With shutouts being so important to gaining points in MLSFC this year, it's imperative that you pick the right goalkeeper for your team. But, boy, was this week brutal with those picks, or what?
The smart money would have it on the goalkeeper who plays twice or whoever plays a weak offensive team. The teams that played twice this past week, Houston and Dallas, split their goalkeeper duties this past week, with the backup Tony Caig the only one with a shutout. And Nick Rimando played against a weak offensive team (San Jose) at home and allows a goal in the 84th minute.
So, who would get the other shutouts of the weekend? Another backup, Brian Edwards, who had a great game between the pipes for Toronto FC against the league's No. 1 offense, and Chivas USA's Brad Guzan, playing behind a defense that didn't have any of its top six defenders starting.
Go figure! Definitely a strange week for goalkeepers ...
This week's focus: Top defenders in MLSFC:
Jimmy Conrad (KC, $463,000, 72 pts.) Should they start calling him Jimmy C. Ronaldo now? With three goals already on the season, can our favorite player in MLS keep up this pace? Probably not, but it's good to see a great guy doing this well to start the season.
Jim Brennan (TOR, $463,000, 72 pts.) The 31-year-old Canadian international has been a steady influence for the second-year Toronto team. His two assists out of the back has helped out the attack for the surprising Toronto FC.
Marco Velez (TOR, $299,000, 60 pts.) After having toiled in the USL First Division for the last three seasons, the Puerto Rican international has proved that he belongs in MLS.
Marvell Wynne (TOR, $498,000, 52 pts.) The first overall pick in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft has the speed to shut down anyone who comes into his area.
Drew Moor (DAL, $379,000, 50 pts.) The 24-year-old Moor was the sixth overall pick in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft. He has adjusted well to FCD's new three-man backline, helping to contribute to the club's three shutouts.
Tip(s) of the week: This week Houston and D.C. United both play twice. Utilize as many of their players as you can. Keep an eye out for the announcement of the players that will represent the USA in its game Sunday against Argentina. Adjust your team accordingly.
This week's Top XI for points:
Goalkeeper: William Hesmer (CLB). Going with the leading points player in MLSFC seems like a pretty good idea. Playing at home at Crew Stadium against San Jose makes Hesmer's selection seem like a great idea.
Defender: Bobby Boswell (HOU). Boswell is beginning to get back to his 2006 form, when he was named an All-Star, MLS Defender of the Year and to the MLS Best XI. With two games this week, look for him to accumulate extra points.
Defender: Bryan Namoff (DC). With two games this week, Namoff will have the opportunity to put up some extra points. The Bradley graduate has been the only consistent performer on the backline for United, starting every game so far this year.
Defender: Chad Marshall (CLB). With a home game against the anemic San Jose offense, look for a shutout in this game. At 6-4, Marshall is always a threat to get a head on a ball from a set piece in the box.
Midfielder: David Beckham (LA). Beckham is returning from his England international duty, where he captained his team to two victories. Look for him to continue his hot start to the season in this week's home game against Colorado.
Midfielder: Sainey Nyassi (NE). The 19-year-old Gambian has been a real surprise this season, contributing two goals to the Revs attack. This week he has a home game against a struggling FC Dallas team that still doesn't have a permanent coach.
Midfielder: Fred (DC). With a goal in his last game, the 28-year-old Brazilian is just what the doctor ordered to jump start the D.C. offense. Look for him to continue that this week with two games on the schedule.
Midfielder: Cuauhtemoc Blanco (CHI). The 35-year-old Mexican national team member continues to amaze us, with four goals and five goals on the campaign so far. We expect him to strike the now familiar pose of the pre-Hispanic ruler Tlatoani Cuauhtemoc with a goal at Toyota Park against D.C. United this week.
Forward: Luciano Emilio (DC). Now he's back to looking like the 2007 MLS MVP. With two goals in his last two games, look for Emilio to continue that streak with games against Houston and Chicago this week.
Forward: Kheli Dube (NE). Where do Nicol and Mariner continue to find these guys? Dube has seen limited time, but has still managed to score three goals and assist on another in his last three games.
Forward: Alejandro Moreno (CLB). The 28-year-old Venezuelan has tailed off recently, but look for him to pick it back up this week at home against San Jose.
Our official teams for Week 10:
Dave:
GK William Hesmer; DF Marco Velez; DF Bobby Boswell; DF Marc Burch; MF Marcelo Gallardo; MF Christian Gomez; MF Robbie Rogers; MF Javier Morales; FW Luciano Emilio; FW Kenny Cooper; FW Alejandro Moreno. Coach Dominic Kinnear. Bench: FW Landon Donovan, MF Amado Guevara, MF Sacha Kljestan.
Traded: GK Nick Rimando for Will Hesmer, MF Arturo Alvarez for Javier Morales, and FW Franco Caraccio for Alejandro Moreno. Moved: Sacha Kljestan to bench, Luciano Emilio and Alejandro Moreno to FW.
Jimmy:
GK Tony Caig; DF Marc Burch; DF Patrick Ianni; DF Marco Velez; MF Marcelo Gallardo; MF Cuauhtemoc Blanco; MF Robbie Rogers; MF Christian Gomez; FW Alejandro Moreno; FW Luciano Emilio; FW Brian Ching. Coach: Dominic Kinnear. Bench: MF Amado Guevara, FW Landon Donovan, FW Kenny Cooper.
Traded: Traded GK Nick Rimando for GK Tony Caig; DF Eddie Robinson for DK Patrick Ianni; MF Sacha Kljestan for FW Alejandro Moreno. Moved: FW Alejandro Moreno to Starting Lineup; FW Kenny Cooper to Bench.
Next week's focus: We take a look at the top goalkeepers in MLSFC.
Questions? Comments? Contact us at mlsfantasygurus@comcast.net.
