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MLS Ticker: Timbers sign Miller, Sounders complete Montero loan, and more

By IVES GALARCEP

The Portland Timbers busy off-season continues with their latest addition, another American player with the tools to provide yet another upgrade for Caleb Porter’s side.

The Timbers have announced the signingĀ of defender Ryan Miller, which was first reported by SBI last Friday. Most recently a defender with Swedish side Halmstads for two years, Miller gives the Timbers a quality option at right back, where he played well enough to earn a U.S. National Team call-up in 2011.

The former Columbus Crew and D.C. United defender should challenge for the starting right back spot, with Michael Harrington capable of playing left back and right back.

Here are some other stories to get your day going:

SOUNDERS FINALIZE MONTERO LOAN

The Seattle Sounders finally confirmed on Monday what had become pretty common knowledge in recent days, that Fredy Montero’s loan deal to Millonarios had been completed.

Montero will join the reigning Colombian league champions as they prepare for a march into Copa Libertadores, an experience Montero will be hoping can help boost his chances of earning a place on the Colombian national team.

D.C. UNITED SIGN THORRINGTONĀ 

D.C. United have completed the signing of veteran midfielder John Thorrington, acquired by the team in the MLS Re-Entry Draft.

The 33-year-old midfielder has endured his share of injuries, but the well-respected veteran should help give D.C. a good locker room presence while also providing some depth in central midfield and potentially at right back if needed.

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What do you think of these developments?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

    • All players in the MNT pool. Miller has been to a NT camp once, but he isn’t a MNT pool regular.

      The more I read, the more I think he is going to be just another of the list of albatrosses at RB since moving to MLS. Oh, for want of Scot Thompson.

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  1. Great signing by DC United. Thorrington is a solid player, great guy, and good locker room presence. He makes the guys around him better.

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  2. Scandinavia is no longer above the quality of MLS. Only the Danish league id arguably stronger but 5-10 years MLS may be on level with the Turkish/Swiss/Belgium leagur

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      • You arguing MLS teams should pay the same players more just to say they pay more? Of course not, but I think that is what would happen if we moved all of these guys who make $70-100k (which is the median and mean MLS salary, mean is out of whack due to DP rule and multimillionaires playing in the league) up to $500k instead. It would also make payrolls impossible for some of the lesser supported clubs. Right now, MLS still relies on butts in seats and club specific sponsorships to make money for payroll. If it ever makes inroads into the US sports TV markets, that is when salaries will rise and teams will be allowed 6-8 DPs instead of 3.

  3. Miller should be able to compete if not win that RB spot at Portland. If I’m not mistaken, Jewsbury and Zizzo played RB in a crunch last season but they are much more suited for the midfield. I assume he’ll compete with newly signed Michael Harrington but Harrington is pretty versatile and can play all across the backline. Nonetheless, Miller is a very good aquisition and is truly, 100% a RB. Smart move from Portland as it was reported Miller had offers from decent sides in Scandinavia and from the 2nd Bundesliga.

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    • My understanding was that Harrington had been slotted in at lb and that Miller would play at rb. Jewsbury seems to be an adequate backup at RB but I don’t see Zizzo having much of a shot. Would like to see Kawulok get some minutes there. Brief aside, it seems to me that Jewsbury is the odd guy out in the new midfield. In a 4-3-3 Chara, Johnson, Valeri seem the obvious choices and at 160k Jewsbury seems like an expensive but versatile back up.

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      • I think you are right on Chuck. That said, conventional wisdom is out the door given the housecleaning that took place and a new coach in training camp. It is always to see the new signings displacing guys who were solid but unspectacular (um, Jewsbury), but we will just have to see how it plays out.

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