He was very close to ending up in England, but, as is often the case, the Soccer world is filled with strange rules. In this instance, Jamaica was not in the Top 50 of FIFA World Rankings, which is a requirement for obtaining a work permit to play in the English FA. As to why he hasn't gone elsewhere? Who knows?
Yes, Jamaica's FIFA Ranking is so low that his caps do not count towards a work permit in the UK. Most of the leagues without the WP requirements do not have the funds to spend on transfer fees that we would want. Also, he's 28 now and has not really advanced his game the last two years (he even said he was disappointed with his season). Hopefully the new GK coach gets more out of him.
People forget Blake came into the league and was already older than MacMath who was on what...100 appearances in MLS already? Blake's window seems to be closing for Big Euro. Certainly the smaller leagues he'd be priced right for if he really wanted to get some Euro League action with Brugge or RB Salzburg or something. If you could get ~$7M for Blake and turn that into improvements up and down this lineup and don't, that would be the biggest crime since flip flop abuse.
Blake's 28 years old. In goalkeeper years he's still a baby. Although many of the top EPL keepers are around the same age.
He's almost at the peak age for GKs. They can maintain high levels of performance longer than outfield players, but they generally don't get better after their late 20s. TLDR - we're never getting Steffen money for Blake. Source
I'd take Blake money for Blake, trade intraleague for somebody (MacMath even?) and if that netted me $3-5M, what's this team with 3 real DPs? 3rd with a Villa-less NYCFC? 4th when Rooney runs riot?
Andrew Wenger hung up his cleats today: https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018...midfielder-andrew-wenger-announces-retirement
Oka Nikolov returns as assistant coach and Director of Goalkeeping. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018...-oka-nikolov-returns-philadelphia-union-staff
"Ernst, I like you, but I swore I would never return as long as people said I was just the goalkeeper coach. I'm a man of my word." "Oka, don't be silly. You're not the goalkeeper coach. You will be the Director of Goalkeeping as long as I'm around." "Oh, Ernst! Thank you! Thank you! You won't regret this!"
Steel player Chris Nanco has signed with the Canadian Premier League: https://www.brotherlygame.com/2018/...ng-first-signings-for-canadian-premier-league
Gooch named Sporting Director at OCB https://www.orlandocitysc.com/post/...-mnt-defender-oguchi-onyewu-sporting-director
League source tells me that Colorado is sending Zac McMath headed to Vancouver for Nicolas Mezuida and 100k TAM. #VWFC #Rapids96.— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) December 9, 2018