Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake has been named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. The 25-year-old is in his third season with the Union and this is his first time winning the award.
Andre Blake Wins MLS Goalkeeper of the Year
Blake started 32 of Philadelphia’s 34 matches this season. The two matches he missed were due to being called into the Jamaica squad for Copa America Centenario, although he never saw the pitch as Jamaica got blown away in the group stage. He is the second Jamaican to win the award. Donovan Ricketts won it twice. First in 2010 with LA Galaxy and second with Portland Timbers in 2013.
Blake was drafted first overall by the Union in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft after signing a Generation Adidas contract with MLS. He took over for Rais M’Bolhi as the full time starter towards the end of the 2015 season. This was his first full season as the starting goalkeeper.
Blake is the second Union player to be honored with an award this season. Chris Pontius won Comeback Player of the Year yesterday.
To be perfectly honest, this is a rather baffling selection. While Blake is a fine young keeper, he doesn’t rank highly in any simple statistical category that can measure goalkeeping success. Among MLS keepers with at least 17 appearances, he is 16th in save percentage, 13th in total saves, 16th in goals allowed with 50(!), and 8th in goals allowed average. In short Blake isn’t that great of a keeper compared to many of his MLS counterparts.
If you factor in more advanced stats, such at player ratings on WhoScored.com, he doesn’t even rank in the top ten. Jake Gleeson, David Bingham, and Steve Clark, none of which were finalists for the award, would have made better winners. However, they did not play for a team that made the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
Regardless, I would love to see an explanation from anyone who voted for Blake as to why they did. Was it his flashy saves in big moments of need? Was it his promise as a young keeper still developing his talent? Somebody will need to convince me that he deserves this award more than any of the other, more qualified, candidates.
