Joining Vancouver Whitecaps FC as the two new teams joining the league this season, the Timbers have begun their MLS membership in a much different fashion than their northwest rival. Loaded with players with previous MLS experience, the Timbers are attempting to do what most sports franchises find difficult, be successful while still building for the future. Doing that while also playing at the highest level of play the franchise has ever played at will be one of the more interesting MLS storylines this season.

Former D.C. United goalkeeper Troy Perkins along and MLS returnee forward Kenny Cooper lead a group of 10 players with previous MLS experience, at the moment, on the Timbers first team roster. Recently joined by former Sporting Kansas City midfielder Jack Jewsbury, whom the Timbers traded allocation money for on Tuesday, Portland will have a very experienced starting lineup that will look to challenge immediately.

Cooper, arguably the most well known name on the Timbers’ roster, joins Portland after two injury plagued seasons with TSV 1860 Munich in the 2.Bundesliga. He scored just two goals in just 14 appearances during those two seasons and will hope to capture some of the form from his four previous seasons with FC Dallas. Cooper is second all-time on the FC Dallas goals chart, scoring 40 times in 90 games. That impressive goal scoring record earned him three appearances with the U.S. Men’s national team over the last few years in which he is yet to score.

Those experienced players will have a chance to prove their worth from the very outset of the season. The Timbers’ first three matches, as well as four of their first six, are all on the road. Although PGE Park, which is undergoing a $31 million renovation to meet MLS standards, will look magnificent and pack around 20,000 LOUD supporters, the Timbers won’t play there until April 14.

The massive amount of MLS experience on the roster is definitely something for Portland fans to be happy about. But, retaining guys that know what it means to pull on the Timbers shirt in front of those fans is something that a team like Portland needed to do.

Portland understood this and did well by, so far, bringing back nine players that played for the Timbers in the USSF D-2 last season. Most notably the team’s top two scorers, Ryan Pore and Bright Dike, both return. The duo combined to score 25 of the Timbers’ 33 goals last season and, combined with Cooper, could provide Portland with arguably the best attack in the northwest.

 One of the more exciting prospects on the Timbers’ roster is rookie forward/midfielder Darlington Nagbe. The 20-year-old out of Akron University was the drafted second overall by Portland in this season’s MLS SuperDraft. A member of Generation Adidas, Nagbe tallied 19 goals and 19 assists in his three seasons with the Zips which included winning a national title last season as a junior.

The “gelling” of the Timbers seemingly good mix of experience and young players will be an important factor in the overall success of the team, especially with starting so much of the season on the road. However, a rough start in those first few road games won’t put Portland out of the playoff picture. Throughout the season they have multiple stretches of four out of five matches at home. Meaning the Timbers will get to use that massive home field advantage during the regular season to help them dig themselves out of any potential hole they find themselves in around mid-April.  

Getting their first looks at each other as MLS opponents, the three northwest teams will all meet this weekend for what is being called the “Cascadia Summit”. Seattle will host Portland and Vancouver as each team will face one another with the Timbers and Sounders playing the opener Friday night. All three matches will be played at the Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, WA, a few miles outside of Seattle.  These matches will be streamed on each respective team’s website for free starting approximately 20 minutes before first kick.

Considering the new playoff format for the upcoming season, the Timbers will be looking to follow their rival Sounders in making the playoffs in their inaugural season.  With their roster and fan base, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see them challenging for a potential spot come September.

Heath Harshman is a sophomore Communication major at Washington State University in Pullman, WA. Heath has a weekly political-media radio show Thursdays from 11a.m.-12p.m. on KUGR.org. He hopes to have a career in public relations and is currently the media relations coordinator of minor league baseball’s Tri-City Dust Devils. Follow Heath on twitter @heathharshman or add him on facebook. Thoughts or comments can be sent to Heath at heath_harshman@yahoo.com