An Analysis of the Portland Timbers 2024 Season

OCTOBER 23 2024 – PORTLAND, OR: MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Portland Timbers by Diego G Diaz.

Phil Neville’s side faced a disappointing defeat against their Cascadia rivals, the Vancouver Whitecaps, who ended the Rose City team’s 2024 campaign with a staggering 5-0 victory.

In his own words, he stated, “Going out like that was not acceptable.” He took full responsibility for his selection of players who conformed to his starting eleven and the moves he made throughout the whole match.

In a campaign that started with little impact, somehow, manager Neville made a turnaround of his team, put them in the fight, and qualified for the postseason, only to end them just like that and with total humiliation.

Not all is lost for this season, as the coach has discovered a new group of players who can challenge opposing defenses. With Rodriguez, Evander, Mora, and Moreno, this quartet has certainly turned heads with their impressive style of play.

The Timbers front office must make significant changes to rebuild the defensive lineup. Their defensive performance has been lacking not just in one match, but in several games where key players were often missing in action very well lacking consistency.

This is a critical moment for several T2 players on the brink of their first chance at stardom, similar to what past players like Sawyer Jura, Tyler Clegg, Jaden Jones, Riley, Harvey Neville, and Maximo Nystrom experienced.

The purpose of an academy is to nurture and develop players so they can reach their full potential. In Europe, teams acknowledge the growth and improvement of their players and are often willing to provide them the opportunity to debut in the starting lineup of the first team.

Ned Gravaboy needs to start looking for a couple, if not the whole, defensive backfield to deliver more memorable afternoons for its amazing diehard followers who were disappointed by last night’s result. Still, they didn’t whistle against their team.

The team experienced a significant turnaround and recovery by the end of the first half of the season. They achieved several valuable wins both on the road and at home, finishing with a road record of 3 wins, 8 losses, and 6 draws. This improvement marks a notable shift from last season’s disastrous performance, which ultimately led to the dismissal of manager Giovanni Savarese.

At home, the Portland Timbers performed well with 9 wins, 3 losses, and 5 draws. While their home record is solid, it’s essential for the club to improve their away performance to ensure long-term success.

With the saying that defense wins games, last night’s debacle was a sorry state of poor defending by Araujo and Bravo, leading to the conclusion that their time is up and they need to be transferred or moved to another club.

Antony and David Ayala have both demonstrated great potential, making a significant impact at the club. Antony has scored seven goals, while Ayala has made his mark by unseating Cristhian Paredes and scoring two goals in league play, along with one in the international cup series.

Manager Neville has indicated that he is willing to spend to strengthen his team and make them highly competitive. He aims to establish the team as a force to be reckoned with throughout the entire season.

I believe this team needs to reevaluate its academy. Marco Farfan, who came from T2, was discovered by then-manager Caleb Porter. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a budget to bring in more prolific players to Rose City.

This team has the potential to create many unforgettable moments for Rose City and can keep its fans on the edge of their seats with the right lineup. Mr. Merritt Paulson, please build a competitive team and address Evander’s less-than-positive attitude with the Portland Timbers.

I want to express my confidence in manager Phil Neville as we look ahead to 2025. Despite a slow start to the season, he has managed to finish strong. Phil Neville has done a great job, and I believe he is on his way to becoming a top-notch manager.