The Union have had enough of Rais Mbolhi.
Announced by Union manager Jim Curtin on Wednesday, the Algerian National Team goalkeeper and World Cup veteran has been replaced by rookie John McCarthy as the Union's starting goalkeeper, starting on Saturday against New York City FC at PPL Park.
“Rais Mbolhi will not be playing in goal,” Curtin said. “John McCarthy will be our starter and Andre Blake will back him up. It was my decision and it was based on performance. It’s what I think is best for Rais and the Philadelphia Union moving forward.”
Mbolhi, who has a 0-3-2 record, started all five matches for the Union this season and is not currently with the team. If and when he will return is unclear. Curtin not only demoted Mbolhi but sent him home to clear his head.
“He’ll take some time away, reflect on some things -- things he can do better, things he can improve on.” Curtin said. “He’s a professional and I expect him to come back better.”
Curtin didn’t deny that the Union would attempt a transfer of the high-profile keeper.
“The things we can talk about publicly are performance-based, that’s why he’s not going to start,” Curtin said. “There are certain things that will be kept in house, in terms of transferring players. That’s going to stay inside.”
Curtin’s goalkeeping decision came after Mbolhi’s sloppy performance against Sporting Kansas City, in which he allowed three goals in an embarrassing nationally televised loss.
“He doesn’t seem like himself,” Curtin said. “He didn’t seem like the goalkeeper that was winning us games in the preseason, singlehandedly. I think the confidence was gone in him.”
Mbolhi has allowed nine goals on 20 shots, the most in MLS. He has also made 10 saves, good for a save percentage of 50 -- a number that puts him 23 out of 25 goalkeepers in MLS.
“He’s an experienced player that we needed to rise to the moment, get us points and win us games, and right now that’s not happening,” Curtin said. “It could happen down the road but right now, it’s not. It’s a needed change.”
But Mbolhi’s MLS struggle didn’t start in 2015. Joining the Union in July of 2014, the keeper went 1-1-2 and allowed four goals in four games. Overall, Mbolhi is 1-4-4 in MLS play, giving up 13 goals and making 17 saves.
With Mbolhi out of the picture, Blake, 24, will temporarily back up 22-year old McCarthy. Blake was drafted first overall in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft but is recovering from preseason knee surgery. He has not made the roster yet in 2015.
“He’s not quite himself yet, but he’s showing very well in training,” Curtin said of Blake. “But to throw him into the fire right now, coming off a knee injury, I don’t think the timing is good.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy will get the tap on Saturday. Voted USL Pro Rookie of the Year last season, the North Catholic High School and La Salle University alum made the team out of training camp and will receive his first-ever MLS start. McCarthy backed up Mbolhi through the first five matches.
“John has been excellent in the preseason and has earned the right to be the starter,” Curtin said. “I’ve been very impressed with him. He’s a kid that I have faith in and that our players have faith in.”