MLS Fantasy Challenge: Week 8 line-up

So here it is, my line-up for week eight of the MLS Fantasy Challenge. This week was hard for me, I wasn't sure what changes to make and I almost felt like I had too much flexibility. The main concern was clearly getting guys I my team who were going to play to games. Seven of out of the 12 (coach) active people on my roster have two games this week. What made it challenging was that It wasn't clear to me that any of the teams playing twice would have a really good chance at winning both their games (DC would be my best bet). That is why I didn't choose a coach from one of those teams.

Changes:
In: Luciano Emilio, Clint Mathis, Matt Besler
Out: Landon Donovan, Kosuke Kimura, Fredy Montero

These changes were hard to make, I would have liked to be able to have kept Landon and Fredy at least on the bench, but alas, they are too expensive.

I got burnt last time I left Donovan off the team, but I felt like this was the smart decision. Both of LA's games are away this week, and both games are against teams with formidable defenses. If LA could only generate a PK goal against NY last week, a team with a really shaky defense, then I didn't like there chances away against Real Salt Lake and Seattle.

It would have been nice to keep Montero for next week when they play FC Dallas, but it wasn't in the budget. I'm ok with the sale of Kimura, my guess is that he will never be worth as much as he is this week, and he is off this week (otherwise I probably would have kept him around). In fact, I considered keeping him in the starting line-up to give me more flexibility to make other changes, but I really didn't have other changes to make.

Goalkeeper:
Stefan Frei - I think Frei will let in goals away at DC, but hopefully he can get enough saves so he doesn't end up with negative points. This is not a great pick for this week, but he was already on the roster and he takes up so little salary cap space.

Defenders:
Jonathan Bornstein - At home against a pretty good RSL team, I'm not counting on a shut-out from him.

Omar Gonzalez - He plays two games this week, but honestly that could be a bad thing. I don't think he'll get any shut-outs, and my bet is that LA will get scored on a couple of times. He could earn negative points this week.

Matt Besler - Two games, very inexpensive.

Midfielders:
Clint Mathis - I went to him since Morales is going to miss the first game of the week with suspension. RSL has two games this week and Mathis has looked in form this year.

Chris Pontius - He's got two games and he seems to get lots of chances, plus he's inexpensive. I'm hoping for a big week for him.

Amado Guevara - Produced good points for the last three weeks straight. He could continue his streak at DC, a team better know for their offensive prowess than their defense.

Davy Arnaud - Last time they had two games he got zero points. I'm hoping things are different this time around. If they are not, he'll probably get dropped from the team next week.

Forwards:
Luciano Emilio - I hope this pick pans out. I essentially traded Donovan for him. I think it makes sense on paper, but who knows what will happen. He has two games against two team that have good but not great defenses. I think he can score. (Captain)

Juan Pablo Angel - He is at home and he is playing a San Jose team that has been letting in goals.

Robbie Findley - Two games this week, one of the top goal scorers in MLS. He is relatively cheap at 351K.

Coach:
Preki - Home game against a tough RSL team, hope this isn't one of the places where I wished I had made a change.

Bench: Javier Morales, Mac Kandji, Rodney Wallace. I think any of these guys would have been good choices to start as well. I would have started Morales if he wasn't suspended for the first game.

Make sure you check out the injury list: http://web.mlsnet.com/stats/injuries, and the discipline list: http://web.mlsnet.com/stats/discipline.jsp

Now here is, in my opinion, the best line-up this week starting from scratch and with no salary limits:

GK-
Jon Busch (CHI)
Home game against a struggling New England team.

Defense-
Jimmy Conrad (KC)
Two games this week. Maybe he can get some goals like he did last year.
Bakary Soumare (CHI)
Game v. NE team that's struggling.
Wilman Conde (CHI)
See above.

Midfield-
Chris Pontius (DC)
Two games, very active in the attack.
Clint Mathis (RSL)
He's my replacement for Morales, I think he'll do a good job, he's looked good lately.
Christian Gomez (DC)
He is off the injury report and Olsen in on it, so you have to figure he'll play serious minutes in the two games this week.
Davy Arnaud (KC)
Two games, hopefully he is fully recovered from injury.

Forward-
Landon Donovan (LA)
I'll go with him here because I have no cap.
Luciano Emilio (DC)
I think he'll be leading goal scorer by the end of this week. (captain)
Robbie Findley (RSL)
If it isn't Emilio it will be Findley (or at least one of the three forwards here)

Coach-
Tom Soehn (DC)
They have two games and the best chance at getting points from both.

I'd love to hear comments, questions, suggestions. I'm not feeling 100% about my current team so any feedback is welcome. I still have $86K in cap space. Any ideas anyone?