Thompson aims for bounce-back year

Timber coach wants to see more from his veteran defender

By steve brandon

The Portland Tribune, Apr 3, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Defender Scot Thompson sees better days ahead for the Timbers after last season’s disappointing finish. “You can feel it,” he says.

DENISE FARWELL / p0RTLAND TRIBUNE

Scot Thompson has been arguably the Portland Timbers’ best player over the past three seasons, but Gavin Wilkinson, the new coach and general manager, doesn’t sugarcoat his assessment of Thompson’s play last year.

“I thought he was average,” Wilkinson says, “given what he’s capable of.”

“I’d have to agree with him,” Thompson says. “I obviously wasn’t playing phenomenally.”

Of course, the team as a whole was way below average last year, tying for last place in the United Soccer Leagues First Division.

“It was a young and a new team that didn’t know how to react to adversity,” Thompson says. “We started to self-destruct to the point where we couldn’t climb out of the hole.”

The 26-year-old defender says things are better so far this year as the Timbers prepare for their April 21 season opener at home against Puerto Rico.

“You can feel it,” he says.

Wilkinson, who played five seasons on Portland’s back line, feels that Thompson can have a better year, too.

“My expectations for Scot are bigger than what he showed last year,” Wilkinson says. “He’s been around the block a few years now, and we need him to stamp his authority on the game.”

Thompson says he gets that.

“I’ve always trusted Gavin completely,” he says. “On the field, playing next to me, he pushed me, and as a coach, it’s the same way. He’s someone you can relax and joke around with, but you know he’s all about business and hard work and has the whole team in mind.”

Thompson, a former UCLA standout from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., says he feels more entrenched in Portland all the time. Part of that has to do with his involvement in the Bridlemile Soccer Club in Southwest Portland; he coaches the under-14 girls team. And, as of Feb. 17, he is engaged to Meredith Medina of Portland.

“We met through mutual friends at Nike, at a Trail Blazer game,” he says.

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