you'll never sing that

Official: Sophia Wilson returning to Portland Thorns for 2026 #BAONPDX "Bringing this new version of myself back to Portland is so special to me." "I'm excited to get back with everyone & play in Providence Park, in front of the Riveters. There's no place like it."

Interesting move imo, à la Eric Ramsay. Now the second coach from a top tier English club making the move to MLS. Will be interesting to see if this becomes more of a trend

🟢 Sources: The Portland Timbers are finalizing a deal to sign free agent right back Brandon Bye. Bye, 30, made 214 appearances with New England since being selected in the 2018 SuperDraft. Believe this is first free agent deal (for player changing clubs) this winter to be set

In Part 2 of my series for @stumptownfooty.bsky.social, I chat with PTFC Academy Coaches Darren Back and Fernando Pessoa. We go into the youth development pathway at the club, and how PTFC prepares the next generation of the Green and Gold. Enjoy! #RCTID

My Thanksgiving gift to the @stumptownfooty.bsky.social audience is finished. A comprehensive database across the Neville/Savarese eras of all PTFC academy/draft picks, matchday squads made/apps, minutes, and stats. I look forward to showing y'all soon! #RCTID

A look ahead to part 3 of my series 'Club Roots' for @stumptownfooty.bsky.social. I have combed through the last seven seasons of PTFC soccer and compiled each matchday, if an Academy/Draft pick played, and how many minutes they might have gotten. Buckle up, will hit your inboxes eventually! #RCTID

Some consider it 'anti-football' or 'haram ball.' For Eric Ramsay, Minnesota United's ruthlessly pragmatic style is simply "the obvious antidote to teams that have got a lot of success on the basis of pure possession dominance." My chat with the Loons' gaffer: www.mlssoccer.com/playoffs/202...

Thankful to be a part of this team, and thankful to have a boss that allows me to dive into the true nitty gritty of the game, and write about things that interest me. I hope you all learned something!

Part one is here! Over the last several months, I have been working to put a piece together on the Timbers developmental pathway. I conducted the interviews for the next piece today, and I am collecting additional data as we speak. Can't wait for you all to see what I've been doing. #RCTID

Interesting little #RCTID tidbit. In the 2024 season, the Timbers played 38 games across all competitions. An Academy Player or Draft Pick made the squad 16 of those times. In total, 4 appearances were made from the developmental pipeline that season.

Just did a very exciting interview for @stumptownfooty.bsky.social. Something I’m very proud of, and a topic I hope a lot of the #RCTID audience will find very interesting. Time to edit a 3,400 word transcript. 🤪

Finnesota!!

⚽ Everyone wants instant results, but the best clubs play the long game. Why strategy beats short-term thinking in soccer operations.⬇️

A friend at a Premier League club told me: “You guys in America have roles we’ve never heard of in Europe.” He’s right. Here’s my latest piece on two uniquely American positions that keep MLS clubs running. ⬇️⚽

Saw Jurgen Klopp in an ad for Trivago today and it genuinely made my day. That dude is living his best life, I hope to be like him one day

With decision day looming this weekend for the Portland Timbers, @luukasojala.bsky.social takes a look at potential first round playoff opponents. #RCTID

New on @stumptownfooty.bsky.social, the 2025 edition of the PPOP: The Potential Playoff Opponent Preview. Enjoy! #RCTID

Doing some research right now on the potential opponents #RCTID could play in the playoffs for an article coming out soon for @stumptownfooty.bsky.social. If the Timbers are able to secure the 7th seed, they will play whoever is in second place after decision day this weekend. 🧵⬇️

Always looking to connect with interesting people related to the beautiful game! If you/ or someone you know spends their days thinking about the beautiful game, I would love to follow them! Give me your best recommendations below!

Great interview by Phuoc here. Rare that we get the chance to hear from the chief soccer officer about a very recent trade - good stuff in this! #BAONPDX

Another ambitious CSO hire, this time by SKC. Will be exciting to see how clubs with open CSO roles fill the slots.

