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!

The Peruvian Maradona. Future Timber?

The Portland Timbers have been evaluating Roberto Merino Ramirez during camp. This guy has some mad skill and would instantly be a fan favorite. There may be some concerns due to his size (5 ft 5 in), but his sheer skill is impressive. Watch this clip here from the Portland Timbers Facebook page where Merino breaks the ankles of a Montreal player before sending in a perfect cross for the winning goal.

UPDATE: Roberto appears to no longer be in camp. He has been removed from the online roster. It looks like he may be returning to a club in Peru. It's a shame... would have been fun to watch.

Rumor: Brian Umony Loan Deal

A while back I suspected Brian Umony would be one of the players signed by the Portland Timbers as a replacement for the injured Bright Dike. I figured we needed one more forward option, and Umony is a young talented footballer who has had a productive preseason.

Now there are reports that a loan deal for Umony is imminent. I found this report at MLS Rumors, so it's not official by any means. However, I think most people would argue that Umony is a solid signing. I expect the next round of player signings to be announced following the teams trip to Arizona.

MIA: Kerrea Gilbert

Out of 20 signed players, Kerrea Gilbert is the only member of the Portland Timbers that has yet to report to training camp. A report came out on OregonLive on February 9th that Gilbert was having trouble securing a visa.

Hopefully he is able to join the team as they venture to Arizona. Gilbert is falling behind in gaining match fitness and familiarity with the rest of the players. He was one of the signings most Timbers fans have been extremely excited about. A young player who came up in the Arsenal system with loads of potential. We hope to see you in Timbers green soon!

Timber's Trialist Brian Umony

Yesterday the Timbers played the LA Galaxy in a training game at the Home Depot Center. It was a well fought battle between two clubs still trying to gain fitness and team chemistry. The Galaxy struck first in the second half, but the Timbers were able to equalize through Brian Umony. With Bright Dike out for the next 6-9 months I suspect the Timbers will look into signing Umony to fill out their depth chart at striker.

• Age 24. Born December 12, 1986
• Often regarded as one of the finest talents Ugandan soccer has produced
• Previously played for Kampala City Council, Supersport United, and the University of Pretoria FC
• Debut for Uganda came in 2009, and has received 8 caps while scoring 8 goals
• Ugandan Super League Golden Boot: 2007-2008
• Ugandan Footballer of the Year: 2008
• CECAFA Cup Golden Boot: 2009

Portland Timbers Reach 11,000 Season Tickets

In this interview from OregonLive, Merritt Paulson lets it slip that the Timbers have sold 11,000 season tickets (1:08 minute mark) for the upcoming season. That leaves only 1,000 left for purchase before we reach our cap. I expect them to raise the bar from 12k to 13k as demand over these last couple months increases, but they do need to leave room for groups, mini-plans, and single game tickets. If you haven't bought season tickets you should really think about putting aside some money and getting them now. I expect every game this season to be a sell-out and it could prove difficult to purchase tickets on match day. Timbers Army tickets can be purchased here for only $360. Believe me, it will be the best money you spend all year.

Timbers 16th in Preseason Rankings

With the amount of parity present in MLS I don't believe in the value of power rankings, but they just released the first edition, and the Timbers start in the 16th position. Vancouver brings up the rear at 18, and Seattle stands at number 6. Take a look at the full list here to get a feel for the key player losses/additions for each squad. It's an interesting read, but don't take it to seriously.

And so it begins...

The Timbers held their first practice today at the Adidas field in Portland. Opening kick is on the horizon and the team will have its work cut out for them in the inaugural season.

Here is a list of the unsigned players attending camp that have been revealed by the coaches: Tony McManus, Josh Cameron, Steve Purdy, Adin Brown, Doug DeMartin, Quavas Kirk, and Freddie Braun.

Stay tuned to the Timbers website for a potential player announcement later today or tomorrow! It could be the mysterious Colombian center midfielder or the other forward that has been signed.