Progressive Possession: Analysis Portland Timbers

Analysis One:  Portland Timbers


Culture:
The Portland Timbers are beginning their 3rd year of MLS play.  Previously, this organization existed in the USL "A" League.  They have since been "promoted" in an unconventional fashion. The club was first formed in 2001 and competed in the USL until 2010.  Portland does have roots back to the defunct NASL in 1975 as well.  Portland does have one of the top fan support groups within MLS.  From every presser and article read, you do get the impression that the Portland front office is trying their best to put out a quality product to appease fan groups, and keep support high.  This is a common tactic for new coaches to appeal to the interest of fans, but you do get the sense there is something specific detailed within the blueprint of the Portland Timbers front office in coordination with what Caleb Porter is trying to do.

Stadium
Portland Timbers play in a refurbished minor league baseball stadium, which one might think is a negative.  The truth of the matter is that it is a mixed bag.  The actual seating is a plus.  When watching games played at Jeld-Wen Field, the noise levels do seem to rival those of some European clubs.  A rarity for any MLS side.  This is in part due to the American style baseball roof that covers the Timbers Army, the Portland supporters group.  The negative to Jeld-Wen Field is that the climate in Portland, Oregon means that natural grass is not a possibility.  Jeld-Wen Field's surface is Field-turf and appears narrow with how slick the ball can move on the turf.  If touches or passes are heavy or leading, it does lead to turnovers.  This does provide a home field advantage for Portland as opposing teams seem to aimlessly clear the ball long often.  Portland may credit this down to their pressing game, but surely the surface does play a role.

Backroom Staff: 
Manager: Caleb Porter (1st yr)
Assistant:  Gavin Wilkinson (former Timbers player; served as Interim Head Coach in 2012)

Preferred Tactics:

- 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 (narrow or offset diamond)
- Attacking fullbacks
- Width, depth.  Patient build up from the back inter-mixed with one touch passing in attacking third

Key players (in order of importance):

- Diego Valeri (ACM)
- Ryan Johnson (CF)
- Darlington Nagbe (LW/ACM)
- Will Johnson (DCM)
- Ryan Miller (RB)

When constructing his team, Caleb Porter has a tendency to focus building on certain positions he determines as vital.  This can especially be seen within MLS league policies of Salary Cap and Designated Players (ACM Diego Valeri, CF Ryan Johnson).  The truth is, even beyond the unusual league rules of MLS, these positions are crucial in modern football.  When playing a high tempo, one touch passing, and high pressing game, you need technical players with a brain in the centre of the pitch (W. Johnson, Valeri, Nagbe) combined with a physical component to stretch opposing teams in behind, hold the ball up, while also being comfortable in combination play (R. Johnson, Nagbe). The final piece in Porter's system are attacking full backs.  Ryan Miller has impressed early on in the preseason matches. He is athletic, has a strong engine and compliments the side well with grit and toughness.

Projected first choice 11:


The basic formula Caleb Porter tends to build on focuses on 3 distinct prongs:

Technique, Athleticism, Soccer IQ

Midfield Triangle:
The triangle of Johnson, Chara, and Valeri fit the "passer, destroyer, creator" model often seen over the last decade in Europe.  A prime example of this trio was the Liverpool side of 2007-2009 containing Mascherano, Alonso, and Gerrard.  More recent examples at Barcelona of Busquets, Xavi, and Iniesta have led way to the next evolution in midfield triangle tactics.  Portland Timbers midfield three more closely resembles a Barcelona model than the Liverpool model.  At Liverpool, Mascherno was often the deep lying disruptive force, a similar positioning that Sergio Busquotes occupies for Barcelona.  Will Johnson is much more a passer than a destroyer.  Chara serves as the engine putting out fires.  At times Chara can seem to be lacking in technical qualities, but if he keeps his game simple and plays the role of a worker in the centre of the park, he will find himself on the field for PTFC.

