With the 2015 MLS Cup in the bag, it’s time for some reflection on the 2015 season. For long stretches of the season, it looked like 2015 was going to be a disappointment for the Portland Timbers. Obviously, it wasn’t, as the Timbers went on a great run to end the season and stormed through the Major League Soccer playoffs to win the cup. With the season over, attention now turns to 2016 for the Timbers front office, as player decisions are already being made. With that in mind, it’s time to grade each player’s performance over the season. Today, defenders and goalkeepers will be graded. Grades for midfielders, forwards, and staff will come out next week. Grading the 2015 Portland Timbers is a bit of a challenge, given that they won the MLS Cup and that makes it easier to just bump everyone’s grade up a bit. I tried not to do that. One thing to note: grades are relative to expectations. If a player vastly exceeded expectations, he might earn a high grade for making a handful of quality starts, maybe even a higher grade than a player who had a better season, but performed at or below expectations.
Grading the 2015 Portland Timbers: Defenders and Goalkeepers
GOALKEEPERS
Adam Larsen Kwarasey B: Going strictly by the eye test, Kwarasey should probably receive an A, maybe an A- for the 2015 season. On a new team, in a new league, behind a back four that was poor in 2014, Kwarasey kept a league leading 13 clean sheets, helped Portland concede just 39 goals, fewer than everyone in MLS except for Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders, won MLS Cup, and won MLS Save of the Year. That stats though, say he wasn’t quite as good as he looked. Kwarasey’s save percentage was solidly middle of the pack in MLS, and his G-xG (Goals minus expected goals*) was third worst in MLS.
All in all, after a bit of a shaky start, Kwarasey proved to be a vital pick-up for the Timbers in 2015, coming through in the clutch and clearly being a better fit for how Portland wanted to play, with his distribution vastly improved over Donovan Ricketts’. Kwarasey improved as the season went on, and was a difference maker late in the year.
Jake Gleeson A: After 0 regular season appearances, the Timbers turned to Gleeson in their moment of need, with Kwarasey missing the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinal against Vancouver, and Gleeson rose to the occasion with the clean sheet. While some may be disappointed he didn’t clearly secure the backup job during the season and see more minutes, there were few chances for minutes anyways, and earning a start in the playoffs is a pretty clear indication of hierarchy. All that can be asked of a backup is to be ready when needed, and Gleeson was.
Andrew Weber C-: Weber’s lone regular season appearance came in a particularly bad game for the team, and while he can’t be blamed solely for the 3-0 loss, there’s really nothing else to go on for a grade. Missing out on the playoff game to Gleeson should be a clear sign that Weber’s days as the Timbers’ backup GK are over.
DEFENDERS
Jorge Villafaña A:When Jorge Villafaña was picked up from Chivas USA in a trade in 2013 it was not big news. Villafaña wasn’t well known, and expectations were non-existent. He’s known now. Over the course of two seasons Villafaña has gone from bench depth to one of the most consistent left-backs in MLS, with a growing number of people saying he should get a January U.S. national team call-up. I wrote last week about Villafaña’s importance in MLS Cup and the playoffs, and he proved me right, shutting down Ethan Finlay and putting in another top notch performance. He’ll be tough to replace in 2016, with Villafaña reportedly being sold to Santos Laguna for just under $1 million, but to get that fee for a player who cost basically a song shows how far Villafaña has come.
Jeanderson D: The best part about the Jeanderson signing was that it proved basically unnecessary. With Villafaña starting 33 of Portland’s 34 games, Jeanderson wasn’t needed, so the Timbers weren’t hurt by the fact that it turned out he wasn’t very good. The Timbers took a flyer on a cheap player hoping he’d contribute something, and he didn’t. He won’t be back in 2016.
Liam Ridgewell B/B-: The biggest knock against Liam Ridgewell’s grade this season is his salary. Maybe that’s unfair, but while Ridgewell was a very good MLS center-back in 2015, he wasn’t the best CB in MLS, and one can question whether it’s worth using a designated player spot on a defender. However, given Portland’s struggles defensively in 2014, and that they just won MLS Cup, I think they get a pass on that. Ridgewell was solid for most of the year, despite a rough patch in later summer, and together with Nat Borchers, helped form one of the most consistent CB pairings in the league.
Nat Borchers A: Nat Borchers may have been the most important off-season acquisition in MLS. Sure, Giovinco had a record breaking season and helped Toronto FC make the playoffs, but Borchers solidified a defense, scored some huge goals, made THAT block against FC Dallas, and after a couple early hiccups, was one of the best CBs in MLS in 2015.
Norberto Paparatto A-: This is about what Paparatto gave the Timbers, and for the most part he did exactly that. He wasn’t called upon often, but when he did, he rose to the occasion. With the exception of being almost 100% at fault for FC Dallas’ first goal in the Western Conference Finals, Papa was very good in his reserve role. With his option being declined, it looks uncertain whether Paparatto will be back in 2016, but that shouldn’t reflect on a good 2015. Timbers owner Merritt Paulson did say on Twitter this week he’s optimistic, but that news probably wouldn’t be coming for awhile on that front.
Alvas Powell C+: Physically, Powell has it all. He’s got pace for days, he’s strong, he’s a solid one-on-one defender. Mentally, he’s got a long way to go. While he improved over the season, Powell still found himself out of position far too often. He still needs to learn when to join the attack and when to stay back defensively and avoid being caught on the counter. His pace bailed him out at times, but to take the next he needs to improve on the mental side of things.
Taylor Peay B: Taylor Peay didn’t do much in 2015, but he wasn’t asked to do much. What he did do was prove that he’s talented enough to give the Timbers hope that he’ll develop into a first team defender, and prove reliable enough to be a trusted backup when needed in 2015. That’s about all you can ask.
Check back next week for the rest of the 2015 Portland Timbers grades.
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