Timbers Time

It's Timbers Time! This week Chris and Matt do a deep dive into the frantic, rollercoaster of a game north of the border where the Timbers crashed to a late 3-2 defeat. There is a LOT to talk about in this game from goal of the season contenders to calamitous errors and bizarre tactical decisions and we really get into it! Then we talk about our desire for team accountability as passionate fans and the role of the media, getting into some ethical questions… Socrates would be proud. The philosopher, not the magnificently hirsute Brazilian international from the 80s, though maybe he’d give it a listen too. Plus Phil kindly confirms our abductive reasoning about his trend chasing coaching from last episode and Chris’s eagle eye spots something amusing in Phil’s home interior decor… RCTID!This episode's talking points include:Phil eschews tactical pragmatism and keeps a high lineCaicedo’s assured debutBreaking down the calamitous first goal - who’s to blame?Timbers counter attack vs high press systems risk/rewardMosquera’s Zidane impression - Goal of the Season already?How did Laborda not get sent off?Chara breaks the MLS yellow card record and why he isn’t a “dirty” playerIs the handball penalty just bad luck? Are handball rules fair?Where are the defensive substitutions?Phil’s continuing failures in situational coachingDo some good individual performances offer hope for the future?The meaning and ethics of “grilling” a coachThe importance of the independent press as a conduit for fan accountabilityThe dangers of the rise of “In-House” journalismPhil blames the ref and tries to create a “siege mentality” in the locker roomPhil confirms our fears about his trend-chasing management stylePhil’s amusing interior decor LAFC (H) PreviewContent Warning: Moderate swears, a single F bomb from Matt, the potty mouthTimestamps:(0:00) Introduction(2:00) Vancouver (A) - Starting XI & Formation Analysis(5:00)  Vancouver (A)  - First Half Analysis(31:59)   Vancouver (A)  - Second Half Analysis(56:48)  Vancouver (A)  - Post Game - Moment and Man of the Match(1:00:04) The Jaguars Incident and Press Conference Journalistic Ethics (1:08:11) Listener Question - What Qualifies as a Coach Getting “Grilled”?(1:11:45) The Timbers Media Landscape and the Importance of an Independent Press(1:23:13) Listener Question - Do Press Risk Access if they “Grill” or Speak Honestly”?(1:25:22) Vancouver (A)  - Phil’s Press Conference Psychology and Siege Mentality(1:29:31) Tactics Follow Up - Phil Confirms Our Suspicions of Trend Chasing(1:34:34) Timbers News! MLS News!(1:37:17) LAFC (H) PreviewContent Links:When empathy replaces inquiry: Why ethics still matter in sports journalismhttps://www.quillmag.com/2026/01/14/when-empathy-replaces-inquiry-why-ethics-still-matter-in-sports-journalism/Sports Newsrooms Versus In-House Media: Cheerleading and Critical Reporting in News and Match Coveragehttps://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21674795211043105“Part of the Team”: In-House Sports Reporters Navigating the Journalistic PeripheryFans suffer as football clubs show journalists the red cardhttps://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jul/26/football-clubs-ban-journalists-newcastle-unitedSoccer reporter banned for doing journalismhttps://nwu.org/soccer-reporter-banned-for-doing-journalism/Phil Neville on Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan & Tim Howardhttps://youtu.be/XX3I9ZLoFoEListener Topics and Questions!Thanks for listening and please do send us your questions or topics for analysis for the next episode:Email Us : ⁠⁠⁠timberstimepod@gmail.com DM us on IG:  timberstimepod

