Just got back from the Timbers Practice....

[CitizenYank]

Hello all, just got back from the Timbers match at Merlo Park. The University of
Portland field in the NE part of town above the bluffs on Swan Island:

Scalped the Tix from two PDX Timbers Season Holders; was well worth it.
The crowd was small but the University only holds about 5000. They couldn't
hold it at PGE Park because that miserable excuse for a Triple A baseball
team was using it. But another reason is because it's turf and not grass.
By contrast, Merlo has the best kept grass pitch, at least as good as Nike Campus.

And this was DEFINITELY a Nike gig: Gary Cook had set up some sort
of beer garden for company big wigs and visiting ex-PL players: two former City
and one ex-Fulham, I was told. NO BOOSE FOR THE FANS, OF COURSE.
Security ALL OVER the place. But I believe I passed our
Chief on the way to the concession stand. Nice Suit, Gary.

The game was, well there really wasn't one. It was more like a scrimmage
between a Junior College and State University. Ireland, Adebayor and
Bellamy both started the first half, but I didn't see them in the second.

Ireland poked one in early right in front of the net. The Timbers defenders couldn't clear the ball away.
Adebayor (I believe) used his height to tip a ball with his head before it went over the cross bar.
But I was sitting in the south end and my view was blocked.

Adebayor didn't look like he was bothered, and pretty much jogged the game off. Just used his
natural ability to get penalties and make some plays. There was a lot of diving on City's part but
the pitch was really affected by the heat. Some of the players may have put in the incorrect
cleats because the Timbers had no problem.

Stephen's goal was nice but I got the feeling he was just along for the ride, he knows his time is
coming. Almost all the other backups (Zabs) for example, played there guts out, esp the Academy players.
Kompany was taking warm-ups the entire first half even though he didn't see time till the second half.
Bridge also didn't get time till the second half and he looked tighter than an oil well drum.
Elbowed a player in the back then just ran up and down just to loose possession of the ball or make a bad pass.
Is that what we pay this guy for??

The MOTM quite frankly, the most talented on the field was (surprise!) Johnson, assisted on both
first half goals, was involved with every attack on goal and is absolutely deadly on set pieces.
Watching him slip past defenders with fancy footwork was the highlight of the game.

The second half was pretty much City changing to a defensive formation and keeping the ball away
from the Timbers. Jo made the best shot of the game a brilliant opposite-foot strike past the goalie.
But, otherwise, I got the feeling he's not trying to impress Mancini.

Overall. Maybe not a big moment for English City fans, but one of the greatest moments of my life!!
And on my birthday as well. As we drove home, my old man said that he thought he would never
see this level of football come to Portland. It was really just a beautiful moment, because my dad
was one of the Timbers first fans in the Seventies.

I mean, the Timbers are a decent pro soccer team for what they are, but still just a USL
first division team (i.e. with a fanatical following.) And one of the oldest in
this country going back to the NASL days. PDX will always be the druggie lower working class
cousins of Seattle and Vancouver. If you live in this town you hang on to whatever sports action you can find.
The fans are great and make more noise as the match grows longer.


Also: Sorry to any English City fans at today's game, the jeering of God Save the Queen, by a couple of drunk yahoos,
was totally uncalled for and in extremely bad taste. It is no secret Portlanders like a drink, and because no beer was sold
on campus, several Timbers fans hit the pubs WAYYYYY TOO EARLY before hitting the stands.

So 3-0 for Our Guys.
Thanks City And What A Birthday!!

[Beeks]

So what was the score in the end?

[ant london]

So what was the score in the end?

3-0 mate, there's a full report on the OS

[CitizenYank]

So 3-0 for Our Guys.
Thanks City And What A Birthday!!

[CitizenYank]

BTW Folks, I would have gotten you guys pictures of the workouts of the Nike Campus. Have a friend
who works in the publicity department and got me the training schedules at yes, Ronaldo Field at the
World Headquarters. But, the need to put food on my plate, precluded this unfortunately.

Sure it''s not THAT Ronaldo, though. ;)

[Ted Hughes]

Match report from Citys OS followed by comedy report from Portland Timbers site:

Manchester City kicked off their pre-season schedule with a comfortable 3-0 win over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night in Oregon.
Roberto Mancini shuffled his pack so that plenty of the squad saw action after a week’s training at Nike’s HQ on the other side of Portland. Joe Hart started a game for City for the first time in over a year just 48 hours after arriving, lining up behind a young defensive unit at the University of Oregon’s Merlo Field. He showed that he had shaken off any jet-lag with a fine save low to his left early on to deny Gaudet.

Craig Bellamy looked lively and rattled the crossbar halfway through the first period after cutting across from the right flank. Two goals in the space of a minute just before the break gave the first-half side a reward that their efforts deserved. Firstly, Stephen Ireland touched in a Johnson cross , this being swiftly followed by Adebayor nodding in a cross from the England winger despite a half-save from Cronin.

