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

In Portland, he has 30-year-old Troy Perkins as his veteran goalie and 21-year-old Jake Gleeson as the up-and-coming young star.

He understands having to handle the older player differently from the young pro.

"At the pro level, a guy that's in his 30's and has played for a number of years, he may have bad habits, but if it works for him, you don't mess with him at all," described Toshack.

With the veteran, it's about getting him from Saturday to Saturday, ready to play on game day.

For the young goalkeeper, it's about teaching him the mental and physical aspects that are necessary at the pro level.

"With the young pro, you have the time to break some bad habits, give him a better chance to develop his technique and find his potential," said Toshack.

It's more about the technical aspects and decision making for the young pro to learn, noted Toshack.

Nice save there

PORTLAND TIMBERS

MLS is assured of one representative in the 2012 Olympic Games in London. Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jake Gleeson.

The goalkeeper recently helped the Kiwi's Under-23 squad to an Olympic berth by helping the small, island nation win the Oceania qualifying tournament last week with a shutout victory over Fuji. During the tournament, the Portland goalkeeper stonewalled attackers conceding just two goals in three games for the Kiwis. Although Gleeson remains the backup to incumbent Troy Perkins, the goalkeeper is overjoyed with the prospect of representing his nation in the Olympic games.

"Obviously it's fantastic," Gleeson told MLSsoccer.com. "Coming out here in training is fantastic. But it's just another team to get involved with and another level to get involved with on the national the international stage. There's going to be large crowds. It's just going to be really excited. As a footballer, that's what you play for. You play for games like that; you play for tournaments like that.�

Jake is listed as probable for timbers next game

• HOUSTON DYNAMO -- OUT: DF Kofi Sarkodie (R foot sprain); GK Erich Marscheider (R shoulder sprain); FW Brian Ownby (L elbow dislocation) PORTLAND TIMBERS -- OUT: DF Steve Purdy (concussion); QUESTIONABLE: MF Charles Renken (R ankle sprain); PROBABLE: MF Kalif Alhassan (R knee sprain); DF Eric Brunner (L hip flexor strain); GK Jake Gleeson (R knee IT band tightness)

http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-05-15-hou-v-por/preview

Gleeson will not appear for the Timbers in either the Valencia or Vancouver first team matches, but is expected to return to Portland on May 27. Actually there is a reserve game at 2pm tomorrow

http://blog.oregonlive.com/timbers/2012/05/four_portland_timbers_players.html

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/schedule/reserves

hile Oly Whites goalkeeper Jake Gleeson is also expected to be available for selection against the Belarusians as he makes a graduated return to training after injuring his groin against the Korea Republic last week.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/sport/111309/injury-worries-ease-for-football-ferns-and-oly-whites

AND LO, IT CAME TO PASS... PERKINS GONE WITH MONTHS LEFT IN SEASON AND VETERAN KEEPER BROUGHT IN TO MENTOR GLEESON AS THEY GROOM HIM FOR STAR ROLE:

Note former All White Gavin Wilkinson is interim head coach now and general manager, after a falling-out with coach John Spencer, the Scots former Chelsea striker who was fired early July. Means he has total control over signings, hence bringing in Hogg also. (He's not interested in remaining head coach long-term but will retain the position till the end of this season). Portland have been struggling and decided to start overhauling the squad early. However, fans are turning on Wilkinson and blaming him for the club's problems - they don't like the trading of the popular Perkins for what they see as a lesser keeper (see posts by fans beneath this article):

http://www.portlandtimbers.com/news/2012/08/portlands-wilkinson-keeper-swap-its-upgrade

PORTLAND'S WILKINSON ON 'KEEPER SWAP: "IT'S AN UPGRADE"

PORTLAND, Ore. – A mainstay starter, a veteran leader and a fan favorite.

If the surprising trade of Portland Timbers goalkeeper Troy Perkins for Montreal’s Donovan Ricketts (above) said anything it’s this: nobody is safe as the club rebuilds in the midst of a disappointing season.

“It’s an upgrade, in all honesty,” interim head coach and general manager Gavin Wilkinson said after the team’s training session Tuesday. “Troy is a fantastic person and a great goalkeeper. He was a tremendous acquisition for the club two years ago. But when you sit down and you have staff meetings and you give everyone an active voice and the unanimous decision is this is what’s right for the club, you do what’s right for the club.”

And while Wilkinson said the swap of high profile ‘keepers makes the Timbers stronger in the near-term, it’s also a nod to the future.

