http://www.grimsby-townfc.net/today/view/breaking_news_detail/0,,10417~278716,00.html Grimsby is a D1 club. Bios: http://gohuskies.ocsn.com/sports/m-soccer/mtt/sagare_jake00.html From UDub (University of Washington), Portland Timbers.
If Sagare impresses Grimsby he should he no problem getting a work permit. I read somewhere that one of his parents grew up in England (I think his father). From what I've heard he's got some real potential. I hope it does work out for him and does impress Grimsby.
Jake was supposed to play in the reserve match against York earlier this week. However, he didn't get in the match -- probably a good thing since York won 7-0. (Hopefully he wasn't injured in training or anything...) One Town representative was quoted as saying he had "other irons in the fire" in the UK as well, so take that for what you will.
Jake didn't play in GTFC's reserve match against Scarborough on Tuesday. I would have thought his international clearance would have come through by now, so I have no idea what the situation is.
From the Grimsby Evening Telegraph, Oct 24: "American winger Jake Sagare made his debut and impressed Reserve team coach Paul Wilkinson."
Jake played 90 minutes at forward in a 3-5-2 formation. He didn't score in the 4-0 win over Brigg Town. Not much commentary on the team's website beyond to say Wilkinson was pleased with the team's performance. The reserves' next match is tomorrow afternoon against Darlington.
http://www.grimsby-townfc.net/today/view/breaking_news_detail/0,,10417~293902,00.html Jake played but wasn't mentioned in the above report, which describes a 1-4 loss.
The reserves' next game is at home on the 14th against Mansfield. It would be his third for the reserves. GTFC has been signing players and apparently are still looking around, so I suppose it is not out of the question that Jake could win a spot if he plays well.
I didn't see this one on the schedule, but it looks like Jake bagged two goals for the Grimsby reserves in a 3-2 comeback win over Sheffield United on 7 November. "Good news from Blundell Park is that Steve Chettle and Paul Groves was playing for the Reserves in a 3-2 win against Sheffield United today, where American trialist Jake Sagare did well scoring a brace. As we know will Alan Pouton be suspended against Stoke, meaning that Paul Groves may go straight into the midfield after playing 50. minutes in the Reserves friendly." http://home.tiscali.no/grimsby/news.html Here's the report from the team's website, which I guess I missed. Manager Wilko mentions Jake and, in what would appear to be an interesting commentary on D1 reserve soccer, seems mostly interested in the fact that "neither physio was called onto the pitch at any stage in the game." http://www.grimsby-townfc.net/today/view/breaking_news_detail/0,,10417~298184,00.html Couldn't find much Jake talk after a cursory scan of the team's official discussion board.
This thread lost several posts, but it looks like Jake stuck. "Also American trialist Jake Sagare have started to get wages from the club, however is it not believed he will play first team football at first. He is more a long term investment, not being so educated into the game but a true talent." http://home.tiscali.no/grimsby/news.html No mention (that I could find) on the team's official website.
Signs a one-month deal, and may play this weekend. http://www.planetfootball.com/article.asp?id=131524&cpid=10&title=Sagare+signs+with+Mariners
Anyone know how this guy compares to Thorrington? He seems to have come from nowhere (his college stats aren't that impressive), and yet guy seems on edge of making a D1 squad, while Thorrington is a more-often-than-not starter at D2..and age is similiar... Would be nice to see some sleeper make huge strides in next year or so, given some big talent/big responsibility guys (Casey, Gibbs, Thorrington) have taken some hard knocks in the last season (not all their fault) I wonder if college soccer is getting that much better, or D1 is getting that much worse...
While this guy does seem to have come out of nowhere, he did play in the A-League so it's probably safe to assume he was an above-average, if not exceptional, college player (despite his stats). In addition, if you followed the reports during his trials it seems fairly clear that he isn't seen as somebody who could just step into the squad. My guess is there are plenty of players in D1 college who could make the roster of a D1 reserve squad but for the work permit issue. Whether they'd be substantially better than their English counterparts is a different story, of course.
I still believe that in general players who grow up abroad get much better training in the finer points of the game. Not only the skills but how to use them. There are a lot of good soccer players in college soccer these days, more than ever for sure, but compared to players of the same age in Europe (say, 22?), they are far less polished. Our college system has created international level players in the past, and will continue to do so, but there is no question that guys like Donovan, Beasley, Convey and Quaranta have never considered college soccer a viable option. College soccer is nothing like the player factories that football and basketball are. If it was, the talent level would be a lot higher. We are starting to get there, but the pro soccer teams are also starting to go after kids right out of high school (or before). There are definitely a lot of players in college with enough talent, but I would argue that most of them are a few years behind their foreign counterparts. Proof... the success of foreign players in college ball over here. Relatively no-name guys over there regularly make huge impacts over here.
Sagare is out sick at the moment, which is unfortunate. Grimsby is missing a lot of strikers right now, so he would have a shot at some playing time.