There’s a segment of Timbers supporters I can’t wrap my head around who make these definitive statements about the current state of the club from a really bad faith position. Very clearly have their minds made up about coaches/players/soccer ops strategy and overlook any semblance of good happening.

First and foremost, I am a Timbers fan. That needs to be made clear. I am someone who pays attention to what goes on in the sporting director world, and my lord, this would be an absolute smash hire for the MLS.

Choose joy. That’s it.

Sam Svilar, managing editor, @stumptownfooty.substack.com AND male relationship consultant

Got a lot of good things happening in my life as of late, and the rest of this year is something that I’m looking forward to. Gonna be a great rest of the year professionally (⚽️) and personally. Time to blow the doors off

Portland found their Designated Player replacement in Norwegian Winger, Kristoffer Velde. @luukasojala.bsky.social takes a look at him and gives his thoughts. #RCTID

Proud to be part of a group that stands firmly in what we believe in. Unbelievably proud to call this group of people my colleagues and friends

New on Substack. Enjoy

Some thoughts at the end of a long week. #RCTID

🇨🇴 BREAKING: Fluminense are finalizing a deal to sign Colombian midfielder Santi Moreno from the Portland Timbers, per sources. Timbers agreed a fee around $6m. Moreno gets the move he wants to Fluminense. Portland get their valuation met. Fluminense get their guy.

Core memory tonight.

@sammich923.bsky.social just gets me 🥹 Long been hoping we would sign Scandinavian talent who would come in and make immediate impact. Very excited for this

The Timbers are in advanced talks with Norwegian/Argentine winger Kristoffer Velde of Olympiacos. @luukasojala.bsky.social writes about it below. #RCTID

Innit

For the first time, we have two entries to Tier 0. The State of Analytics in MLS is here: www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2025/7/20/state-of-mls-analytics-july-2025

Join my colleague Addison Walters and I in a few minutes as we talk lower league football! See you soon.

Join @sammich923.bsky.social and I at 2:30 PM Pacific Time on @stumptownfooty.substack.com Substack live as we preview today’s clash between #RCTID and St Louis City SC. Additionally, Sam and I will speak about the upcoming summer transfer window, and how important it will be for the club!

🚨A colleague and I are working on a first-of-its-kind project with verbal commitments from MLS participants. We’re looking for a U.S.-based academic partner to help us secure IRB approval and join the research team. Know someone who fits? DMs open! ⚽📚

Love this club, love my work. Trophy 2 tonight. #teamops

Coming soon on @stumptownfooty.substack.com I take a look into the MLSPA salary guide, where I analyze PTFC's Bargain Bin performers, and the Top Shelfers (who stay on the shelf.) I hope you enjoy the read when it comes out, it's been fun to write! #RCTID

Does how a ⚽team travels impact their performance? 🛫⬇️ There are some ridiculously long away days in the USL and MLS. Think Portland HOP to AV Alta, USL Eugene to FTL UTD for the USL, and Vancouver to Miami or Montreal/Toronto to LAFC/LAG/SDFC in the MLS. Contd..

Good afternoon STF fam! This is a flu stricken @luukasojala.bsky.social, and I’ll be hanging out with you all for today’s matchup between the Portland Timbers and the Lions of Orlando City. Will my posts make sense? Who knows. Let’s sit back, and enjoy the ride together. #RCTID

Jordan Year

Good afternoon from a rainy Salt Lake City! The Portland Timbers are in town to take on Real Salt Lake in a midweek MLS fixture on Apple TV. @sammich923.bsky.social gave me the keys tonight, so come hang with me over on @stumptownfooty.substack.com! #RCTID

New on Substack: "The Roster Lifecycle: When to Push, When to Rebuild." Subscribe, Below ⬇️

I never get normal Timbers games to cover

Goooooooood Evening STF Fam! This is @luukasojala.bsky.social and I'll be hanging out with you all tonight on Bluesky and the other site. @sammich923.bsky.social is our man on the ground in Tukwila, and he will be working on our long form content tonight. Stay tuned for content coming soon! #RCTID

Shoutout to @luukasojala.bsky.social. What a tweet. #RCTID