Tuesday, June 24, 2003

Keeper Saunders on Loan from Quakes

An article in the Daily Californian today mentions that the San Jose Earthquakes are loaning 3rd choice keeper Josh Saunders to the Timbers. Saunders was a local Bay area draftee and a former Bear like fellow player Chris Roner (more about Roner in this recent article...interesting man!) who was also loaned to the Timbers in 2002. There has been no mention of Saunders loan from the Timbers as yet.

[Update]: The loan of Saunders for the remainder of the season has been announced by the Timbers.

"Josh Saunders comes to the Timbers highly recommended by the coaching staff of San Jose. He is a ready-made replacement for Curtis Spiteri," said head coach Bobby Howe. "We expect to see him make his first appearance for the Timbers on Friday against Calgary."

Spiteri is currently with Karlsruher S.C. of the German Second Division for a two-week trial.
Jimmy Conway will serve a six-game suspension for the red card he received in the June 7 El Paso match.
Mystery man Adam Wilson could see his first action on Friday against Calgary after sitting out the season so far with a sore Achilles tendon.

posted by the timberlog at 6:34 AM

Thursday, June 19, 2003

The Home of Useless Stats

"The timberlog...home of useless stats". That's what I promised and to be totally honest I've failed you dear reader, fallen short by a long way. But wait, here to redeem myself (and because it's a loooong time before the next game) is the "timberlog referee breakdown".

[the following totally useless look at Timbers results broken down by referee are taken from the USSoccer referee assignments over the past 3 seasons. They do not contain data from games played in Canada]

Over the 62 games played in the USA the Timbers saw 40 different referees. Some of those (fortunately!) only for 1 game...26 to be exact, who cast their all-seeing eye (notice the singular...no idea sometimes what the other one is doing!) for a brief 90 minutes never to be seen again...so far!

10 referees have officiated in 2 Timbers games and 4 regular faces have huffed and puffed in a total of 4 games each.

There are some familiar names in the bunch, and here is a list including how well the timbers have faired in games refereed by each one.

[Best refs] (in terms of Timbers results)

3 wins out of 4 games
Mohammad Zarrabi-Kashani
Cory Dean
Neil (Mac) Pinski

2 wins out of 2 games
Kevin Boisen
Cien Asoera
Rich Grady
Dean Ajir

[Worst refs]

0 wins out of 2 games
Abiodun Okulaja
Ramon Hernandez

1 win out of 4 games
Brian Hall

[middle-of-the-road refs]

1 win out of 2 games
Sandra Hunt
Reggie Rutty

1 win 1 draw
Robert Sabella

2 draws
Kari Seitz

posted by the timberlog at 11:13 AM

FIFA Officials "Pleased" with PGE Park

FIFA officials touring PGE Park were pleased with it's "European-Style" setting according to the Oregonain this morning (although they refused to talk to reporters, saying they did not have a media officer present! Ha!). Now Jim Taylor and all involved have 3 months to cram in 3 years worth of planning, getting the ground ready for the Women's World Cup (Hint: He might be a little bit busy in the coming weeks!).

The NeXturf will be covered with dirt and natural grass, and the present capacity of 19,566 will be increased with the addition of about 10,000 temporary on-field bleachers, Taylor said.

posted by the timberlog at 8:46 AM

Monday, June 16, 2003

PGE Park WWC 2003 Dates Announced

PGE Park will be hosting Women's World Cup games on Sept 28th (Group D finals), Oct 2nd (Quarterfinals) and Oct 5th (Semi-Finals) according to the schedule announced today.

posted by the timberlog at 10:00 AM

Friday, June 13, 2003

"Portland Loves Soccer...Soccer Loves Portland"

More Women's World Cup talk from the Oregonian (including the above quote from mayor Katz!)

posted by the timberlog at 12:57 PM

Tennyson's Overtime Goal Sinks Whitecaps

McKinley Tennyson's 95th minute goal gave the Portland Timbers another win last night against the Vancouver Whitecaps by a 2-1 margin. Byron Alvarez got the Timbers first on 9' (his third this year) and on 60' Oliver Heald got the equilizer for Vancouver, before Tennyson scored the game winner in front of an announced crowd of 5,471.

