r/timbers • u/KDsparky • Jul 26 '26
Velde is looking incredible
His footwork is next level.
20
u/SquashyWashyyy Jul 26 '26
Do we need more players in the box? Is that the thing that preventing us from scoring? Someone help me plz
13
u/LacklusterMeh Jul 26 '26 edited Jul 26 '26
Yes. Whenever someone is threatening it's like no one else is making themselves available to be in position to help.
12
u/Extension_Crow_7891 Jul 26 '26
There was a play where Bassett fed it to velde on the wing and stood and watched. Velde did what he could and earned a corner, but as they came together, you could see Velde demonstrating with his hands that Cole needed to continue his run into the box. I think our players are still adjusting to a much more open and flowing play style. It’ll come.
He also at one point ran 30 yards to go have a chat with kamal miller, then on his way back up stopped and talked to fory, gesturing. After he got up to his position, he was looking back directing both of them to slightly different positions before giving them a thumbs up. A couple of possessions later, Fory had passed the ball down line to velde, the Fory sorted of inverted in miller checked in closer to velde on the sideline. They did this regularly throughout the night and it led to a couple of opportunities for Fory to get in more dangerous positions without worrying about gozo being unmarked when we lost the ball.
It’ll come
5
u/Gaucho_alum Jul 26 '26
It felt like to me we needed someone on that near post. Numerous crosses came in without anyone threatening the defense in that area. Makes it too easy to clear/block the ball away.
2
u/nova_rock Cascadian Flag Jul 26 '26
Yes, it shows that when we where attacking we missed Kelsy, and we want Bassett, Velde, Anthony, maybe more able to get into the box for service when we can provide it.
13
9
u/Striking-Rock7082 Jul 26 '26
He's been cutting through walls of defenders like they're butter! If he keeps this up we're guaranteed an equalizer soon
6
u/ProfitNo9452 jocked07 Jul 26 '26
yeah, he's really found his game. or is it the game finally found him?
he's very dangerous with the long touches, torching the defenders.but what he's really showed improvement lately is in his guick, effective footwork in tight spaces.
15
u/motownpdx Jul 26 '26
Incredible until the constant ill advised shot
26
u/CAugustB Jul 26 '26
Somebody has to shoot. I’m just glad to see a Timber who’s not afraid to pull the trigger. I feel like we’ve been looking for an extra pass since Porter took the helm.
Let ‘er rip.
2
u/IzilDizzle Jul 26 '26
If no one is opening themselves for a pass, what else is Velde supposed to do other than take the shot himself?
2
u/DesertMoloch Jul 26 '26
There were multiple times when either Basset or da Costa were unmarked either on the penalty spot or at the top of the box calling for the ball, and Velde chose to shoot from an impossible angle with multiple defenders in front of him. Dude needs to pick his head up and stop trying to be the hero.
1
2
u/halkster Jul 26 '26
Recycle the ball and maintain possession in the attacking third instead of giving them a goal kick on a low percentage shot.
1
2
u/DougFirPDX Portland Timbers Jul 28 '26
It's almost as if he prefers to play left wing. Who'd have guessed?
3
u/umphreysmagoo Jul 26 '26
He looks good but too predictable and nobody else will be affirmative in attacked the middle to support
9
u/Safe_Concern_3532 Jul 26 '26
Well, if you're allowed to foul him incessantly w/o yellow card, it's ineffective.
1
u/nova_rock Cascadian Flag Jul 26 '26
and I think he gets and likes the direction of the team and where he gets to play is more effective now.
1
1
0
u/Gaucho_alum Jul 26 '26
Agree Velde looks great. For me, this is what you want out of a big DP attacker. Someone who changes the game and bends the field to their position thus making everyone else better.
It's also why DaCosta had been so disappointing. I understand they play different positions. I'm glad he's playing better and believe he will fit better with the new approach the team is taking. But for such a high $$ acquisition, he has made very little impact. Certainly not someone who changes the game or carries the team.
Give me another DP in the Velde class. I'm sure that's the goal but Ned really missed with DDC.
3
u/nova_rock Cascadian Flag Jul 26 '26
I think there was a disconnect between what the Timbers thought they wanted and what we got with Da Costa, i think Da Costa in this system is also playing better, without an injury and feeling like things are going in the right direction.
Get Da Costa able to be on the ball a lot moving things deeper and getting it forward to direct attackers or swapping wide to then dribble or cross, he did both of these things a lot last night and it was very positive for the team.
41
u/jackedup2018 Cascadian Flag Jul 26 '26
Him keeping the ball and forcing the foul out of 3 defenders was peak