Chris Rifer

Basically share Phuoc’s perspective here. A Vilahamn hire in, say, December would’ve warranted some guardedness, maybe a little skepticism, but not outright opposition. But now? He’s who they waited all this time for?

Really just feels like a pretty badly botched process. #BAONPDX

Fory was almost comically nowhere near the ball and left his feet to make the challenge. The result wasn’t so bad, which makes the straight red feel harsh, but going in like that is dangerous enough that it’s hard to argue too much. #RCTID

The Timbers’ set piece defending today hasn’t been good. The Rapids have won more than their share of first balls on Colorado attacking set pieces. #RCTID

Through 50 minutes this is the type of game Velde can’t have if he wants to be the focal point of the team. This is the danger of anointing a guy based on a small handful of performances. #RCTID

A Kenny Cooper special for Colorado there. #RCTID

(Also the video lineup graphic is very annoying.) #RCTID

With no Ortiz, Diego Chara is the only defensive midfielder in the 18. He’d weeks away from turning 40 and in the second week of the season he’s basically slated in pen to play 90 minutes at elevation. #RCTID

The American media will focus almost entirely on the number of casualties to US service members, but the bombing of a school in the middle of a school day is just an absolute moral disaster. There is no possible justification. It’s just evil and depraved recklessness.

Agoos had some bona fide wins in his first partial year in charge. But not having a permanent coach in place after a full offseason of being in the market is a major failure. If this season goes south—particularly in another contract year for Sophia Wilson—it could be a fireable one. #BAONPDX

I’m slightly more forgiving about the time it’s taken to replace Sam Coffey, but the Thorns’ failure to hire a head coach is an unmistakable failure for Agoos. They didn’t *have* to make a change. But they did—and they were still clearly unprepared for it. Just an inexplicable error. #BAONPDX

The “everybody wants to be negative” statements coming out of the men’s hockey camp have also been stupid. The joke was dumb and needlessly insulting. Lots of delicate ways to say “We laughed along but wish we’d spoken up for them in the moment.” Own their tiny slice and let Trump own his comments.

Knight might be the first person to tell the plain truth about this situation. Trump made a dumb, insulting joke that reflects on *him*. The men’s hockey players should’ve corrected it, but it’s understandable that they just chuckled along when a powerful person made a bad joke.

It’s happening domestically, too. First it was rivalry games. Timbers-Sounders still hasn’t fully recovered from the years in which they were playing each other four times.

And when the “Competitions” page on the MLS App looks like this, is it any wonder we’re seeing signs of softening attendance?

At every turn soccer’s leadership has crammed more and more quantity down fans’ throats. And, between bad matchups and exhausted players, there’s been a huge dip in quality.

I’m sure this has created a sugar high of revenues, but it seems almost inevitable that there’s going to be a crash.

I spent some time this year looking around for a non-USMNT World Cup group stage game that I could go to as a neutral. It really struck me how few of those games are legitimately compelling. I ended up giving up because, well, none of the games were worth the investment.

And that’s how soccer replaced hockey as the national sport of Canada.

Mora as a false false 9 works so well for Bassett. Mora uses his slightly deeper starting point to move off the ball into the box, and Bassett just feasts on the space created by Mora’s movement. #RCTID

No doubt, but you also don’t sign Bassett to do a lot of that. He needs a stalwart behind him at 6, and—with due respect to Chara—the Timbers don’t have that yet. They still haven’t made their most important signing of the winter.

2026 is giving 2024. #RCTID

Cole Bassett’s first 30 minutes with the Timbers might be the best debut 30 minutes I’ve seen from a Timber. The best player on the field right now by a huge margin. #RCTID

My guess is 4-2-3-1 with Mora as an out-of-position 10—in part because with Neville a 4-2-3-1 is usually a safe bet.

Legit incredible that six weeks before his 40th birthday, Diego Chara remains the Timbers’ opening day starter in central midfield. #RCTID

I know nothing about hockey, but the only comparison I can make is this is like if Vince Carter’s dunk over Frederic Weis was to win the gold medal at the buzzer.

Here’s the Timbers’ next step on the international winger treadmill.

Interesting deal. Had success at a young age in Chile (which is a notable step down from MLS) but didn’t break through at Gremio (a notable step up from MLS). Probably in that class of dice-roll int’l MLS signings. #RCTID

Right! Definitely some room for improvement. All told, 0-3-1 in a four-game set with one team (even a very good team!) isn’t super good.

I’ve just seen a few “but they were okay in the playoffs!” takes in Timbers previews and, honestly, they seem a little generous. Overall I’d say that performance was right in line with expectations for an eight-seed playing a one-seed. #RCTID

In the ‘25 playoffs I recall, the Timbers:

Game 1: Got jumped out of the gates before being okayish enough to make it competitive;

Game 2: Started well but lost control until the game state flipped to desperation and were saved at the death; and

Game 3: Tire fire.

Am I remembering right? #RCTID

So, for starters, the Dribbly Bois is officially the Timbers’ nickname for 2026. So that’s done.

And this is a great deep analytical dive on how the Timbers shape up for 2026. The defense may be primed for a step back while the attack is…more crowded, but questionably more dynamic. #RCTID

Just finished Rachel Maddow’s Burn Order podcast. What an extraordinary story. Strongly recommend for a listen to a story that is equal parts infuriating and inspiring with profound parallels to today.

I’ll forever be mystified by MLS entering into a media deal in which it relied more than ever on sickos paying for a bespoke membership and then promptly eliminating everything its sickos liked.

Matt’s MLS content has been indispensable. He’s been more valuable to the league than 99% of its DPs.