New Timbers Chief Soccer Officer Ned Grabavoy spoke to the media for the first time since the club confirmed the permanence of his new role on Wednesday. With the 2023 MLS regular season still more than a month away, much of the focus was on the continued efforts to strengthen the playing squad. After missing the MLS Cup playoffs by just one point in the 2022 season, Grabavoy and head coach Gio Savarese will be keen to bolster the playing squad.
Here are a few things that Grabavoy said on media day, as relayed by the Oregonian's Ryan Clarke:
On new signings this summer: “(Evander) is an extremely exciting one for the club. Moving forward, the biggest need for our group is to find another forward. From there, we’re a bit limited as a club in terms of the salary cap.
“We’re looking at a situation that could give us some flexibility long term. We have the potential to add a young designated player at that position.”
On the current squad: “I don’t think we should discredit the players we have. … I think we have a very competitive roster.”
On top of those words from the CSO, Grabavoy stated that the Timbers will continue to add to their technical staff and make more hires.
Recent reports have suggested that PTFC could be interested in teenage Croatian forward Matija Frigan, but those rumors have cooled in recent days. Timbers faithful will start to get restless as the opening weekend of fixtures grows nearer, and the squad does not star to fill out. The Cascadia club will kick off their season on February 25th by welcoming Sporting KC to Providence Park.