Offseason Outlook: Portland Timbers
/I have a 4-2-3-1 here because I still think it’s Savarese’s preferred formation, though he mostly used a 4-3-2-1 to end the season.
By Drew Olsen (@drewjolsen)
Whether or not we’re ready to admit it, The Diego Era in Portland is nearly at its end. Each season, even as Valeri and Chara continue to prove they are less impacted by time than the rest of us, we see the sun setting on the horizon. It may not happen in 2020, but sooner rather than later we’ll be reading about the next iteration of the Timbers.
Still, though we feel the darkness creeping in, this is not the end. We must cherish our time spent in The Diego Era, now more than ever. In a way it is easier now, knowing our time here is limited. And although the team has a Designated Player spot open (and potentially two), until the day of reckoning arrives, Portland’s roster will see only changes around the edges.
With that said, let’s get this out of the way…
The Elephant in the Room
Diego. Valeri. The drama of the offseason has been the negotiations between Valeri and the Timbers’ front office. After his final home game of the 2019 season, Valeri went into the Timbers Army crowd to say his goodbyes, inducing panic among all those who value love, beauty, and goodwill. The dispute is over if he will continue to be a DP or renegotiate to be a TAM player. Needless to say, the future of the franchise likely depends on if he returns. If not, the team’s top priority will be finding a player to fill his massive shoes. But there have been positive hints he’ll return, and letting him walk would be really stupid, so odds are good that he’ll be back. The pitchforks can remain unpolished for now.
Areas of Depth: Goalkeeper, Centerback, Left fullback, Defensive Midfield
After a standout season in 2018, Jeff Attinella struggled with injury through the beginning of 2019 before ultimately getting shut down for the season after surgery. Steve Clark stepped in and had the best season for a Timbers goalkeeper since the team joined MLS, finishing either first or second in all the goalkeeping metrics that aren’t completely pointless. Clark is currently out of contract and, despite a dramatic Instagram post, the Timbers protected him in the expansion draft and would be crazy not to sign him to a new contract that includes a healthy pay raise.
Larrys Mabiala was the only consistent centerback for Portland in 2019, with a rotating cast of Julio Cascante, Bill Tuiloma, and Claude Dielna each cycling through without nailing the position down. Dielna was both the most expensive and the worst of the bunch, and saw his option declined. The team has already announced the signing of Dario Zuparic from Croatia on a TAM deal, and the path is clear for him to be the starter with Cascante and Tuiloma backing them up.
Jorge Villafana will start again on the left, backed up again by Marco Farfan. Farfan has shown capably in limited minutes, though hasn’t been given a fair shot to earn his place in the defensive rotation so it’s unclear if the team sees him as a long-term option.
Roadrunner Diego Chara had arguably the best season of his career at age 33, and even if he can’t keep it up there is decent depth behind him. Cristian Paredes showed great potential next to Chara and looks poised to start the season next to him. Eryk Williamson and Renzo Zambrano are both perpetually on the cusp and showed potential in limited minutes, but have suffered from Savarese’s skepticism of inexperienced players. Tuiloma can also play in the defensive midfield in a pinch.
Areas of Need: Right fullback, Wing/Striker
Fan-favorite, podcaster, and all-around great dude Zarek Valentin was taken in the expansion draft and ended up in Houston. The definition of consistency and versatility in his four seasons for Portland, Valentin played both fullback positions at an above-average level. He will be missed on and off the field, and being forced to move from Portland to Houston seems an unfair punishment for anyone.
Jorge Moreria was the most underrated signing in MLS last season, and arguably the league’s best defender. With the departure of Valentin there is no backup, though GM Gavin Wilkinson alluded to the likely signing of a backup right back in his end-of-season press conference, so this doesn’t look like a real concern.
I’m combining wing and striker here simply because of Giovanni Savarese’s inexplicable desire to play Jeremy Ebobisse on the wing, despite the fact he’s a natural target man. With the departure of Brian Fernandez, Ebobisse should get the chance to take the reins up top, though it seems just as likely Portland will sign another striker and make Ebobisse backup or move him to the wing. Regardless, they’ll need to sign depth at both positions.
Homegrown Foster Langsdorf departed in the offseason, so Ebobisse is the only striker on the team. Even if they give him a fair shake at holding the starting position down, a backup is needed.
Sebastian Blanco isn’t going anywhere, but the starter on right wing is still in the air. Andy Polo is decent defensively for a wing, but doesn’t offer anything in the attack, placing more weight to create on the already heavy shoulders of Valeri and Blanco. Movies could be (but won’t be) written about the career of Dairon Asprilla, who is among the most frustrating and terrible players in MLS outside of the 2nd half of games held in October, when he transforms into Dairon Maradona. He’s not a serious option, so the team will need to add a more proven attacking right midfielder.
Don’t expect any big flashy moves from the Timbers. Other than perhaps a new right wing, I would be surprised if there are any new starters signed before the new season begins. If they do fill their DP slots, it will be a name we’re unfamiliar with.
But first and foremost, task A-one of the offseason is to ensure The Diego Era continues through the end of 2020.