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| I’ll be waiting, my lov…OH MY GOD, WHAT’S WRONG WITH MY FOOT!? |
I’m half following a couple
Portland Timbers-related things on twitter, something about Jeff Attinella
(which sounds like it’s got a little traction), plus something about
centerbacks at or around 30 years of age.
I like Attinella. Have seen him stand
on his head in a couple games. Competition is good, so it’s good to see someone
come in to push Jake Gleeson, especially when you feel good about both
competitors. And they are vying for your love…
…I’m in the lounge, gentlemen, on
the fainting couch. Don’t make me wait too long…
Starting elsewhere in Timbers
world, however (wait, no, you just started with…never mind).
A Future Without Taylors
Because I don’t think there’s a
dissenting opinion on this, I’ll just note Steven Taylor’s departure from the
Portland Timbers. Here’s to wishing him the best, and a future in a league
where attacking players are slower in body and thought…
…to hit this from another angle,
though (and, please, tell me I haven’t already), as much as this Taylor
particularly worried me, I am a little anxious about the magnitude of the
turnover in the Timbers’ defense, and the roster as a whole, at time of
writing. I know there’s always an argument for just ripping off the damn band
aid, and lord knows the Timbers need to get younger (and faster) back there.
Still…The Kick Off ran a piece from a site that covers the Philadelphia Union.
The article talks about how the Union needs to manage a transition in their defensive set-up (for they did struggle), and while the particular dynamics
aren’t anything like identical to Portland’s, I like the guy’s thought process.
Dallas Stomps on the Accelerator
I saw a tweet the other day
stating that FC Dallas had found their replacement for Fabian Castillo. I’m
assuming it’s this Belgian guy, Roland Lamah. They added another goodie on the
way, in the person of Costa Rican “outside back” Jose Salvatierra. I’ll admit
right up front that I’ve never seen either player do anything (and, again, I’m opposed
to Youtube scouting), but I can note the following: on the one hand, the road Lamah
traveled to MLS was long, winding (good leagues, big leagues, slightly weird
leagues) and ended in Hungary; I don’t know much about the Hungarian League,
but I’ve seen resumes like that before; on the other, a few caps for a team as
reliable decent as Belgium probably speaks well of him; as Salvatierra, Costa
Ricans seem to do all right in MLS. So, yeah, Dallas is doing what I’d like to
see Portland doing. Like, tomorrow. Throw us a bone, guys…
Il Bruce Teases January Camp
The official call-ups will have
to wait until…I don’t know when, but Bruce Arena made it clear that he’s more
comfortable calling up MLS players than Dear Jurgen. It’s…man, what is it?
Good? Heartening? Nice? I guess what I’m getting at is, I have fonder attachment
to MLS players than I do for the Yanks and “Yanks” Abroad (scare quote intended
to note less immediate ties to Russia West, aka the United States in the Trump
Era). Not that I hate those guys or anything, it’s just when MLS guys get
called up, there’s a little more emotional investment in it for me.
For what it’s worth, I think this
opens up an even sharper divide/experiment between the coach/player pool
argument that raged throughout the Klinsmann years. I will be watching the
January camp closely (or, if I’m being honest, just the friendly) for the first
time in five years.
Right. All done. Have a good
weekend, all y’all!
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