Waiting in the wings is highly regarded New Zealand U-23 international Jake Gleeson and rookie Joe Bendik. The style of 35-year-old Ricketts, at a lanky 6-foot-4, is a better fit to mentor the 6-foot-3 Gleeson, Wilkinson said, seemingly accelerating the young goalkeeper’s development timetable.

“Ricketts accepts that he’s a mentor for those two, that one day one of those two is going to surpass where he is,” Wilkinson said.

He continued: “We need to find out what we’ve got in these ‘keepers and give them the opportunity to be successful. I think you’ve seen we are willing to give one or two young players a chance, and I think that’s very beneficial for the club.”

Gleeson, barely back with the club 24 hours after his stint with the New Zealand Olympic team, said he’s looking forward to the opportunity should it arise.

“This definitely came as a shock to me,” Gleeson said. “I’m still kind of getting my head around it now. We’ll find out more when Ricketts gets in and see how he fits in.”

Wilkinson also addressed the leadership role left by Perkins, a seven-year MLS veteran.

“Donovan Ricketts is a leader,” Wilkinson said. “When you have a guy who has played 90 international [caps] and traveled around like he has and has an understanding of different cultures, has been successful with many teams, we’re adding to that. We’re not taking away from it in any factor or in any way shape or form. We’re actually adding leadership to this group through a player who has been there and done that.”

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Ricketts is a Jamaican international keeper and former Bolton Wanderers, Bradford City and LA Galaxy keeper.

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Jake Gleeson interviewed at training last week on return from Olympics - light training, still not fit enough to play. (This is an outstanding fans' site which has regular interviews with players at training by fans, the most up-to-date news, opinions etc. and well worth checking-out for latest on the two Kiwis at Portland):

http://www.stumptownfooty.com/2012/8/7/3226701/more-portland-timbers-training-quotes-jack-and-jake-talk-troy

Jake Gleeson and Ian Hogg lined up for the Portland Timbers reserves in their defeating close-rivals the Seattle Sounders 3-2 in the reserve team’s season finale.  Gleeson picked up a hand injury in the first half and was replaced after 32 minutes.

Pretty bad timing as 1st goalie Ricketts also injured himself this week end. The only goalie remaining for the Timbers is Joe Bendik

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1769993/index.html 

http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2012/11/you_be_the_timbers_gm_jake_gle.html

Jennifer kesgard: 

Gleeson should stick around. I know he had an injury this year and has been having to work his way back from that, but he really makes the 'tween set shriek a lot. We'd have a lot of disappointed young ladies if he had to leave. I suppose the fact he has some great developing talent is probably good, too.

Lol he'd like reading that. 

 The Portland Timbers have signed goalkeeper Jake Gleeson, defender Ryan Kawulok and midfielder/defender Rodney Wallace to new contracts, it was announced today.

Jake Gleeson has been held out of practice for the last three days with a sore back, but did make a brief appearance as the rest of the team headed inside. Gleeson went through some exercises with Mike Toshack and John Cone, and according to Caleb Porter could be back for Friday's practice.

http://www.stumptownfooty.com/2013/2/13/3985360/portland-timbers-training-quotes-and-notes

 Currently the third choice keeper at Portland, and he is playing for the Timbers reserves against VSI Tampa Bay FC as I type. It's currently 0-0 at halftime.

Live stream here:

We'll see where he is at at the end of the year. I say he's getting cut though

Timber's came back from a goal down to win 2-1. Gleeson played 90mins. 

As long as Gavin Wilkinson is still GM at the Timber's, Gleeson will not be cut. It's a different story if the club decide to sack Wilkinson though,  but it looks highly unlikely that they will do that. 

Care to explain why you think they'll cut him, rather then just speculate out of thin air Tripvincent? 

He just thinks 3rd string means he'll be cut.

Oh does he?

He hasn't played for the MLS side since 2011 and has gone backwards...hence i think they will cut him at the end of the year

Last year he had a few injuries. Lets wait and see how he goes this year and whether he maintains his fitness.

Can't remember the first choice keepers name, but one of the reasons they said they brought him in was to help mentor Gleeson as they saw him as their long term number 1.

Patrick I'm certainly not pretending to know better that anyone else. It's simply my opinion. You getting a bit offended and throwing your toys with that highlighted comment is a bit sad. Get some fresh air kid

And just to clarify... I agreed with you Patrick.

Me and Trip tend to be on different sides in most discussions : )