It's Timbers Time! This week Chris and Matt break down the eventful 1-1 tie with the LA Galaxy discussing the bright start, early red card, and tactical adjustments, one of which Phil pretended never happened…. Plus a deep dive on Phil’s coaching ability, assessing his performance (or lack thereof) in eight different categories from motivational ability to tactical identity and situational coachingThis episode's talking points include:How sustainable was our fast and exciting start for future games?Breaking down Kamal’s red card and was taking Kelsy off a bad decision?Phil’s positional shift that cost us the goal, that he later pretends he didn’t do!How a deep 4 back bunker then secured a point quite comfortablyVelde’s wild and shady bilingual press conference tells a lot of blunt truthsCoaching Special - Is Phil a Good Coach? Do the Team Look Fit, Organized and Motivated?Does Phil Have a Clear Tactical Identity or is he Chasing Tactical Trends?Quantifying differences between MLS and the EPL that should influence tactical identityIs a lack of tactical structure one of Phil’s biggest coaching failures?How evident the Timbers’ poor offensive rotations are compared to other teamsAn alarming statistic about the team’s defenseHow the team’s poor secondary press is leading to counter attacksIs the reward of the high press worth the risk?Vancouver (A) PreviewContent Warning: Moderate swearsTimestamps:(0:00) Introduction(2:07) LA Galaxy (H)  - Starting XI & Formation Analysis(4:48) LA Galaxy (H)  - First Half Analysis(22:13) LA Galaxy (H)  - Second Half Analysis(28:24) LA Galaxy (H) - Post Game - Moment and Man of the Match(31:07) LA Galaxy (H) - Phil’s Press Conference(33:10) LA Galaxy (H) - Velde’’s Press Conference (36:22) Phil Neville and a Coaching Special - Introduction(39:09) Assessing Phil Neville - Performance vs Roster Spend and Player Assessment(42:53) Assessing Phil Neville - Is the Team Motivated, Fit, Focused and Playing Hard?(46:09) Assessing Phil Neville - Offensive and Defensive Set Pieces(49:29) Assessing Phil Neville - Substitution Patterns, Situational Coaching and Tactical Flexibility (55:28) Assessing Phil Neville - Tactical Identity, Meta Tactics and Following Trends(59:48) Assessing Phil Neville - Quantifying Why MLS Needs Different Tactics to the EPL(1:02:49) Assessing Phil Neville - Structural vs Organic Styles of Play and Soccer IQ(1:05:59) Assessing Phil Neville - Are the Timbers a Well Organized and Well Drilled Team?(1:07:26) Assessing Phil Neville - How Wing Turnovers are Emblematic of Poor Offensive Coaching(1:11:17) Assessing Phil Neville - The Team’s Long Term xG Conceded is Alarming(1:13:59) Assessing Phil Neville - The Ideal Press Vs The Timbers’ Press(1:20:12) Assessing Phil Neville - The Mess That Is The Secondary Press(1:22:23) Assessing Phil Neville - Is The Press Worth The Risk? Is it Working?(1:25:25) Assessing Phil Neville - Conclusion - Is Phil A Good Coach?(1:28:26) Call for Listener Topic Suggestions!(1:28:50) Timbers News! New Signings! MLS News(1:33:18) Vancouver (A) PreviewContent Links:Timbers pressing data from 2025: https://soccerment.com/mls-2025-data-driven-insights-from-the-first-5-rounds/The physical demands of Major League Soccer (including EPL comparison) : https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12551844/Velde for Olympiacos vs PAOK including positional rotations to support a winger in posession: https://youtu.be/tHxl-JNxM6YWhat a highly structured and organized press looks like in MLS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAOawmYLOIYListener Topics and Questions:Thanks for listening and please do send us your questions or topics for analysis for the next episode :⁠⁠⁠timberstimepod@gmail.com

It's Timbers Time! In this episode we analyse the heartbreaking injury time loss to Houston. Lots to talk about tactically in this one from formation and positional changes, Velde finally scoring in regular season play despite a penalty miss, and more issues with the press. Plus an Academy special! We break down the production of the Timbers youth team system since they joined MLS, how do they match up to other teams that joined MLS around the same time? How about other franchises with limited catchment areas? We get stuck into the data with surprising results and wrap up with an LA Galaxy preview.This episode's talking points include:- Finding the positives in a third defeat in a row- What went wrong for the Houston winner?- Should  DaCosta play the 8 more regularly?- How suited is Guerra to playing as a solo striker?- Is Pantemis’ lack of confidence becoming a problem? Do we need to think about a replacement GK?- Velde misses a pen but finally scores in the regular season! Will this be the confidence boost he needs to start a run of good form?- Pressure on Phil after 3 straight losses, are his press conference excuses valid?- Does dominating possession mean you controlled the game?- Academy Special! We do a deep dive into the Timbers academy production since the club joined MLS in 2011 - What are the TImbers worse at than lowly Chivas USA?- What CBA / Roster Rules limit Eric Izoita’s appearances for the Timbers?- How much of a problem is Jimer Fory’s disciplinary record?- Galaxy (H) PreviewContent Warning: Moderate swearsTimestamps:(0:00) Introduction(1:23) Houston (A) - Starting XI & Formation Analysis(2:59) Houston (A) - First Half Analysis(13:56) Houston (A) - Second Half Analysis(31:40) Houston (A) -Post Game - Moment and Man of the Match(33:20) Houston (A) - Post Game - Should DaCosta Play the 8 More Regularly?(35:45) Houston (A) - Post Game - Gage Guerra as a Solo Striker(38:20) Houston (A) - Post Game - Form and Confidence Worries for Pantemis (40:50) Houston (A) - Post Game - Final Thoughts and a few Positives(41:54) Houston (A) - Phil’s Press Conferences - (48:35) Academy Special!(59:27) Roster Rules / CBA  and Eric Izoita(1:03:01) Listener Question - Is Jimer Fory’s Timbers Future in Question due to his Disciplinary Record?(1:05:12) Timbers News! New Signings! MLS News!(1:10:34) Galaxy (H) PreviewThanks for listening and please do send us your questions for the next episode:⁠⁠⁠timberstimepod@gmail.com

