Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 23/09/2026Back in my day, I was always taken aback by the arguments that the bloggers—many of whom were hobbyists or only sporadically compensated—were driving the downfall of traditional soccer media. 140
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 14/09/2026Vilahamn? More like we’ve had our fill-of-him. #BAONPDX 3201
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 06/09/2026The most fun thing about this was that it’s not like there was a signal under the noise. The Timbers have had some great attacks and great goalscorers. It was just pure anomaly. The curse is dead. Long live the curse. #RCTID 2272
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 06/09/2026NGL I’m a little sad. What a hilarious, absurd streak. Congrats to Vincent Janssen on breaking the curse. #RCTID 2868
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 03/09/2026Underlying that decision is a determination that the Timbers aren’t trophy contenders this year under any realistic scenario. Notwithstanding their recent uptick—fueled in part by some flat track heroism—that’s the right assessment. This window was unsatisfying, but it’s probably prudent. #RCTID 1161
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 03/09/2026My wife and I moved into a new house last year and we considered immediately upgrading the HVAC system. There were good reasons to do it, but we decided to live in the house for a year before making such a big investment. I think that’s basically what happened with the Timbers this window. #RCTID 2150
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Selfishly sad to see Kelsy go, but it’s a sign of a maturing club that they were willing to do this. It’s a good deal—the type that can be a big net win if they reinvest well. Showing the willingness to make this move also makes PTFC a more attractive destination for lots of players. #RCTID 3420
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 20/08/2026Anyway, Marty’s off to a good start. They have a good amount of work still to do, but the ideas are much clearer than they used to be. And tonight they showed some pragmatism; being willing to play against the ball a little bit more to exploit San Diego. Good first few weeks. #RCTID 0280
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 20/08/2026I’m not even mad about the pronunciation on the broadcast. I think we should just go with “Marty” Cifuentes. #RCTID 5150
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 18/08/2026My best effort to circle the square is that it’s just a bit being disagreeable without disagreeing. Okay, sure, fans were right that changes probably needed to be made earlier. But they still gave Phil too hard of a time! #RCTID 181
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 18/08/2026Good luck sailing between the Scylla and Charybdis of these two (via @jeremypeterman.bsky.social) #RCTID 2140
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 16/08/2026Nice reminder that Hanks is really f***ing good. #BAONPDX 0645
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 15/08/2026I’m going to venture a guess and suggest that after white professors got busted for academic integrity issues, their former employer universities didn’t face “hard questions about race, diversity and academic hiring.” 062
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 13/08/2026Shorter: He’s available. But only for a haul. (Folks should welcome the “he’s available” part. Notwithstanding recent form, the Timbers’ trophy chances aren’t great. If a good deal comes along, it’s in the club’s interest to take it.) #RCTID 2160
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Why do Republican politicians tweet in the tone of Michael Scott declaring bankruptcy? 1120
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 08/08/2026#RCTIDstatic.klipy.comGrandpa Abe's Confused Exit in The SimpsonsALT: Grandpa Abe's Confused Exit in The Simpsons 0140
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 05/08/2026I genuinely admire how much Schmetzer hates the Timbers—to the point of incoherence following his (surprisingly many) losses to them. I also enjoy the content that comes out of that incoherence, most recently this delightful number. #RCTID 2435
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 03/08/2026The Thorns made a big bet firing Rob Gale after a solid season. They mishandled the hiring process by letting it drag into the season—being bailed out by their interim doing a good job. And now their late-arriving new hire is floundering. A very bad look for Agoos and company right now. #BAONPDX 6310
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 29/07/2026Anyway, the COVID vaccine is the greatest scientific accomplishment of my lifetime and we didn’t get to celebrate it as a society because we had to indulge the feelings of these people. 0272
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 29/07/2026If you acknowledge that reality, then basically all the questions asked by just-asking-questions guys is: “We were making hard choices in a very dire emergency situation based on extremely limited information. Some were good choices. Some weren’t.” 1100
