will we ever win?

When it rains, it bores

The name of the Portland Timbers' goalkeeper is Troy Perkins.

I only mention this because if you watched the Union lose to the Timbers 3-1 Monday night, his name didn't really come up. He did pick the ball out of the back of the net after new Union midfielder Gabriel Gomez sent a free kick straight in. (There was a slight deflection, but it was going in anyway.) The stats say he had a save at some other point in the game, but I'm struggling to remember it.

That all would suggest some pretty pathetic offense from the Union, and indeed this was the case. Watching the scoreless first half, it was obvious there were goals to be had by both sides. Unfortunately it was the Timbers finding them in the second half as Philly wasted chances and had possession break down in the final third.

The strategy from Union Manager Peter Nowak was obvious, especially considering the team's defensive strength last season. They left newly signed striker Lionard Pajoy up top to hold up the ball while five midfielders clogged up the middle. Pajoy was game, working hard to keep possession and challenge the Timbers defenders, but he was outnumbered and delivered diminishing returns as the game progressed. And for all his work, he didn't produce any serious goal chances.

The defensive/clog up the middle/look for breakout offense strategy worked for a half if you consider the score, I guess. But it always looked like goals were coming.

Minutes after going up 1-0, Union keeper Zac MacMath let in a howler on a flicked-on free kick, and the flood gates opened up. Or they would have, had MacMath not made a bunch of really good saves to limit the score to only 3-1.

A snap reaction might say the Union's absent offense is down to the team trading previous face of the franchise Sebastien Le Toux to Vancouver in the offseason for some sweet, sweet "allocation money," which I think it's safe to assume went toward acquiring multiple players the team adds up to more than one Le Toux. They hope.

We have to give that one time, as I'm sure the Union will play more positive at home, probably with Danny Mwanga starting up top with Pajoy, and with Jack McInerney getting more time. But here's my thing about playing positive at home and conservative on the road: Who gives a shit if you're on the road? If you're good enough to play aggressively at home, you should be on the road too. Anything less is gutless. If your defense is that good — and it gave up the second fewest goals in MLS last season — then go for goals on the road and rely on that defense.

Anyway, while assessment of the Le Toux trade is TBD (and FYI, he scored and was involved in another goal in Vancouver's first game), something even more annoying threatens my enjoyment of this season: Freddy Adu.

ESPN's announcers said Nowak told them he was most excited about Freddy Adu going into this season. This despite the fact Nowak, seemingly Adu's biggest backer (He had him at DC United as well), barely played him down the stretch last season.

Adu appeared to parlay two good performances for the U.S. national team into a mid-season move to the Union last season after floundering in Europe, but I've seen nothing since suggesting he'll be an impact player. Again, we'll have to wait and see, but I'm not holding my breath. I think the Union have better options.

NOTES:

• What do you think of the new uniforms? I'm OK with the lightish blue for a change of pace, but that wide stripe on the front of the jersey is a huge mis-step. Maintaining a single vertical stripe makes sense as a team trademark, and a wider stripe in the mode of Ajax would be fine. But the tapered, wide to thin/top to bottom effect on these new jerseys is terrible. If it wasn't broke, why fix it (badly)?

• The Timbers fans sing the National Anthem themselves, which was both funny and laughable Monday, if you get my meaning. Probably sounded more impressive in the stadium.

• Jack McInerney now looks exactly like Eric Wynalda. At least their haircuts are identical.

• If the Union play defense like a 1980s Italian team and win everything 1-0, no one will mind a lack of offense. But no goals is bad for marketing, bad for making anyone want to watch the game, and the defense isn't good enough to always win 1-0 anyway.

• Home opener is Sunday vs. the Colorado Rapids.