Jake Gleeson (GK Coach | Saint Mary's College)

I also don't think that the volume of work is necessarily a good yardstick for a keeper's ability - I'd say that clubs in serious leagues are looking for guys who show consistency, and ability to maintain concentration when they're not especially busy to make a big save that can make the difference between winning and losing - guys like Buffon, Schmeichel, etc have built their careers around that, rather than volume of work.

Watch it... we'll get into the great Moss/Paston debate of 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Unless those 20 spectacular saves would have been 20 spectacular goals if any other 'keeper was between the sticks...

I'm guessing Conan is a defender. 

Apart from shutting down players in the midfield you can't really do much about wonder strikes. Losing a game because a keeper comes out to claim a cross and misses in the 94th minute though...

is it that obvious?

did seem like a defender's take on a keeper's virtues. and a recognisable one. But enough thread hi-jacking of what we think may be the keeper at the highest level of any NZ keeper ever? And a chance he has waited extremely patiently for.

Big blow for the Timbers with Nat Borchers out for the season with an Achilles injury - leads the backline tough CB. Make Jake's life harder

Timbers sign former Toronto keeper Chris Konopka

From his wiki page, looks like he has a career as a professional backup keeper.

Lost 1-0 to SKC this morning but added another highlight

3-0 win for Portland over SKC. Quiet game for Gleeson it appears given the highlights

http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/08/07/portland-timbers-3-sporting-kansas-city-0-2016-mls-match-recap

If your referencing Schmeichel Jr, Leeds "brilliant" defence while he played for us ensured that he garnered plenty of experience in shot stopping and removing the ball from the net.

Not even saves like this could stop them losing 2-0 today

From extended highlights looks like he at a busy night

http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-...

Apparently game played in soaring temps, with water breaks. Like the A League, is mostly a summer comp!

Another busy game for Gleeson as Portland lose their away derby game v Seattle 1-3

http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-08-21-seattle-sounders-fc-vs-portland-timbers/recap

The return derby game at Portland sees Timbers beat Seattle 4-2. Gleeson not at fault for either of the 2 goals conceded

http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-...

Couple of things of note. Last weeks' away game at Seattle was played in front of 53,000.  So Gleeson getting some great experience playing in front of some big crowds.

Also I'm no expert on flags - but I reckon nearly half of the Seattle team team are players from South/Central America.

http://au.soccerway.com/matches/2016/08/28/united-states/mls/portland-timbers-mls/seattle-sounders-fc/2192678/

Small thing maybe, but must be handy experiences to bank away for Gleeson re down the track, playing against a lot of Suid American opposition in the MLS.

Hopefully he's picking up the the odd little bid of Espanol being in the US. Gleeson can then share the translating burden with Rojas - when AWs land in Montevideo or wherever and get swamped by the local TV crews, late next year. I still remember some amusing scenes when Ricki and his boys were being chased by the media throng at Mexico City airport a few years ago!

Anyway as well has Marinovic has done for the AWs, Gleeson has got to start at least one of the friendlies against Mexico and USA. Pity it's the only position where Hudson has this quality selection dilemma

Clean sheet for Gleeson.   Portland 1    Real Salt Lake 0

Big Jake doesn't feature much in the highlights.  I note from commentary at least two USA team players in the match, so I'm sure Hudson will be looking to glean some info from Gleeson next month

http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-...

He had a much busier game, week before

http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-09-03-fc-dallas-vs-portland-timbers/recap

of course not! instead he's checking out the Western Springs GK

Portland Timbers lose their CONCACAF Champions League group stage game 2-4 away to Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/09/14/deportivo...

Whilst these sort of games wouldn't have tension of a World Cup playoff game in South America - still valuable experiences for big Jake if he finds himself between the sticks for AWs in Monteveido, Ascunsion, Caracas (spp!) etc come October next year

http://www.timbers.com/post/2016/09/17/portland-timbers-2-philadelphia-union-1-match-highlights?autoplay=true

Brilliant write up on Gleeson journey to the starting spot at the Timbers

http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2016/0...

A great read.  

