5 Roster Spots Left: Who Gets Signed?

The Portland Timbers currently have 23 players under contract for the upcoming MLS season. With Mike Golub the Chief Operating Officer of the team recently announcing we will likely carry a 28 man roster (rather than the 30 max), players are fighting for their spot. Here are the 5 players I expect to be announced prior to the opening game on March 19th.

#1 Brian Umony: A loan deal appears to have already been agreed upon and signed. Brian expected his announcement to come earlier this week. Extra help at forward was deemed necessary with the injury to Dike. I bet Umony gets announced later today!

#2 Jorge Perlaza: The Columbian forward would already be signed if his previous club weren't trying to rope in a transfer fee. Some bogus second contract Perlaza apparently signed is holding the process up. The Perlaza signing is taking longer than Gavin would like, but he will eventually be a Timbers player.

#3 Chris Taylor: The 22nd overall pick in the SuperDraft out of Tulsa. Chris is a solid defensive player that Amos and Spencer were really fond of. He was ecstatic to join the team and he will provide some extra depth at defense.

#4 Mystery Midfielder: Still have my hopes that Gavin will bring in a dynamic center midfielder. The man they want has proven more difficult to obtain, with multiple clubs seeking his services.

#5 Paul "BIM" Ogunyemi: Former U-23 winger is back in camp with the Timbers after being released from FC Dallas. I love watching this kid play and he was a major part of the 20-0-0 season the PDL squad had. He is young and has tremendous potential. Your my boy Bim!

Player Watch: Bim Ogunyemi

Excerpt + Photo from FC Dallas website:

Roster Watch 2011: "The 20-year old midfielder from Lake Orion, Michigan was selected by FC Dallas in the first round of the Supplemental Draft. After missing the first week of preseason while awaiting completion of his physical, Ogunyemi watched while other trialists began to stake their claim. At 5’9” the Schoolcraft College product has been eager to show his ability while lining up at left midfield, but with a crowded and versatile midfield, the window to seal a place on the Western Conference Champions roster is a difficult task."

It also appears that Bim scored a goal in a 3 v 3 training game helping his team win the contest. He then played in a full 11 v 11 match with his team getting the 1-0 victory.

Congratulations Paul "BIM" Ogunyemi

After the MLS Superdraft I had the pleasure of congratulating Jarad from the University of Portland on being drafted by Real Salt Lake. Today marks another significant day for a former Portland Timber U-23, as Paul Ogunyemi was selected 17th in the Supplemental Draft by FC Dallas. He goes by the name of BIM, and he is a bright young talent. I had the opportunity to watch about 12 games played by the U-23s this summer during my internship, and Bim was an integral part of the squad.

Bim played primarily on the wings for the PDL Timbers. He is extremely confident running at defenders and he plays with a patience that lulls his opponents to sleep. His physical strength is one of his biggest assets. While he is not a towering midfielder, he is able to hold the ball up with his back to goal with ease. I remember watching defenders literally drape themselves over his body, and Bim was strong enough to hold his ground. Bim plays with swagger and puts his heart and soul into every game. He is a unique player, and quickly became a fan favorite of the Timbers Army. Bim started all 20 games for the perfect 20-0 Timbers, and he finished with 3 goals and 6 assists in the regular season (16 games). In the playoffs he had a perfect cross to Tracy Hasson in the PDL Championship for the opening goal, and he scored a goal of his own in the Semifinal against Reading United.

I'm very proud of Bim and I hope he has a great career in Dallas. Ultimately, he still needs to attend pre-season training camp and earn his spot on the roster, but I am confident he will impress. I can honestly say I have never seen a player like Bim. He plays with a style unlike any other, and I was lucky to have witnessed it this summer. Congratulations Bim!