With Moreno breaking Kreis' all-time record, it seemed time to look at Twellman's shot at this record. It seems inevitable that the record will be his if he is still scoring goals in MLS in three more years. The only active players ahead of him are Moreno, Razov and Cunningham. How many of them are even going to be back next year? I was also interested in goals during the run of play (i.e. removing the penalty kicks) since Twellman rarely takes them. The only record I could find of career PKs was on the MLS site listing the all-time leaders. So all I know about Twellman (and Lassiter) is that he has fewer than 10. So the MLS career leaders in goals from the run of play are: Kreis 98 Razov 92 (Lassiter 88?) (Twellman 86?) Cunningham 82 Moreno 76 If anyone has PK stats for Lassiter and Twellman, please fix the list. This is a record that Twellman could own sometime next season. Perhaps with his 100th MLS goal. http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/history/alltime_leaders.jsp
He could easily have 90 before the end of the season, possibly more. If he has a strong finish to this year and an excellent season next year, he could break it. Realistically, I see the early stages of the 2009 season when he breaks it.
I don't think any of Twellman's goals are from PK's but I can't remember where I read that at. Something about missing one early in his career and they didn't let him take them any more.
Here is an updated list: 98 Kreis 92 *Razov 84 Lassiter 83 *Twellman 82 *Cunningham 76 *Moreno 69 Diaz Arce 62 *Ruiz 56 Preki (*active) Twellman could be the first MLS player to score 100 goals from the run of play. He needs 17 more. Unless Razov sticks around for 8 more. Has he announced his plans?
Since Moreno has 109 goals, lets do the math here. Moreno: 109 goals - 76 non-pk goals = 33 pk goals including pk's: 109 goals/ 11.5 years = 9.48 g/y 109 goals/ 263 games played = .41 goals per game 109 goals/ 21,368 min. = 196.4 minutes per goal From run of play: 76 goals/11.5 years = 6.61 g/y 76 goals/ 263 games played = .29 goals per game 76 goals/ 21,368 min. = 281.16 minutes per goal Twellman: 86 goals - 3 pk goals = 83 legit goals From run of play: 83 goals/ 5.5 years = 15.09 g/y 83 goals/ 150 games = .55 goals/game 83 goals/ 13,187 minutes = 158.88 minutes per goal Those stats are undeniable, Twellman has a much more proficient strike rate. The only thing that holds me back from saying Taylor is superior is their assists...although the secondary assist # is not known so these stats *could* be glorified for both players. Moreno: 87 assists/ 21,368 min = 245.61 min per assist Twellman: 26 assists/ 13,187 min = 507.19 min per assist I.e. Clint Dempsey circa 2004
Thanks for the math revs. The relative quickness of Twellman reaching this amount was part of my thinking in relation to asking about the other active players' retirement plans. Along with Ruiz, Twellman has been quicker to rise to the top of the all-time scoring leaders than anyone else. And Ruiz not only has fewer goals overall, but also has 13 more PKs than Twellman.