Last year I started a threat titled "we suck" when we did, in fact, suck. I was roundly criticized for doing so. But not too long afterward, we started playing better. Hoping to work my mojo again. So here it is, Scoey's 2nd Annual "We Suck" thread. Oh, and yes, we do suck right now. But you all knew that.
I would be more tolerant if we had shit players and were playing shit. 08 anyone? That isnt the case imo.
For me, boiling it down as simply as possible, our midfield. They are failing miserably on both sides of the ball.
Agreed. The midfield is non-functional. Chara and Jewsbury both play too far back, but neither does a particularly good job as a defensive mid (and Jewsbury has been invisible most of the season). Of course, Spencer knows that which is why he has tried Palmer there, for extra defensive oomph. Unfortunately, that's not gonna cut it. We need a true defensive midfielder. Is Ricardo Clark's contract up any time soon?
I agree that our midfield is not cutting it. I don't agree that Chara can't function as a d-mid. Dude has a great knack for making tackles, putting breaking up attacks, and being in the right place.
Soundersfc89, laugh at Portland all you want, either way you slice it, they have won as many PLAYOFF SERIES as yall have. "ZERO". For a arrogant Sounders fan, that has to HURT. For the Timber fans, I am just here browsing your boards and remember the MLS season isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. John is a good coach and he will turn your team around before long, keep your heads up.
Say what you guys will about the midfield, but it would be really helpful if we had a striker who could get the ball in the back of the net. Maybe we could get someone like Kenny Coop...... Oh, wait.
It would be nice if we had a creative player in the center of midfield or let our creative players actually play in their natural positions. It would be nice if our entire midfield had any clue about their roles. It would be nice if we could actually provide scoring opportunities for our forwards. Our crossing is terrible no matter who is serving it in. Plus ideas are sorely lacking from our front 6 when we enter the attacking third. It would be nice if Spencer kept his comments to himself instead of making bold faced lies. Our players are not younger compared to other teams who are succeeding. He criticizes the fans for our opinions like we know nothing "forcing square pegs into round holes" when he himself chooses to play Nagbe (up top), Alexander (wide), Chara (wide), Palmer (defense), Wallace (defense). When he continues to play under performing players Palmer, Chabala, & Jewsbury instead of trying something new especially when he preaches his faith in the entire squad. How about giving Kawulok, Taylor, Marcelin (why he was still around) Brent, Rincon, Renken, or Braun a shot. Could they really do any worse then some of the current starting 11? If they arnt good enough then why are they here?
No joke. Richards looked good against Valencia as well. TFC notwithstanding, it can't get a whole lot worse to give those guys a chance.
Below are 2012 salaries (base and guaranteed minimum). Relative to some of these players' performances on the field, pretty shocking stuff. With some of our best players making $100K or much less (Alhassan, Zizzo), imagine the quality team we might have, if -- instead of $1,515,000 wasted on Boyd -- the Timbers decided to spend at least $200K on each player in our starting 11, and then went shopping. That would still leave $610K under the salary cap for the next 9 roster spots. POR Alexander Eric M 56,925.00$ 56,925.00$ POR Alhassan Kalif M 70,000.00$ 79,250.00$ POR Bendik Joe GK 44,000.00$ 44,000.00$ POR Boyd Kris F 1,250,000.00$ 1,515,000.00$ POR Braun Fred M 44,000.00$ 44,000.00$ POR Brunner Eric D 100,000.00$ 100,625.00$ POR Chabala Michael M 75,000.00$ 83,333.33$ POR Chara Diego M 150,000.00$ 193,750.00$ POR Danso Mamdou D 82,500.00$ 82,500.00$ POR Dike Bright F 55,000.00$ 57,937.50$ POR Fucito Michael MF 44,100.00$ 44,100.00$ POR Gleeson Jake GK 62,500.00$ 66,125.78$ POR Horst David D 65,000.00$ 65,000.00$ POR Jean-Baptiste Andrew D 60,000.00$ 75,000.00$ POR Jewsbury Jack D 180,000.00$ 189,750.00$ POR Kawulok Ryan M 33,750.00$ 33,750.00$ POR Mosquera Hanyer D 75,000.00$ 97,500.00$ POR Nagbe Darlington M/F 90,000.00$ 226,000.00$ POR Palmer Lovel M 85,000.00$ 96,250.00$ POR Perkins Troy GK 190,000.00$ 201,833.33$ POR Perlaza Jorge F 100,000.00$ 115,000.00$ POR Purdy Steve D 44,000.00$ 44,000.00$ POR Renken Charles M 33,750.00$ 33,750.00$ POR Richards Brent F 62,500.00$ 70,867.29$ POR Rincon Sebastian F 33,750.00$ 33,750.00$ POR Smith Steven D 108,000.00$ 120,500.00$ POR Songo'o Franck M 70,000.00$ 70,000.00$ POR Taylor Christopher D 33,750.00$ 33,750.00$ POR Valencia Jose Adolfo F 44,000.00$ 44,000.00$ POR Wallace Rodney M-D 110,000.00$ 159,000.00$ POR Zizzo Sal F 73,125.00$ 81,414.06
You didnt really have to post that its so easily accessible. What do you expect of a forward who gets no service? Put away the one opportunity he had last night and that wasnt even because of a quality ball in. The ball in was shit. Cannon is a donkey and made a shitshow of it tipping it onto the crossbar and back into play. If we should be complaining about anyone it should be Perlaza. He has had some of the best opportunities of any attacking player on our team this year and his goals column is sporting a donut right now.
I want to see Richards get an honest shot at it. I don't see a single reason why he shouldn't get that shot.
Agreed. Thought he was great against the Wynaldos. Granted, it was an amateur team, but given how crappy the rest of our guys looked against that same team, Richards' performance was notable. He reminded me a bit of a young Brian McBride. Very hard working. Great in the air (he won more long headers in half a game than Boyd has won all season). Clearly a bit raw but with obvious potential. Call me crazy, but I really wouldn't mind seeing Boyd sit next game in favor of someone like Richards or Fucito. Sometimes a coach has to do crazy stuff to motivate his team and send a message. Sitting the supposed star (who, frankly, played like utter crap in the Great Pub Team Debacle of 2012) is one way to do that. Of course, sitting the teams leading scorer is also one way to further cripple an already anemic offense... Glad its not my decision to make!
Wow! Unless Wallace has improved a great deal since he was with DC United, defense should be the last position he should be playing. Or injuries have decimated Portland's back line.
Or, there is no one to pick up right now and no team is willing to trade. Or, they are not looking to add to the midfield until the off season.
