In all honesty, he could have done better.
Anybody who's watched Thierry Henry's brilliant career up to this point knows that, when he puts in a performance like the one he had against the New England Revolution last Saturday, you can usually count on two or three of the chances he finds ending up in the back of the net. In New York's 4-1 win, Henry found the net but once – yet it was more than enough to go to the top of the Castrol Index Weekly Top 20.
The man just behind him, Philadelphia's Jack McInerney, did one better than Henry on the scoreboard, and his two goals in the Union's 3-2 win were enough to send him to the top of the Golden Boot race. McInerney now has six goals in seven games played, and for his efforts in Week 8 was voted the MLS Player of the Week.
FC Dallas center forward Blas Pérez, finished fourth, but the rest of the top 10 was dominated by 'keepers, as has been the habit in this year's Index. The men between the sticks claimed six of the top 10 spots, and we'll give a special nod to Columbus' Andy Gruenebaum, who probably deserved at least a point in an heroic – but ultimately futile – effort in his team's 1-0 loss at Chicago.
See how players collect points in the Castrol methodology here.
Castrol Index Week 8 Top 20 Performers
Rank |
Player |
Position |
Team |
Minutes |
Opponent |
Points |
1 |
Thierry Henry |
Forward |
New York Red Bulls |
90 |
New England Revolution |
2,056 |
2 |
Jack McInerney |
Forward |
Philadelphia Union |
76 |
D.C. United |
1,583 |
3 |
Jimmy Nielsen |
Goalkeeper |
Sporting Kansas City |
90 |
New York Red Bulls |
1,521 |
4 |
Blas Pérez |
Forward |
FC Dallas |
89 |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
1,451 |
5 |
Nick Rimando |
Goalkeeper |
Real Salt Lake |
90 |
Chivas USA |
1,381 |
6 |
Michael Gspurning |
Goalkeeper |
Seattle Sounders FC |
90 |
Colorado Rapids |
1,351 |
7 |
Dan Kennedy |
Goalkeeper |
Chivas USA |
90 |
Real Salt Lake |
1,329 |
8 |
Andy Gruenebaum |
Goalkeeper |
Columbus Crew |
90 |
Chicago Fire |
1,319 |
9 |
Donovan Ricketts |
Goalkeeper |
Portland Timbers |
90 |
San Jose Earthquakes |
1,293 |
10 |
Marcelo Sarvas |
Midfielder |
LA Galaxy |
90 |
Sporting Kansas City |
1,258 |
11 |
George John |
Defender |
FC Dallas |
90 |
Vancouver Whitecaps |
1,183 |
12 |
Patrick Nyarko |
Midfielder |
Chicago Fire |
86 |
Columbus Crew |
1,147 |
13 |
Gonzalo Segares |
Defender |
Chicago Fire |
90 |
Columbus Crew |
1,142 |
14 |
Jeff Larentowicz |
Midfielder |
Chicago Fire |
90 |
Columbus Crew |
1,134 |
15 |
Javier Morales |
Midfielder |
Real Salt Lake |
90 |
Chivas USA |
1,114 |
16 |
Jonny Steele |
Midfielder |
New York Red Bulls |
90 |
New England Revolution |
1,094 |
17 |
Lionard Pajoy |
Forward |
D.C. United |
90 |
Philadelphia Union |
1,091 |
18 |
Aurélien Collin |
Defender |
Sporting Kansas City |
90 |
New York Red Bulls |
1,063 |
19 |
Austin Berry |
Defender |
Chicago Fire |
90 |
Columbus Crew |
1,059 |
20 |
Justin Braun |
Forward |
Toronto FC |
90 |
Houston Dynamo |
1,010 |