Oregonian report
Allison's game report
Roberto's Tales from the Shed

posted by the timberlog at 10:53 AM

Thursday, June 12, 2003

PGE Park to be a 2003 WWC Host

US Soccer announced today that PGE Park would be one of the 6 venues to host games in the 2003 Women's World Cup.

The games will be played Sept. 20 to Oct. 12 and details of the number of games in each city will be announced shortly.

While four of the markets revealed today hosted matches at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, Portland's PGE Park (then Civic Stadium) will become the only stadium in the world to host matches in consecutive FIFA World Cups. The U.S. Women played their 1999 send-off match in Portland, as well as the 2000 Nike U.S.Cup. The newly renovated stadium hosted the 2002 WUSA All-Star Game. PGE Park is currently home to the Portland Timbers of the United Soccer Leagues' A-League and was the site of a number of classic NASL matches in the 1970s.

posted by the timberlog at 10:33 AM

Wednesday, June 11, 2003

Sancho Set to Sign 2-Year Deal with Dundee

Former Timbers defender Brent Sancho is in the final stages of negotiating a two-year contract with Scottish Premier League club Dundee and expects to be a Dundee player by the beginning on July.

"I'm looking forward to concentrating fully on football and doing my best to be a mainstay on the team. having met the guys before when they were in Trinidad has made things easier. Hopefully, being able to take my girlfriend Jana across with me will also set the right course. It would be a great opportunity to shape life and football," said Sancho.

The 26-year-old is expected to team up with the other Dundee players on July 4 for a pre-season tour of North Carolina, USA, as well as a clash with English club Northampton Town.

BBC article including the classic line:

He is a colourful character, notorious for some ambitious - and occasionally reckless - attacking runs from defence...

posted by the timberlog at 4:29 PM

Portland v Vancouver notes

Gavin Wilkinson will be back with the Timbers for Thursday's match vs. Vancouver after being called up for the NZ squad's preparation for the Confederations Cup.
Jake Sagare won't serve his suspension for the Milwaukee red card until June 27, vs. Calgary.
Mystery man Adam Wilson continues to nurse a sore Achilles tendon and will be out indefinitely.
The league is still reviewing assistant coach Jimmy Conway's red card he received during the El Paso match.
The Timbers released midfielder Jake Vaughn on Monday

posted by the timberlog at 3:45 PM

Monday, June 09, 2003

Portland to Host Women's World Cup Semi-Final?

According to this article Portland is rumored to be put forward as the venue of the semi-final in the upcoming Women's World Cup.

The semifinals of the tournament would be played in Portland, Ore., under the plan the USSF intends to announce this week, a high-ranking U.S. soccer official said Monday on the condition of anonymity.

The final would be played at the new Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. on Oct. 11 or Oct. 12 and other venues would include Washington's RFK Stadium, Columbus, Ohio; East Rutherford, N.J.; and Foxboro, Mass.

According to the article the USSF planned a Wednesday news conference in New York to announce the venues and possibly the schedule, which is still being discussed with executives at ABC and ESPN.

...and more today from the Oregonian saying sources close to Portland's effort are suggesting that Wednesday's planned news conference could indeed announce Portland's successful bid.

posted by the timberlog at 4:49 PM

Weekend Road-Trip Roundup

The Timbers split their grueling weekend road-trip, winning in El Paso 3-1 on Saturday and then going down 4-0 to Milwaukee on Sunday.

Second half goals by McKinley Tennyson, Byron Alvarez and Bryn Ritchie (after going 1-down in the 4th minute) against El Paso got the Timbers off to a good start. Jimmy Conway was ejected near the end of the match after "exchanging words" with the linesman.
The weekend ended on a wet note (literally as the game in Millwaukee was delayed and the venue changed due to unplayable pitch conditions) as the Wave United put 4 past Curtis Spiteri in the first half. Jake Sagare received a red card in the latter stages of the game and will miss Thursday's game at PGE Park against Vancouver.

