16-goal scorers in MLS and how it relates to chances with the national team

[Sandon Mibut]

So last night Kenny Cooper got his 16th goal of the season. Counting Landon Donovan’s total this year, it marks the 16th time a player eligible for the US national team has scored at least 16 goals in the MLS regular season.

With only a couple of exceptions, scoring that many goals in an MLS season has resulted in, at least, a few caps from the national team.


PLAYER (DOB) GOALS TEAM YEAR CAPS SINCE END OF THAT SEASON
Roy Lassiter (3/9/69) 27 Tampa Bay 1996 21 caps
Taylor Twellman (2/29/80) 23 New England 2002 30 caps
Cobi Jones (6/16/70) 19 Los Angeles 1998 54 caps
Preki (6/24/63) 18 Kansas City 1996 28 caps
Roy Lassiter (3/9/69) 18 DC/Tampa Bay 1998 6 caps
Jason Kreis (12/29/72) 18 Dallas 1999 6 caps
Roy Lassiter (3/9/69) 18 DC 1999 1 cap
Ante Razov (3/2/74) 18 Chicago 2000 13 caps
Brian McBride (6/19/72) 17 Columbus 1996 92 caps
Taylor Twellman (2/29/80) 17 New England 2005 16 caps
Jeff Cunningham (8/21/76) 16 Columbus 2002 6 caps
Clint Mathis (11/25/76) 16 NY/NJ 2000 43 caps
Jeff Cunningham (8/21/76) 16 Salt Lake 2006 0 caps
Taylor Twellman (2/29/80) 16 New England 2007 0 caps

Note that these caps all came AFTER the CONCLUSION of the season in question and don’t count ANY of the caps that may have been earned DURING the season of that productivity. Cooper, as we all know, has gotten NO caps along the way to 16.

So, 8 of the previous 14 players to score at least 16 goals got at least 13 caps since scoring 16 goals. And, the three times it hasn’t resulted in more than 1 cap can, for the most part, be explained.

Lassiter only got 1 cap after the 99 season. But by then, he was already 30 and had earned 29 caps and hadn’t scored for the US since June of 97. Roy had gotten his chances and with only 4 goals in 30 caps (though 3 of them were big ones in qualifiers, to be fair) he hadn’t produced much for the US and it was time to look in a different direction.

Twellman hasn’t been capped since scoring 16 last season, but he’s been injured much of the time since then and just hasn’t been available to Bradley. No real slight since he hasn’t been fit and since he was in Bob’s plans before he got hurt, it’s safe to presume he’d have gotten some looks this year if he were healthy.

The big shaft is Cunningham, who not only led MLS in goals in 2006 but also was second in the league in assists (11). Granted, he was 30 by then and hadn’t shown much in the 10 caps he earned previously, but that kind of productivity should have been rewarded with at least a courtesy cap. (It didn’t help that the US didn’t play any games in the fall of 2006, either.)

By contrast with Lassiter after 99 and Cunningham after 06, Cooper is still just 23 and he scored a goal in one of his 2 previous caps. So, he’s far younger (not to mention far bigger and stronger) and he’s produced in his brief chances with the nats.

At the VERY LEAST he’s earned a chance to get the number of caps that Kreis and Lassiter got after the 98 season and that Cunningham got after his 02 campaign.

But, for Bradley would to continue to ignore Cooper’s productivity after the season he’s had so far would be both unprecedented in the history of MLS-based national team call-ups and a complete shamockery of the meritocracy that call-ups are supposed to represent.

[SeaOtter]

I can't help but think that Bradley has told Cooper exactly what he has to do to get looks.

And Cooper has either overtly declined to be that type of player or just can't bring himself to play that way in the context of Dallas' offence.

What else would cause such an obvious choice to be overlooked? I'm certainly confused by it all though.

[Swazicar]

I can't help but think that Bradley has told Cooper exactly what he has to do to get looks.

And Cooper has either overtly declined to be that type of player or just can't bring himself to play that way in the context of Dallas' offence.

What? So now Bob is head man at FC Dallas?

[Adam Zebrowski]

BB had mentioned cooper showing target skill was his best way to join the mix...

considering the way cooper plays...guys like donovan, dempsey, adu, kljestan are ahead of cooper...

altidore soon replaces ching...

cooper in january chance might be his last chance...

once the hex begins, going outside the core of 2008 guys is unlikely, although cooper doing a confed cup might be in the mix...

in the grand list of:

donovan
dempsey
adu
kljestan
cooper...

which of the 4 ahead of cooper would you drop...

i see davies and altidore as guys more like ching, but those two can drop outside the box and do well also...