Some similar comparisons to Kris Bright interview from the other day - about sometimes need a fair amount of luck in picking up a pro contract, knowing the right people helps (in this case kiwi connection with Gavin Wilkinson), dogged perserverance/patience etc etc.

Also shows that by NZF being in Oceania and age group sides getting regular World Cup qualification, young kids like Gleeson (as he was at the time in a 2007 U17 game vs Brazil) - stand a much greater chance of being randomly spotted by some recruiter/talent scout. 

I'd still like to see AWs in some sort of Asian World Cup qualifying path, but with NZ a football outpost at the bottom of world - regular tournament exposure for the age group teams is gold.

Agreed, this does show that them being on the world stage has some advantages. Sure we want them to also play better oposition but you can't take away from the experience of being at those world cups 

http://matchcenter.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2016-09-24-houston-dynamo-vs-portland-timbers/recap

Jake played the full 90 minutes in a concacaf champions league match wining 2-1 against Dragon. 

https://twitter.com/TimbersFC/status/780957646669041668

Will be amazed if he's not in the All Whites squad this week.

I think he will because both the games are in America which is very close to were his club games will be, I expect him to play one of the matches and the other to Marinovic.

http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/10/01/highlights-colorado-rapids-1-0-portland-timbers?autoplay=true

Great Article on Jake:

• Gleeson shifted across the Pacific in early 2010, before the Timbers had even joined MLS, benefiting from the Kiwi connections of the club's general manager, former All White Gavin Wilkinson, but played just a handful of games for the first team between his arrival and the end of last year.

  The Kiwi began the 2016 season as the understudy to Ghanaian keeper Adam Kwarasey, but was swiftly promoted when Kwarasey jammed a finger into the turf early in the Timbers' campaign and was ruled out for several weeks. He immediately impressed, earning MLS player of the week honours after a game against Toronto FC in early May where he made four crucial saves, but the big vote of confidence came on July 18, when Kwarasey was transferred out of the club, leaving Gleeson as their sole senior gloveman going forward.

  Source

Clean sheet v Colorado today.

http://www.espnfc.us/match?gameId=440627

Gleeson well over his injury it seems

For Portland CONCACAF Champions League came to an end with a 1-1 draw against Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica) in the final group-stage match

http://www.timbers.com/post/2016/10/19/portland-ti...

Last match of the regular season on Sunday away to Vancouver Whitecaps. Not an easy match, however the Whitecaps can no longer make the playoffs so perhaps they won't field a full strength side and/or not play with any interest. After a win against Colorado Rapids, one of the best teams this season, this should be doable. The Timbers currently sit on 44 points with a goal difference of -2. The top 6 make the playoffs and Portland are currently 7th.

Sporting Kansas City are currently 6th on 44 points with a goal difference of -1. They play at home vs San Jose who have already been eliminated. If Sporting KC and Portland are tied on points, Portland will go through on goals scored.

The Seattle Sounders are 5th and will play Real Salt Lake who are 4th. This is a must win match for Seattle and an at least must draw match for Real Salt Lake. Because these two teams are playing each other all Portland need to do is win this weekend and they're through. The other ways Gleeson's team can make it is if they draw and Sporting KC lose or if they both lose and Sporting KC lose by one more goal than Portland do.

So a lot of factors going in to this last match so hopefully Gleeson can play an awesome match this weekend.

Really disappointing stuff as Portland are currently down 3–0 to Vancouver, who don't even have anything to play for. A lot of the Timbers players aren't even showing up. Gleeson has put in a couple of good saves though but unfortunately this will mean no playoffs despite Gleeson's great season.

Oops. Gleeson arrested for DUI.

https://twitter.com/MLSist/status/790932039675633668

http://katu.com/news/local/two-timbers-players-arrested-on-duii-charges-overnight

Out of the CONCACAF Champions League, conceded four goals vs the Whitecaps, DUI, fudgeing hell what an awful week for Gleeson.

Such a dumb thing to do.

Big fan of his, but to be so drunk that he causes an accident is disgraceful.  I hope he gets a long ban, and if he has a drinking problem (I have no idea if that is the case) then he gets some help.  Can't stand drink drivers, especially when they endanger others.