Football Season Guide

The 2015 MLS Cup Champions would have a very different season in 2016, missing out on the playoffs altogether and finishing in a dismal seventh position. After failing to win an entire away game all season, Portland would fail to replicate their prior form, with Caleb Porter’s men struggling to produce anything consistent as the season wore on. With a home record of 12-2-3 however, the Timbers have plenty to build on heading into this campaign, and they will once again definitely be considered a threat to many teams around them. The signings of Roy Miller, David Guzman, and Sebastian Blanco look the most promising for the team from the Rose City, with all three players having solid previous records coming into MLS. The fact that the Timbers were willing to part ways with £4 million shows how much they wanted Blanco, with the Argentinean having previously played in the Premier League under West Bromwich Albian. Despite these additions however, it is also important to note that the Timbers have indeed lost some big names in the off-season, some of whom were integral members of the squad. The trio of Jack Jewsbury, Nat Borchers, and Ned Grabavoy have all retired, which is certainly a blow. While Steven Taylor, Jermaine Taylor, and Lucas Melano have all departed, leaving the Timbers significantly shortened at the start of the campaign. A Friday night home opener against Minnesota United should prove to be a tricky one for Caleb Porter’s men, with expansion sides always proving to be unpredictable prior to the start of a season. If their new signings produce however, and with names such as Fanendo Adi and Darlington Nagbe supporting them there is no reason why the Timbers can’t go all the way again, in a repeat of 2015.