<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Friday, March 29, 2024
March 29, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

Timbers address offseason priorities with four acquisitions

Porter especially excited about Colombian Asprilla

By Paul Danzer, Columbian Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter
Published: December 10, 2014, 12:00am

There is still much to be determined — including Wednesday’s MLS expansion draft — but the slew of roster moves the Portland Timbers announced on Monday addressed the club’s offseason priorities.

“We identified four key positions and we went out and signed four players: A goalkeeper, a central defender, a left back and a right winger/forward,” Timbers coach Caleb Porter said.

The goalkeeper is Adam Larsen Kwarasey, a native of Norway who played for Ghana in the World Cup.

The central defender is MLS veteran Nat Borchers. The left back is Brazillian Jeanderson Salvador Pereira. The winger is Colombian Dairon Asprilla.

Porter expressed excitement about all four additions during a Tuesday teleconference.

The coach sounded enthusiastic about what the 22-year-old Asprilla might bring to the attack, using the words dynamic and versatile to describe the right winger.

“He’s very exciting. He’s dynamic,” Porter said. “We feel like he’s going to be someone that as soon as he transitions (to the league) he’ll be a player who really causes problems for teams.”

In addition to Asprilla’s ability to challenge defenses from the right wing, Porter said he can play multiple positions, and at 5-foot-11 bring needed size to improve Portland’s handling of free kicks and corner kicks.

The acquisition of Borchers, 33, fills perhaps the most obvious need for the Timbers. Last season, center back was the most unsettled position on the roster. Now, with Borchers to play alongside Liam Ridgewell the Timbers are stronger, though depth will need to be addressed at an injury-prone position.

Borchers played for Real Salt Lake teams that made seven consecutive playoff appearances. Porter said adding a proven MLS center back was a priority.

“(Borchers) knows the league and the teams inside and out,” Porter said. “We thought he would be a tremendous addition, not only on the field with his experience and the things that he brings, playing wise, but in our locker room as well.”

In Jeanderson, Porter said the Timbers get a young left-footed player who can both attack and defend from the left back spot. Unless the Timbers lose Jorge Villafana in Wednesday’s expansion draft, left back appears to be well covered.

With the addition of Kwarasey, who started in goal for Ghana against the United States at the World Cup in Brazil, the Timbers have four goalkeepers. General manager Gavin Wilkinson said the glut at goalkeeper is a question for after the expansion draft.

mobile phone icon
Take the news everywhere you go.
Download The Columbian app:
Download The Columbian app for Android on Google PlayDownload The Columbian app for iOS on the Apple App Store

One of Monday’s announcements that did not make headlines was the purchase of right back Alvas Powell from his Jamaican club. Just 20, Powell has been with the Timbers on loan since the middle of 2013 and in 2014 started eight of the last nine games at right back.

“He’s one we feel is going to be one of the better right backs in this league,” Porter said. “He still has things to learn, but he’s proven that he’s coachable, he’s proven that he’s tactically capable. And he’s got a wonderful attitude and world-class athleticism.”

Injuries update — Porter said midfielders Will Johnson (broken leg) and Diego Valeri (anterior cruciate ligament) are ahead of schedule in recovering. Having just returned from England, Porter said he didn’t have up to date information, but the Timbers expect to have both back early in the 2015 season.

“Whether it will be at the start of the season with Will, we don’t know,” Porter said. “With Diego, probably not at the very start but shortly thereafter, hopefully.”

Loading...
Columbian Soccer, hockey and Community Sports Reporter