Potential 20-goal scorers in MLS; expanding the list

MLSSoccer.com dropped a sweet little dealy this morning, naming three potential 20-goal scorers in MLS.

The hook, of course, is that reaching the 20-goal plateau represents true gold standard accomplishment in the league. Remember, over the past five seasons, only Kenny Cooper, Landon Donovan and Chris “Wondo” Wondolowski have even reached the 18-goal mark.

Wondolowski, of course, is the only to actually climb and plant his flag atop 20-goal hill.

The clevers at MLSSoccer.com reckon in the article that Will Bruin, Robbie Keane and Alvaro Saborio are the three candidates most likely to breach Fortress 20-goal this year, and hard to argue much about that. (Saborio, with a tendency to pick up nicks, and with so much tough duty ahead for Costa  Rica seems least likely of the three to me.)

Implied here is Wondolowski, who truly has the best odds of reaching 20 once again. He hit for 27 last year, after all.

But let’s join in on the fun.

Here are a few more who could, with some good fortune and really good service, get there.

Sporting Kansas City’s Cladio Bieler – That’s why they brought the Ecuadorian, and that’s why they are paying him DP wages, to be the front-line scorer missing around Sporting Park over the last two seasons. He could be the proverbial “final puzzle piece” for Peter Vermes’ men.

D.C. United’s Chris Pontius – The caveat here is that Ben Olsen would need to play Pontius (pictured above) as a striker, not as an outside midfielder. Not that he can’t score from the midfield; he simply would be less likely, obviously.

Seattle Sounders’ Eddie Johnson – Fredy Montero won’t be around to draw defensive attention. Then again, a full year of service from Mauro Rosales will mean a lot.

Vancouver Whitecaps Darren Mattocks – The piece at MLSSoccer.com is built around his claim that he can score 20 this year. So there.

FC Dallas’ Kenny Cooper – The trick here is how the minutes at striker will be divided up? Blas Perez and Eric Hassli will get their time, too. Cooper’s last season in Dallas finished with 18 goals.