[post-game press]

El Paso Times
Oregonian

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

"If this were Europe, it would be like living in London and playing the first game in Monaco and the second one in Moscow, in two days," (Bobby) Howe said. "It's absolutely horrendous. I think the league has to do something about these road trips."

posted by the timberlog at 2:01 PM

Tuesday, June 03, 2003

[Media Catch-Up]

New field dedicated to (Clive) Charles
Field at Hillsboro's new Liberty High School dedicated to Charles.
T&T Blowing Hot
Former Timber Brent Sancho playing his part in T&T's tour of Africa
All Whites Set for A-League Side
Gavin Wilkinson gets ready for NZ v Virginia Beach game

posted by the timberlog at 7:08 PM

more timberlog

[contact the timberlog]

timberlogATgmailDOTcom

[timberlog 2006]

roster/stats

results

usl d1 attendance

[Fixtures 2006]

4/22 Vancouver (A)
5/5 Vancouver (H)
5/6 Minnesota (H)
5/12 Miami (A)
5/14 Puerto Rico (A)
5/19 Rochester (H)
5/28 Toronto (H)
5/27 Minnesota (A)
6/2 Seattle (A)
6/3 Seattle (H)
6/10 Vancouver (H)
6/15 Minnesota (A)
6/17 Rochester (A)
6/18 Montreal (A)
6/30 Vancouver (A)
7/2 Miami (H)
7/14 Charleston (A)
7/15 Atlanta (A)
7/21 Seattle (H)
7/22 Seattle (A)
7/27 Virginia Beach (A)
7/29 Toronto (A)
8/4 Minnesota (H)
8/10 Virginia Beach (H)
8/18 Puerto Rico (H)
8/31 Montreal (H)
9/3 Charleston (H)
9/7 Atlanta (H)

[timberlog 2005]

current roster/player news

results/match reports

usl d1 attendance

2005 disciplinary points

[Fixtures 2005]

4/23 Toronto (H)
4/29 Minnesota (H)
4/30 Seattle (A)
5/7 Minnesota (A)
5/12 Charleston (H)
5/28 Virginia Beach (H)
6/3 Rochester (A)
6/4 Toronto (A)
6/6 Puerto Rico (A)
6/10 Vancouver (A)
6/16 Puerto Rico (H)
6/18 Rochester (H)
6/30 Montreal (H)
7/2 Vancouver (H)
7/8 Seattle (A)
7/9 Vancouver (A)
7/14 Vancouver (H)
8/5 Minnesota (H)
8/7 Seattle (H)
8/10 Montreal (A)
8/13 Minnesota (A)
8/20 Seattle (H)
8/27 Charleston (A)
8/28 Atlanta (A)
9/2 Virginia Beach (A)
9/3 Richmond (A)
9/8 Atlanta (H)
9/10 Richmond (H)

[timberlog 2004]

current roster/player news

results/match reports

a-league attendance

2004 disciplinary points

2004 player diary

[Fixtures 2004]

5/1 Seattle (H)
5/13 Calgary (H)
5/15 Seattle (A)
5/23 Vancouver (A)
5/29 Milwaukee (H)
6/4 Charleston (A)
6/5 Atlanta (A)
6/10 Edmonton (H)
6/12 Vancouver (H)
6/17 Rochester (H)
6/22 Minnesota (A)
6/23 Milwaukee (A)
7/2 Vancouver (H)
7/8 Edmonton (H)
7/16 Vancouver (A)
7/17 Seattle (A)
7/24 Seattle (H)
7/28 Calgary (A)
7/29 Edmonton (A)
7/31 Milwaukee (A)
8/5 Minnesota (H)
8/7 Edmonton (A)
8/8 Calgary (A)
8/12 Calgary (H)
8/14 Minnesota (A)
8/19 Puerto Rico (H)
8/27 Minnesota (H)
8/29 Milwaukee (H)

[timberlog 2003]

current roster/player news

results/match reports

tables

a-league attendance

2003 disciplinary points

[Fixtures 2003]

5/1 Seattle (H)
5/2 Seattle (A)
5/11 Vancouver (A)
5/12 Calgary (A)
5/14 Calgary (H)
5/18 Seattle (A)
5/25 Calgary (A)
5/27 Minnesota (H)
5/29 Vancouver (H)
6/7 El Paso (A)
6/8 Milwaukee (A)
6/12 Vancouver (H)
6/27 Calgary (H)
6/29 Calgary (A)
7/1 Vancouver (A)
7/3 Vancouver (H)
7/11 El Paso (H)
7/13 Milwaukee (H)
7/23 Cincinnati (A)
7/25 Minnesota (A)
7/27 Calgary (H)
8/9 Seattle (H)
8/10 Seattle (A)
8/15 Indiana (H)
8/17 Vancouver (A)
8/18 Seattle (H)
8/23 El Paso (A)
8/29 El Paso (H)