Because soccer isn't gay, but once in awhile it kinda is.
Posts tagged Gavin Wilkinson
Downward Spiral in the Timbers Organization
08/17/12
The last 5 Portland Timbers games were against teams that were in the bottom half of the Western Conference (Chivas USA, FC Dallas) and the worst team in Major League Soccer, Toronto FC. I was hoping to get some form of results from all of these games because it could be plausible that we can get right back into the mix of things, but I was dead wrong.
The first Chivas game we lost 1-0 on a sunny afternoon down in LA, the following game we got shellacked against FC Dallas 5-0, then we lost again to Chivas USA 1-0, tied FC Dallas 1-1, and then tied 2-2. So out of this 5 game stint we only managed to get 2 points against some of the worst teams in MLS out of a possible 15 points.
I do not place blame on everybody but it seems to me that our defense is still lacking and that there is nothing Gavin is doing at this time to shore up the defense. I do not feel bad for him because he has made the team worse and is in the running to be the worst team in MLS which is something we should not be proud of. I would love to see a shoring up of strong defenders and midfielders but I also need to keep in mind this isn’t just Gavin’s decision since he has to listen to Merritt and the candidates for the coaching position as well (since they narrowed the coaching candidates during this time). Since they have a huge influence as to what kind of players they want to see on the field and which ones needs to be traded.
End of the Road for Spencer: A Turning Point in Timbers Season?
07/10/12
John Spencer who was the first Major League Soccer coach of the Portland Timbers has been sacked by the Owner Merritt Paulson late yesterday.
In his press conference, Merritt was very emotional throughout because of his good friendship with Sepncer, said that the reasons for the sacking was because of “philosophical differences” between the two men. He stressed that the record of the team was not to blame for this decision. Merritt went on to say that Gavin Wilkinson, current General Manager and former Timbers player and coach, will be the interim coach of the Timbers for the remainder of the season.
They went on to talk about how starting today they are formally searching for a permanent head coach and have 10 names that they are zoning in on. They will announce the decision of a new coach by the end of the 2012 calendar year. During the interview Merritt did say that this decision to sack John Spencer was not “waiving the white flag on the 2012 season” and that they will be able to turn it around and make the playoffs by season’s end. He said in the conference that his goals was to make the playoffs this year and next year be in contention of the MLS Cup. The timing of Spencer being sacked happened to be Sunday night and was finalized at 8am today. read more…
