Fans of both the Philadelphia Union and Jamaica received some bad news Tuesday on the eve of the Toronto FC match: star goalkeeper Andre Blake is expected to be out 4-6 weeks after knee surgery to clean up a meniscus tear. Oliver Semmle’s form softens the blow but still the story of Blake’s 2024 season has been one of injury setback after injury setback.

In the email today:

1. 🇯🇲 Blake Out 4-6 Weeks

Andre Blake is expected to miss at least another month and his participation in the upcoming Copa America is also in question after the star goalkeeper had surgery to clean up a meniscus tear.

Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin said Blake will miss 4-6 weeks recovering from the surgery, which he characterized as "minor."

"It'll be touch and go for him there," Curtin said of Copa America. "It's a competition that we knew we'd be missing Andre with us; unfortunately we missed him a little bit earlier than we'd hoped but most importantly now it's to get him healed up 100 percent to where he's in his best form."

Jamaica begins Copa America group play against Mexico on June 22 in Houston and has group games against Ecuador in Las Vegas scheduled for June 26 and Venezuela in Austin on June 30.

Union center back Damion Lowe is expected to be part of the Reggae Boyz squad and is one of several players the Union will be missing during summer competitions here and abroad.

Blake's absence will put additional weight on the shoulders of Oliver Semmle, who has performed well in Blake's absence, playing already significantly more than was expected when he was brought in from Louisville City in the offseason.

2. 🟥 Beware the Toronto Front Three

We’ve gotten so used to Toronto FC spending a ton of money to be bad, it’s hard to believe looking at the standings that the Reds are actually ahead of the Union and in playoff contention.

Whether they are back to being good or not is still a question mark since they have lost 7 games already this season but the thing that will not be disputed is the amount of firepower they have - and the $$$ they spent to get it.

Just on salary alone Lorenzo Isigne and Federico Bernardeschi are making a cool $22.7 million guaranteed this season, which is almost $8 million more than the entire Union payroll.

“They're the type of players that it's impossible to shut them down completely because during the course of 90 minutes they're just so, so talented,” Jim Curtin said of Isigne and Bernardeschi. “We'll do our best to limit their touches on the ball and where they touch the ball as best we can and then recognize that at home we know we can create chances as well. But again, it starts with having a strong foundation defensively.”

Prince Osei Owusu is another dangerous player the Union will need to be mindful of and has been what qualifies as a real bargain in the attack for the Reds at $807, 500 guaranteed. He and Bernardeschi are tied for the team lead in goals with 6 in league play and the trio has combined for 22 goal contributions in 15 matches.

The Union’s front three are much more affordable and have been more effective with 21 goal contributions in 14 matches in league play.

3. 🐦‍⬛ Tweet of the Day: Jay Bought What?!

4. 💧 Water Cooler: Point Prediction

5. 🔗 Link Roundup

• Joe Lister took a look at what a fully healthy Leon Flach has meant to the Union recently.

• The comments on the news of Tai Baribo’s call-up to Israel were not kind.

• Keystone Sports and Entertainment has apparently changed their name to Union Sports and Entertainment and bought a 10 percent stake in Sanders Ngabo’s former club in Denmark. There’s probably been far more attention than needs to be given to this already but it makes sense that any investment from the Union’s parent company that isn’t a big name player transfer is ripe for criticism.

Philadelphia Raccunion T-shirt available now at Teepublic.

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