Portland Timbers v DC United

Okay. Weirdest game ever.  I posted the link from 'droppping timber' because at midnight, hours after this match ended I couldn't find any fan site that was commenting on today's tussle in present tense.   Lots of bravado written well in front of play...nothing after.


So I think the concern that the crew comes out not feeling the need to rip flesh and set the goals afire is a legitimate one.  We came out today with some very nice play but not enough heart.  


The game became a grudge match early on as the United players showed their willingness to batter our folk into submission...whether or not there was a call from the official.  Is this something related to Troy Perkins having been 'bought' ?  I don't know.    When the first goal came,  I'd say it wasn't Perkins who missed his assignment....the man coming in to deliver the flick on home was not well-marked.  It is what it is.  


Timbers had a good movement and much creativity on the field.  But my longtime friend and teammate, Mike, pointed out that we were putting high looping balls in when we had crosses and not lower trajectory, more dangerous balls.


So the half ended with us in a hole.   And the second half opened with several offensive forays from our crew that couldn't guite buy us some joy.  At which point, we had Kenny Cooper fouled in the box and an opportunity to even it all.   Teams often have someone who's the "go to" guy for pk's  but Kenny was ready to take the shot as blood compensation. He took the shot and it was blocked.
Consternation reigned!   But wait! The AR called the DC keeper for going off his line, so we had a redo..And Kenny again stepped up and the shot was blocked!  Consternation reigned.   Cooper didn't use his 90 mph shot but tried to do a finesse both times-not good.  But wait!   the AR said that the DC keeper had again gone off his line and so the PK was reset.  This time though, Jewsbury was the man to step up,  and Cooper, distraught,  was directed to move aside.  Number 13 buried the ball in the net as he should and the home crowd were energized. The score was even. 


Minutes later,  United were awarded a PK at the other end and without hesitation knocked it home to take back their lead.  In no other match that I can recall over thirty some years was there a double retake on a pk.    Crazy.


The game proceeded at a fast pace from there on.  The Timbers had many rushes but couldn't actually create shots on goal.  DC United engaged in steady thuggery and the flavor of the game slid toward the grim end of soccer.  Not much of the beautiful game.  


The question surfaces in reflection on the match as to whether a healthy Charlie Davies and Dex McCarty would have tipped the balance so that the Timbers were back on their heels early.  Hard to say but the reality was that, crazy or not,  the tote at the end didn't favor our guys.   


This has to be the most odd match I've ever seen.  The resets on PKs were just the surface of a strange day.  


Portland Timbers need to shake it off.  It's not important to have a legendary 'never defeated at home' record.   All that's important is to have a won loss record that takes the team to the next level: the playoffs.   


We'll see if they can do that.

Barcelona. No question

I got to my friend, Glenn's late in the match due to life commitments outside of football, but was not surprised to see the match tote at that point was 2-1.   Within minutes of my arrival,  David Villa place a lovely curling ball in the upper right corner of the net and made it 3-1.   Barca rarely seemed hurried or pressed as to what the next pass might be, whether it was a pass of six feet or a pass of forty yards.   United seemed grumpy.  The video showed a closeup of Sir Alex clenching and unclenching his fist.


A discussion ensued.  Most of us watching remembered the Spanish national team's astonishing run at the last World Cup.   How much does Barca align with the national team?   I was guessing that eight or more of the Catalan side were on the national team but a quick check tonight suggests that it's really only six.   And may have been a couple more back in the last go round. 


But I was struck when I looked at the roster for Spain that sixteen of the players on the national team are club players in Spain for Real, Villareal, or Barca.   What other country could say that?   Brazil has ten, for example. 


I became a Barca fan for entirely non-football reasons.   The club made the decision to make UNICEF their jersey sponsor and pay the children's agency for the privilege.   That was such a righteous choice and so different than the typical club state of mind that I wanted to support it.  Afterward I began to appreciate that the Barcelona style of play was also markedly different,  and totally fascinating to watch.   Like a cobra,  Barca's passes undulate around the field in no hurry until the opponent is frozen at which point they strike.    And then the reality also began to sink in that the Barca side was truly made up mostly of Spanish players,  again an unusual situation.  A dozen of the current starting roster hail from Spain and several are Catalan.  Man Utd can't make that claim.    Nor can many other teams.    Our own Portland Timbers celebrate when one or two players on the roster hail from Oregon.   


And from the point of view in the stands,  I'd be much more excited to watch my team play if I were watching the best guys who actually have some identity with this part of the world.  Barca seems to meet that standard.  I hope they keep it up.

Back from England

Just back from a visit with relatives in Kent and Portsmouth.  The fans of Pompey are pretty intense and kindred souls to our Timbers Army.   As I understand it,  Portsmouth FC took 5000 fans by bus and train to an away match, I think it was at The Emirates.  Admittedly not quite as far as Seattle but still a good feat.  

About the ads...

Last year I was unemployed.  And scrambling around for any way to make a little money.  One of my good friends suggested I put ads on my blog and see what I could generate in revenue through writing about something I really cared for.   Something around eighteen months later I was on the verge of hitting ten bucks in revenue.  And I have to acknowledge to myself that I've never written about the game with any thought of how many pennies I can earn from having people click on ads.   To be honest,  I don't like writing for money.  I like writing for writing.  


It's in that spirit that I turned off the ads tonight.  Let me be the April Fool who can't make any moola from his work.  It's alright.  I am hopeful that maybe more readers will be inclined to chime in because they don't have to dodge so many 'opportunities' to buy something.


Thanks to all those folks who have dodged the detritus.  I appreciate your taking the time to visit.