Page 80 - Soccer360 Issue 106

MLS SPOTLIGHT
ABOVE:
Liam Ridgewell lifting the Philip F. Anshutz trophy after the Portland Timbers won MLS Cup in 2015.
CREW CLAW BACK IN CONCACAF-
Machicado told The Athletic in February. “It was a bad look by the front office. It wasn’t that bad what Phil did, he tweeted some misogynistic things, but it opened old wounds, and wounds that are still open to folks in the community. We also felt he didn’t have a good winning record with Inter Miami, as well as his prior coaching stops.” In spite of all the positive vibes that were beginning to build, Portland followed
up their impressive start with three straight losses. Things didn’t get much better after that either. With just 10 points from their opening 11 contests, frustration was starting to sink in for both Neville and the fans.
“We can’t keep giving teams 2-0 starts
and expect to win games of football, that’s unacceptable and it’s on me,” Neville said after Portland’s disappointing loss to Charlotte FC on May 4 which extended their winless run to eight games and heaped pressure on the 47-year-old. “We’ve got to fix it and we’ve got to fix it quick. We will do because we’re so close to being a very good team, and if we learn that bit, we’ll be a better team.”
It was a busy offseason for Portland, so perhaps one can’t necessarily blame Neville or the squad for still adjusting during the beginning of the 2024 MLS campaign. After all, the Timbers did lose club legend Sebastian Blanco who opted not to return after his contract expired. They also declined their option to keep striker Jaroslaw Niezgoda, one of their designated players. It had been almost a complete roster overhaul, allowing Neville to start fresh. With that new beginning would come some obvious challenges. The team’s biggest acquisition had come after the season had already started, when they inked Uruguayan international
striker Jonathan “Cabecita” Rodriguez as a Designated Player. The 30-year-old arrived from Mexican side Club America, signing a deal with Portland until 2026. Playing alongside Brazilian playmaker and fellow Designated Player Evander, the Timbers are hoping that Rodriguez will cause chaos for defenders across Major League Soccer.
“I think it’s exciting for all Portland Timbers fans. But without question a lot of that’s because of the success that Jonathan’s had at multiple stops in the Mexican league,” Grabavoy explained in a club statement. “Club América right now is probably one of the best, if not
the best club, in the entire region. You expect to see them compete all the way through the [CONCACAF] Champions Cup that they’re in right now. I think the ability for us to bring a player of this level at this time for our group
is huge.” The fact Rodriguez already has experience playing in CONCACAF should make the adjustment to MLS much easier. However, signing seasoned veterans doesn’t just guarantee success, regardless of how talented they may be. The striker also made it clear that both he and the club are quite ambitious. “That’s why I came [to win MLS Cup],” Rodriguez continued. “Both me and the club want that: make the playoffs and try to win the trophy. It’s obviously a big motivation.”
Ultimately, the task will be up to Neville to
get the most out of his team and it remains
to be seen whether he is capable of doing
so. Besides the aforementioned SheBelieves Cup with the English Women’s National Team, Neville has never won a trophy as a manager and still has a lot to prove himself. This could be his last opportunity as an MLS head coach if things don’t go according to plan, as many clubs would rather avoid the public relations nightmare that Portland endured at the time of his hiring.
If Neville can get the job done in Portland, many fans will be quick to overlook his past comments.
MLS TOP MOMENTS
MLS= MESSI ALBA SUAREZ- To the surprise of no one, Inter Miami have dominated the league this season scoring goals in buckets. Of course, leading the charge is Messi who is at the top of both the scoring and assist charts. But he is not doing it alone. In just his first season, Luis Suarez has stepped out and proven that he is looking for trophies. In their
3-2 victory over CF Montreal, with Messi injured, the Uruguayan international netted the equalizer and helped open up play for Benjamin Cremacihi for the game- winner. Alba meanwhile has led a young, untested backline to shutouts over Real Salt Lake and Orlando City SC.
The Columbus Crew appeared to be dead
to rights in the CONCACAF Champions League semifinal series against Monterrey CF. Despite earning a 2-1 win at home against their Liga MX foes, they would have to go to Mexico where only seven percent of MLS teams have ever won a match and overcome conceding a home goal. For many teams that might be too much to handle. But not for the Crew, who soundly dispatched Rayados 3-1 to book their spot in the finals.
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