The latest testament to the slide the Portland Timbers of Mamadou Futty Danso have found themselves in came in the form of the Week 5 MLS Power Rankings, which were released April 10. Portland saw their fortunes slip after losing to Chivas USA 1-2 April 7 in Jeld-Wen Field.

The Portland Timbers began the 2012 season with hope and promise aplenty, but have seen both evaporate in the face of a losing streak that actually has them in worse shape in their second MLS season compared to their first.

At this time last year, Portland was laying the groundwork toward becoming a side with a reputation of being hard to beat on their home pitch. This season, the Timbers haven't played any better at home than on the road, and both could be called mediocre.

There have been good stretches, but no game has seen 90 minutes of solid play yet largely due to the absence of the Gambian international defender, Futty Danso who is so far yet to make any competitive appearance this season with a broken metatarsal.

The placement at No. 16 for the Timbers means that the bottom is a lot closer than the top, and at this point, much easier to get to. Ranked below Portland are the expansion Montreal Impact of another Gambian international in winger Sanna Nyassi.

lmost every team sill go through a slump, and if that's all it is and the Timbers get past it and play strong, they can still have a very successful year. Look at last season, when Sporting Kansas City won their first game of the year, then didn't win again until June 12, and they made the postseason. The Timbers have plenty of time to turn the ship around, but it will require more effort with each disappointment.

Portland need to get past whatever it is that is causing them to play below the level we all know they are capable of. Sometimes in sports, that's easier said than done, but that doesn't make it less necessary.