Story: Jamie Goldberg | Photo: Sean Meagher/Staff

The Portland Timbers opened preseason training camp in Tucson, Arizona this week in preparation for the start of the 2018 MLS season. The Timbers are coming off a successful 2017 campaign where they finished first in the Western Conference before succumbing to injuries and falling to the Houston Dynamo in the conference semifinals. But the Timbers are a very different team than they were last season. While the club is returning the majority of its starters from 2017, the Timbers have a new head coach in Giovanni Savarese and have made some significant moves this offseason. With preseason underway, we're taking a look at 10 key questions facing the Timbers in 2018.

Don't Edit

Photo: Sean Meagher/Staff

Will Giovanni Savarese be successful at the MLS level?

After Caleb Porter made the shocking decision to step down as Portland's head coach at the end of the 2017 season, the Timbers immediately began a wide-ranging coaching search as they aimed to find the right person to lead the club into a new era. The Timbers believe that Giovanni Savarese is that man. Savarese developed a reputation as a passionate, intelligent and highly successful coach during five seasons with the New York Cosmos. And he was beloved by players, fans and colleagues alike while in New York. But while he is a former MLS player and ESPN analyst, Savarese has never coached at the MLS level. He will have a lot to prove this season as he attempts to seamlessly make the jump from the North American Soccer League to MLS and lead the Timbers to a successful season.

Don't Edit

Photo: Rodrigo Abd/AP Photo

Will Andy Polo be an effective replacement for Darlington Nagbe?

The Timbers took a gamble in December when they traded longtime midfielder Darlington Nagbe to Atlanta United in exchange for $1.05 million in allocation money. While Portland received substantial return in the trade, the move will only be seen as successful if the Timbers use that money effectively. Since the trade, Portland has signed multiple players with Targeted Allocation Money and the club is still planning to make a few more key signings. But the success of the Nagbe move will mainly be defined by the performance of Peruvian winger Andy Polo. Polo, who the Timbers acquired on loan from Liga MX side Monarcas Morelia this offseason, is expected to replace Nagbe in the lineup. The Timbers see a lot of potential in Polo and believe that he will be more of a goal scoring threat than Nagbe. Still, Polo only netted two goals in 25 appearances with Morelia. If Polo steps up in Portland, the Nagbe trade will look like a smart move by the Timbers. But if he struggles, the Nagbe trade could be seen as a mistake.

Don't Edit

Photo: Pete Christopher/2017

Who will back up Fanendo Adi?

After trading backup forward Darren Mattocks to D.C. United, the Timbers now have three forwards on their roster in Fanendo Adi, Jeremy Ebobisse and Foster Langsdorf. But while Adi has been one of the most dangerous strikers in MLS over the last few years, Ebobisse made just two starts in his rookie season in 2017 and Langsdorf will be a rookie this year. Given the inexperience of the players behind Adi in the depth chart, the Timbers have said that they plan to add another forward with Targeted Allocation Money ahead of the 2018 season. That could be a key move for Portland. The Timbers need a No. 9 that can produce off the bench as a late game substitute and also step up at times in the starting lineup. Adi missed the final 10 regular seasons games of 2017 due to injury, a vital reminder of just how important it is for the Timbers to have the right backup forward. At the same time, Portland needs to find a way to ensure that Ebobisse earns enough minutes this season to continue to develop and the club needs to give Langsdorf opportunities to grow as well. Bringing in an effective forward to back up Adi while still finding minutes for Ebobisse will be key for the Timbers this season.

Don't Edit

Photo: Ringo H.W. Chiu/AP

Who will start at center back?

The Timbers are returning two talented and effective center backs in Liam Ridgewell and Larrys Mabiala. Still, Portland made it a priority to sign another young center back with Targeted Allocation Money in Julio Cascante earlier this offseason. By bringing in Cascante, the Timbers are creating additional competition at the center back position and giving themselves extra cover in case of injury. While Ridgewell enters preseason at full health, the 33-year-old has been plagued with injuries in each of the last two seasons and made just 15 starts in 2017. But if Ridgewell can finally stay healthy, Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese is going to have to make some tough decisions at center back. Portland has been a much better defensive team with Ridgewell in the lineup over the last few years and Mabiala was an asset to the Timbers on the backline last season. But while Ridgewell and Mabiala are likely to enter the year as the presumed starters at center back, Cascante, 24, could be Portland's center back of the future if he sticks with the club and he deserves a real shot to win a starting role this year.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Photo: Ted S. Warren/AP

Will the Timbers be able to stay healthy?

