Who’s the best MLS goal scorer?

By: Jared Kunze and Tyler Schatz

Brian McBrideChicago FireAll-Time Rank: 15

Taylor TwellmanN.E. RevolutionAll-Time Rank: 5

Carlos RuizToronto FCAll-Time Rank: 9

Clint MathisReal Salt LakeAll-Time Rank: 27

Landon DonovanL.A. GalaxyAll-Time Rank: 7

Ante RazovChivas USAAll-Time Rank: 2

Jaime MorenoD.C. UnitedAll-Time Rank: 1

Hypothesis

• Determining the best current goal scorer in the MLS • We will compare total goals, total shots, shots on goal, goals per game, and goals per minute• We are comparing 7 of the top current strikers over their last 5 seasons in MLS• Tyler’s Prediction: Taylor Twellman• Jared’s Prediction: Landon Donovan

Player N N* Mean SE Mean StDev Minimum Q1 Median Q3Donovan 5 0 11.60 2.40 5.37 6.00 7.00 12.00 16.00 Twellman 5 0 12.20 1.83 4.09 8.00 8.50 11.00 16.50

Maximum 20.00 17.00

Player N N* Mean SE Mean StDev Minimum Q1 Median Q3 MaximumDonovan 5 0 0.00559 0.00113 0.00252 0.00297 0.00331 .00559 .00786 .00936Twellman 5 0 0.00511 0.00133 0.00298 0.00044 0.00215 .00661 .00732 .00764

Player N N* Mean SE Mean StDev Minimum Q1 Median Q3 MaximumDonovan 5 0 0.3953 0.0371 0.0830 0.2727 0.3239 0.4000 .4643 .5 Twellman 5 0 0.2961 0.0239 0.0534 0.2308 0.2463 0.2909 .3485 .3636

Player N N* Mean SE Mean StDev Minimum Q1 Median Q3 MaximumDonovan 5 0 0.5581 0.0475 0.1063 0.4314 0.4430 0.6154 .6447 .6531 Twellman 5 0 0.5605 0.0254 0.0568 0.4884 0.5061 0.5571 .6165 .6220

Landon Donovan

Goals = - 4803 + 2.40 SeasonBased on this model, we predict that Donovan will score about 19 goals next season if he stays healthy and gets substantial playing time… if he comes back from Germany.

Taylor Twellman

Goals = 614 - 0.30 SeasonBased on this model, we predict that Twellman will score about 11 goals next season if he stays healthy and gets substantial playing time.

Conclusion

We have come to see that the two goal scorers are very similar in their statistics, but Donovan does have the slight edge and seems to still be on the rise. Galaxy fans better pray he comes back from Germany in time for the next season because we see that he’s such a major contributor in goals.

Works Citedmlsnet.com

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