Dreadful start leaves Timbers answering tough questions
Portland hasn't won since February.
It was after his sixth game of his third season with the Portland Timbers that Phil Neville faced the question that’s become a not-so-scarce topic online.
The Timbers (1-1-4, 4 points) had just lost 3-2 to Vancouver. After beginning the year by saying “we’ve got to deliver,” all the Timbers have delivered is a lone win in February and a spot in the bottom of the Western Conference.
It’s been a dreadful start — so much so that discussions that had mainly been saved for social media leaked into Neville’s postgame press conference.
“I’m wondering, as a coach, what level of concern do you have about your own job security? Some fans are calling for a switch,” asked a member of the Vancouver media.
“Who’s calling for my head?” Neville replied.
“The fans.”
“Are they?”
“Yes.”
“Which fans?”
“Timbers fans.”
Neville didn’t seem to care much for the question. In his mind, his Timbers had just played a hell of a match that was taken from them by a questionable call from the referee. Had the official not whistled Antony for protecting his face on a rocket of a shot, Portland likely wins 2-1 on Saturday and the narrative is about how, after a first month of injuries and roster transition, the Timbers went to Canada and came home with three points against the league’s best offense.
Neville listed eight players he thought played really well, including new addition Jose Caicedo, who made his debut in the midfield. Juan Mosquera scored in his season debut. David Da Costa put one past the keeper for the first time since July. This wasn’t a match where Portland was outgunned or outmanned on the pitch.
But it was another match where Portland crumbled when it mattered most.
The handball decision ultimately led to Thomas Müller’s equalizing penalty in the 91st minute. What the Timbers had — and then lost — control of was everything that followed. Instead of coming away with a point, Portland lost all of it when Sebastian Berhalter thumped in a rebound in the dying moments.
And instead of talking about a win that could have changed the momentum of the season, Finn Surman was asked whether the Timbers need a new manager.
“No, I don’t think that’s an appropriate question. And I don’t think that’s something that we need to happen,” Surman said. “I think it’s down to us players. We know in that locker room that we have not been good enough and we can’t be conceding these late goals. We need to, first of all, play better in the second half, we need to keep the ball better, and we need to manage the game slightly better. Especially when you do get to those last 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes where, if you are holding on to the lead for whatever reason or holding on to a draw, whatever the situation is, we need to do better.”
In response to the question about his job security, Neville said Portland fans are passionate and that he wants success as much as they do. He said he welcomed the blame as long as it shielded his players from it.
Then he made clear where he thought the blame belonged.
“I told them in the locker room, sometimes you think the world is against you, and it feels like that with the decisions that were made,” Neville said of the officiating. “Without a shadow of a doubt, Jimer Fory shouldn’t have been sent off in Colorado. Kamal Miller shouldn’t have been sent off against LA Galaxy. And that shouldn’t have been a handball tonight. But that will change. Once it changes, then we’re going to be a really good team.”
The problem for Neville is that officiating has drawn his ire for much of his three seasons in Portland. There’s reason for that — the Timbers have had a handful of high-profile decisions go against them in recent seasons, and Neville hasn’t always been unjust in calling them out.
But it doesn’t seem like there’s going to suddenly be a league-wide referendum on the way the Timbers are refereed. And the fanbase doesn’t have a voice in the league office.
It does have one at Providence Park, though, a place where those online conversations could once again transition into real-world voices if the Timbers don’t play a full 90 against LAFC on Saturday.
— Tyson Alger, The I-5 Corridor
Phil Neville is a nice enough guy, but his teams seldom have all 12 guys fighting to the end; especially on 50/50 balls or on defense. Opposing wingers keep killing us, by dominating the area along the end touch line or the top of the box.
As a season ticket-holder since the first kick, we Timber fans seldom give up on our lads, but these recent few years in a row of timid Timbers defense has gotten exasperating!! The Timbers can do better and that starts at the top of the coaching chain.