After being plagued by injuries in each of the last two seasons, The Timbers made the decision to take a hard look at their sports science and training program this offseason. Ahead of the 2018 season, the Timbers hired Jon MacGregor as their new head athletic trainer. The club is also set to hire a head physical therapist before the start of the season. With the changes to their training staff, the Timbers are taking active steps to do a better job of staying healthy in 2018. Portland dealt with injuries throughout the 2017 season and were ultimately eliminated from playoffs in the Western Conference semifinals after suffering six key injuries in the span of two weeks. Portland also had serious issues getting injured players back on the field last season. Liam Ridgewell injured and then re-injured his quad in 2017, while Fanendo Adi saw a hamstring injury drag on for three months. Given the number of injuries and difficulty getting players back on the field, it was hard to blame the issues solely on bad luck. While the Timbers have made changes to their training staff this year, it remains to be seen whether the moves will be enough to prevent injuries from once again derailing Portland's season.

Don't Edit

Photo: Sean Meagher/Staff

What is Portland's succession plan at defensive midfield?

The Timbers have already brought in a few depth pieces at midfield this offseason as they've signed midfielder Andres Flores and homegrown player Eryk Williamson. But Portland is still on the hunt for a Targeted Allocation Level-level central midfielder. In recent days, the Timbers have been linked to 19-year-old Paraguayan midfielder Cristhian Paredes, but there is no indication that a deal is yet in place. Finding a strong addition at defensive midfield ahead of the season will be important for the club. Diego Chara will turn 32 this season and the Timbers need to start developing a player that can ultimately succeed Chara. At the same time, Portland needs to bring in a young player that is capable of seeing minutes now as they expect to deal with the absence of David Guzman during the FIFA World Cup this summer. Making the right signing in defensive midfield will be a key priority for the Timbers in the next month.

Don't Edit

Photo: Teresa Mahoney/Staff

Will the Timbers be able to give their young players enough minutes?

The Portland Timbers have signed five players age 24 or younger this offseason and plan to add at least one more high-level young player at defensive midfield. Along with the offseason signings, the Timbers are also returning some key young players in 19-year-old Marco Farfan and 20-year-old Jeremy Ebobisse, among others. At the same time, 10 of Portland's 11 starters from 2017 have returned to the club. With the influx of young players and the large number of proven veterans on the roster, Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese is going to have an interesting balancing act this season. Savarese needs to focus on leading the Timbers to a successful season in 2018, while at the same time building toward the future and finding ways to give his young talent enough minutes to develop. At times in the past, the Timbers have struggled to get their younger players on the field. But Savarese is a new coach with a background in youth development at the MLS and NASL level. It will be interesting to see whether Savarese makes it a priority to give more young players opportunities with the first team this year or whether the youngsters struggle to find minutes behind Portland's talented core of veterans.

Don't Edit

Photo: Sean Meagher/Staff

Do the Timbers have enough depth at outside back?

The Timbers have done a good job of filling out their depth at multiple positions this offseason, but they haven't made any moves at outside back. Right back Alvas Powell and left back Vytas are both returning to the club and the Timbers have effective backups in left back Marco Farfan and right back Zarek Valentin. Still, Powell has been inconsistent during his time in Portland and twice lost his starting spot in 2017. And Vytas made just 19 starts at left back last season as he dealt with injuries. While Valentin is a solid backup, it would be useful for Portland to have another player to push Powell for the starting job. Right back Chance Myers, who was brought in to push Powell last season, is currently in preseason training camp. But Myers played just 44 minutes in 2017 as he dealt with multiple injuries and it is unclear whether he will remain on the roster this season. The Timbers have addressed other key positional needs this offseason and they certainly have options at outside back, but the position definitely isn't the club's deepest spot on the roster.

Don't Edit

Photo: Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP

Will the Timbers see improvements from their goalkeepers?

The Timbers made the decision not to go after a new starting goalkeeper this offseason. Instead, Jake Gleeson or Jeff Attinella will be Portland's starter in 2018. Gleeson was Portland's starting keeper heading into the 2017 season, but Attinella won the starting job late in the year. While both goalkeepers are talented shot stoppers, they both dealt with inconsistency in 2017 and made some critical errors during the year. It will be interesting to see whether Gleeson and Attinella can take steps forward this season and become more consistent in the net under the direction of new goalkeeper coach Guillermo "Memo" Valencia. If Attinella and Gleeson can take those steps forward this season, both players could be strong options for the Timbers in the net. But if they continue to struggle with inconsistency, goalkeeper might develop into a position that the Timbers want to target in the summer transfer window.

Don't Edit

Don't Edit

Photo: Sean Meagher/Staff

Can the Timbers build on their success from 2017?

Despite dealing with numerous injuries in 2017, the Timbers came together at the end of the season to finish first in the Western Conference and make a return to the MLS Cup Playoffs. With 10 of 11 starters returning, the Timbers should have the pieces in place to once again make a run to the top of the Western Conference this season. But they'll have to do it under the direction of a different coach. Caleb Porter led the club to two first-place finishes in the Western Conference and an MLS Cup in just five years at the helm. Now, Giovanni Savarese will try to make his mark in Portland and lead the Timbers to even more success in the coming years. Even though the Timbers have a new coach and have made a few critical roster changes this offseason, they are not approaching this season as a rebuilding year. They have a strong enough roster to build off last season and the expectations for 2018 should be high.