One goal up early may spell disaster

I hate to even front this idea because it seems to me to oversimplify what happened in last Saturday's match against the triumvirate of soupastars and the rest of the Galaxy team.   The Timbers scored very early in the match on a classy feed and shot executed by Khalil and finished by Boyd.  It was stellar and would have been the headline if the game hadn't gone wanky for us. 


So the question rises as to why we would let D. Beckham, the devil incarnate as far as making the balls do wicked things,  stand all by himself and line up a shot just minutes later.    My answer?  The Timbers let down their guard with the early goal and started thinking 'this aint so tough'.   Except that it was.   And once the unraveling began,  it took near forty minutes to bring the boat back to an even keel.  Am I mixing my metaphors?   Well I have to because just one won't suffice.  


It's possible that we would not have beaten a resurgent Galaxy side with Donovan and Keane home from other commitments and Becks stinging from not being asked to the Olympic side for England.   But it was even less likely when our players were disarmed by the early goal for us.   And once the counterattack began,  the players on the field that night didn't have the resilience to pick up the pace and fight back.


I think Kimura was put in a terribly awkward position as well.   As a jetlagged newcomer he was still trying to find his place and figure out the names of the other guys on the team.   As a professional with high standards,  he overplayed some of his challenges---not that he was the only one at fault--- and it made the game harder to win.


I still think we've got a good crew to work with.  Young players who will be great soon.   And no need to panic.

Coaches axed off the pitch.

A fiery passionate soccer coach gets the sack this week and the airwaves are abuzz with commentary.  John Spencer's firing by the Timbers wasn't the only notable sacking of a coach this week.   Argentine legend Maradona was sacked by UAE's Al Wasl after the club failed to do better than eighth of twelve teams.   The chatter after the fact included quotes from Maradona who wanted,  essentially, to discuss the issue.  


I have to give Spencer credit.  He's got more dignity than Maradona. And may be a better coach.  Time will tell, I guess.   I just found the juxtaposition of events ironic.  I look forward to hearing about Spencer's success at some place and time in the future.   Maradona?   I just hope that the Timbers aren't looking that direction.

If a tree falls in the front office does anybody hear?

Football is a harsh mistress was the despondent cry of a West Ham fan way back before the world went off the tracks financially in Naught8.   It's a good lament because it has the flavor of brutal honesty and blood in your mouth just after you've taken that punch on the playground in sixth grade and you know you can decide to stand up and take your lumps or beg off and head home, comfort there but only false comfort.

I am feeling sort of like that as I ponder the cruel choices the Game rolls out here in PDX for the Portland Timbers this week.  Our crew,  carefully selected and much heralded,  is not only not a well-oiled machine grinding its way to the playoffs but it is shedding parts as it goes.  Not a good sign.   The truth is there are no easy answers and no time to cast the I Ching and find a path.    Even if one believed that was possible.

We're midseason, all of us, fans and players and management and perhaps even the gods and godesses  who shield our city....if there are such.   The ownership of the team has felt forced to be decisive  and John Spencer (bless him for being a genuine and passionate man) has been given his walking papers.    The team has two and a half dozen professional players,  our veterans  and our youngsters,  who have struggled to come together as a force to be reckoned with and now must face the real challenge---fold up your tent and walk or stand up with your mates,  be angry,  and choose to show the harsh mistress that she can't claim she stumbled over y'all in an alley and didn't know who you were.  

I have confidence that the Timbers are better than the tote board says.  But I think there is a fire someplace here in the heart of the team.  I think that there are men of great possibility who can step up and demand that all of these players band together and choose to be the team that stood up and took its lumps and, win or lose,  earned the aura of being called legendary Portland Timbers.  Players who would get the nod from Clive Charles if he were here.  

Gotta earn it ,Boys.  I think you can.  I want you to.   Go ahead and put that chip back on your shoulder,  play it smart, don't think that the Game loves you.   Look at the faces around you on the field and choose to make them your crew.    Up in the stands we'll give you our best shot at howlin' down the visitors.  

Rose City Til I Die.....

Walk to End Alzheimer's - Friend of Jimmy Conway Group

Dear Friends of Jimmy Conway:

Those of us who participated in last year’s ‘Walk to End Alzheimer’s’ here in Portland, committed to making it into an even bigger event this year to show our respect for Jimmy and support for the Alzheimer’s Association - Oregon Chapter who do such great work to help those affected by this insidious disease. 

Consequently, we’d like you to consider either walking in the event (Sunday, Sep 23^rd, 2012) at the Portland International Raceway (PIR) and/or making a donation in Jimmy’s name. I have registered a team in Jimmy and Noeleen’s honor and it’s called…Friends of Jimmy Conway. So, if you are up to supporting the event and the Association please visit the registration page at the link provided below. Once there you can use the ‘Join Us, Join a team’ button and enter ‘Friends of Jimmy Conway’. From there you will be instructed how to join the team and/or make a donation. Obviously, we understand that many of you may not be able to be there in person but we do hope you will consider a donation in Jimmy’s name. http://act.alz.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=1371.

Our group will be led by Jimmy & Noeleen, members of the Conway family, former Portland Timbers mascot ‘Timber Jim’ (Jim Serrill) and Tim Birr the bagpiper who so kindly led our group last year. We are attempting to get as many local soccer enthusiasts to join us to show our support and respect for Jimmy and the Alzheimer’s Association.  

I will be providing periodic updates on Jimmy’s Facebook group page (Fans of Jimmy Conway). Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/jimmyconwayjct.

Thanks, once again, for your consideration. Let’s make Jimmy and Noeleen proud and let’s raise as much money as we possibly can to help fight this disease.

Sincerely.

Mick Hoban

Friend of Jimmy Conway

503-297-0844 (work)

mick@mickhoban.com

As mentioned in earlier posts, Jimmy Conway and the early Portland Timbers' deserve our support- in many ways- for the gifts they gave this community.  Truth.