So things are getting pretty hectic in Major League Soccer this time of year, you have to be thinking about international absences, injuries, suspensions and the crazy schedule coming up. After this week, for the six weeks, at least three team will be off every week. Next week it is Colorado, New York, and Toronto. Luckily for you, I've made a chart to help you navigate the next several weeks.
The number in each box is how many games per week. As you can see Columbus, Houston and L.A. all play every week during this period. Colorado misses next week and then plays all the rest and both Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas play all but one later in the period. I would suggest you start thinking about adding guys from these teams to your team. Especially Houston since they have two games next week.So now let's get to the team:
Changes:
In: Brad Davis, Stuart Holden, Juan Pablo Angel
Out: Amado Guevara, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Jonathan Bornstein
I got rid of those guys because of a combination of national team obligations and their team's schedules over the next few weeks.
Goalkeeper:
Pat Onstad - I wanted to got with Frei here, but he is listed as questionable on the injury report. I think that LA is going to have a hard time producing offense without Landon. Chicago got shut-out by FC Dallas last week, so theorectically Houston should be capable of doing the same. Chicago should also be without some key players: Blanco, Conde, Soumare, and Segares.
Defenders:
Chad Marshall - Away at Kansas City, good pick up though, because I can count on him for the next seven weeks.
Omar Gonzalez - Away at Toronto, but another guy who will playing all the games in this next stretch.
Kosuke Kimura - Away at Real Salt Lake, but they will be missing the heart of their midfield, both Morales and Beckerman. Colorado is off next week, but play the rest of the games in the rest of the this two month stretch.
Midfielders:
Chris Pontius - Home against New York. He has gone three games without recording a goal or an assist, the longest dry spell of his career so far. This week will be a good opportunity to break it.
Brad Davis - Away against Chicago, who will be missing key players. If FC Dallas beat them last week, Houston should be able to get a result. I like this choice because Houston has two games next week too.
Marco Pappa - Has only played the full 90 once this season. With some may people missing, Pappa will have to perform.
Stuart Holden - Away against Chicago, I probably would have gone with Kandji here, but he is listed as questionable on the injury report. On the plus side, I like Houston for next week.
Forwards:
Guillermo Barros Schelotto - Away at Kansas City, he is only one goal away from his total output of last year (although no where near his assists output) and we are only a little more than a third of the way through the season. As mentioned above, Columbus plays every week over these next seven weeks.
Juan Pablo Angel - Two games this week. He's got four goals so far this season, so he needs to get a few more to get himself back in the race for the golden boot this season. (Captain)
Brian McBride - I wanted to go with Kenny Cooper instead, but injuries didn't allow me to make the switch. I'm not too worried about it though, because McBride is always a good choice.
Coach:
Denis Hamlett - With all of the absences and the result last week, my faith is a little shaken in Chicago. Now they have a chance to further test their depth.
Bench: Mac Kandji, Stefan Frei, Robbie Findley.
Make sure you check out the injury list: http://web.mlsnet.com/stats/injuries (on Friday too), and the discipline list: http://web.mlsnet.com/stats/discipline.jsp. Thier are an unusually high number of guys suspended this week.
Now here is, in my opinion, the best line-up this week starting from scratch and with no salary limits:
GK- Zach Thorton (CHV)
The best team in the league playing at home. I would have gone with Frei if he were healthy.
Defense-
Jimmy Conrad (KC)
Home v. CLB. This week I'm going with guys I think could score goals since there are fewer good shut-out picks.
Chad Marshall (CLB)
Away v. KC.
Jamison Olave (RSL)
At home v. COL.
Midfield-
Fred (DC)
Looked good last week filling in in the middle for Christian Gomez. At home v. NY
Chris Pontius (DC)
At home v. NY
Steve Ralston (NE)
At home v. NY
Davy Arnaud (KC)
At home v. CLB
Forward-
Juan Pablo Angel (NY)
Two games this week.
Kenny Cooper (FCD)
At home v. SJ.
Luciano Emilio (DC)
At home v. NY
Coach- Tom Soehn (DC)
I might have gone with Hyndman here, but he is suspended this week. I think DC can beat NY at home.
Comments, questions, suggestions? I have $26K in cap space still. Thoughts, ideas anyone? Any ideas on how to get Kenny Cooper into the line-up?
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