10. The Timbers Have Only Been An MLS Side Since 2011
Announced as the MLS' 18th team back in 2009, the Timbers entered the top professional league in the USA in 2011. Interestingly though, the Magpies will be facing "Portland Timbers 2" - the club's reserve team who play in the United Soccer League, the third tier of the US soccer pyramid. The Timbers have entered their "2 side" into the USL for the first time this season. Despite this, the Timbers have supposedly promised to play a mixture of both first-teamers and reserve-side members in order to test out the Magpies. During the middle of their MLS season the Timbers are not prepared to field all of their first-choice XI, which is completely understandable, so instead Newcastle will face a mixed-bag of a side.