Groovin' with the Frank Yallop Experience

[Guest Ed]

We doubled our goal production from the last WCQ campaign, one game in. The men's team high of 19 career goals (held jointly by Dale Mitchell and John Caitliff) isn't in jeopardy yet but we could see a few players move into double digits over the next year.

[Guest Dave]

I was thinking about the career high of 19 the other day. I got to wondering who (if anyone) of the current team (ie the roster that Frank has been using so far) has the best chance of breaking that record over the course of his MNT career.

The obvious choice would be Rad if he hadn't missed so many productive years with Canada. As it stands now I doubt he has enough years left. Same is probably true for Pesch, although he has a head start at 10 career goals.

What about Hume? A lot depends on how he continues to develop. Staltieri might have a crack if he were to start playing attacking mid, but I can't see him doing it from fullback. DeRosario? Maybe. Maybe a wildcard like Occean (yallop called him once so he counts as being on the roster). McKenna might just do it, with his amazing strike rate per game he plays as a center forward. Heck, he might just make it to 19 on Wednesday if he plays 90 :-)

I'd like to hear people's opinions on this. If nothing more, it gives someone a chance to say "I told you so" in a few years.

[marcl_19]

Radz no since he's too old now....I'd say hume if he played Striker for us, and maybe he will after Pesch calls it a day. Occean maybe but i'd need to see more....and maybe Friend but like Otto, he needs more apperences. I suppose McKenna could do it but it would take a while i think. I dont believe his striker rate will keep up (dont get me wrong, i'd love it to) But then again Maybe it will. How many goals did Bunbury score in his career?

[Mimglow]

Radz is NOT too old. Say we qualify for WC 2006, that means he has at least 20 MNT matches left (barring injuries):

1 v. Belize

6 in semifinal

10 in Hex

3 in WC group stage.

___

20

That's plenty of games to get 13 goals.

[marcl_19]

Actually Mimglow thats a good point. I still have the 4-5 gamnes a year mindset. It's doable....contrary to what i may have said (maybe i was under the influence of somhting? jkjk) before. Hey, if Radz scores at that rate i think we will make germany 06

[Cheeta]

If we make the World Cup, in the next three years we'll be playing a lot of matchs. Thirty a safe number? Probably. Maybe close to half at home and most against CONCACAF opposition. Goal and a half a match (averaged, very doable I'd say) times thirty equals 45 strikes for the good guys.

We've got way, way, more players who can get a peice of those 45 imagined markers than we've otherwise had in years past but still, that's a pretty big pie to get a peice of.

If Radz. becomes the go to guy and nets a quarter of those 45 phantom goals that's +11 for the man.

If Big Kev's noggin noggins in at the spectacular rate it has been, and I for one think it bloody well can, Catliff & Mitchell are going to be outdone by the Heart from Midlothian.

Those two I'd bet a few bucks on catching the lead if they can stay uninjured and make a majority of the matchs. Pesch. may have an outside chance, but only if we score lots of goals (say 2 and change averaged per match) and even then I'd be surprised and would expect Radz. or Big Kev to finish the campain with more tallies.

But who the Hell knows what Hume and De Guzman can do during a run? I could imagine either netting 4,5, or 6 over a round of WCQ (goal a game) if they're rolling.

And here's another question. Hume's the man I'm thinking on certain set plays but who's taking spot kicks? Might just get a few of those this time around.