By Drew Olsen (@drewjolsen)

Despite not being in the biggest market, lacking Hollywood or Middle Eastern owners, and not being the most famous MLS club, the Timbers have an owner, coach, and fan base with consistently high expectations. After winning the cup in 2015, very few changes were made to the roster and the league got better around them. They missed the playoffs last season and never found the spark that took them to the championship. Changes had to come, and some big additions (and subtractions) were made to improve the team. While it's too early to say if those moves were the right ones, one thing is clear: the Timbers want another MLS Cup.

2016 in review

Fresh off of an impressive run for an MLS Cup Championship in 2015, expectations were sky high for Portland in 2016. After a sluggish start to the season (now a trend of the Caleb Porter era) that saw them with only 12 points in as many games, hopes for the season were quickly revised downwards. Only once all season did the Timbers win back-to-back games, and they were never able to find the consistent form they rode to the cup in 2015. Though the data suggest they were among the most unlucky teams in terms of expected goals against, the defense of 2016 just never looked the same after Jorge Villafaña was sold and Nat Borchers suffered an ultimately career-ending injury midway through the season. Adam Larsen Kwarasey also returned to Europe after an injury led to longtime Timber Jake Gleeson earning the starting ‘keeper role, and it took until late in the season for newcomer Vytas Andriuškevičius (ahem, Vytas from here on out) to solidify the leftback spot. And what started as a season of hope for the development of two stars of their cup run - Dairon Asprilla and Designated Player Lucas Melano - ended with neither playing after Asprilla was sent on loan following questions about his attitude and Melano was benched for his consistently poor form.

But it wasn't all bad. Grinning gladiator Diego Chara finished in the top four in tackles won for the 4th straight season. The attack remained potent, finishing 3rd in expected goals for in the league. Fanendo Adi scored 16 goals for a 2nd straight season, Diego Valeri finished 5th in MLS in expected goals plus expected assists, Darlington Nagbe continued to be the same Darlington Nagbe, and even Darren Mattocks showed promise as a starting winger towards the end of the season.

Though they found more success in the 2nd half of the season, the Timbers were never able to find the form that led them on their epic run to MLS Cup the season before. Ultimately Portland finished 7th, missing out on the postseason and not giving themselves the chance to defend their title. They've brought in some key players to try to avoid that fate in 2017.

2017 offseason additions/subtractions

The biggest change was addition by subtraction; Melano's dead weight was sent back to Argentina, freeing up his DP contract spot. Also gone are retirees Borchers and Ned Grabavoy, along with club legend Jack Jewsbury, all of whom have taken other jobs within the organization. The other two departures of note were Jermaine Taylor and Steven Taylor, neither of whom were able to fill the hole left by Borchers in central defense and probably commanded salaries beyond their production.

In come a series of additions meant to get Portland back atop the West. The biggest name is that of Argentine Designated Player Sebastian Blanco, a player who will be asked to fill the role that Melano never could; as a top-level creative and attacking right winger. While Melano was acquired for his potential, Blanco is supposed to be the finished product.

Also added were two Tico internationals from Saprissa in the form of David Guzman, who will play slightly behind Chara as defensive cover in the midfield, and MLS veteran Roy Miller, who is expected to provide centerback depth. After presumed halfback starter Gbenga Arokoyo went down in preseason with a season-ending Achilles tear, the team brought in former USL Timber Lawrence Olum, who is probably a stopgap measure until a more starting caliber centerback can be acquired. Former number one SuperDraft pick Chance Myers will add fullback experience off the bench, and Portland traded for Jeff Atinella to back up Gleeson. Asprilla is back from his loan and Porter’s preseason lineups suggest he’ll probably be one of the first subs off the bench.

USL affiliate Timbers 2 is also starting to show its worth after the first team signed youngsters Rennico Clarke, Victor Arboleda, and 3rd string goalkeeper Kendall McIntosh. None are expected to see many minutes in 2016, but all look to be promising MLS prospects. U20 USMNT international striker Jeremy Ebobisse was taken in the draft and he’ll try to fight for minutes behind Adi and Jack McInerny.

Positional expectations

Gleeson earned his job as the starter in 2016 and he’ll stay there for the coming season. His expected goals minus goals against numbers were about average for the league (and much better than Kwarasey's), and his shot-stopping was demonstrably better than his predecessor's. Still, he’ll need to improve his distribution if he wants to be an elite MLS goalkeeper. Atinella is a starting-quality backup, and he should be able to fill in capably if Gleeson gets injured or suspended for his offseason drunken driving arrest.