MLS Fantasy Challenge: Week 19 line-up

The pressure is on to keep performing well, hopefully this line-up will earn me more points. Starting off with the schedule, Chivas USA are off this week. Next week Chivas USA, the Los Angeles Galaxy, and the New York Red Bulls are off. Mexico, the U.S., Honduras, and Costa Rica are still playing in the Gold Cup, so some players will still be missing due to that. I'm moving back to a 3-4-3 formation after adding Fredy Montero back to the team. I might have considered staying with a 3-5-2, I really like my midfielders, but they are all playing away from home except for Davis.

Changes:
In: Dominic Kinnear, Fredy Montero, Pat Onstad
Out: Denis Hamlett, Jon Busch, Guillermo Barros Schelotto

Interestingly enough, I am basically undoing my changes from last week when I dropped Montero and Kinnear from the line-up. As you can see, I like Houston's chances at home against New England. Although it should be interesting now that Ralston and Joseph are back.

Goalkeeper:
Pat Onstad - At home vs. New England. I'm getting more nervous about picking against New England now that Ralston and Joseph are back, but this still could be a shut-out. The other option was Pickens, whose Rapids are home against New York, but I went with Onstad because the Dynamo are a better team and more likely to get shut-outs in future games.

Defenders:
Bryan Namoff - D.C. is away facing the struggling Earthquakes. D.C. could definitely shut-out San Jose, although it is much harder to do away from home. Maybe I'll get lucky and another one of my defenders will score a goal.

Omar Gonzalez - L.A. is away against the Wizards. Kansas City has not scored in its two previous games. Another possible shut-out, especially since the Galaxy have looked pretty good recently. They have won an impressive four straight games.

Kosuke Kimura - Colorado is home against New York. The Red Bulls have really struggled scoring on the road, so I think a shut-out is likely in this game. A goal from a defender would be really nice too, I've grown accustomed to them.

Midfielders:
Cuauhtemoc Blanco - Chicago has a tough game away against Seattle. It is hard playing away against 35,000 loud fans, but if anyone is used to performing well in front of hostile crowds it is Blanco. Blanco had an impressive stat line last week, a goal and an assist in about 30 minutes. Hopefully he can reproduce those results given a full game against Seattle.

Dwayne De Rosario - Another tough match-up. Toronto is away at Columbus. Columbus will be missing Chad Marshall, Alejandro Moreno, Robbie Rogers, and Guillermo Barros Schelotto, so that should help, but they are still a formidable team.

Brad Davis - Home against New England. I would have said this would be an easy win a week or two ago, but Davis's job will be a lot harder playing in the middle now that Shalrie Joseph is back. Davis should have fresh legs after missing last game due to the flu.

Chris Pontius - D.C. is away vs. San Jose. It's been more than a month since Pontius scored his last goal, so he is about due to get one. D.C. United should be able to take advantage of one of the league's worst teams.

Forwards:
Landon Donovan - L.A. is away at Kansas City. Doesn't look like Beckham's return disrupted the team too much. My guess is that the Galaxy will make it five wins in a row and that Donovan will be a big part of that. (Captain)

Omar Cummings - No luck against D.C. last week, but he should have a better chance at home against the Red Bulls. Onlt San Jose has let in more goals than the Red Bulls, so it seems like a good bet that Cummings will get some points.

Fredy Montero - Montero will have a difficult game against Chicago, who have been playing better on the road than at home this year. Montero has been on a roll, and hopefully he can keep it up. He's got a good chance to take the lead in the race for the Golden Boot with Guillermo Barros Schelotto out with an injury.

Coach:
Dominic Kinnear - The best team in the league playing at home against a team that has been struggling. Sounds like a likely win to me.

Bench: Aaron Holbein, Amado Guevara, Marco Pappa

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.

Now here is, in my opinion, the best line-up this week starting from scratch and with no salary limits (bit of a change since first posting):

GK- Matt Pickens (COL)
Home vs. NY.

Defense-
Eddie Lewis (LA)
After last week's performance, I would love to have him on my team. He is listed as a defender but is playing in the midfield and should be productive. Away vs. KC.
Craig Waibel (HOU)
Home game vs. NE.
Kosuke Kimura (COL)
He's my good luck charm. Home vs. NY.

Midfield-
Brad Davis (HOU)
Home vs. NE
Christian Gomez (DC)
Away vs. SJ
Chris Pontius (DC)
Away vs. SJ
Javier Morales (RSL)
Home vs. FCD

Forward-
Luciano Emilio (DC)
I like Montero better long-term, but for this week I think I'll go with Emilio here (not playing against CHI). Away vs. SJ.
Landon Donovan (LA)
Away game vs. KC. (Capt.)
Omar Cummings (COL)
Home vs. NY.

Coach- Dominic Kinnear (HOU)
Home vs. NE.

Comments, questions, suggestions? I have $116K in cap space still. If I had one more transfer and the money I'd definitely add Eddie Lewis, should I add him instead of one of the other additions this week? Maybe Montero since he's got a tough game against Chicago? Thoughts, ideas anyone?