There is a growing legacy of Scottish strikers who arrive in MLS amid much media sizzle – only to underwhelm us with flagging production.
Anybody remember Dr. Goal, a.k.a. Kenny Deuchar? Probably not.
Kris Boyd certainly has not been all that and a bag of Kettle Chips at Portland. With seven goals in 23 games for a struggling team, he’s hardly a bust. Still, the production could be better, especially considering the swell of preseason expectation.
And now comes Kenny Miller (pictured, on right), Vancouver’s new hit man from Scotland. There’s pressure draped all over this one because the Whitecaps shipped away a proven scorer, and a less expensive one, in Eric Hassli to make this thing happen.
It is early, of course. Zero goals in five matches isn’t pretty, but it’s no deal-clincher. (That “zero” on the shots on target is fairly disconcerting, however.)
Still, you have to like a man who gets it, who calls himself out. Miller made his first two starts last week – as the Whitecaps found themselves on the business end of a brutal week.
What Miller told The Province:
A horrendous week. … I’m bitterly disappointed in both results we’ve had. Seattle, what a chance to bounce back after Wednesday, playing your local rivals in a derby and the travelling fans have come a long way to watch us.
“For me, first two starts, and to be beat two-nil, two-nil, it couldn’t have went much worse, to be honest.”
