If the fan vote is any indication, the MLS All-Star team will be heavy on the stars when they take on English Premier League champions Manchester United in the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game on July 27 at Red Bull Arena.
The First XI also includes three players who have never been named to the MLS All-Star team.
San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski, the 2010 Golden Boot winner, has obviously earned the respect of fans across North America for his consistent scoring. Brek Shea, the young attacker from FC Dallas, is enjoying a season some pundits call worthy of MVP consideration.
Portland captain Jack Jewsbury, who leads the Portland Timbers with four goals and is fourth in MLS with six assists, is the lone representative of either of this year’s expansion teams.
Sporting Kansas City defender Matt Besler was also selected for the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star team as the player with the most fan votes via text. Besler received an astounding 30 percent of all text votes submitted between June 8 and July 5 and he received nearly three times as many text votes as the next closest player.
“Portland won twice this week, and it was in large part due to the play of their captain,” D.C. contributor Steven Streff attested. “Jewsbury contributed with an assist and a goal against Dallas, and his overall play helped Portland kick off their campaign at Jeld-Wen Field in style.”
Happy belated birthday to Jack Jewsbury who turned 30 yesterday (Wednesday April 13th). Captain of the Portland Timbers, he’ll lead them onto the national stage tonight when they play their first home game at the newly christened JELD-WEN Field. Chicago (1-1-1) comes into the game after a loss at Seattle on Saturday. Portland (0-2-1) got their first point on Jack’s goal in a tie at New England on April 2nd.
The Portland Timbers began their MLS tenure with a pair of losses before concluding a season-opening road trip by picking up their first point. They don’t want to settle for anything less than three Thursday night.
The Chicago Fire are the opponent for expansion Portland’s much-anticipated debut at Jeld-Wen Field, which underwent a major renovation that the Timbers expect will give them a big home-field advantage.
There are three clear keys to success for the Timbers tonight: First, take the lead or at least keep from giving up a goal in the first half; Second, take advantage of the vast spaces between Chicago’s midfield and defensive bands; and Third, flood the defensive third to prohibit movement by the Fire’s dynamic South American.
The Fire will face an old nemesis in forward Kenny Cooper who always seemed to manage a goal against Chicago while playing for FC Dallas. Cooper is Portland’s main offensive weapon and tallied the Timbers first ever MLS goal on opening night against Colorado. He’s joined up top by 25 year old Colombian Jorge Perlaza.
Jack Jewsbury, Portland Timbers vs Chivas, Photo: Gary Sheldon | ProstAmerika.com
Have you caught a Portland Timber’s game yet? If not, Farmer’s Gastropub now has the MLS DirecTV package. A call to the restaurant can ensure that you’ll catch the game and a good meal. Here’s some reports from Week 3:
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 1, PORTLAND TIMBERS 1 (HIGHLIGHTS)
Man of the Match – Shalrie Joseph. Had a good battle with James Marcelin all day, but the Revs standout helped New England get a point in a game where Portland very well could have taken a road victory.
Honorable Mention – Jack Jewsbury. His clutch finish helped Portland register its first point as an MLS team.
A Night to Forget – Kevin Alston. The Revs right back has been struggling and had a bad night that included him being out of position on Portland’s goal.
Rookie Watch – Stephen McCarthy scored his first goal and A.J. Soares played his best match of the season for New England. Meanwhile, Darlington Nagbe made his debut for the Portland Timbers.
Random Thoughts – Zack Schilawski’s struggles make you wonder how much longer he’ll be starting for the Revs, and if his problem have more to do with the Revs system or his own issues. James Marcelin was very impressive in midfield for Portland. He and Jack Jewsbury could be forming one of the more underrated central midfield tandems in the league
“He’s probably our most important player right now,” midfielder Jeremy Hall said. “He sees things that tells you he’s been around the league. The stuff that he says is right on and it’s like almost having another coach out there.”
Jewsbury scored Portland’s lone goal in its 1-1 draw at New England Saturday, giving the Timbers their first point in Major League Soccer play. He also scored the Timbers’ first goal in their 2-0 win against Chivas USA in a U.S. Open Cup play-in game March 29. Each goal has contributed to momentum the team is riding as it approaches the home-opener against Chicago April 14 at Jeld-Wen Field.
“I’ve always seen myself as a leader,” Jewsbury said. “When I was in Kansas City, I learned from older guys like Jimmy Conrad that and now I’m trying to bring that to Portland.”
There’s also a nice wrap up of the US Open Cup win over Chivas, where Jack got the first goal scored by Portland in their history, the game-winner in their first game against an MLS rival and led by example – 2011 US Open Cup qualifying: Portland Timbers get first MLS win, topple 10-man Chivas USA In addition to the highlight video below, there’s a post-game interview with Jack you might enjoy, click on the link to go to the story.
2010 REVIEW:
A 3rd place finish in the USL Conference and 4th overall saw the Timbers round off their time in the USL with a good finish.
Despite making the play-offs it was short lived after a 2-1 aggregate defeat to fellow MLS newcomers Vancouver Whitecaps. They were able to reach the final of the US open cup but an agonizing 4-3 defeat over two legs saw them end the season without a trophy.
ROSTER ADDITIONS: Numerous new faces have joined the club in their inaugural MLS season. Notable newcomers include former Arsenal youngster Kerrea Gilbert who has been brought in to give the defence steel alongside Rodney Wallace. Also head coach John Spencer chose to sign fellow Scotsman Adam Moffat for the midfield meanwhile in attack Kenny Cooper looks set to lead the line with exciting prospect Darlington Nagbe. Troy Perkins was signed as starting goalkeeper.
