Timbers have big goals for Year 2

Portland coach John Spencer.

Photo by Cliff Pfenning, oregonsports.com.

The Portland Timbers officially opened their 2012 season with Media Day Monday at Jeld-Wen Field, and coach John Spencer wasted little time setting out the mission for the team in its second year of Major League Soccer.

"Sure we want to make the playoffs, that's a good goal for our second," he said to a crowd of local reporters, "but that's not a goal we're going to be satisfied with.

"We want to win a championship, that's our real goal."

The Timbers narrowly missed a spot in the 10-team playoffs last year, but had an inspired season that's led to the optimism of what might happen in their second season. In the last month, the team signed a pair of Columbian nationals to help boost the roster and traded veteran Kenny Cooper, perhaps as a way to make room on the field for a new crop of players.

Spencer said the moves were interesting, but he's been mostly focused on the fitness level of returning players, and in that area he's been very impressed.

"It's great to see guys working out over the winter, really taking their workouts seriously," Spencer said. "That gives you a lot of confidence in what your team can do during the season."

Jack Jewsbury said he's been working out with several teammates, but more as the training camp has neared.

"The guys definitely have the itch to get going again," he said. "It's going to be an exciting year.

"We want to be in the playoffs and fight for the title."

The Timbers will train in Portland through the end of next week then train in Los Angeles for two weeks before returning to Portland for a four-team tournament, Feb. 27.

Portland opens MLS play March 12 at home against Philadelphia.