LA Galaxy vs. Portland Timbers soccer pick

By: Mike Richardson

A pair of hot and cold sides meet when LA take on Portland, but I’m not expecting a lukewarm encounter.

While neither LA Galaxy nor the Portland Timbers look likely to bother the top of either conference this season, they still have plenty to play for and could take three points this weekend as a spur to adequacy. These sides have only amassed 42 points between them this season (23 to LA and 19 to Portland) and could do with turning on the wins (and the goals) right about now. It could be the right time to back a decent score as head to head between Galaxy and the Timbers the winning side has scored three goals three times (out of four) and twice (of those three times) it has been to Galaxy’s advantage. However, the last meeting, back in June, was a more subdued affair with just a single LA goal marking the difference between the two sides.

We’ve said it before (and we’re about to say it again)

Goals win games and LA have outscored Portland 7-4 in their last four meetings, but three of those games (and the three times that LA were victorious) the game was played in LA. The only meeting on Timbers turf was a 3-0 home victory back in August 2011. But such a disparity between home and away records is one possible reason why Portland have been “refurbished”.

The biggest factor in this game might actually be off the pitch

Portland Timbers’ coach John Spencer was relieved of his duties on Monday, followed by the swift installation of interim manager Gavin Wilkinson. Wilko was seen to be staking his claim and taking the reins for training on Tuesday, but the P-45 for Spencer will still be a shock and distraction to the Timbers ahead of a tough match. It was either the right thing to do or a cack-handed mistake (I’ve narrowed it down to those two) as the Timbers trail fifth-place Los Angeles in the West by four points and it’s the top five teams from each conference who will earn a playoff berth.

Plenty still to play for

Portland’s Troy Perkins said, "We have to remember that the season is only halfway over," and continued, "There's a lot of points left on the table and we're not very far out. Sometimes, a change of philosophy makes a huge difference." Whether a change of personnel has the desired effect remains to be seen. Wilkinson, who coached the Timbers USL First Division team for four seasons (2007-10), said he won’t make any melodramatic changes ahead of the Timbers' game with Galaxy, but said (somewhat ominously), “changes will occur regarding a team mentality.”

Portland Striker Kris Boyd summed up the players’ side of the coin saying, "It's obviously disappointing with the coach leaving, but now we need to get on with it in a professional manner and look forward to the game against LA on Saturday. I'm a professional athlete; I turn out and do my job until I'm told otherwise.”

Reading between the lines or just making things up to suit a preview, I’d say that Portland are rattled and the game will fall (heavily) in LA’s favour and so will the soccer odds.

Wilkinson may be the man of the moment but he’s unlikely to be a long term solution for the Timbers and a permanent replacement will likely be announced during the offseason.

Galaxy look to have turned their own corner

Last year's champions may still be off the pace in fifth in the Western Conference (and 14 points of the San Jose Earthquakes), but after suffering the ignominy of two successive defeats they got back to winning away ways against the Chicago Fire.

Portland will take heart that Galaxy’s away record reads 3-1-5, while their own home record is 5-2-2. Still, I don’t think form will be enough to distract from the managerial kerfuffle pitchside. And don’t forget that the Chicago Fire had only been beaten once at home all season, before LA took them down 2-0 on Sunday.

LA have hardly been prolific this season scoring 28 goals and conceding 29, but Portland have been even worse scoring 16 but conceding 24. The Only MLS side to have a worse goal scoring record than the Timbers who have clocked up 11 (and conceded 18) but are a big fat point ahead of Portland.

Back a low scoring game, and only back a Portland win if you believe in the “new manager” new results voodoo.

Would he lie to you?

Just because no article on LA would be complete with mention of Frank Lampard; we can “reliably” report that Mr Lampard has laughed off claims he will be moving to Los Angeles Galaxy to link up with (former international team-mate) David Beckham and has sworn allegiance to the Blues’ cause.

Soccer Prediction: It won’t be by three goals but it will be an LA victory. +++