At the beginning of the season, the Timbers were winning and people were saying "just wait until we get Keita." This guy was the beast of the USL last season, and big expectations were put on his shoulders for his delayed return. Since returning, Keita has only found the back of the goal once, and his offense has appeared uncreative- as a team, the Timbers have had little success with Keita on the field. Perhaps his stint with Salgaocar tired him out, and he just needs some time to rest? He's been playing non-stop soccer for quite some time now.
Honorable mentions: James Marcelin, OJ Obatola, Quavas Kirk
Biggest Surprise: Bright Dike
The questions at forward have been pressing the Timbers all season long, but they appear to have found the solution in the 6'1" forward who was cut from the Columbus Crew before ever getting a chance. Dike was quicker and stronger than the MLS level defenders of the Seattle Sounders, and he is making the case that he is ready to move up to that level.
Honorable mentions: Tony McManus, Alex Nimo, Futty Danso
Midseason MVP: Nobody
If you had asked us for a first quarter of the season MVP that would have been easy, Ryan Pore. After scoring six goals in the first four games, Pore would only go on to score two more in the next eleven. While nobody imagined he could continue on that tear, he could have earned the mid-season MVP had he shown what he could do on other areas of the field, and improved his play on set pieces. Instead he has become inconsistent, sometimes even being pulled out of matches in the second half.
Honorable mentions: Ryan Pore, Bright Dike, Ian Joy
Biggest Goals:
#1 Rodrigo Lopez vs. Boca Juniors, 90': This last minute goal off a free kick which put the Timbers ahead 3-2 can be seen as a turning point in the season, even though it was just a friendly.
#2 Bright Dike vs. Seattle Sounders, 38' (6/30): Dike's goal in the Open Cup match showed two things: The Timbers still had confidence even after giving up an early goal, and Bright Dike might be able to cause havoc against MLS defenders.
#3 OJ Obatola vs. Seattle Sounders, 44' (3/10): Beating your rivals from a league below, on their own pitch? Legendary. Even though he's no longer with the team, no Timbers fan will forget his name, or this goal, for a long time.
#4 Ryan Pore vs. Vancouver Whitecaps, 86' (4/29): After the Whitecaps leveled early on, Ryan Pore scored late off a Marcelin cross to give the Timbers the lead for good.
Agree/Disagree with our awards? Let's hear who you would pick.
Drop of the Day is where we ask you to give your opinion. Please respond in the comments.
What a cop-out on the midseason mvp. Strong at Night did the same thing, although they also mentioned McManus as a possible MVP.
ReplyDeleteI think Pore is MVP. He's still been the most valuable player even if totally inconsistent lately.
Pore has scored in every league win. Agreed that he is MVP. Ian Joy also could be co-mvp as he has been solid and consistent in the back line, and I like the way he has connected with the fans.
ReplyDeleteOut of the top 4 goals, 2 are from friendlies and the open cup game we lost. I'd say #4 could possibly even be #1. What about Dike's hat trick?
HAT TRICK!!!
ReplyDeletePore didn't score in the Tampa Bay win.
ReplyDeleteObatola goal #1.
ReplyDeleteRyan Pore started the season as the King of the team, but his recent slump pulls him out of MVP territory.
ReplyDeletemy head is full of world cup goals and i have trouble thinking of a big time timbers goal. i hope we see some sick goals in the 2nd part of the season.
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with two of your picks, I think Marcelin should move off the Honorable Mention Disappointment list and move to Honorable Mention MVP and Ian Joy should move off the MVP and move to Disappointment list.
ReplyDeleteI think Marcelin has been strong in the middle and was better than Claesson. I know one game does not make a season, but watch a replay of the Seattle loss, Marcelin was a beast all game. As for Joy, he may be a good leader but for as experienced a player he is, I think his distribution out of the back has been poor and his crossing have been lacking. Again, one game does not make a season but in the Seattle game Nyassi continually abused Joy.
I think people have been overly critical of Marcelin this season, but he's far from being an MVP candidate. One criticism of Marcelin that rings true is that he seems to have an uncanny knack for distributing the ball to the other team. I agree that he has improved, and there are things about his game I like, but I still see him as a mild disappointment. Looking forward to what he does in the second half.
ReplyDeleteI think the Timbers go to the long ball way too much, but Joy has done better than anyone at long passes that the Timbers are able to keep possession of. Not sure if that strategy is coaching or if Joy just likes the long ball? I guess I'll need to re-watch the Sounders game and pay special attention to Joy, as I don't remember him being a problem.