By FRANCO PANIZO
Frederic Piquionne will remain a member of the Portland Timbers.
Piquionne has agreed to a new deal with Portland that will see him return for a second season with the club, the Timbers announced on Tuesday. The 35-year-old forward had just one goal and five assists in 21 league matches, but enjoyed a 12-game stretch from late May-early August that saw him score six goals and assist on six others in all competitions. Piquionne also found the back of the net in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship vs. Real Sale Lake.
The New Caledonia native, who will occupy an international slot on Caleb Porter’s roster, was also the Timbers’ leading scoring in their U.S. Open Cup campaign. He had one of his best outings of the season in a third round match that saw him score four times in the first half.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, as per club and MLS policy.
What do you think of this move? Do you see Piquionne enjoying a stronger second season in Portland? How many goals will he score in league play in 2014?
Share your thoughts below.
Rumor has it RJ is going to Sweden.
Good (re)signing by the Timbers. Piquionne only scored one goal in league play, but his goal tally doesn’t accurately depict his value to the squad. He is dangerous in the air, was a good linking player in the attack, and helped set up a lot of scoring chances, as demonstrated by his assists per 90 minutes ratio. He essentially averaged .57 assists per 90 minutes played, which is good. Like, Landon Donovan for the USMNT good.
He will provide useful depth at striker next season, especially if we don’t manage to keep Ryan Johnson.
1) He’s 35 so injuries are not exactly unusual.
2) Most everyone agrees that the Timbers have had the best turf field in MLS, and they just put a even newer one in last week.
3) http://www.scienceofsocceronline.com/2013/08/womens-college-soccer-injuries-part-1.html
Maybe if the Timbers would play on a real grass instead of that plastic monstrocity…
That has no bearing whatsoever.
Not to mention the quality of the turf at Jeld-Wen is as good as many of the grass surfaces in the league, and is being replaced with brand new turf this year even though it’s only three years old, and there are massive drainage issues at Jeld-Wen that preclude grass. But thanks for playing, Ivan.