So I want to connect some threads. On the one hand, after the fans cheered the Thorns on to the bitter end in a rainy night on Sunday:

“The fans are what make this place what it is. There is no other place like it. They were so loud today," says their coach.

Meanwhile, on the Timbers side, the club looks at a hire they know will anger a fan base just recovering from sexism scandals, and they say: yup, FU fans, we're taking this dude here, because although he's not got a great coaching record, he's a real soccer bro.

The chasm between the front office and the fan base they depend on to make Portland what it is just really widened. Also: how's this going to impact the actual jewel of the franchise, the Thorns? Who's coming here after that?