The Portland Timbers open their 2024 Major League Soccer season, their 14th in the league, tonight at Providence Park vs. the Colorado Rapids.
It is the third time the Timbers have opened their MLS camplaign against the Rapids, the others being their first MLS season in 2011, and also in 2019. Both of those matches were on the road though, and resulted in a 3-1 loss (2011), and a 3-3 draw (2019).
The Timbers will look a bit different on the field this year, as a large number of players are no longer on the roster. Players that are no longer on the Timbers roster:
- Sebastián Blanco
- Yimmi Chará
- Jarosław Niezgoda
- David Bingham
- Franck Boli
- Noel Caliskan
- Bryan Acosta
- Diego Gutierrez
- Justin Rasmussen
Aljaž Ivačič is officially still on the Timbers roster, but is not expected to see any more action for the Timbers, though his exact status is unknown.
The roster moves the Timbers now have two designated player spots open, with Evander (now wearing #10) being the only designated player. The Timbers are expected to sign a designated player striker in the next few weeks, but it’s completely unkown if this will actually happen, and who that player might be.
The Timbers are also under the management of new coach Phil Neville, who of course is legendary for his playing time for Manchester United and Everton. He does have some MLS managerial experience with Inter Miami from 2021 to 2023, where his record was 35 wins, 13 draws, 42 losses, though this success there was largely hampered by retrictions MLS had put on the club because of roster rule violations that took place before Neville’s time with the club.
The Timbers did make some exciting acquisitions in the offseason, especially for their defense which has been very suspect the last few years. New players are:
- Maxime Crépeau – After spending 3 years in Vancouver, he was with LAFC the past two years and is one of the top goalkeepers in MLS. The Timbers acquiring him greatly impoves their goalkeeping, and is very likely the best keeper the MLS Timbers have ever had.
- Kamal Miller – A defencer who has played with Orlando, Montréal, and Miami, and like Crépeau has Canadian national team experience.
- Trey Muse – Another new goalkeeper who played with the Charleston Battery last year. He also played for the Tacoma Defiance a few years ago.
- James Pantemis – Yet another goalkeeper as well, who also played several years in Montréal, and also has some Canadian national team experience.
I will be shooting photos at the matches again this year, and also hope to add some new features to this website, so stay tuned!
