Thursday, September 6, 2012

Where's Gavin stand?

   Imagine if the Portland Timbers had won Wednesday's game in Colorado.
   At 30 points, with seven games, left, there might actually have been some considerable excitement about the team maybe squeezing into the playoffs, especially with one game left against Vancouver - the team in fifth place.
   And, the winless streak on the road would have been history.
   All gone.
   So the Timbers are back to where they've been all season on the road - seemingly somewhere else.
   General Manager Gavin Wilkinson had some momentum on his side entering the game with those eight points in August, having named an incoming head coach, and sending an inspired line-up onto the field game after game, regardless of the status of Kris Boyd.
   All the grumbling about GW being replaceable, just like anyone else, seemed like an early pounce on the team's savior. Calm down, Armed ones!
   What now?
   What's all that momentum matter without a win?
   So, the GW Out crew has reason to show up in force Sept. 15 when the team returns to Jeld-Wen Field for a crucial Cascadia Cup match against Seattle, a win that would wrap up the Cup for Soccer City USA.
   That's going to be a challenging game for the GW Out crew. On one hand, a Timbers win would be fantastic because it would secure the Cup. On the other hand, a loss would be great fodder for sending GW to another post in the organization, or, perhaps, another organization.
   That's going to be an entertaining game on and off the field, more than usual.