Dont know much about him.. agoo got any input? other than he was 2006 MLS GK of the year? http://portlandtimbers.com/news/2010/12/timbers-acquire-troy-perkins-dc-united
Timbers swap Cronin for DC stalwart Perkins Former Goalkeeper of the Year set to man nets in Portland The Portland Timbers made a dynamic move to shore up their position in goal for 2011 on Friday, trading current netminder Steve Cronin to D.C. United for former MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Troy Perkins. Perkins, who was named the league’s top goalkeeper in 2006 and won back-to-back Supporters’ Shields with DC in 2006 and 2007, also spent two seasons in Norway, where he helped lead Valerenga IF to the 2008 Norwegian Cup. He also won an MLS Cup with D.C. United in 2004, starting 16 games during the regular season that year. “Today, we’ve acquired one of the best American goalkeepers in MLS,” Timbers head coach John Spencer said in a statement. “With his valuable MLS experience and proven leadership, Troy has the ability and character to make a huge impact in Portland. I am delighted to have him on board with us, and we feel we’ve taken another step in the right direction with our plans to build a very competitive group that can compete with the best in MLS in 2011.” Timbers swap Cronin for DC stalwart Perkins | Major League Soccer
Perkins was looking like a good prospect when he left MLS. Had he stayed on that path, he'd probably have gone to South Africa as second choice to Tim Howard. Unfortunately, he seemed to plateau with his last season in MLS and never really got settled in Norway. There were rumors of offers from France and Feyenoord, but nothing panned out and he returned to the States. His MLS comeback wasn't great either. DC United were terrible last season and that certainly didn't help him out. He got replaced by an 18-year-old Bill Hamid mid-season. I think that was more an indicator of the season being a lost cause than anything to say about Perkins. It could be dicey this season as well as your backline doesn't look so hot at the moment.
He won't be worse. I think upgrade depends on what's around him. If your defense is poor, he won't do well. There were plenty of solid defenders available and Portland got none of them.