Spending most of his impressive career with RC Lens, it does seem that David Da Costa has been really quite fun to watch at this point in time. He did not fail to impress when he made his debut for the Portland Timbers, leading them to a 1-0 win against Austin FC in March.

So far, his first start in the MLS did not fall short of expectations – he caused a lot of problems for Brad Stuver – who seemed to be one of the best goalkeepers in the game. That saw Da Costa finish off Austin FC with a 1-0 win in his debut by the end of full-time, which definitely says a lot about how he is expected to make some impact to begin his run at the MLS.

Da Costa’s first slab of lumber for the season really was impressive, and now it is also setting standards for many fans and critics on what they should look out from him as he seeks to come up with huge performances that can actually deliver a push for the playoff stage now more than ever.

Adjusting to the New Squad

Being a newcomer to a team is never easy, but it seems that Da Costa is getting acclimated to the squad easier and faster than expected, which says a lot about how the team chemistry is improving well and may well be the answer for the Portland Timbers’ aspirations of a championship in the years to come.

"I'd asked the other guys where I should put the ball, and they told me to go first post," Da Costa said of his move to the Timbers. "I wanted to go for the second because the goalkeeper couldn’t come out. It’s a tough area. Then, it’s a goal."

At the age of 24, Da Costa surprisingly has a lot of experience in his belt. Coming in from Europe also means a lot for his development, and being a rising talent has certainly helped him evolve into one of the top stars in the league now more than ever. Suffice to say, being lured into joining a team such as the Portland Timbers is definitely a massive feat that one can be pleased to see.

It can also be noted that the new no. 10 has bigger shoes to fill at this point in time. The Timbers have traded Evander in the offseason, who was one of their prolific players in the previous campaign as he logged 15 goals and 19 assists.

“The expectations are "something that motivates me," Da Costa said. "It’s a special thing for a soccer player. I don’t feel a lot of pressure. I feel more strongly that people like seeing me play like this, and I want to give them more."

Expectations for Da Costa

Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy has the club already working on all fronts to ensure that Da Costa feels comfortable and will have an easy transition with the team in order to live up to those high hopes in the long run. So far, they have done a great job of that.

"We’ve got to give him and all the players the support he needs, make sure he settles and becomes more and more comfortable on the field and off the field in Portland," Grabavoy said. "Really, for us, that’s going to put him in a position where he can play at his highest level.

This maybe a daunting move, but this is not the first time that Da Costa has to relocate. And if this partnership is going to end up in a league title, then there’s no argument to be had as long as he wins.