Houston wanted to sign him, but it looks like he is happier up in Portland. I have to wonder if Kinnear put a good word in for Spencer when it became clear we wouldn't get him. Thanks for the draft pick.
Yes Congrats Portland!! I think you just signed this years MVP!! You will be in awe of his play. I guess no one told him that you wear green??
Also consider Spencer is a former Ranger to go along with the Kinnear connection. I like. Mostly because his strikes on goal are impressive.
Forgot to mention that Boyd landed at Nottingham for a while. The manager there is no other than Spencer's bro-in-law. Connections to Boyd multiply.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/16800476.stm Confirmation. He has a reputation for being lazy, and not the hardest trainer/runner, but his record for goals in Scotland is fantastic. He could score a lot if you have other athletic and hard working forwards to create opportunities. More proof that the MLS is starting to be a respected league.
I'm very excited about this signing. I've followed Rangers a bit since they've had several Americans on the squad, so I'm familiar with Boyd's qualities. And he's only 28!!
As a Ranger supporter I loved Boyd with the Teddy Bears. Hopefully here in the MLS he puts a lot in the net aganist San Jose and Seattle. I just do not want him to score against the Galaxy.
i'm excited about this-- sounds like he is just the kind of player we need; we have plenty of guys who can run, win the ball, and move it through midfield, but Boyd sounds like the guy we wanted Cooper, Johnson, or Dike to be-- capable in the air, natural finisher, good positioning, able to hold up play and distribute to runners off the ball. could be a really good fit. can't wait to see him in preseason.
I'm excited at the possibility of having a real #9 that is not completely mystified by the offside trap (as Cooper was, unfortunately). That said, the book on Boyd is that he likes to camp out in the final third, and my crystal ball says that defenses we face will continue to play a high back line and try to keep him away from goal.
It was karma that did Houston like that after they left Ching unprotected. Good to see Houston got shone.
And didn't Boyd have some kind of falling out with the coach of the Scottish national team? If he misses out on international games then that's even better for the Timbers.
I'm definitely excited to see what he can do as a true No.9 for us with Perlaza, Nagbe, Captain Jack, and the guys feeding him up front. We move the ball around well. Getting it in the goal (and then not conceding three more after that) seemed to be our year one problem. Hope he's on the field for today's pre-season. I want to see him in action.
I don't think there have been any Kris Boyd sightings here in PDX, and I'm not sure he even has his visa yet. Has anyone heard any news from the Timbers front office since the signing? Anything?
News is he is waiting on a visa for his family. He is training with Kilmarnock, his first professional club and hometown in Scotland.
Our final ball was lacking last year. Dont get me wrong, Cooper, Perlaza, and Alhassan (for being a mid) def missed some great opportunities. However i would have liked to see a more attacking minded central midfielder be brought in this year. Chara developed nicely into his own role but Jack left me wanting a lot more and provides very little going forward.
Work rates are deceiving in forwards. Do they need to chase every single ball? His goal rate speaks more.
That's what we have our speedy guys for. The farther up the back line plays more often, the more rewarding our quick-counters pay off if we can finish our chances.
Perlaza was quick enough to punish a high back line, not sure if Boyd is though. We need to get crosses in from deeper in the final 1/3rd, and I hope that Songo'o is the missing link, in that regard.