[Sachsen]

in the grand list of:

donovan
dempsey
adu
kljestan
cooper...

which of the 4 ahead of cooper would you drop...

i see davies and altidore as guys more like ching, but those two can drop outside the box and do well also...

Um... WHY would four midfielders be in the way of a striker getting a callup? :confused:

[Sandon Mibut]

cooper in january chance might be his last chance...I suspect Cooper won't be available in January.

I fully expect him to be somewhere in Europe training with his new club team by the time Camp Cupcake starts.

[Sandon Mibut]

I can't help but think that Bradley has told Cooper exactly what he has to do to get looks.

And Cooper has either overtly declined to be that type of player or just can't bring himself to play that way in the context of Dallas' offence.

What else would cause such an obvious choice to be overlooked? I'm certainly confused by it all though.Well, there could be Bradley being stubborn or clueless. I'm not naive enough to think that isn't the case but I'm optimistic enough to think he's neither.

So, assuming he isn't just being petty or stubborn or stupid, you have to figure he told Coop "here's what I want to see and till I see it I'm not bringing you back."

The problem for Bradley if this is the case is that Coop is doing so well anyway that he does look, well, petty if he isn't calling up a productive player just because he doesn't like the way he plays.

Especially, when the history of the league suggests that players Kenny's age (and some a few years older) who produce as much as Kenny has have all earned multiple looks from the national team.

[Cweedchop]

I find it amazing that people (and Bradley apparently) continue to want to shoe horn Cooper into a target player simply because he is 6'3"

Cooper is not a target player, he is a withdrawn striker that could help the US team immensely but for whatever reason, Bradley wants him to be a player he can't be.

Would he ask Freddy Adu to play left back? Would he ask Landon to play defensive midfield?

Why does Cooper have to be only considered as a target forward?

And really, isn't a target forward becoming a bit of a dinosaur in world soccer these days? I know they are still around, but much like the attacking midfielder, they are going the way of the dodo bird.

Why does Bradley insist on playing a target player? Seems to me a pairing of Cooper and Altidore could be quite vexing to the opposition.

[Prime Time]

I find it amazing that people (and Bradley apparently) continue to want to shoe horn Cooper into a target player simply because he is 6'3"

Cooper is not a target player, he is a withdrawn striker that could help the US team immensely but for whatever reason, Bradley wants him to be a player he can't be.

Really? Do you see him outplaying Donovan and Adu for that withdrawn striker spot? I don't. This isn't club footy, he needs to learn to be a striker if he wants to make this roster, because that is what we're lacking the most.

[Marko72]

Really? Do you see him outplaying Donovan and Adu for that withdrawn striker spot? I don't. This isn't club footy, he needs to learn to be a striker if he wants to make this roster, because that is what we're lacking the most.

A point not often enough made.

I am eager to see Cooper given a few decent chances on the team in either role because the guy apparently hasn't met a shot he doesn't like (or can't make), just like most of us, and finishing is a department in which we've lacked, but this IS a valid point.

For Cooper to play the more second striker role, that means that either Donovan and/or Adu have to be played at CAM (which means getting rid of one of the CM/DMs, which I can guarantee you Bob will never feel comfortable doing against anything approaching WC quality opposition), or else putting them on the wings (which mostly draws boos from the BS crowd, and both players state are not their preferred roles, though Donovan has been more willing to play there if that's what it takes), or else putting one or both of our most two talented field players on the bench.

Is anybody saying that Cooper's good enough to make Donovan and Adu ride pine?

It must be understood that in the slightly bigger picture those are the only options if Cooper's the 2nd striker. Donovan and Adu as A) CAM (considering Bob's preference for the 2 holding-style CMs), B) winger, or C) bench. No matter what formation or system we're talking about that Bradley would even remotely consider.

All the while, apart from a guy we've all liked thus far after the one-and-a-half exciting young prospects (Altidore and Davies, clearly in that order), all we've got is Ching, EJ, or else Dempsey in an emergency pinch as the back-to-goal forward (or maybe some guy like Casey or whatever, and that's a failed blast-from-the-past anyhow), and how many of us can feel happy about that picture?

