Portland Timbers had a rough start to the season, but since they have been literally unbeatable. New head coach Giovanni Savarese initially sought to install an aggressive pressing system with a high defensive line, but after giving up 12 goals in five games, he stepped back, looked at his roster, and decided that a different strategy was necessary.
That new look is, perhaps unsurprisingly, closer to what Savarese’s predecessor Caleb Porter utilized, and the team’s ability to execute consistently has been impressive. And, as usual, most good things in Portland flow through Diego Valeri. The Argentinian maestro is somewhat quietly putting up numbers similar to Minnesota’s breakout star Darwin Quintero and Houston star man Romell Quioto.
Valeri leads the team in goals (tied with Samuel Armenteros) and in assists, and his ability to be a superstar-of-all-trades means Portland can remain in a more defensive posture even when in possession. With Diego Valeri on the pitch, you don’t need an extra man forward, you just need the right runs at the right times. With the slyly intelligent Armenteros on board and Sebastian Blanco settling in, Portland has the men to make those runs.
Blanco, however, is suspended for Saturday’s match. In the one other game he missed this season, the Timbers played a morphing 4-4-2/5-2-1-2, with Lawrence Olum dropping deep defensively but sliding into midfield when Portland controlled the ball. Portland gave up tons of possession in that one, letting Seattle Sounders out-pass them 493 to 370.
Don’t expect such passivity at home, but do anticipate a team that sets up to protect the middle of the pitch and stretch play horizontally so space opens for Valeri in the channels. Armenteros is coming off a slight back injury, and if he can’t go there’s a chance that Dairon Asprilla — who has as many offsides calls as shots on goal this season — plays up top.
Philadelphia Union face off against the Timbers at 11PM EST on Saturday, August 4. Fans can follow all the action on PHL17.