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 29/07/2026The presupposition underlying the right’s view of everything around COVID, which a lot of media uncritically indulges, is that COVID wasn’t that big of a deal and wasn’t a new, largely unknown, very deadly disease. 3121
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 27/07/2026(If he ever dives, the jokes will write themselves for Providence Park old timers.) 1191
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 27/07/2026Very interesting signing on a few levels. The Timbers were thin at 9, so Jannsen provides immediate competition for Kelsy at that spot. Promising from a leadership perspective, too. #RCTID 2240
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 25/07/2026You can see that the tools are there for Bogere. The game overwhelms her for stretches almost to the point of unplayability—really reminiscent of Obaze in her debut season. But I think I may buy low on some stock. It wouldn’t surprise me if she breaks out, even if it takes a year or two. #BAONPDX 1150
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 25/07/2026It’s reasonable to expect some turbulence with a manager comes in after the season starts. It’s worrying when a team’s form gets worse and worse the longer he’s in place. Thorns are a mess early in this one. And it’s the continuation of a trend in the Vilahamn era. #BAONPDX 180
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 25/07/2026Sad to see Mora go. He flew under the radar for national media, but his success has been pretty remarkable—especially for a guy who bounced quite a bit between the XI and the bench. A tremendous Timbers career. Nice to see he’ll get the sendoff he deserves. #RCTID 2461
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 23/07/2026The transfer valuations of players who are about to be out of contract are what they are. But man, I would be livid if I was a ‘Caps fan. Wouldn’t you rather have a core piece—arguably the most core piece—for a plausibly trophy-winning summer and fall than a relatively measly $2 million? 3170
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 23/07/2026Kevin Kelsy did it. He found the true .999 xG shot. #RCTID 2191
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026Cifuentes isn’t a “bigger” int’l manager. MLS is the biggest league he’s coached in. But there is coaching talent in places like the Championship, Allsvenskan, and Denmark that can succeed in MLS. It’s just a matter of having a sufficiently sophisticated technical operation to identify it. #RCTID 3130
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 21/07/2026This is more or less where I fall. Cifuentes is an interesting hire, but he’s inherently much more of an unknown than any previous Timbers hire. That can be okay—good even, but it puts a lot of onus on Grabavoy to do the homework in assessing him. #RCTID 4200
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 17/07/20265eatt1e is very good. So yesterday shall be known. #RCTID 1321
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026The same could be said of Antony and Bassett to significant extents, but my goodness DDC looked like a new player in the second half, in particular. Totally dominated—capped off by deleting Jackson Ragen on the final goal. #RCTID 0350
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026Has a coach who was four years younger than one of his starters ever won a game in MLS? #RCTID 3440
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026Second yellow for Rothrock if there’s any justice. #RCTID 0302
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026If Jack Cassidy has to use his own two feet to get off the field tonight we riot. #RCTID 0470
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026The Timbers are showing in a game what the coach said they’d been working on in training. Huh. #RCTID 2353
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026The glass-half-full take on the Timbers’ hiring of Phil Neville was always that his teams all got better after he left. So far so good. #RCTID 0491
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026The Timbers have been confusing Seattle with Kelsy and Bassett’s positioning. Kelsy’s totally free — dropping deep, flaring wide, or leading the line depending on where the space is. While Bassett is flattening Seattle’s midfield by playing higher than usual. #RCTID 1190
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026That was maybe the best 10 minutes of soccer the Timbers have played this year. Stumbled out of the blocks, but they’ve been taking it to Seattle for the last ten minutes. Well-deserved goal. #RCTID 0291
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026There are a lot of factors at play here, but today has to be the least-anticipated Seattle away game that I can remember. Not even remotely comparable to what this game used to be. Hoping beyond reason that the Timbers can flip the script on that with their performance tonight. #RCTID 5400
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 16/07/2026Sounds like he’s still in Norway welcoming a newborn. 031
Chris Rifer @chrisrifer.bsky.social · 16/07/2026It definitely doesn’t always happen this way, but Fleming might be the best example of a player taking time to carve out a role on her team. Went from feeling like a signing that didn’t quite hit in Year One to totally indispensable now. Great to see she’s sticking around. #BAONPDX 0290