Football Season Guide

Finished 10th in the Western Conference, missing out on the playoffs for the second consecutive season. Assistant coach Miles Joseph served as interim coach for the remainder of the 2023 MLS campaign, after they parted ways with Gio Savarese back in August, but couldn’t inspire the team to a playoff spot, with Portland boasting the second-worst defence in the conference. The Timbers announced former Inter Miami coach Phil Neville as their new boss in the offseason. They offloaded several backup players and brought in solid centre-back Kamal Miller to beef up their defence, one which conceded as many as 36 goals away from home last season, along with experienced goalkeepers James Pantemis and Maxime Crépeau. Yet, Portland is not done with signings, as Neville has stressed that the team will move for a top DP ahead of the new season. The Timbers are expected to sign either a forward or a goal-dangerous winger to boost their attack, having practically kept their backbone intact. In the offseason, Portland have managed to turn their biggest weakness in what may become their main strength. Having brought in Miller and Crépeau, the Timbers have put together an experienced backline that could help them find consistency this season. Yet, for the time being, they are lacking a big goal scorer. Neville should be in search of a prolific striker, because Felipe Mora is a solid forward but he’s not the well-rounded target man that Portland need.