signals strongly that PTFC 2025 is gonna start with a pretty different look.
With all our speed there can be high pressing aplenty; Lassiter, Antony, Mora and especially Kelsy really go after guys with the ball at the back and have created lots of turnovers. At the same time, the MF is playing better defense in support of the back line. There are still gaps being exploited along the top of the 18 yd box, but so far we look much more cohesive and defensively plausible.
it is not 15-16m but they made a 2m profit. His wages were a sunk cost that produced a MVP candidate season and (especially important after 4-5 meh years) fun soccer. Not ideal but all things considered, a should be a good resolution (2m profit and bringing in a 24 year old).
*On paper* I give the front office a fair bit of credit this off season. Aside from the Evander drama concluding before the season started, and specific positional gaps filled, the Timbers have gotten both Taller and Faster—two areas we’ve been weak in for years. Hopefully this also plays out as the more balanced roster it looks like so we don’t end up tanking at the end of the season if our front line runs out of gas like last year.
I agree $12m is still lower than my ideal number, but clearly the offers weren’t materializing at 15m, even though Evander’s been selling himself hard for a while. And after getting fleeced by Dallas for the Lucho sale, I’m guessing Cincinnati had a ceiling on what they could get to. Hopefully it really is a sell-on clause and we still see some later return.
So far, the three back system is a big improvement for the defense, which is a good place to start building the team this year. Fory looks like a really good pickup and can play LWB, and presumably Mosquera can on the other side, with Antony or E. Miller as backup. Ayala should start and presumably Ortiz, although I'd like to see a little more from him. I see skill but not a high work rate. Da Costa can play above the other two midfielders or side by side with Ortiz with Ayala underneath. Then you have the two forwards. I'd stick with the three back system, even with Da Costa in the fold as a 10. Phil will be tempted to go back to a 4-2-3-1 because he now has a "10." Based on your report Jeremy, and from what I've seen, he seems like a 8/10 which would work in the 3-5-2 (what they are running now). He can be like a Barella for Inter. I think being a 10 in the 4-2-3-1 would put a lot of pressure on him to produce big numbers and be the guy, whereas the other formation would take the creative load off of him and would cater to his strengths like ball progression and passing in tight areas.
I am struck by how much this seems to be a brand new start for PTFC...
Like 'em or not, the FO has turned this roster in a very new direction, with much more height and speed from the OBs forward. Because of injuries and missing players, Phil is playing 3-back lineups, and seems to have cancelled zonal marking on set pieces, with positive defensive results. And now, Evander's departure (and Jona's/JDMs injuries) signals strongly that PTFC 2025 is gonna start with a pretty different look.
With all our speed there can be high pressing aplenty; Lassiter, Antony, Mora and especially Kelsy really go after guys with the ball at the back and have created lots of turnovers. At the same time, the MF is playing better defense in support of the back line. There are still gaps being exploited along the top of the 18 yd box, but so far we look much more cohesive and defensively plausible.
it is not 15-16m but they made a 2m profit. His wages were a sunk cost that produced a MVP candidate season and (especially important after 4-5 meh years) fun soccer. Not ideal but all things considered, a should be a good resolution (2m profit and bringing in a 24 year old).
*On paper* I give the front office a fair bit of credit this off season. Aside from the Evander drama concluding before the season started, and specific positional gaps filled, the Timbers have gotten both Taller and Faster—two areas we’ve been weak in for years. Hopefully this also plays out as the more balanced roster it looks like so we don’t end up tanking at the end of the season if our front line runs out of gas like last year.
I agree $12m is still lower than my ideal number, but clearly the offers weren’t materializing at 15m, even though Evander’s been selling himself hard for a while. And after getting fleeced by Dallas for the Lucho sale, I’m guessing Cincinnati had a ceiling on what they could get to. Hopefully it really is a sell-on clause and we still see some later return.