Portland Timbers Football Club Season Preview: Outside Backs

In part three of my Portland Timbers Football Club Season Preview, I am going to take a look at the outside backs. Speed and one on one defending skills are extremely important for an outside defender, having to handle tricky wingers up and down the flanks all match. They are the only defenders asked to join in the attack, and thus need to be able to have excellent ball control and connect well with the midfield. Leftbacks are generally more effective if they prefer the left foot, and are a highly prized soccer commodity. Spencer likes to play with overlapping runs, the outside backs making deep runs into the corners to send in crosses. I think outside back is the weakest area on the team by far, and could definitely use further reinforcements over the summer.

Right side:
Lovel Palmer is the most experienced and skilled outside defender on the team. He provides a lot of quickness and a thunderous boot; he is good at crossing it into the box but not great. He has shown some defensive weaknesses, sometimes ball watching and getting nutmegged. His stability, leadership, and experience make him a solid starter, but I'd like to see better defending out of him this year.

Steve Purdy is the second choice option at right back, and shared time in the starting eleven here with Jeremy Hall last season before the summer transfer window moves that sent Hall to Dallas and Palmer was acquired from Houston. Steve's one on one defending skills are his primary asset here, with good speed and positioning, but lacking the attacking bite of Palmer. I think he is a lock to start here if Palmer goes down, but won't make the 18 otherwise.

Ryan Kawulok, drafted first in the 2012 Supplemental Draft and two year Timbers U-23 member, was signed during the preseason. He showed that he is solid defender and is good going forward so far. His positional sense cannot be questioned yet since it lead to him being in exactly the right place to score the tying goal against Chivas USA in the tournament this preseason. I haven't seen enough of him to comment further on his skills, but it would appear he is quite promising, and will most likely push Purdy on to greener pastures after this season (he was courted by teams in El Salvador where he would start and likely see CONCACAF Champions League time).

Left side:
Rodney Wallace is my number one at leftback, though this is maybe the toughest position to pick a number one with Chabala breathing down his neck. I think Wallace gets the start because of his speed and his final ball. He is a good defender, but not great, and has decent positioning, when he's paying attention. Ultimately Rodney's immaturity on the field caused him to lose his starting spot, as his constant errors lead to lost points: the first goal against Colorado and the handball PK that tied the game against New York are the first examples that jump to my mind. If he can lock down those errors, turn his focus up a few notches on the dial, and maintain his positioning the entire game, he will be lock to start on the left side of the field every game.

Mike Chabala, former USL Timber now MLS Timber, was acquired last year from Houston because of the trouble with Wallace's consistency. Chabala's distribution, defensive skills, and ability to communicate with the defense and the midfield are all on par with Rodney, but he is much slower. A lot slower: Wallace is blazing. But Mike is the more consistent player, more reliable as a defender because of his superior positioning and his better focus. He's also a fiery player and an emotional leader on the field. I think he should make the 18, as an option to push Wallace into midfield and take out a defensively liable attacking player.

Chris Taylor is the third option at left back. He showed in the preseason tournament that he has vastly improved form from the beginning of last season, but is still pretty raw and is not ready to start for the first team. Chris is quick, good one on one, a good distributor from the back, and gets into the attack well. But these skills are good for a reserve player, poor for a starter. The gulf between Taylor and the two above him on the depth chart is vast, and it is unlikely we will see Taylor in an 18 again this year, barring catastrophic injuries.