MLS Fantasy Challenge: Week 23 line-up

So obviously the strategy for this week was to fill your roster with as many guys who are playing two games as possible. The teams playing twice are Chicago, Los Angeles, New England, and Seattle. I've managed to fill my starting 11 (and coach) with ten guys from those teams. Unfortunately Eddie Lewis won't be playing twice due to a red card. I got rid of Tyrone Marshall because he was red carded too.

Other scheduling notes are that Columbus is off this week and Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake are off while FC Dallas is off. The week after that, only Colorado, D.C., FC Dallas, Kansas City, New England and Toronto play and all of the other teams are off (I had a mistake there is previous posts and said that L.A. was playing instead of New England). My secondary goal this week was to prepare for week 25 when only these six teams play. So far six of the guys on my current roster will play that week.

Changes:
In: Kevin Alston, Denis Hamlett, Conor Casey
Out: Tyrone Marshall , Dominic Kinnear, Maykel Galindo

I replaced Tyrone Marshall with Alston because Alston will play twice this week, unlike Marshall who got red carded last week and Alston will also play in week 25. I added Hamlett because I think he has the team with the best chance to win two games this week. I replace Maykel Galindo with Conor Casey because I needed money to get Hamlett and Casey plays in week 25. It would have been nice to hold onto Galindo because he plays twice next week, but I didn't have that luxury.

Goalkeeper:
Jon Busch - The Fire are the only team this week that play twice at home. I also think they have the best match-ups and are the best team out of the teams that play twice. I'm hoping for at least one shut-out this weekend from Busch and a bunch of saves.

Defenders:
Eddie Lewis - Too bad he was red carded, but he is still a midfielder listed as a defender. He misses the tough game away against Chicago and is back for the game away against D.C. He should be able to get points in D.C. (even though I hope they lose. Go D.C.!)

Omar Gonzalez - Two away games this week. Hopefully two games doesn't just mean more opportunities to get negative points.

Kevin Alston - A brillant pick-up in my mind, plays twice this week and plays in week 25. I should really have three guys from New England, but I think most guys on that roster are over-priced. They have a tough away game against Seattle, then a more managable home game against Real Salt Lake.

Midfielders:
Cuauhtemoc Blanco - Two home games. I just hope he has enough in the tank to get significant minutes in both. I considered him for captain, but his potential for sitting major minutes on the bench disuaded me. He could have a monster week.

Dwayne De Rosario - One of the few players in my line-up who's not playing twice. He has been on such a hot streak that I don't want to take him out anyways. He also plays in week 25, so that is a definite plus.

Brad Davis - He's also not playing twice, but he is reasonably priced at $283K considering his good performance. Houston is home against Seattle, who should be a little fatigued in their second game of the week.

Marco Pappa - Unlike Blanco, Pappa is probably young enough and fit enough to play the majority of minutes in both games this week. Pappa ended his cold streak by getting an assist last week. He was another consideration for captain, but his production is too irregular, so he was too much of a gamble.

Steve Ralston - Six goals and five assists in 13 games. So he seems to get on the scoreboard somehow in almost every game. I'm expecting at least a goal and an assist out of his two games this weekend. I really feel like he is the second best choice for captain...

Forwards:
Landon Donovan - Donovan will be my captain this week. I'm a little worried about the lingering effects of swine flu, but my bet is that he will be fine. L.A. has two tough games on the road, but I think that Donovan will be able to find the back of the net like he so often does. (Captain)

Fredy Montero - Seattle plays twice and Montero has been one of the most prolific goal-scorers this season. Seattle hosts a resurgent New England team and then travels to Houston, a tough place to get points, he should manage to grab some points between the two games.

Coach:
Denis Hamlett - Coach with the best chance to win two games this week.

Bench: Amado Guevara, Conor Casey, Chris Pontius

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:

GK- Jon Busch (CHI)
Two games.

Defense-
James Riley (SEA)
Two games.
Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (SEA)
Two games.
Omar Gonzalez (LA)
Two games.

Midfield-
Cuauhtemoc Blanco (CHI)
Two games.
Marco Pappa (CHI)
Two games.
Steve Ralston (NE)
Two games.
Shalrie Joseph (NE)
Two games. I would have gone with Ljungberg, but he is listed as questionable.

Forward-
Fredy Montero (SEA)
Two games.
Landon Donovan (LA)
Two games. (Capt.)
Kheli Dube (NE)
Two games.

Coach- Denis Hamlett (CHI)
You guessed it: Two games.

Comments, questions, suggestions? I have $9K in cap space still. Thoughts, ideas anyone?