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David Da Costa, receives instructions from coach Phil Neville during training at Media day for the Portland Timbers at Providence Park (photos by Diego G Diaz).
The Portland Timbers hosted Media Day on Thursday, February 20th at Providence Park. The training session offered a scrimmage where also a sector of fans were invited to indulge in. The teams on the field didn’t fully give straight clues on what the starting 11, but saw combinations that could plausibly end up in the pitch in that first whistle into the 2025 season.
Timbers head coach Phil Neville showed his satisfaction about the performance of his team during the preseason, and praised the new signings and how fast they were integrating in the team. However, injuries, delays on the players coming into form, and recent integration with the team, left a more uncertain picture when it comes to that first starting 11 of the season.
The pre-match headline for this opener writes itself with a rematch of the Cascadia Cup match up with Vancouver Whitecaps, the rivals that gave the Timbers an authentic humiliating “basket” (five goals) to nil, and denied them from access to the playoffs last season. A game that club owner Merritt Paulson in a rare show in front of the local media, recalled as “the only game I have ever left a match early”.
It is easy to sensationalize the card of the “rematch”, but the reality is that being this the start of the season, MLS teams are rarely a finished product on that first date. In the case of the Portland Timbers, many veterans of that game still under contract with the franchise will be missing the rematch. Starting with an injured Santiago Moreno, a key piece of the attacking midfield in absence of traded Evander Ferreira. Jonathan Rodriguez and Juan Mosquera have missed the preseason and will need time to gain fitness. Same for DP David Da Costa, who had only played one full training session with his new teammates, and has been almost ruled out of Sunday.
Neville will count with new signings Kevin Kelsy (forward), Finn Surman (defender), Ariel Lassiter (midfielder), Joao Ortiz (midfielder), and youngsters Ian Smith (defender) and Jimer Fory (defender). They will add to the last season squad missing the MVP grade play maker Evander Ferreira, traded to Cincinnati. During the open training, there were interesting combinations in the scrimmage squads, placing Felipe Mora alongside Kevin Kelcy, in the attack, and David Ayala alongside club legend Diego Charå in the defensive half.
Phil Neville showed optimism in the team’s performance this preseason, even as absences and the still pouring into form of some players, “We are going to have a better team” he said. About the team that will face Vancouver on Sunday’s opener, it is cautionary to not fully surrender to the sensationalism of a rematch, when both teams will be still working out the corks, and in the case of the Portland Timbers, they will be scrambling to complete an 11 to showcase Phil’s 2025 vision.
Media day gave the public a chance to get introduced to some of the new players, most notably David Da Costa, called to the difficult task of filling Evander’s shoes. Da Costa, humbly introduced him self as a “player who is here to learn and help the team ”. When asked about his playing style as an attacking player able to break through both in the center and the left, he countered “my favorite position is in the pitch”, “depending on the run of the play, I don’t like to hold in just one position, I like mobility”.
David Da Costa (Photo by Diego G Daiz)
The attendees got a chance to know Da Costa a bit more personally, born in Almada, Portugal, his family from Cape Verde, that turned into professional soccer at France League 1’s RC Lens. Naturally, he speaks fully four languages: Portuguese, French, Krioulu (Cape Verdean Creole), and Spanish, even though he showed up a few sketches of English at times at the press conference. He is still getting fully settled in Portland and will be soon be joined by his girlfriend.
Jimer Fory (photo by Diego G Diaz)
Newcomer Jimer Fory, got a chance to talk to some of the Spanish speaking media. Born in Santander de Quilichao, 27 miles south of Ciudad de Cali, he is joining the “Colombian brigade” of the Timbers, with Moreno, Chará, and Mosquera. Fory spoke about the dynamism of MLS football, and how Neville is asking him to perform a very familiar role as a wing back. His height will be a very important factor, as for his runs past the midfield line, with the ability to win one on one duels or service precise crosses to the box. roles he has successfully performed in famed Colombian league teams like Deportivo Pereira and Independiente de Medellín.
Fory minimized feeling any handicap in his adaptation to Portland winter and the artificial turf fields. However, he did confess not being a big fan of the cold, leaving some wondering about how he will feel in future away weeks in the Midwest.
Last and definitely not least, the biggest highlight of all for the squad is undoubtedly Diego Chará’s upcoming 400th match with the green and gold, a legend in MLS history, and a player that Phil Neville said “he (Chará) inspires me everyday”, and whose love by fans can rival Diego Valeri’s, two of the most important players in Club history. Chará’s 400th match comes in a very important season of celebration in Portland, it’s 50th anniversary as a football club, with many commemorations ahead and a top motivation for the team to put on a good performance.
Mr 400, Diego Chará (photo by Diego G Diaz).
Pieces are as always still settling in place as the Portland Timbers will be facing Vancouver Whitecaps this Sunday at 1 PM PST, available for another season on Apple MLS Season Pass for those who won’t be able to attend, and/or avoid the certain thick rain that has been predicted for the Willamette Valley at the time of kick off.
