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MLS Season Preview: Portland Timbers

Reuters

With the MLS season set to begin on Friday, theScore runs down everything you need to know about each team heading into the league's 20th campaign. Here, we take a look at the Portland Timbers.

Caleb Porter and the Portland Timbers would probably like to forget about 2014. 

The club missed the playoffs by one measly point after topping the Western Conference the previous year, and to add considerable insult to their disappointment, lost star man Diego Valeri to a torn ACL on the final day of the season. He joined captain Will Johnson on the sidelines, who is recovering from a broken leg suffered in September.

But Valeri, speaking at MLS' media day back in January, had a different look on things.

"We are a team that is growing up every single game that we play. We need to learn, we need some different experiences – obviously if you are winning, your experience is much better. But you need to learn from everything. So I think it was good that the last two years was different because that makes us a strong team," he said.

Without two incredibly influential players, we'll find out right away just how strong this team is.

2014 season: 6th in Western Conference

Playoffs: Did not qualify

Record GF GA
12-9-13 (49 points) 61 52

Head coach: Caleb Porter

Stadium: Providence Park

Season Opener: Saturday, March 7: Portland Timbers vs. Real Salt Lake (Providence Park) - 10:30 PM EST

Key Arrivals

Adam Larsen Kwarasey (Strømsgodset), Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake),  Jeanderson (free transfer), Nick Besler (SuperDraft)

Key Departures

Donovan Ricketts (Orlando City), Michael Harrington (Colorado), Kalif Alhassan (option declined), Pa-Modou Kah (option declined)

Player to Watch: Fanendo Adi

In the extended absence of either Valeri or Johnson, it will be interesting to see if the 24-year-old Nigerian, who scored nine goals in his inaugural season with the club last year, can shoulder the attacking load.

Replacing the input of Valeri (11 goals, 14 assists) singlehandedly will be nearly impossible, such was the attacking guile of Argentine. But Adi knows he will be leaned on heavily until the attacking midfielder returns from his aforementioned injury. It's a responsibility he not only accepts, but one he's excited for.

“I want to be at the very top level for the team,” Adi said earlier this month. “I want to be that person that everyone can count on. When we are having a bad game, I want to be that player that can bring the team out of a difficult situation. For me, that’s what I was brought here for.”

They're already in a difficult situation with injuries to two of the best, most integral players. It's time for Adi to show what he was bought for.

If he does, and the acquisition of Nat Borchers can simaltaneously help solidify a leaky defense from a year ago, the Timbers will be in business.

Keep an eye on: Adam Larsen Kwarasey 

Projected Starting XI

(4-2-3-1) Adam Larsen Kwarasey; Jorge Villafana, Liam Ridgewell, Nat Borchers, Alvas Powell; Jack Jewsbury, Diego Chara; Rodney Wallace, Gaston Fernandez, Darlington Nagbe; Fanendo Adi

Note: Both Valeri and Johnson are virtual locks to be included in the starting lineup upon return from their respective injuries.

Season in a Sentence

Already off to a rough start with a pair of high-profile injuries, the Portland Timbers will need to weather the storm without Diego Valeri and hope the return of the Argentine is enough to push them back into the playoffs.

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