Timbers coach Caleb Porter struck an optimistic chord following the season-ending loss to Houston when he said, “I think when you look at this team – and this is very encouraging moving forward.” Porter began. “We have the pieces to again next year put together an extremely positive season and make steps even further to accomplish what we want to accomplish.”
Two weeks later, Porter was no longer with the Timbers and over the next few weeks, the four Akron players on the Timbers roster had dwindled to one: defender Zarek Valentin.
Without Porter, the once Akron-heavy Timbers roster was, whether intentionally or not, coming unzipped.