Now official. After much waiting, Martí Gras is finally here. #RCTID

It's finally official: The Portland Timbers have named Marti Cifuentes as their new manager. www.i-5corridor.com/p/portland-t...

It's official - the Timbers have signed head coach Marti Cifuentes on a three-year deal. "Marti is a young analytical leader who is as intellectually curious about his trade as I have seen in a coach." Full quotes and contract details #RCTID www.patreon.com/TheTimberRev...

MLS says it's ready to "take it from here." But is it? Examining MLS's post-World Cup path forward. Part 1: The podcast version - www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhKQ... Part 2: The Athletic feature - www.nytimes.com/athletic/745... Part 3: The book - us.macmillan.com/books/978125...

Huge thanks to the producers and Adam Leventhal at @theathleticfc.bsky.social pod. Interviews with Don Garber, Brad Sims, Garth Lagerwey and Mark Wilf in the pod and story. A deep dive into the future of MLS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhKQ... www.nytimes.com/athletic/745...

The Portland Timbers are set to announce Marti Cifuentes as their next head coach. I write about it for @stumptownfooty.bsky.social #RCTID

Perfectly reasonable requests, unacceptable only to the dickhead who has no intentions of negotiating in good faith and bought the team just to relocate it. You're telling me that the predatory auto loan guy is a gigantic piece of shit?

Jon is one of the best beat writers in the country, balancing incisive observation with his natural affable asides. I've been reading his work since Twinkie Town, and his coverage is essential to keep up with Minnesota United. Support him if you can! Good sportswriting is valuable!

Put the word out there that Allocation Disorder is back up* *sort of

I think you've already seen a look into how the Timbers can play under Cifuentes. The blowout win in Seattle shared a lot of characteristics with Cifuentes' main principles of play. #RCTID

Neville's vacant position has been filled. His replacement can lead the Timbers to glory. #RCTID

Here @abooker17.bsky.social gets to the nub of it www.whatahowler.com/chicago-fire...

This interview with Marti Cifuentes is legit. He’s very sophisticated tactically. TLDR version - he’s a Cruyff acolyte committed to “positional play”. But much more. What we saw against Seattle and beyond. #RCTID

🇿🇦 Olwethu Makhanya hasn't returned to the Philadelphia Union & wants to leave Per sources: - Makhanya believes club broke promise to let him go to Europe if offer came. Philly rejected Belgian bid - Philly insists it was a general "if an offer makes sense, we'll do it". Club feels value wasn't met

is there a pulitzer for photo captions because if so @theguardian.com just won it

Marc Cucurella is the only player to have been on stage for both Donald Trump trophy lift incursions.

Football heritage iykyky #RCTID

Just insane that Belgium was the only team to even score against Spain

hi, soccer expert here! referees only do this when they're extremely horny

If you’re at home and wondering how this halftime show thing is going down in the stadium, I can confirm the atmosphere is stone dead. Fans gawping at what’s happening with little reaction.

I’ve got a fever and the only cure is more vuvuzela

One of the biggest things Cifuentes believes in as a coach is adapting systems to the players, not vice versa. I’ve done a lot of research on him this weekend. More soon!

An underappreciated part of bringing your kids to do mundane tasks like shopping is teaching them how to be in the world and function as humans.

Put the Schadenfreude straight into my veins #RCTID

ICYMI, Why on Earth Did I Wait This Long Edition, Seattle Sounders 1-5 Portland Timbers: On the Right Side of a Snowball... LINK: tinyurl.com/3cmpxmez A final, stupid late plug for my notes on the curb-stomping Portland dropped on the Emerald City. End with questions, celebrations! #rctid (1/4)

Following up my (frankly insane) project to document every beach on the Oregon coast with a (frankly insane) project to document every beach in the Columbia River Gorge.

If you look at hiring Jack Cassidy for T2 and now look at this move. These are some clear signals the Timbers are getting more serious about the academy. Very welcome #RCTID

Great context from Cifuentes on his background and how he likes to play if you need something to do before the final. #RCTID overcast.fm/+AAo__pwsmfw

In other #RCTID news, T2 picked up a come from behind 2-1 win away at St Louis CITY 2 yesterday. Late goals from Conor Ferguson (Lucas Fernandez-Kim assist) and Charles Ondo. T2 are 3rd place in the conference. The W gives T2 their league leading 25th road point. 9 games left in the season. #rc2id

This feels like a massive mistake. Bringing in a very aging super star only to send off your in prime golden boot candidate is certainly a choice.

In regards to Jack Cassidy: having a coach who emphasizes "world-class basics" is superb for T2. He's a crucial link in the pipeline between the academy and the first team, which is still being built. #RCTID

The most common phrase I heard regarding the head coaching search was "data-driven." It isn't surprising that the data pointed towards Cifuentes. Getting a manager of that quality is a pretty big coup for a MLS club, especially Portland. #RCTID

The Portland Timbers have hired Martí Cifuentes as their fifth head coach in MLS history. #RCTID Details on the hire and background: www.patreon.com/TheTimberRev...

The Portland Timbers conducted a deep and thorough search that lands on Marti Cifuentes. Other two finalists, per sources: - Thomas Christiansen, Panama head coach - Josh Wolff, former Austin FC head Spoke with Jim Curtin (as I previously reported) too among many others.

🟢🇪🇸 BREAKING: The Portland Timbers are set to name Marti Cifuentes their next head coach, per sources. Timbers like Cifuentes for attack-minded philosophy and tactical sophistication. Previously with Leicester who won 1 of 15 after they fired him and got relegated www.nytimes.com/athletic/744...

I like the hire. Some background here. (I did some research when there were rumors he might be a candidate.) #RCTID youtu.be/IhTO2szLd8w?... youtu.be/SCaJneNJB74 www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Accidental leak on KGW version of Timbers360. 🚨 #RCTID

New commercial: "...and if you like watching this standard of defending, check out MLS!"

The World Cup is finally learning what MLS always knew: soccer is better without defense

Jfc inject this game into my veins

Moar Goals

Spare a thought for everyone seated behind the goal on the right of your tv screen. Seven goals, none in front of them, and the sun is shining right in their faces.

4-0 is the most dangerous lead in football

This game is drunk

This game is unhinged

Third place is coming home…

Next Phil column: I told Tuchel to wear an England T-shirt

Wouldn’t be like the Sounders to sign an injury-prone forward to a DP contract!

You may wonder why MLS teams look to top A-League players, now. Most notably, Lucas Herrington (COL) seems poised be sold for multiples of the ~$1.5m fee. Jovanovich to SJ , Trewin to NYC, Goodwin to CLT. Bonetig (POR) and Piol (RSL) as well. The reason: A-League's financial crisis = bargains.

There was one trade that caught my eye last week. It shows how MLS is splitting the seasons and more importantly, was something we’ve actually never seen before. FAM is back, and we’re digging deeper into the Duncan McGuire trade