Phil Neville has a point to prove. Maybe not to himself – self-confidence has never been an issue for the former England defender – but certainly to Major League Soccer fans, including the Portland Timbers supporters who protested against the club’s appointment of the 46-year-old. Neville has no shortage of critics to win over.
By Graham Ruthven
Much of the criticism around Portland’s appointment focused on Neville’s past statements about women on social media. “[Neville] has a history of sexist public statements that run counter to our ethos as a club, city and supporters’ group,” the Timbers Army said in a statement. There was, however, a footballing side to the argument too.
In his last two managerial jobs, Neville’s teams have dramatically improved after his departure. England won the 2022 Women’s Euros after Neville’s exit the year before while Inter Miami won the inaugural Leagues Cup and made a run to the US Open Cup final in the months following the 46-year-old’s sacking. A trend has emerged.
Neville might point to various factors – like Inter Miami’s signing of Lionel Messi after his exit – to explain this pattern, but there isn’t much evidence to suggest he can improve a team. This is an issue for the Portland Timbers who are at the start of a rebuild after an extremely difficult 2023 season which saw them miss out on the play-offs.
To start this rebuild, Neville has turned to Canada, a country he has some footballing knowledge of after working as the national team assistant manager for five months. Canadian international Zac McGraw was already in the Portland squad Neville inherited, but he has added two more players from the Great White North.
Kamal Miller has arrived from Inter Miami. The 26-year-old certainly wasn’t the biggest name at DRV PNK Stadium last season, but he became a defensive leader for Tata Martino’s team after the arrival of Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Neville wants Miller to become a similar figure for the Timbers.
Goalkeeper James Pantemis has joined from CF Montreal, although he will likely be a depth option behind Maxime Crépeau who has also made his way to Providence Park. Crépeau is widely considered Canada’s best goalkeeper and his signing is the biggest off-season statement made by Portland so far.
Not many expected Crépeau to be on the market, but Los Angeles FC’s surprise signing of Hugo Lloris made the Canadian shot-stopper available and the Timbers acted quickly. This, coupled with the signing of centre-back Miller, could give Portland a sound defensive foundation for the 2024 season.
It makes sense that Neville has prioritised the backline since arriving at Providence Park. The Timbers’ vulnerable defence was the biggest reason they failed to make the play-offs last season and so the club has sought to address that over the off-season. If they can stay fit, Crépeau and Miller will make a difference.
Gio Savarese was in charge at Providence Park for five years. The Venezuelan achieved success as Portland Timbers manager, but last season represented the end of a cycle. The Timbers needed a new direction and while Neville’s appointment did little to suggest the new direction would be a better one, the transfer market activity has raised hopes.
There’s still more work to be done. Sebastian Blanco and Jaroslaw Niezgoda left Providence Park at the end of last season, leaving the Timbers somewhat short of quality in the attacking third. Bryan Acosta’s departure has also taken a big chunk of salary off the books, meaning there should be room in the wage bill for a new Designated Player (possibly two presuming Crépeau isn’t a DP).
On and off the pitch, the Portland Timbers are facing a crossroads in their recent history. Speculation continues to swirl around the ownership of the club with the Portland Thorns recently sold off. For the time being, though Merritt Paulson continues to keep hold of the Timbers despite widespread fan opposition.
Neville will start the 2024 campaign with a lot of baggage from his past experiences weighing him down. However, it is one of those past experiences with the Canadian national team that has pointed the Portland Timbers in a new direction. Canada has three MLS teams and in the Timbers they now have an honorary fourth.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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