Kiwi Players Elsewhere

Finn Surman (Portland Timbers | USA)

463 replies · 48,307 views
10 months ago
Plenty on reddit giving Finn man of the match in this one
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10 months ago
Smeltz4PM
Plenty on reddit giving Finn man of the match in this one

Plenty of love from random Timbers fans on Twitter also.
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10 months ago
Thank image above has made me hungry.

He's doing so well! Can see him going to Europe next year ..
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10 months ago
Do you think our recently much maligned coach Mr Italiano and his team including Adam Griffiths deserve any credit here? 

Those blocks certainly seem similar to what we’ve seen from the Nix. As a sometime member of a defense there’s nothing more galling than someone saying- oh they just park the bus. To be able to maintain a strong enough defense to keep a clean sheet or at least a solid defensive unit when your attack is malfunctioning or non-existent deserves credit. 

Leaving out the criticism of tactics, ambition etc, to produce a player who can play one full season for us and then earn plaudits in the MLS deserves a pat on the back imo. 


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10 months ago · edited 10 months ago · History
Wootton acknowledged Adam Grittiths in his farewell message. Along the lines of even in the twilight of your playing career you can still learn, from a good defensive coach.

Hopefully he's hanging around at least one more season at the Nix.
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10 months ago · edited 10 months ago · History
From Niche Cache.

Neville is definitely a fan. Could Surman make the future jump from MLS to EPL like Nellie once did? I guess Phil N will be telling all about what he needs to do, to achieve that.

It seems like he has very quickly become the main CB now at Portland, and that's some achievement with lots of experienced (incl Canadian & Peruvian international) defenders at the club.

Phil Neville: “We went into survival mode which is not what we’re about. But I’d say at the end, the crosses coming into the box, the centre-backs dealt with it. Fantastic. Finn Surman’s doing really well, I think the rest did him good. He looked fresh tonight.”

This is an extremely busy part of the season with lots of midweek games, including US Open Cup stuff. Portland are into the last sixteen there and the next round is on Wednesday arvo NZT against San Jose... though with Zuparic getting fit again there’s some CB depth at the club now. Surman’s first choice but Neville appreciated being able to rest him last week so don’t be surprised if he doesn’t play that game at a time when the MLS fixtures are also coming thick and fast.
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10 months ago · edited 10 months ago · History
So game went to ET (0-0 after 90 mins).

San Jose scored at 116 mins, and straight after Surman subbed off for 16 yr old Daniel Núñez a Mexican American kid on senior Timebers debut!

Finished a 1-0 win to San Jose. Timbers play at Orlando in the MLS in a few days.
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10 months ago
Surman a full game in a back 4, as the Timbers lose 1-0.
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10 months ago · edited 10 months ago · History
Surman starts in a back 4.
Calvin Harris on the pine for Colorado
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10 months ago
Got a yellow card midway thru first half. Down 0 - 1 HT but dominating stats and missed a penalty.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

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10 months ago
Manage to get back to win 2-1 with the help of a red card, snapping a 4 game streak without a win. 


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10 months ago
Nice shot by Harris in the highlights too.

Oi Oi Edgecumbe... lets have a clean sheet

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10 months ago
Niche Cache

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10 months ago · edited 10 months ago · History
Starting to look a real physical beast, watching that highlights clip below. Full of self belief it looks like, after rapidly adjusting to the MLS. His still potential upside is exciting. He could be in The Championship or even yes EPL as soon as next year. Some high praise from Neville.

Who starts alongside Bindon against Ivory Coast, Surman or Boxy? Both very in form.

Or could it be all 3, bearing in mind the potential weak link (Eliott or Tuiloma at RB).
3 CBs would also give more licence for Libby to bang forward

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9 months ago
Straight back into the starting XI.

Timbers concede in injury time to draw 1-1 with San Jose.
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9 months ago · edited 9 months ago · History
Yeah disappointing result for Portland (4th in the West) hosting San Jose (7th), Earthquakes going down to 10 men in the 52nd min with Timbers up 1-0. Bad spill from the Timbers keeper to concede the late equaliser.

When Surman was away with the AWs, Portland beat St Louis 2-1.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/highlights-portland-timbers-vs-san-jose-earthquakes-june-13-2025#highlights-portland-timbers-vs-san-jose-earthquakes-june-13-2025


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9 months ago
Surman starting. Like Charlotte earlier today looks like Portland have a few players out.

CONCACAF Gold Cup final tomorrow (Mexico v USA) and semis were only a few days ago. See that Saudi Arabia was a guest team in the Gold Cup.
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9 months ago
Full game in a 2-1 win
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9 months ago · edited 9 months ago · History
Saw a tweet suggesting that he may have taken over the armband after they subbed their captain off? If so, that is a massive show of confidence in him.

Edit: Tweet mentioned 59th minute but in the second clip here, I can't see him wearing it.

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9 months ago · edited 8 months ago · History
Niche Cache. The high praise for Surman keeps coming.

Ian Smith is a young American full back at the Timbers who recently took Finn on a road trip to Smith's home town in Idaho. Seems to be Surman's new best mate at Portland. Finn was all smiles congratulating Smith scoring his first MLS goal in this game.


And obviously Finn Surman was up to the good stuff too. This was a fantastic week for the kiwi centre-back trio in MLS. Portland won 2-1 against New England with Surman’s holiday bro Ian Smith (who was also teammates with Ronan Wynne at college) scoring the first and then David Da Costa clinched it with twenty to go, putting the Timbers back into the win column after a disappointing performance last week in Toronto.
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8 months ago · edited 8 months ago · History
Surman starts in the middle of 3 CBs.

Edit - Portland up 1-0 at HT. With a win they will go 3rd in the West, a point behind Boxall's Minny and 3 pts behind Conference leaders San Diego.

The clubs of both AW CBs travelling very well this season.
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8 months ago · edited 8 months ago · History
Boxy got a niggle? This the 3rd of 3 MLS games in a week.

Surman starts for Portland but his AWs CB veteran team mate on the bench for Minny.

Edit - is 0-0 at HT.
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