Only Greg Cunningham stayed on after the break as Roberto Mancini rang the changes. Jeremy Helan’s burst down the left on the hour could have reaped rewards, but Jo skied his shot from just a few yards out. However the Brazilian made amends on 68 minutes when he rattled in a shot to extend the lead

Academy graduate John Guidetti also acquitted himself well until being withdrawn as a precaution after taking a knock in a hefty challenge. This allowed Alex Tchuimeni-Nimely to get a chance to impress in very different surroundings to his Premier League debut in the torrential rain at Turf Moor last April. Wayne Bridge replaced Greg Cunningham in a second half played in much cooler conditions after the burning sun had dropped down to the horizon

The Timbers played their part, urged on by a crowd of just over five thousand that contained a healthy smattering of City fans, and Joey the chainsaw-wielding mascot! DeMartin had a chance when he pushed a shot wide with eight minutes left, and Stuart Taylor made a good save from off the floor to prevent Keita from scoring seconds later.

All in all a good night’s work for City with sterner tests to follow, starting in New York and a date with Sporting Lisbon on Friday.

Team: Hart, Trippier, Boyata, Mee, Cunningham, Ireland, Zabaleta, A Johnson, Vieira, Bellamy, Adebayor.

Second half - Taylor, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Cunningham (Bridge), Tutte, Kay (Onuoha), Ibrahim, Helan, Guidetti (Tchuimeni-Nimely), Jo





Here's the match report from the Portland Timbers site (I heard there was going to be video but can't find it):

Starts off ok but turns into proper Soccer AM pisstake material as the bloke gets into the swing of things !

PORTLAND, Ore. – Forward Emmanuel Adebayor scored a first-half goal and midfielder Adam Johnson recorded two assists as England’s Manchester City defeated the Portland Timbers 3-0 in an international exhibition match at Merlo Field before a sold-out crowd of 5,018 on Saturday.

One of the top clubs in the English Premier League, Manchester City visited Portland as part of a preseason tour of the United States. The friendly on Saturday wrapped up a week-long training camp in Portland before Manchester City heads to New York for the second leg of its tour.

The Timbers matched Manchester City shot-for-shot for most of the first half, until the English side found two quick goals in the late stages of the period. Each set up by Johnson, midfielder Stephen Ireland and Adebayor found the back of the net a minute apart to give Manchester City a 2-0 lead at halftime. Striker Jo put the finishing touch on the night, scoring in the 68th minute to put Manchester City on top 3-0.

Adebayor attempted a team-high three shots, forward Craig Bellamy provided two scoring chances in the first half and goalkeepers Joe Hart and Stuart Taylor collected a combined six saves to help Manchester City open its preseason slate in the United States with a victory.

Midfielder Derek Gaudet and forward George Josten each attempted a pair of shots for the Timbers, who edged Manchester City 14-13 in shots on the night. Forwards Doug DeMartin and Mandjou Keita sparked Portland’s offense in the late going, combining for four shots in the second half.

The Timbers came out of the gates quickly as Gaudet and Josten looked to put shots on target in the first 10 minutes of the contest. As the first half unfolded, Manchester City had a handful of near chances, including a blast from the top of the box by Bellamy, before Ireland broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute.

Johnson, a member of England’s provisional roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, set up the go-ahead goal from the left side. He sent a ball into the box that hit off Ireland and took a wide deflection towards the goal. The ball bounced by Portland goalkeeper Steve Cronin and inside the left post for the lead.

A minute later, Adebayor gave the visiting side a two-goal advantage with a well-placed shot just under the crossbar. It was Johnson again who set up the goal-scoring play, feeding Adebayor in position to strike. The Togo National Team member arched a shot just beyond the reach of Cronin and it fell between the goalkeeper and the crossbar and over the goal line to extend Manchester City's lead 2-0.

In the 68th minute, Manchester City capped its scoring on the night as Jo took advantage of time and space in the box. A short clearance by the Timbers backline fell to the feet of Jo. He penetrated the area and then, from the right side, struck a low shot uncontested into the back of the net inside the near post.

Behind the efforts of DeMartin and Keita, the Timbers had chances late to pull one back. DeMartin put an open look from the right side just wide and high of the mark in the 80th minute, and Portland created a small flurry of activity five minutes from time as Keita had a pair of shots from the doorstep blocked inside the box.

In the first half, midfielder Alex Nimo set up Gaudet for a chance to take and early lead. Down the right touch line, Nimo slipped a cross in for Gaudet on the near side. His shot aimed at the near post was turned away by Hart with a leaping effort across his goal line in the 6th minute.

Josten nearly found the back of the net in the 8th minute, getting on the end of a cross from forward Bright Dike. Josten’s header from 10 yards out curled just wide of the far post.

Portland returns to league play on Thursday, July 22, on the road against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Swangard Stadium. The away contest against their Northwest rival begins a stretch of four consecutive road matches for the Timbers.

