Feature Stories

Twellman smiles his way to success By Andrew Hush
September 16, 2005
Is Taylor Twellman this generation’s Jason Kreis? Prolific in MLS, Kreis is the all-time leading goalscorer, having notched his 100th recently. Kreis, formerly of Dallas and now starring for Real Salt Lake, has never been able to translate his goals from the domestic to the international level. A record for the USA of just one goal in fourteen appearances is likely to mean that Kreis, now 33, will always be viewed as the man who didn’t quite ‘make it.’

Every country has one. In England, Andrew Cole set scoring records at Newcastle United before moving on to win every domestic honor in the game at Manchester United. Despite a prolific career that continues to this day at Manchester City, Cole’s return of one goal in fifteen caps has eerie similarities to that of Kreis. The question is, given that Twellman is currently searching for that elusive first goal for his nation after eleven scoreless caps, is he to be the next to not quite ‘make it’?

Taylor Twellman

Twellman has come in for criticism following his performance last week in the World Cup qualifier in Guatemala. Soccer America gave him a three in its ratings and it was generally considered that, for all his work rate, the Revs man was not quite cutting it at the top level. Thus far, the Missouri native has had something of a stop-start international career, having burst onto the MLS scene in 2002. A domestic record of 61 goals in 93 regular season games has seen him given several opportunities to shine on the international stage, but a sustained run in the red, white and blue has never quite been available.

It may be true that Twellman has not helped himself at time. Injuries have been a constant problem, as his list of affliction resembles a busy day on Web MD: sinus problems, broken cheekbone, broken nose, broken foot, not to mention muscle tears and strains. Notwithstanding these things that he can do little about, Twellman has intimated himself that he feels he may not be Bruce arena’s kind of striker. In an interview with Greg Lalas in May, the following suggested that, at least in his mind, whatever he does may not be enough:

"Look, some coaches like you, some don't. A real pro has to realize these things and just go out and do the job. Just keep playing. With the National Team, looking back at where I was in 2002 and now where I am in 2005, I'm in the same spot. I never got a full shot with them. So my job is to play with the Revs. Make sure that [coach Steve] Nicol is pleased with the job I'm doing."

Is Twellman bitter about his lack of a chance, or merely content to take whatever chance he may get? His coach at the Revolution believes that his striker likes to control what he does and not worry about others things. Speaking following Twellman’s second hat-trick of the season, Steve Nicol rebuffed suggestions that number 20 had a point to prove:

"I don’t think so. He just turns up every game and wants to score goals. He’s just got the premise that if he scores goals he’ll get a chance and he’s going to stick with that."

That simple theory is likely to be a good one for Twellman. With the World Cup nearly a year away, he has more important things on his mind. The Revolution is in prime position for a run at MLS Cup and, jusging by his recent form, Twellman is not about to let anything else get in the way of that pursuit. Given his success at the club level and his position at the top of the MLS goalscoring charts, how can his problems at international level be explained? Revolution and national team-mate Steve Ralston believes the problems are two-fold. Reason one is simple, he needs a goal:

"He wants that goal so badly. He worked his rear end off (against Guatemala) and I think Bruce respects that. I think Bruce knows he is pushing it because he wants to score so badly. I just think if he relaxes a little bit the goals will come for him."

Twellman has had to contend with a bit part role for the national team, often playing with a different strike partner each time. Given the success that he and Pat Noonan have enjoyed as a strike duo, Ralston believes that such an arrangement is not conducive to getting the best from him:

"If you look at the minutes he has had over the games he has played he is averaging about five minutes each time. It is hard to come in to a setup like that and score goals. I think he does feel a lot more comfortable with (the Revolution). It is a lot easier when you know the guys.

"He and Pat have played together since they were 10 years old; I have played with him for 4 or 5 years. I think it makes a big difference and I think he feels comfortable here, he’s confident and he’s a great goalscorer."

The continuity that Twellman has enjoyed with the Revolution has been mutually beneficial for both player and club. Talking after the win over Columbus, he eulogized about the quality of player he has around him, with Noonan in particular getting praise:

"Now you guys know why I smile the entire game while he’s playing. It is a pleasure playing with him up front. What Pat brings to the table as well as I, is that we both work hard defensively."

Consider Twellman’s comments and bear in mind his international situation and you get an interesting insight into the differences between playing for club and country. The smile you see as he feeds off the unselfish play of Noonan is in contrast to the grimace that was on display last Wednesday in Guatemala. Twellman was partnered with Jeff Cunningham, who, for all his qualities, is considered a penalty box player who offers little outside the immediate vicinity of the goal.

When Cunningham was withdrawn after an hour, Arena sent on Landon Donovan in a withdrawn midfield role, leaving TT to plow a lone furrow up front. With Guatemala pushing forward for a vital qualifying points, the service to Twellman ground to a virtual halt as the USA hung on to what it had. No wonder he smiles while playing for the Revs. With Noonan alongside, and support coming from midfield in the shape of Ralston and Clint Dempsey, MLS play continues to be an oasis compared to the desert of the international scene.

Ralston alluded to the fact that continuity is important for Twellman, so would the striker like the chance to take his partnership with Noonan onto the international scene. Once again, watch his facial expression:

"If I’m playing with Pat up front then I’ll be playing with a smile on my face and excited to play."

With the debate as to Twellman’s international future likely to go on, maybe the answer to his problems is rooted in something he can do little about: luck. He should already have his first international goal, having seen a perfectly good one ruled out against Trinidad in August. Heck, he wasn’t even level with the defender, he was behind him! If that ‘goal’ stands, who is to say that he does not already have one foot in Germany?

Do not forget that Twellman is just 25 and has packed a great deal into his short career. There is no doubt that he will be disappointed if he is not in the World Cup squad, but, should that be the case, back this Foxboro favorite to take it in the same stride with which he has taken those 61 goals. The future is bright for him and if he keeps banging the goals in, that can only be good news for the Revolution, Bruce Arena and Taylor Twellman himself.