So the Union got itself a goalkeeper.

Again.

With the singing of Rais al Ghul M'Bohli, the Union have a World Cup player, a up-and-coming US goalkeeper in Zac MacMath, and a guy who in a short time will be a lock for starting Jamaican goalkeeper in Andre Blake. Not to mention one of the best US goalkeeping youth prospects in Zack Steffen.

While Nick Sakiewicz would like to have you believe that he wanted to have, in his words "three of the best goalkeepers in Major League Soccer", if all three are still on the team at the end of all the transfer periods, something went utterly, spectacularly wrong. So, clearly someone has got to go (besides the already gone Brian Holt, who should have just had his position labelled as "seat filler"). It's probably not Rais, seeing as he just got here (given this front office, though, it's not impossible), which leaves Blake and MacMath (Steffen is another issue, but one not as immediate). So let's commence some good ol' fashioned speculatin'. And let's do it in alphabetical order!

Andre Blake

According to most people who followed the MLS draft, the consensus best prospect was Blake, and when D.C. felt they could trade down (because who would want another goalkeeper when you have a promising young starter?) the Union decided to swoop in and take the Jamaican. Since then, he's sat on the bench for a lot, played the U.S. Open Cup games, and did well in the Crystal Palace friendly. For now, he seems to be fitted into the seat previously reserved for Brian Holt. The way the Union talked about him doesn't seem to be pitching him for any teams right now. There was some talk during the Rais-le M'ania press conference about his mistakes and how he still needs to develop. None of which is wrong, but you don't try sell a team on a player by pointing out his flaws. If Blake does end up being the odd man out, it seems most likely that he would be going somewhere on loan, but aside from getting first-team experience for Blake, that doesn't benefit the Union as much as a trade or transfer.

Zac MacMath

Out of Blake and MacMath, MacMath seemed the most likely to be gone when confirmations started coming in about M'Bohli joining the Union. Now, Rais is here, MacMath is still starting at least on Friday, and is scheduled to appear at Sunday's Pints Fur Pets, which now will likely be hailed as a fun, successful, and kind of awkward event. Out of Blake and MacMath, MacMath is the most well known outside of your usual Union followers. Every team in the MLS has seen him play, as has Aston Villa (in a friendly) and Everton (in a friendly and through having him train with them a few times, though it should be noted that David Moyes was manager back then). MacMath's also been gaining some faint Galarcepian murmurs about being a future national team goalkeeper, which certainly doesn't hurt his value. So, if the Union want something of value in return, moving Zac is probably the best way to go. The question is how, and the answer is varied.

There are current MLS teams that need better goalkeeping. Columbus could use an upgrade, as could New England or possibly Houston. Heck, if we really wanted to get nasty we could try something with the Red Bulls. And if you look out west there's Portland hemorrhaging goals and Donovan Ricketts isn't getting younger. They could have pieces that the Union need (coughcough*Corey Ashe*) and might be willing to part with them.

Then you have the new money clubs coming into MLS next year. NYCFC and Orlando both have cash and need players. Giving MacMath to them now for cash or for not stealing our players during the expansion draft would be a fair trade.

Then you got the Europeans. While they most likely won't offer protections for poaching the roster or trading players (or quality ones at least), they can offer money and partnerships that could pay off in the long run. Plus, the Union would get to spin out some PR thing about how MacMath made it to Europe because of the Union.

The issue with all this is that MacMath's contract could be expiring at the end of this calender year. Which mean that even if a team did express interest, they could just wait until the contract expires and sign MacMath at the start of winter transfers. That would of course cut the Union out of their middle-man status, and mean we lost a promising asset for jack. Unfortunately, if things don't move around or some form of sign-and-trade doesn't occur, this may be the likely direction the Union and MacMath are headed.

But hey, let's stay positive! There are still moves to be made and games to be won! And if nothing else happens and the Union FO don't seem to be making any progress, we could all move to Orlando!