USL Golden Boot Race

JB
JB
Aug 26, 2017 · 4 min read

As the USL heads into the final stretch, the race for the Golden Boot is tight. The idea of individual awards within a team sport, for me, is antithetical to the process…but if USL are going to promote it then I might as well nitpick it!! (It’s honestly what I’m best at…)

To start, USL will award the Golden Boot to the player with the most goals…easy enough

End of story? Nah. Lets try to determine which attackers have been the most effective, efficient, well-rounded and timely.

Goals per 90 Minutes

Chandler Hoffman and Djiby Fall are the big movers, Romario and Dane continue to top the charts with the Charlotte guys maintaining 4th and 5th.

Conversion Rates

(Why does the USL exclude blocked shots from the overall shot totals? That makes no sense, the attacker has struck the ball with the intention of shooting and their stats aren’t hurt because a defender blocks the shot rather than the GK? Come on, do better USL.)

Look at Jorge rising to the top! He has had a few tap-ins but generally speaking, Jorge is not looking to shoot until he’s close to goal and always looking to set up teammates in better positions.

Not Just a Goalscorer

Djiby Fall is that guy you don’t bother making runs for…he ain’t looking to set you up.

Oh, wait, assists can be tricky because it relies on the teammate to convert the chances that are being created. Key Passes recognize the chance whether its scored or not.

Will you look at that…a pair of playmakers top the list! Color me not surprised.

Game State Matters

If this wasn’t too overly stat nerdy already, we’re ratcheting it up a level. I believe you’ll agree with me when I say that a goal scored when their team is already up 2+ goals isn’t as valuable as a goal scored when they’re down a goal or tied.

Quick explanations

  • Losing by 2+: goal scored in this scenario means their team is still losing but they’ve closed the gap…
  • Losing by 1: moves his team from a losing position to tied (gains his team a point in the standings)
  • Tied: moves their team from tied to winning, gains their team 2 points
  • Winning by 1: extends the teams lead and gives them some breathing room
  • Winning by 2+: flat track bully status, just rubbing it in because they can

Dane Kelly

  • 2 of 16 goals came when they were down 2+ goals
  • 8 of 16 goals came when they were up 1 goal
  • 2 of 16 goals came when they were up 2+ goals

75% of his goals did not change the status of the match.

Best of luck to the guys down the stretch for the Golden Boot, hopefully it goes to a player that has a major influence of the points his team wins.

)
JB

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JB

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