PORTLAND
, Ore.
– As the 2010 season approaches for the Timbers, several former Portland players have already begun their preseason training with various Major League Soccer clubs, while others are counting down the final days of the offseason.
A new era ...
The expansion Philadelphia Union took another step towards starting their inaugural MLS season this week by opening the club’s first-ever preseason camp. A goalkeeping duo with Timbers connections gets to help ring in a new era in Philadelphia’s soccer history.
Union goalkeepers
Brad Knighton
and
Chris Seitz
have each spent time in a Portland kit while on loan stints in recent seasons. Knighton joined the Timbers for eight games in 2008 from the New England Revolution, while Seitz made two spot starts last season while on loan from Real Salt Lake.
“Preseason is going well,” said Knighton. “It is nice to get back into it after the break from the offseason. We are all excited to get going again, and get to work.”
Though just a few days into the eight-week preseason schedule, the anticipation of the Union’s inaugural season is shared by the players and fans alike.
“Philly sports fans are known for being some of the best in the country,” said Knighton, who was selected by the Union in the expansion draft. “Since we got here, people seem to know who we are and what we are about; we are all looking forward to starting the season. Especially in such a big sports town like Philadelphia, now to have us in the mix is exciting."
For its first match, Philadelphia travels to the Northwest to face Seattle Sounders FC on March 25. It will also mark the first game of the 2010 MLS season.
A Galaxy far, far away …
Roughly two months removed from MLS Cup 2009, the Los Angeles Galaxy were one of the first MLS clubs to open their preseason doors in 2010.
With three former Timbers players – forwards
Bryan Jordan
(2007-08) and
Alan Gordon
(2004) and goalkeeper
Josh Saunders
(2003-06)– on the roster, Los Angeles got back to work on Monday at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., aiming to make a return trip to the title match.
The defending-Western Conference champions will spend most of their two-month preseason schedule in Southern California preparing for their First Kick on Saturday, March 27 against the New England Revolution.
Running of the Red Bulls …
While it’s not to run down the streets of Pamplona, the New York Red Bulls are in Spain to kick off their 2010 training camp. A member of that New York squad is defender
Kevin Goldthwaite
, who played in 10 games for the Timbers back in 2005.
The Red Bulls wasted little time in preparing for the season under new head coach Hans Backe, and on Monday played Russian side CSKA Moscow to a 1-1 draw in their first preseason exhibition.
New York will train and play a series of preseason matches against European clubs in Spain through Feb. 4, before returning to the United States.
Other former Timbers players will start their respective MLS preseason schedule in the coming days. The Houston Dyanamo, with defender
Mike Chabala
(2006), is nearing the start of camp. Portland, Ore., native
Alex Nimo
(2009) and defending-MLS Cup champion Real Salt Lake will open preseason on Feb. 10, while D.C. United goalkeeper
Josh Wicks
(2007) looks to continue his recovery from season-ending injuries last year in preseason.