Former Man United trainee Eddie Johnson was signed from the USL as well as Ugandan Brian Umony on loan. Sal Zizzo moves north from Chivas USA along with Jack Jewsbury who joins from Sporting Kansas.
Who do you expect to be in the starting XI on First Kick?
John Spencer has been pretty adamant that every player is vying for a starting position. Given that the Timbers have been recently promoted to MLS I’d say that for the most part that’s true. Most players coming in have probably, or will probably be given an equal shot at earning a place on the starting 11. There are a few of exceptions, however.
First, Kenny Cooper will most definitely be an immediate starter. To put it bluntly, the Timbers didn’t go through all the stress and waste an allocation spot on a player they have planned for the bench. At the press event introducing Cooper, Spencer even said as much.
Second, everything I’m hearing coming out of training is that Darlington Nagbe is a beast of a player. I would expect him to perform very, very well in this upcoming season and, at this point, I’d be ready to declare him as being on the first team.
Making a smooth jump from lower-tiered soccer leagues – USL-1 and USSF D-2 – to the upper echelon of United States soccer, Major League Soccer. Portland, along with maintaining its ownership in the transition to MLS, also brought 10 (of the 23) players with them to aid chemistry in their inaugural season. Veteran additions Kenny Cooper, Jack Jewsbury, Eric Brunner and David Horst should set the stage for a competitive inaugural season.
In the first big player move by Sporting Kansas City, the team has traded long-time midfielder (and Missouri native) Jack Jewsbury to the expansion Portland Timbers for allocation money.
“This was not an easy decision. Jack has spent eight years with Kansas City, representing the organization on and off the field with class,” Sporting Kansas City Manager Peter Vermes said. “I understand that it might sound cliché, but we really do wish Jack all the best and sincerely thank him for what he accomplished with this club and in this city.”
Jewsbury, 29, has played the past eight seasons with Sporting KC, appearing in 195 regular-season matches and recording 15 goals and 21 assists during his time with the club. Named Sporting KC’s 2008 Defensive Player of the Year, Jewsbury ranks among the club’s all-time career leaders in games played.
“This is a great signing for the club, adding a player with eight years of MLS experience to the group,” said Timbers head coach John Spencer. “I think he will be a great addition, and he will definitely make us a better squad.”
A native of Springfield, Mo., Jewsbury appeared in 29 games for Sporting KC last season, contributing two goals in 1,675 minutes. He had a standout season in 2008, posting career-highs in assists (7) and points (13), while being named the club’s Defensive Player of the Year. In 2009, Jewsbury ranked among Sporting KC’s assist leaders for a second straight season, with five assists during the campaign.
“I’m excited for this opportunity,” said Jewsbury. “After being in Kansas City for the past eight years, it’s tough to leave some of the guys and friendships I’ve created. But I’m excited for the opportunity with a new club. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Portland fans and the Timbers organization.”
Jewsbury finishes his Wizards career in the top ten of multiple categories. He finished in 7th place for league minutes (13,275), minutes in all competitions (14,973), league appearances (195), appearances in all competitions (218), league starts (142, tied with Mo Johnston), and all competition starts (162). He also finished 8th in assists in league and all competitions with 20 and 21 respectively. In terms of goals, Jewsbury finished his career in 12th in league goals with 14 and 16th in all competitions with 15.
A few days delayed but here’s some of the news that’s come out the Sporting KC preseason camp that began Monday. Sporting’s players will spend this week undergoing various fitness tests, taking physicals and partaking in light training at the Kansas City Chiefs’ indoor training facility before moving on to Arizona, where SKC will spend the majority of their time prior to opening their season at Chivas USA.
The Daily Wiz offers up an excellent article on Jack Jewsbury (Kickapoo 1999), who enters his 9th season with Sporting KC and is battling to regain a starting role at the same time he and his best friend Davy Arnaud must play the role of leaders for a team that averages only 1.7 years in KC.
But, with Jack, it’s not all about him and his playing time. With the recent departures of long-time stalwarts Jimmy Conrad and Josh Wolff during the offseason, Jewsbury and captain Davy Arnaud are now by far the longest tenured players on coach Vermes’ roster. As Jewsbury prepares to enter his ninth season in the league and Arnaud his tenth, they both realize it is now time for them to step up and be the main leaders of the team – both vocally and in their actions.
If you’re looking for a Spring soccer get away, Sporting Kansas City will play the final two games of its Arizona pre-season preparation in back-to-back days in Tucson on Friday, March 4th and Saturday, March 5th. The games — against the Arizona Sahuaros and the New York Red Bulls — are part of a four-team tournament to be hosted at Hi Corbett Field. It’s a 4 team ‘tournament’ being called the MLS Desert Cup and you can find ticket information and other details here.
I had an opportunity to chat with Jack Jewsbury, KC Wizards and Kickapoo Chiefs (’99) earlier this week when he was in town for a Youth Clinic sponsored by Mediacom and Lake Country Soccer. The photo of him with Chad Jaeger, who played for Drury in the mid 90′s and now coaches here with Springfield SC, came after a conversation with the two. Chad noted he remembers Jack when he was coaching youth soccer in the early 90′s and Jack only came up to Chad’s lower chest. Now Jack has returned to coach the youth as well. The circle remains unbroken. Enjoy.
Dave Borchardt, the voice of the KC Wizards TV broadcast, sat down with Jack just before Memorial Day to chat about the team, the upcoming Manchester United game and life outside of soccer.
The Back Post is one of two KC Wizards blogs I count on to get a fan’s view of what’s happening up North. Thad Bell runs the blog and like me is an active photographer and has added video work. He caught up with home town boy Jack Jewsbury Friday and discussed the loss to DC United on Wednesday and the friendly with Manchester United on July 25th that was announced recently.