The real game changer here is their DP, Diego Valeri.  Although he is not blessed with tremendous athletic tools (in a league that highly prioritizes athletic ability) he more than compensates for in IQ, vision, and technique.  While I don't see him having the same impact Freddy Montero did at Seattle a few years ago as a DP, he will be vital to Portland's success in 2013.  He has proved highly influential in the preseason fixtures thus far through his creative abilities and providing an overall technique and different aspect floating between the lines.  An injury to him might lead to a severe decline in goal production and overall chance creation.

Negatives of this system:
Having had the chance to closely observe Porter at Akron (including Nagbe, Zemanski, Nanchoff, and Meves) for several seasons, one could definitely see the evolution in Porter's tactics from his early years at Akron to his final year.  Porter's tactical focus began to shift towards complete possession and less about individual brilliance.  As the Spanish game underwent slight changes in their methodology, one could see Porter's Akron teams adopt similar hegemony shifts. Having housed some of the top players in the college game over the last half of his tenure at Akron, his teams always displayed an enjoyable style of play.  However, during the last year of his time at Akron, one could see a flaw in the system.

His shift from the unique 4-4-2 offset diamond to more of a conventional 4-2-3-1/4-3-3 led to an element of predictability in the attack.  His sides need pure out and out wingers to provide the width and unlock defenses.  In 2012, his Akron side was lacking a direct threat in behind that they were previously blessed with in Zakuani, Bunbury, and Mattocks.  This Portland team does have an athletic presence to stretch the game in the Jamaican  R. Johnson, but they do lack true out-and-out wingers.  This might be an issue for Portland this year.

Defensively, they do appear a bit suspect.  The defense has not been priority #1 for Porter.  It is always easier to destroy than create, which might explain why the emphasis has heavily been on building the possession game first and building the defense afterwords.  The pressing game is still a priority for Porter, but when assembling this group, you can see where his priorities lie.  In the back, the addition of Mikel Silvestre is an interesting one.  Never the most mobile player, his age and pace might be exposed in the athletic crazed MLS.  Portland is going to be relying on Silvestre's experience and Rickets International playing pedigree in goal to help steady the ship.

Positives of this system:
Portland has begun to imprint their DNA through the preseason.  The focus is clear - attacking, possession football.  Over the course of their last three preseason games, the plan is clear.  Dictate possession for long enough and chance creation will yield itself.  Their best halves of football took place in the 1st half vs. San Jose, the Supporters Shield winner (best league record in 2012), and 2nd half vs. AIK in their final tune up last week.  They conceded soft goals in both games, yet their attacking play was highly positive.

As expected, Portland's attacks flow through their skilled guys.  Valeri, Nagbe or Johnson usually have a hand in all good things going forward.  This system will highlight all three's strengths as players who want to play good football.  Porter's teams always have high goal scoring production and the CF (similar to at Manchester Utd) in those systems always stand to gain the most.

Using W. Johnson as the fulcrum that attacks build from should also further enhance this possession ideology.  The verdict is still out on his defensive capabilities, however. An interesting space to watch will be Nagbe.  He is one of the quickest and most promising players in MLS, yet he is a touch of a "tweener". Tactical development over the last 10-15 years has allowed for skilled players who lack a true position to thrive in the modern game with the development of the "false 9" and as Brendan Rodgers recently coined, "false winger, a 7 and 1/2". Nagbe may be best served as an "off" forward working in tandem with R. Johnson, but currently he is lining up on the left with freedom to float. As Nagbe grows in confidence, he will be a top MLS performer before long. If Porter can draw the best out of Nagbe, and solve his positional query while combining the class of Valeri and R. Johnson, Portland will be an exciting team in 2013.

In closing, Portland has assembled a team that highlight the strengths of Porter's system. Pace, strength, and bravery combined with intelligence, technical prowess, and difference makers in key roles. Portland should prove to be an exciting team to watch.  It will be interesting to see how they turn their possession orientated style into goals and, ultimately, wins amidst a rugged and combative MLS schedule.