[england66]

...I can't help but think that Bradley has told Cooper exactly what he has to do to get looks.



Cooper has'nt heard a word from Bradley or anyone else connected with US soccer in months and does'nt expect to.

[england66]

I find it amazing that people (and Bradley apparently) continue to want to shoe horn Cooper into a target player simply because he is 6'3"

Cooper is not a target player, he is a withdrawn striker that could help the US team immensely but for whatever reason, Bradley wants him to be a player he can't be.

Would he ask Freddy Adu to play left back? Would he ask Landon to play defensive midfield?

Why does Cooper have to be only considered as a target forward?

And really, isn't a target forward becoming a bit of a dinosaur in world soccer these days? I know they are still around, but much like the attacking midfielder, they are going the way of the dodo bird.

Why does Bradley insist on playing a target player? Seems to me a pairing of Cooper and Altidore could be quite vexing to the opposition.


Repped. Especially the Altidore/Cooper bit....might be a tad too adventurous for BB though...wonder if he noticed Capello's attacking line-up @ Croatia recently..?? and that from an Italian coach.

[irish56]

Cooper has'nt heard a word from Bradley or anyone else connected with US soccer in months and does'nt expect to.

I really expect that he will hear a call up in November, unless there is truly bad blood between Cooper and BB/USSF.

[england66]

I really expect that he will hear a call up in November, unless there is truly bad blood between Cooper and BB/USSF.

There is no "bad blood" and never has been.

[Davids26]

Mike,

Kenny holds a UK passport no? Is it possible for him to show interest to Wales or Northern Ireland? He only has one or two caps in friendlies correct so he's not cap-tied.

That would be my course of action if it is possible.

[Marko72]

Repped. Especially the Altidore/Cooper bit....might be a tad too adventurous for BB though...wonder if he noticed Capello's attacking line-up @ Croatia recently..?? and that from an Italian coach.

Yes, but then what do you do with Donovan and Adu? I mean the only time we've ever seen Bob pull off one of his CM ball-winners for a #10 role guy was when we were up at home against Barbados by like 5 goals already. It's either the wing or the bench for them.

I'm curious what you'd do. Because by this point I take it you're beyond caring what Bob's plans are.

[irish56]

Repped. Especially the Altidore/Cooper bit....might be a tad too adventurous for BB though...wonder if he noticed Capello's attacking line-up @ Croatia recently..?? and that from an Italian coach.

You think BB is too afraid to score some goals:eek:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oq7mFlm3tM
The end of clip shows the only thing Cooper did while with the Nats.(58 minutes)

[england66]

Mike,

Kenny holds a UK passport no? Is it possible for him to show interest to Wales or Northern Ireland? He only has one or two caps in friendlies correct so he's not cap-tied.

That would be my course of action if it is possible.


Yes he has a British passport and no, he is NOT cap tied to the USA.

[england66]

Yes, but then what do you do with Donovan and Adu? I mean the only time we've ever seen Bob pull off one of his CM ball-winners for a #10 role guy was when we were up at home against Barbados by like 5 goals already. It's either the wing or the bench for them.

I'm curious what you'd do. Because by this point I take it you're beyond caring what Bob's plans are.

Well Adu has'nt played much lately anyway so Donovan could certainly play "in the hole" behind two big,mobile strikers. The problem, IMO with Bob's apparent defensive mind set is that there is no plan B if (when) things go tit ways up...see the Bruce vs Czechy....If BB is playing with TWO defensive m/f players vs the Guatemalas of this world then Lord knows how he could expect to score even a single goal vs the likes of England, Spain or Argentina....

Look, I like the USA team a lot and want them to do well. The concern for me is the total lack of a single truly world class player (this side of GK) anywhere in sight....there are probably 50 or more eligible players who could do a job in this region....there isn't a single one who could help the USA do much of anything in a world cup.

This team as a collective has, for a few years, been better than the sum of its parts and on a great day can beat anyone....the problem in a world cup is that you have to beat 4 "anyones" in a row after you get out of the group stages....ain't gonna happen anytime soon.

[green94]

And really, isn't a target forward becoming a bit of a dinosaur in world soccer these days? I know they are still around, but much like the attacking midfielder, they are going the way of the dodo bird.


I have to disagree with this. Through target forwards are becoming less and less prevalent, attacking midfielders are thriving in more common five man midfields being employed all over the world. I'd say they're substitutes much more than compliments.