Chris Rifer

Did we also get an “I call it football, but I don’t spell it with an ‘a’”?

Hey Chat, what’s the best thing to say to make an annoying first impression as a football manager in his first press conference with an American club? #BAONPDX

I, for one, think it’s great to fire your coach after three weeks. Many are saying it’s actually the best time to fire your coach.

Between Curtin, Nancy, and Pareja, there’s quite a collection of successful MLS coaches who are free agents right now.

You know, just in case anybody was looking around for a plug-and-play coach with extensive experience in the league. #RCTID

On one hand I share the bemused exhaustion with Neville’s old-man-at-the-bar focus on mentality.

On the other hand the results have been so cringe when Neville has talked about tactics that maybe his mentality cliches are the least worst outcome from his pressers. #RCTID

This is the least important part of this saga—but man, what a jerk. He could’ve kicked the ball away to delay a restart, taken his shirt off after a goal, or said some magic words to the ref. But instead he does this.

Very much the experience. Although the execution of the press triggers is so poor I’d say it’s hard to infer exactly what they are.

Forced to sum up the Timbers’ defensive approach in a few words, I’d probably choose: Incoherent; defaults to a mid-low block.

I definitely agree that when they press it’s not effective and opponents are pretty easily playing through it most of the time. I’m a little more skeptical about how regularly they even try, though. Still lots of moments where Caps CBs had plenty of time on the ball.

It’s definitely a block. I wouldn’t say advanced, either in terms of geography or sophistication.

#RCTID

Tremendous moment for Izoita, who admirably stuck with things to grow into a game after some really rough spells early on.

But man. What a contrast between a team with a clear identity and a team wholly devoid of one. #RCTID

This is a bad team right now. Yes, there are absences. But also they’re just flat out bad. #RCTID

Kevin Kelsy breaking Andres Cubas’ ankles on the touchline in the Timbers’ own half is certainly fun.

But do you really want Kevin Kelsy—the Timbers’ No. 9—breaking Andres Cubas’ ankles on the touchline in the Timbers’ own half? #RCTID

This was, plain and simple, a failure of vision by Merritt and Gavin. They couldn’t see past the short-term losses involved in aggressively building out the academy to get to the much greater long-term benefits. MLS didn’t make it easy for them, but the clubs that invested are now prospering. #RCTID

This is the best on-field criticism of the first decade of the Timbers’ FO. Folks criticize their international talent acquisition—but they actually punched above their weight in that respect. They utterly failed to build a development infrastructure and it continues to haunt the club. #RCTID

My hunch is the second match dragged them down slightly, but not enormously. It’s not like they were consistently pressing Columbus, particularly in the second half in which they were largely under it most of the time.

Generally it doesn’t reflect well on a coach when the coach says “We’ve been prioritizing X this year” and then the numbers show the team roughly in the bottom quartile of X.

It’s early, etc. But it’s not like this coach has a great track record of tactical dynamism. #RCTID

Shot (via @americansocceranalysis.com c/o @tiotalfootball.bsky.social).

Chaser — except it’s actually just a glass of pure gasoline. #RCTID

Hard to beat this for a school night show. Brandi Carlile is a genius.

If you defend deep, you’re going to give up corners and attacking set pieces. You can live with that (as they did in 2025) if you’re good at defending them.

But if you’re not? Then you’re going to get eaten alive. And Neville hasn’t shown that he can get his team to defend any other way. #RCTID

He’s wrong in part and the part on which he’s right is a self-own.

He’s wrong bc this isn’t just a denominator problem; COL was first to too many deliveries.

And the number of set pieces they concede is inherent in the mid-low block that’s the only system Neville’s been able to install. #RCTID

Do I wish the Timbers had a coach that inspired greater confidence than this? Yes.

Do I think there are many such coaches out there? Also yes. #RCTID

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.