Portland Timbers Soccer Formation

Lineup (4-4-1-1)

With Chara playing more as a dedicated destroyer, Valeri can position more centrally in the attack and hopefully occupy Beckerman instead of giving him time to close down the wings. This gives Will Johnson the responsibility to provide width in the attack on the right (outlet for Valeri) and to neutralize RSL's attacks down our right side. Johnson can cover on the inside defensively, and Wallace can do the same thing on the left. The whole idea is to cut down on their counters on our wing, and drive them into pressure in the center, creating double teams with Diego Chara and quick outlet to Valeri/Nagbe when we recover the ball. Nagbe/Valeri/Wallace can all have the freedom to interchange somewhat based on position as long as they do their defensive job. Offensively, Valeri and Nagbe are closer together to link up and release Wallace and Will Johnson. This formation puts our four best playmakers close to one another in dangerous areas of the field, and uses an attacking player as a pivot, rather than a double defensive pivot in Chara/W.Johnson. ideally this formation will create more attacking, forward passes and through balls, rather than the typical square balls, full-field crosses, and backpasses that Portland uses to change the point of attack.