Crumbling From the Back: Timbers Early Season Defensive Woes

The boys in Green and Gold do not have a history of starting a season well, but it is hard to remember one that started so poorly on the defensive side. The Portland Timbers have one win and two losses while ranking near the bottom of the league in most defensive categories. Too many senseless cards, bad tackles in and near the box, lack of defensive identity, and leading the league in shots against are not signs of a backline that just needs a tweak or two to figure things out. The backbone of a good side is its ability to defend, and through three matches, there is no sign that it will turn around as quickly as the Timbers faithful would like. Head Coach Phil Neville understands the problem, but can he start to turn things around?

Following Last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Nashville, Neville stated, “You think that a team’s going to open you up with great play, and it just seemed like straight balls over the top were causing us a lot of problems in the first half. And that, for me, was more concentration. Defending how you should be. Three long balls over the top in the first 10 minutes caused us problems. That made us nervous at the back.” This match would have been so much worse if it had not been for two penalty saves by James Pantemis. To be undone by simple straight balls over the top at this level is highly concerning. Those problems have been there for the first three matches of the season. Even in their 1-0 victory over Austin FC, they were outshot 13-7, 4-2 in shots on goal, and 2-1 on big chances, with one Austin shot hitting the woodwork. With three matches down and a defense that does not look like it is getting better, it is disorganized and as unsure as ever.

Timbers keeper James Pantemis addressed the difference between employing a back three and back four following their last match, “It’s more for the center backs. Do they have to drop in with, let’s say [Sam Surridge] or [Hany Mukhtar], knowing that you have one less now in the back to protect you. So that’s a decision for them — and comes from me too, the communication.” While they may be capable of playing both ways, it has not shown on matchdays. The center backs in the back three have more defensive responsibility than in a back four, and so far, they have not been up to the challenge. Portland is in the top 5 in yellow cards received this season, and none of those cards have gone to Diego Chara. The tactics just do not seem to match the personnel. For most of the season, they have played with the back three, and it has looked like the Timbers are learning a whole new language from scratch. Hopefully, going into Sunday’s match against fellow Western Conference strugglers, the LA Galaxy Portland goes with a more comfortable back 4.

In Portland’s three trips to the MLS Cup, they finished seasons strong and did not start out as league leaders. What feels different about this season is that with all of the personnel changes, we have created more problems than we have found solutions to. Phil Neville has a lot to sort out. If he wants to be remembered as fondly as Porter or Savarese, he needs to sort the backline out, giving the team a defensive foundation that will allow them to attack. You will not be successful upfront if you do not know who you are in the back.