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THE WORD is MLSsoccer.com's regular long-form series focusing on the biggest topics and most intriguing personalities in North American soccer. This week, new media editor Andrew Wiebe goes behind the scenes with the Philadelphia Union technical staff during the recent MLS SuperDraft and finds the group balancing draft strategy, rapid-fire deals

The Mikael Silvestre era has come to an end in Portland. The Timbers announced on Monday evening that the club and player came to a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, making the veteran French central defender a free agent. Per league and club policy, terms of the agreement were

PORTLAND, Ore. – A year ago, the Portland Timbers reported to preseason camp not knowing what to expect. There was a new head coach, nearly half the players were newcomers and returning players had just endured a tumultuous and mostly unsuccessful season. But this time around, on a bluebird Saturday

With the race heating up for USL PRO clubs to affiliate with Major League Soccer teams, the expansion Sacramento Republic took advantage of their position on the West Coast by affiliating with not one, but two MLS teams. As announced on Thursday, the Republic will be affiliated with both the

Finally back in the Rose City after an offseason that took him on a scouting trip to Argentina, the MLS Player Combine in Florida and then Philadelphia for the MLS SuperDraft, Portland Timbers head coach Caleb Porter was sounding understandably relaxed. Not only did he at last get a weekend

If the MLS SuperDraft is an inexact science, why do some head coaches and general managers have better track records than others? Do they see something others don’t? Does their scouting network have the foresight to separate the wheat from the chaff before they ever step on a professional pitch?

Here are the top 15 soccer stories we’re following today... 1. IT'S SUPERDRAFT TIME! The MLS SuperDraft takes place today at noon ET and you can tune in live on ESPNews. So, ahead of the big event, here are five things to consider. Yet the most important question will always

The Portland Timbers latest blockbuster Argentine signings – announced Wednesday with the acquisitions of striker Gastón Fernández and center back Norberto Paparatto – were less about their country of origin and more about augmenting the club’s emerging style under head coach Caleb Porter. Sure, adding Fernández and Paparatto give the

"El Trencito" is chugging away from JELD-WEN Field, bound for a year-long stint in the Argentinean first division. The Portland Timbers announced on Wednesday that José Adolfo Valencia will join Argentine club Olimpo de Bahía Blanca on a season-long loan. The Colombian forward made regular-season 21 appearances (5 starts) for

The Portland Timbers front office identified the forward position as one of the team's offseason priorities ahead of the 2014 season, and they began addressing that need Tuesday with the resigning of striker Frederic Piquionne. Per MLS policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. With last year’s first-choice starter

PORTLAND, Ore. – Amidst the ever-changing landscape of sports journalism these days, an increasingly large swath is being carved out built on innuendo, anonymous sourcing and just plain conjecture. That’s fine; it gives readers plenty to talk about. Here in the Rose City – thanks to a loosely based connection here

As the Best of 2013 continues on MLSsoccer.com, we're counting down the 10 most important stories of the year in Major League Soccer. On Dec. 30 we'll reveal the Story of the Year, as voted by our panel of 20 editors, writers, videographers and statistics specialists. Portland Timbers beat writer

Here are the top 15 soccer stories we’re following today. 1. DO DALLAS WANT PAREJA? It seems that, after all this time, FC Dallas are back where they started in their search for a new head coach. According to Jeff Carlisle at ESPNFC.com, the club has once again set its

Over the next two weeks, MLSsoccer.com will take a look back at the 2013 season that was for all 19 clubs in Major League Soccer, starting with D.C. United and ending with the Supporters' Shield-winning New York Red Bulls. You can find the schedule and comprehensive reviews for each team here.

PORTLAND, Ore. – Gavin Wilkinson and Caleb Porter made it clear Thursday that there is a progression to the Portland Timbers’ offseason moves, and the first dominoes fell with the acquisitions of Steve Zakuani and Jorge Villafaña. And while they confirmed to MLSsoccer.com that they’re hoping to announce the additions

PORTLAND, Ore. – When the Portland Timbers season came to an end in the Western Conference Championship after their first-ever appearance in the MLS Cup playoffs, manager Caleb Porter indicated that the core of the team is in place. But there are still some moves to be made this offseason

Here are the top 15 soccer stories we’re following today... 1.  TIMBERS TIME As we gear up for the second leg of the MLS Conference Championships, a lot of the attention in Portland is falling on Caleb Porter. There’s another take on how Porter overcame adversity from SI.com while a

While something like 99.99 percent* (math not verified) of the American soccer-loving public has been glued to Mexico’s World Cup qualification near-flameout, a very select group has been tuned to those other guys El Tri are facing in their playoff. And Major League Soccer’s New Zealand contingent isn’t exactly pleased

PORTLAND, Ore. – In speaking to MLSsoccer.com last week leading up to the Portland Timbers’ gigantic match against rival Seattle Sounders, general manager Gavin Wilkinson gushed about where his team is headed – not just for the rest of this year, but into the future. Of course, when you have

PORTLAND, Ore. – When Will Johnson scored his eighth goal of the season last weekend against the Vancouver Whitecaps, the Portland Timbers became the second team in MLS history to have four players score eight or more goals in a season. But the team captain’s strike did much more than

Never afraid to speak his mind, the Portland Timbers' Merritt Paulson is known as one of the more outspoken owners in MLS. Imagine what it would be like to hear his every thought during a Timbers match. We got the next best thing on Tuesday at the 2nd annual Stumptown

Here are the top 15 soccer stories we’re following today: 1. 24 UNDER 24: THE COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN The 24 Under 24 list is under way. Yesterday we unveiled Nos. 24-21, so be sure to check back today to find out who makes spots 20-16. Why is the list so

Former Toronto FC president and general manager Kevin Payne scouted Argentine forward Maximiliano Urruti for more than a year before he was able to finally bring him to Toronto in August, but with Payne now gone, his prized import is on his way out, too. TFC traded the 22-year-old attacker

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers U-23s’ US Open Cup run came to an end Tuesday night in a second-round loss to USL Pro side Charleston Battery. But if the small-but-loyal group of fans who braved the wet, chilly weather at JELD-WEN Field to cheer on the Timbers' PDL affiliate

The Portland Timbers and defender Hanyer Mosquera have come to a mutual agreement to terminate his contract, the team announced Wednesday. Per league and club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “We respected Hanyer’s desire to return to Colombia in order to be closer to family and friends,