Starting Lineups:
POR: GK Cronin, D Purdy, D Smith, D Danso, D Joy, M Nimo, M McManus, M Nimo, M Pore, F Josten, F Dike

MCFC: GK Hart, D Boyata, D Mee, D Cunningham, D Trippier, M Ireland, M Zabaleta, M Johnson, A., M Vieira, F Adebayor, F Bellamy

[Sister of fu]

I like the new socks for the 3rd kit. I have no idea how to post pictures but there is one on the OS. It seems the kit now has white shorts and white socks with a red and black trim.

[avoidconfusion]

That does look neat. Although I preferred the white and black combo of the 3rd away.

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

Cheers CitizenYank, great report.

[craigmcfc]

That does look neat. Although I preferred the white and black combo of the 3rd away.

They probably will still use the black shorts, but they'd have clashed in that game which I guess is why they wore the home white shorts

[dazby]

the crowd sounded great on the radio. Top bimbing Citizen Yank.

[Beefymcfc]

Nice report, cheers CY. Only a training game so probably why they weren't going 100 mph; 'easy does it' as they say.

PS. I've just checked my E-Mail and this exact piece has been sent to me, and not by you; it says it was taken from BM. Are you a plagiarist or is someone stealing your work?

[CitizenYank]

Nice report, cheers CY. Only a training game so probably why they weren't going 100 mph; 'easy does it' as they say.

PS. I've just checked my E-Mail and this exact piece has been sent to me, and not by you; it says it was taken from BM. Are you a plagiarist or is someone stealing your work?

Ha Ha. I wrote this piece the moment I got home last night. Just wanted to fill everyone in since I knew there was no satellite or web cast. And I have never plagiarized a single piece of written script, magazine article or even a cited internet article in my life. My major in high school and college (the first go around) was Professional Journalism. I am confident my writing is accurate. And I have been mentioning for months that I had tickets for this game.

Who the hell would plagiarize a first-hand report of a friendly game played in PDX, Oregon? Heck if I know why.

[Beefymcfc]

Nice report, cheers CY. Only a training game so probably why they weren't going 100 mph; 'easy does it' as they say.

PS. I've just checked my E-Mail and this exact piece has been sent to me, and not by you; it says it was taken from BM. Are you a plagiarist or is someone stealing your work?

Ha Ha. I wrote this piece the moment I got home last night. Just wanted to fill everyone in since I knew there was no satellite or web cast. And I have never plagiarized a single piece of written script, magazine article or even a cited internet article in my life. My major in high school and college (the first go around) was Professional Journalism. I am confident my writing is accurate. And I have been mentioning for months that I had tickets for this game.

Who the hell would plagiarize a first-hand report of a friendly game played in PDX, Oregon? Heck if I know why.

Wasn't accusing you mate, more someone off BM. Someone must've had-off with your piece then, I'm sure one of our Bluemoon readers can verify.

[CitizenYank]

Nice report, cheers CY. Only a training game so probably why they weren't going 100 mph; 'easy does it' as they say.

PS. I've just checked my E-Mail and this exact piece has been sent to me, and not by you; it says it was taken from BM. Are you a plagiarist or is someone stealing your work?

Ha Ha. I wrote this piece the moment I got home last night. Just wanted to fill everyone in since I knew there was no satellite or web cast. And I have never plagiarized a single piece of written script, magazine article or even a cited internet article in my life. My major in high school and college (the first go around) was Professional Journalism. I am confident my writing is accurate. And I have been mentioning for months that I had tickets for this game.

Who the hell would plagiarize a first-hand report of a friendly game played in PDX, Oregon? Heck if I know why.

Wasn't accusing you mate, more someone off BM. Someone must've had-off with your piece then, I'm sure one of our Bluemoon readers can verify.

I know, I just checked BM, they got it off this website. Miss-communication is such a silly thing hunh.

[xavi6]

The all white kit is the dog's. Should keep it that way.

[DoomMerchant]

The all white kit is the dog's. Should keep it that way.

It is. We look like we are liberating the opposition in the name of all that is holy and just. Love the look. I bet we get called for less fouls in that kit as well. We should be allowed to carry daggers when we wear that kit. And a bag of magic stones. Maybe also a cape. Top stuff.

Cheers

[pepsi_dave]

Found this video showing highlights of the match....

http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index ... tives.html

[youtube]http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2010/07/video_both_sides_see_positives.html[/youtube]

Not sure if I've embedded the video right or not, or whether it wont work because its not a youtube vid....... if its wrong, can someone either correct or tell me how to correct it.... ta

[ant london]

It is. We look like we are liberating the opposition in the name of all that is holy and just. Love the look. I bet we get called for less fouls in that kit as well. We should be allowed to carry daggers when we wear that kit. And a bag of magic stones. Maybe also a cape. Top stuff.

Cheers

[Kyle]

Was it just me or was Ade wearing a sports bra under his kit?