It's Timbers Time! Matt’s back from Europe and there’s plenty to talk about this week - we discuss the late game chaos as the Timbers come back from San Diego with three points, more Antony counterattacking madness, stupid handball rules, and continued improvements in the press. Plus the Timbers are conceding a goal a game (!) from outside the box or thereabouts… Chris does a deep tactical dive into what's going wrong in Zone 14. RCTID!

This episode's talking points include:

• Was this the right game to drop Antony from the starting XI?

• Why are we conceding from so many long shots? A deep dive analysis! What systemic problems do the Timbers have and who’s to blame?

• Why the press continues to improve, but why it’s too early to believe

• Why our early turnovers weren’t punished

• The penalty law is still stupid

• Should Kelsy’s disallowed goal have stood?

• How many goals should Cole Bassett be good for this year?

• Antony’s left foot strikes again (or doesn’t strike again)

• Chara’s golden years get us in our feels

• The bizarre last three minutes were tactical madness from Phil

• On reflection, how bad was the first half?

• Phil reveals his "Weakness"

• Losing the Whitecaps would be heartbreaking

• RSL (A) preview

  
  

Content Warning: "S" Bombs ahoy

Content Links:

Shot Location and Expected Goals in the Premier League:

https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2013/11/13/5098186/shot-matrix-i-shot-location-and-expected-goals

Soccer “Zones” Map:

https://smarter.soccer/free-downloads/Smarter-Soccer-The-Soccer-Zones.pdf

Where Goals Come From: https://www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/tag/Where+Goals+Come+From

How 442 became 4231:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2008/dec/18/4231-442-tactics-jonathan-wilson

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(2:24) San Diego (A) - Pre-Game Press Conferences

(7:45) San Diego (A) - Injury Report

(9:04) San Diego (A)- Starting XI & Formation Analysis

(13:08) San Diego (A) - First Half Analysis

(25:24) San Diego (A) - Second Half Analysis

(49:54) San Diego (A) - Post Game - Moment and Man of the Match

(59:09) San Diego (A) - Phil’s Post-Game Press Conference

(1:03:59) Zone 14 of Interest - Why Are The Timbers Conceding So Many Long Shots?

(1:25:52) Timbers News, MLS News

(1:31:01) RSL (A) Preview

Listener Topics and Questions!

Thanks for listening and please do send us your questions or topics for analysis for the next episode:

Email: ⁠⁠⁠timberstimepod@gmail.com

IG: timberstimepod

It's Timbers Time! This week, with Matt adventuring in Europe, Chris sails solo with a quick hitting pod going over the error-strewn loss in Minnesota, as the Timbers go for broke and leave empty handed, if points do in fact manifest in the hand metaphorically. There's at least hope in one young player’s development and intrigue in asking what it would take to get us to buy into Phil-osophy?…. RCTID!

This episode's talking points include:

• An intelligent and tactically nuanced press conference (not by Phil Neville)

• Relief at Juan Mosquera’s injury news

• Big problems in defensive transition remain

• How five consecutive errors led to the opening Minnesota goal

• The shocking percentage of goals the Timbers have conceded from outside the box

• How Antony’s unwillingness to use his left foot is creating so many problems

• Seeing the long diagonal ball in transition as a recent pattern for opposition goals

• How despite extremely aggressive and risky defensive positioning in the second half the team create barely a chance against a set defence

• Finn’s on ball development is a bright spark in a struggling team

• What would it take for us to buy into Phil-osophy?

• Velde’s acting woes

• T2 update

• San Diego (A) preview

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:16) Minnesota (A) - Pre-Game Press Conferences

(3:29) Minnesota (A) - Starting XI & Formation Analysis

(5:01) Minnesota (A) - First Half Analysis

(11:29) Minnesota (A) - Second Half Analysis

(15:33) Minnesota (A) - Post Game - Moment and Man of the Match

(16:45) Minnesota (A) - Phil’s Post-Game Press Conference

(17:57) Listener Question - What would it take for us to buy into Phil-sophy?

(21:37) Timbers News, T2 Update, MLS News

(23:14) San Diego (A) Preview

Listener Topics and Questions!

Thanks for listening and please do send us your questions or topics for analysis for the next episode: ⁠⁠⁠timberstimepod@gmail.com or DM us on IG: timberstimepod

It's Timbers Time! This week Chris and Matt discuss a big win as the Timbers snatch a goal at the death to take three points from Western Conference leaders LAFC. We are impressed with our new midfield duo, discuss how much confidence can be taken from this victory with the opposition rotating heavily due to CCL, and ask whether Phil’s tactics (or lack thereof) leave us at the vicissitudes of fortune, or just the varying soccer IQ of the players on the pitch… RCTID!

This episode's talking points include:

• LAFC’s surprising lineup and tactics

• Comparing Caicedo to previous Timbers defensive midfielders

• How more technical players in the lineup helped us play out of the back, negate the press and ultimately create the opening goal

• LAFC exploiting the same direct ball weakness we saw against Vancouver

• Velde continues his”bully ball” and prime sh*thousery to entertaining effect

• Mora’s “secretive” performance

• Fory gets mad at his early sub, does the team have a tantrum problem?

• Did LAFC risk playing this game with rookies because the Shield doesn’t matter?

• The drama of the last minute VAR call and late late winner

• The “vicissitudes of fortune” and what to make of Phil’s late game tactics

• How deserved was this victory?

• Did Velde’s more central positioning in this game marginalize Da Costa’s influence?

• Phil expected Caicedo to go to a bigger club!

• The irony of Phil’s post game comments of “not thinking everything’s against you”

• The Apple TV Commentator’s subtle critique of the coaching

• Ned gives Phil 14 games to prove himself and again talks about a third DP

• The 107ist IG post doesn’t go down well with the fans

• Is Neymar moving to… OHIO?

• Minnesota (A) preview

Content Warning: Filthier mouthed than than usual, some f bombs

Timestamps:

(0:00) Introduction

(1:55) LAFC (H) - Phil’s Pre-Game Press Conference

(3:04) LAFC (H) - Starting XI & Formation Analysis

(7:23) LAFC (H) - First Half Analysis

(24:17) LAFC (H) - Second Half Analysis

(49:32) LAFC (H) - Post Game - Moment and Man of the Match

(56:06) LAFC (H) - Phil’s Post Game Press Conference

(59:52) Is the Team’s “Fabric” a Problem?

(1:01:59) Ned Speaks to the Press - Gives Phil 14 Games To Prove Himself

(1:04:40) Ned Speaks to the Press - A Potential 3 DP Roster - Are We Going for a DP Striker?

(1:05:38) Timbers News - 107IST Instagram Post Goes Down Like a Lead Balloon

(1:10:43) MLS News - Is Nemar going to…OHIO?

(1:12:09) Minnesota (A) Preview

Listener Topics and Questions!

Thanks for listening and please do send us your questions or topics for analysis for the next episode: ⁠⁠⁠timberstimepod@gmail.com or DM us on IG: timberstimepod