Timbers in flux at halfway point

Team explores goalie options and needs to get healthy

By Steve Brandon

The Portland Tribune, Jun 23, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

About halfway through the season, it’s hard to tell if the Portland Timbers are at a crossroads or reinventing themselves or just a few breaks away from regaining their swagger.

After 14 of 30 regular-season games, Portland is 4-4-6. They’re tied for third in the 11-team United Soccer Leagues First Division, and the top eight teams make the playoffs. They’ve played eight games on the road and six at home, with back-to-back away matches Friday at Carolina and Saturday at Atlanta.

All in all, not bad – but not the blistering record that seemed possible after a successful 2007 and 3-0 beginning to the ’08 campaign.

Portland added offensive-minded players in the offseason in Chris Brown and Takayuki Suzuki, and some speed in Benjamin Totori, Bryan Little and Miguel Guante – but not all of them have been able to play regularly or consistently, and Portland has just 12 goals in 14 games.

“I’m surprised and disappointed (at that),” coach and General Manager Gavin Wilkinson says. “But things come around, and I’d much rather look forward than behind.

“We’re seeing glimpses of brilliance. The league is very right, and we’ve had more injuries than I can remember the Timbers ever having.”

Some changes are ahead, too.

Goalkeeper Ray Burse is expected to leave soon for what could be a long stay with MLS FC Dallas.

“We’ll have him for a few more games,” Wilkinson says. “Hopefully a couple more weeks.”

The Timbers are looking for reinforcements. On Monday, they returned from a break in training with two tryout keepers – MLS reserves Corbin Waller (Houston) and Michael Gustavson (San Jose).

Wilkinson says they’re looking at them for Portland either “on loan or outright.”

Jordan James, who has played some when Burse was fulfilling duties with Dallas, “has to step up and show he’s the No. 1 goalkeeper,” Wilkinson says. “If not, there’s no point in having him around. He’s done well in some games, and in some games we expect more.”

Up front, the Timbers plan to get forward Bryan Jordan back on loan from the L.A. Galaxy, perhaps in time for this weekend’s two games, but it’s not known for how long.

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