A year ago, the Portland Timbers were a popular pick to contend for the top prizes in Major League Soccer. But a slow start — particularly at home — ultimately left the Timbers out of the playoffs.
Still, not much has changed since Portland wrapped up its 2014 season. And that was by design.
Coach Caleb Porter did not want to shake up the roster of a club that posted five wins and three ties in its final nine matches. But Porter and general manager Gavin Wilkinson did want to bolster a back line that was the team’s undoing last season.
Enter veteran central defender Nat Borchers and goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey. Borchers was acquired from Real Salt Lake to play alongside designated player Liam Ridgewell. Kwarasey signed from Norway’s top league, takes over for Donovan Ricketts who was the top overall selection in the expansion draft.
“I think this team’s shown to be a very disciplined defensive team (in preseason),” Porter said. “Maybe that’s the greatest strength of this team this year, which last year was our greatest weakness.”
In fact, the entire back four plus the goalkeeper are different players than the lineup that opened 2014 for Portland. Alvas Powell — a quiet but significant offseason move was acquiring Powell, who had been with the Timbers on loan from Portmore United of Jamaica — is a dynamic young right back. And Jorge Villafana won the left-back job midway through last season.
The Timbers have been one of the best offensive teams in MLS the past two seasons. In preseason, that wasn’t the case. But Porter said his emphasis on getting the defending right might have contributed to the lack of scoring.
“The attack will get going,” Porter promised. “We’ve got talent there and we always seem to find goals.”
2015 Timbers at a glance
Who is new: Goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, center back Nat Borchers, winger Dairon Asprilla, left back Jeanderson, midfielder Nick Besler (rookie), defender Anthony Manning (rookie), midfielder/defender Andy Thoma (rookie).
Who is gone: Midfielders Kalif Alhassan and Steve Zakuani (retired); defenders Pa Modou Kah, Michael Harrington, Rawshan McKenzie; goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts (expansion pick of Orlando City).
Key injuries: Diego Valeri (ACL) and Will Johnson (broken leg) should return in the first few months. Ben Zemanski (ACL) will miss at least five months.
The old-timers: Entering Year 5, five Timbers have been with the club since it entered MLS in 2011. They are Darlington Nagbe, Rodney Wallace, Diego Chara, Jack Jewsbury and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.
Must-see matches: L.A. Galaxy at Portland, March 15 (the Galaxy’s only visit); Orlando City at Portland, April 12 (expansion team includes former world player of the year Kaka); Cascadia Cup visits by Vancouver on May 2 and on July 18, and by Seattle on June 28.
Tickets: Timbers.com, 503-553-5555.
How to watch: All 34 regular-season games are scheduled to be televised locally or nationally.
Radio: KXTG, 750 AM.
And Timbers 2: The Timbers are among the MLS clubs that have added a United Soccer League team. T2 will play 24 games, most of its 12 home matches at the University of Portland. It will be a developmental platform for young players and a place for reserve players to get games. Camas High grad Brent Richards is on the Timbers 2 roster.
