Last week, Minnesota United locked down Scottish youth international Jack Blake to a deal with an option for 2017. While the midfielder hasn’t seen much of the field in his young career, his current ability on the ball and potential could lead him to turn many heads across the NASL and beyond. I sat down with him after the team’s training last Friday to try and get to know Blake better.
First things first–welcome to Minnesota. How was your flight over?
JB: Not too good. I was supposed to fly from Birmingham to Amsterdam and then to Minneapolis, but the flight to Amsterdam got cancelled. I had to recheck my bags and go through customs again before heading to Iceland, waited a few hours there, and then was finally able to make it to Minnesota on Thursday evening.
Did you play in many countries in Europe, or was the connection to Iceland something of a new experience in itself?
JB: I left school–well, conventional school anyway–when I was just thirteen or fourteen years old. Nottingham Forest brought me on to be full-time, and I wrapped my education around the training. I was training with eighteen year olds, which advanced my progression as a player. During that time, I was able to go to European countries. It was a unique experience. I asked the academy manager if I could go abroad and have these experiences at foreign clubs, and to his credit, Nick Marshall (the academy manager at Forest at the time) pushed the club hard for them to fund it. It worked well for the club, to have me see what clubs like Atletico Madrid, like AZ Alkmaar, Deportivo de La Coruña, Brescia were doing and come back and report to the ownership. It isn’t like I was a spy or anything, but it helped the club see how they could improve. Meanwhile, it forced me at fifteen to go out on my own. As a player and a person, it allowed me to mature much quicker.
Spending time at a club like Atleti which is one of the global powers in the game right now, what do they do differently with their youth systems? Obviously it’s night-and-day compared to what America has, but with your time at Nottingham, what sets a powerhouse apart?
JB: I think that America is massively on the up. The game itself is booming, and players in Europe are incredibly interested. I wouldn’t say that it’s miles behind what’s going on in Europe. When I was training with Atletico Madrid, they had a philosophy: you train once a day, and everything you do is quality. The session would last an hour-and-a-half max, but the warmup, the passing, the fitness, everything had to be sharp. You get to clubs in England and they might do two to three sessions a day and try to cram education around it. I like the philosophy where you don’t half-heart your training, so with Atletico’s model it brings out a higher quality sooner both on the training ground and on the playing field.
Nottingham went through a lot of management changes over the past few years. Did that sort of unrest influence your decision to leave after spending seven years in their youth system?
JB: When management changes, it creates a big challenge for younger players. When you impress a manager and start working from the U-18s to the first team in training, you want to build momentum. Once the manager is sacked and a new manager comes in, you’re suddenly at the bottom of the ladder again. You feel like you’ve been climbing and climbing but then you’re all at the same point trying to impress the new manager.
It brought a lot of challenges for a lot of the young players. Nottingham had a team which got to the Youth Cup semifinals and lost on penalties. Of that team, there are no players who have even played regularly for Forest. A lot of that comes down to the change in management.
When I was training with Atletico Madrid, they had a philosophy: you train once a day, and everything you do is quality… I think I grew more in the two weeks I was there than I did in any two months I was in England just because of the high level they expected every time we were on the field.
You made three appearances with Mansfield Town FC on loan, but aside from that you don’t have first team experience. What does a club like Minnesota offer you which you didn’t have at Nottingham?
JB: While the opportunity I got in Mansfield was short, it was a good opportunity for me to mature more and get full experience that I didn’t get playing U-21 football. Before the U-21 was founded, the U-18s had to be signed to a professional contract by the time they turned 18. I signed a two-year professional contract when I was 17 and then another two years. Last year, I broke my leg and was out from September to April. While I was out, the manager was sacked. Once I was fit, it was difficult to find time.
At the end of the year, I made the decision that I wanted to come to America instead. The game is booming here, it’s a very appealing situation in this country. I just thought I should be different, unique, and do something. As soon as I came to Minnesota, the professionalism of the club shone through. The fans are so passionate about the club. When I was announced, the fan were nothing but welcoming and giving me nice messages. It’s been humbling.
There’s been a trend in MLS over the last ten years for English footballers to come over once they’re past their prime. Meanwhile, you still haven’t hit your best years. We talked a bit about playing time, but why does a move to America make sense for you now?
JB: It’s different in England for a 21 year old. By that point, you should have some experience over that. Because of my injury, I missed out on that opportunity. Over in America, the same 21 year old is viewed as an 18 year old is in England. With my age and my experience, I’m a mature player for my age in America. The fact that I’m only 21 but come over with maturity and energy and technical ability will make me a good fit. I can’t wait to get started.
What do you bring to the club on the field?
JB: I think I bring high technical ability to see a pass, make a pass, and control the tempo of a game. I’m also dangerous on set-pieces, having worked a lot on free kicks, corner kicks, and penalty kicks. I think I bring leadership as well with my communication on the pitch. This club has been nothing but welcoming to me.
JB: As far as where I fit, I’m a No. 6 or a No. 8. I can do the defensive game well, but I enjoy going forward and creating assists and goals as well.
Are there any players that you try to emulate in your game?
JB: I wouldn’t say there’s any player that I’m like. I think I’m technical and bring a lot of energy, having a high tempo. It’s a credit to the level I trained at so young, especially at Atletico. I think I grew more in the two weeks I was there than I did in any two months I was in England just because of the high level they expected every time we were on the field.
Were there any other clubs that were interested in you before you signed with Minnesota?
JB: There were still clubs interested in England. Once I made the decision that I wanted to come to America, it was a bit like having tunnel vision. I knew what I wanted to do and was looking for the right fit. Luckily, I think I found it with Minnesota United.
Finally, what are your goals for this year and beyond?
JB: My goal initially is to get into the team and make the starting lineup as soon as I’m able. Obviously, with the team maybe going to MLS next year, I’d like to make the join with them. Short-term, I want to get into the team, but I’d love to be a part of this club for a long time.
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