SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica -- They’re the type of observations that elicit furrowed brows when offered from those employed by a club, but welcome to the sports landscape we live in, and welcome to a world where those observations can still be true. Beginning two offseasons ago, when a change in head coach coupled by an influx of Targeted Allocation Money changed Portland’s roster dynamic, depth has had to be a point of strength. And when that depth has failed, the team has, too.
The good side of that equation can be seen in Zarek Valentin’s contributions in 2018, when he emerged from an initial backup role to start at both left and right back throughout the season.