It's Timbers Time! In this episode we break down the 4-1 defeat to Vancouver, talk about new faces including young academy star Eric Izoita and new signings Caicedo and Aravena. We focus mostly though on our GM Special - what makes a good GM and does Ned earn that accolade? We continue our dive into the Timbers roster spend history assessing the team’s history of DP signings and all of Ned’s pickups since he took over as GM in 2022.This episode's talking points include:- Izoita’s Dream Debut!- A New DMid! We assess the signing of Caicedo- GM Special! What makes a good GM?- The Mess and the Press vs Vancouver- Dissecting Phil’s Post Game Press Conference- Rating the Timbers DP signings since 2011- Ned’s signings as GM - Hit, Miss or Maybe?- Criticizing Ned’s Strategic Approach- T2 Scouting Report!- Houston (A) PreviewContent Warning: Moderate swears. Gold stars to us for not “effing and blinding” at this terrible performance, frankly.Timestamps:(0:00) Introduction(1:43) Vancouver (H) - Starting XI & Formation Analysis(4:27) Vancouver (H) - Tifo Shoutout(5:09) Vancouver (H) - First Half Analysis(14:25) Vancouver (H) - Second Half Analysis(25:23) Vancouver (H) - Moment and Man of the Match(27:06) Vancouver (H) - Phil’s Press Conference(30:40) Listener Question! Kelsy vs Guerra(35:11) GM Special! What makes a good GM?(38:45) GM Special! Timbers All Time DP Signings(56:43) GM Special! Ned’s Signings - Hit or Miss?(1:01:06) Criticizing Ned’s Strategic Approach(1:08:15) T2 Scouting Report!(1:11:19) Timbers News! New Signings! MLS News!(1:17:48) Houston (A) PreviewThanks for listening and please do send us your questions for the next episode: ⁠⁠⁠timberstimepod@gmail.com

In this episode we break down the 2-0 defeat to Colorado, there's a lot to learn from this one! We also dissect a decade of Timbers transfer spending data, tackle this week's news and look forward to the upcoming Cascadia Cup game against the Vancouver Whitecaps.This episode's talking points include:- What happened to the press?- Pantemis vs Steffen goalkeeping performances- How Colorado exploited the Timbers' man marking system- Analysis of Set Piece defending breakdowns- Was Fory's red justified? - How much do we miss having a true number 10?- The Timbers net transfer spend since the MLS Cup Season has some big surprises- Does our transfer spend history explain our pivot to younger DPs?- Expectations for Vancouver at home next weekContent Warning: Moderate swearsTimestamps:(0:00) Introduction(1:15) Colorado (A) - Formation Analysis(3:51) Colorado (A) - First Half Analysis(18:43) Colorado (A) - Second Half Analysis(37:07) Colorado (A) - Timbers' Man of the Match(40:53) Colorado (A) - Tactics Takeaways (44:25) Front Office Special! A Decade of Net Transfer Spend(57:02) Timbers News!(1:01:14) Vancouver at Home PreviewThanks for listening and please do send us your questions for the next episode!⁠⁠timberstimepod@gmail.com

In our second episode we breakdown the big win in the home opener, do a deep dive on a decade of front office spending levels, and talk fan fest DP number 9 speculation! Thanks to everyone who tuned into our first episode season preview, we were blown away by the number of listeners! Truly appreciated.Content Warning: A couple of S bombsTimestamps:(0:00) Introduction(2:49) Timbers vs Crew - Formation Analysis(4:50) Timbers vs Crew - First Half Analysis(18:58) Timbers vs Crew - Second Half Analysis(25:01) Timbers vs Crew - Moment and Man of the Match(27:45) Timbers vs Crew - Notable Player Performances(33:39) Timbers vs Crew - Tactics Breakdown(37:10) Fan Fest! What we Learned(52:51) Front Office Special! Ownership and Investment Breakdown(1:07:20) Colorado (A) PreviewNew mics are hooked up; audio should be much better outside of us still waiting for our pop filters, causing the odd plosive issue. Thanks for listening and please do send us your questions for the next episode:⁠timberstimepod@gmail.com

This first ever episode of Timbers Time focuses primarily on analysing the team’s roster strengths and weaknesses, along with a discussion of expected formations and tactical variations… and will we win on opening day?Content Warning: Occasional moderate swears(0:47) Introductions - Who we are and what the podcast is all about(4:46) Why and how we support the Timbers(7:13) Soccer content begins! Formation Analysis(11:20) Roster Analysis - Goalkeepers(15:45) Roster Analysis - Defenders(31:48) Roster Analysis - Defensive Midfielders(43:30) Roster Analysis - Attacking Midfielders(59:15) Roster Analysis - Strikers(1:06:47) Strengths and Weaknesses of the Roster as a whole(1:12:11) Expectations for the Season(1:16:52) Opening DayA few minor teething problems for our first episode, middling audio and one or two little glitches, which will be fixed for episode two after the Columbus Game this weekend! Thanks for bearing with us as we find our feet in the podcast world.Thanks for listening and please do send us your questions for the next episode:timberstimepod@gmail.com