When was the last time you saw two hat tricks (fantasy gold!) on the same weekend? With Luciano Emilio and Edson Buddle kicking it up a couple of notches, this past week saw an offensive explosion in MLS, with 19 goals in all.
Did all the teams get the memo? No, there were still five teams that were shut out this week. And all those goals came in a week with some of the great offensive flair players missing because of international duty. We can't wait until they all get back.
This week's focus: Fire and Ice:
On Fire:
Luciano Emilio (DC, $488,000): 6 goals in last 4 games
Edson Buddle (LA, $316,000): 8 goals, 1 assist in last 5 games
Kheli Dube (NE, $337,000): 4 goals, 2 assists in last 5 games
Brian Ching (HOU, $630,000): 4 goals, 2 assists in last 4 games
Cold as Ice:
Robbie Rogers (CLB, $175,000): 0 goals in last 5 games; had 5 goals in first 7 games of the season
Marcelo Gallardo (DC, $416,000): 0 assists in 10 games played, 0 goals in last 4 games after 3 goals in first 6 games
Kevin Hartman (KC, $448,000): 1 shutout in last 6 games, after 3 shutouts in first 5 games; 3 goals allowed in 2 of his last 3 games
Amado Guevara (TOR, $343,000): 0 goals, 0 assists in last 4 games, started season with 2 goals, 1 assist in first 3 games
Things to keep an eye out for this week:
Injuries. None to report.
Lineup changes. Sainey Nyassi (NE) started on bench; Patrick Ianni (HOU) replaced at halftime; Christian Gomez (COL) did not start; Ante Jazic (LA) starting at midfield, Jonathan Bornstein (CHV) starting; Jorge Flores (CHV) on bench, did not play.
Discipline. Santino Quaranta (DC) yellow card accumulation, will miss Sunday's game vs. San Jose.
Tip(s) of the week: Keep an eye on the players who will be playing for their country in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. Canada, Gambia, Guatemala, Costa Rica and the USA are some of the teams that will be playing on June 21 or 22. Real Salt Lake, San Jose, New England and New York players play twice this week.
This week's Top XI for points:
Goalkeeper: Matt Reis (NE). The 11th-year veteran has been on fire as of late, with three clean sheets in his last five games. Look for him to add to his league-leading five shutouts with a home game against the New York Red Bulls and an away game vs. Real Salt Lake.
Defender: Nat Borchers (RSL). After being out of MLS for two seasons in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, Borchers has picked up where he left off, starting all 12 games he has seen action in. With two home games this week, one vs. San Jose and the other against New England, look for Borchers to pick up multiple points for you this week.
Defender: Chris Albright (NE). Albright will look to add to his four clean sheets with a home game against the Red Bulls and an away game at Rice-Eccles Stadium vs. Real Salt Lake. At 6-foot-1, Albright is always a threat to head one into the back of the net.
Defender: Ryan Johnson (SJ). The 23-year-old Jamaican has been getting more minutes of late. Listed as a defender in MLSFC, Johnson has seen the majority of his action at forward, making him all that much more valuable. With two goals in his last four games, look for him to add to those totals with two away games this week, one at Real Salt Lake and one at D.C. United.
Midfielder: Kyle Beckerman (RSL). The ninth-year vet with the distinguishable dreads has two home games this week, vs. San Jose and New England. Look for him to add to his three goals and one assist this week.
Midfielder: Steve Ralston (NE). The all-time MLS assist leader has been on a hot streak of late, with two goals and one assist in his last three games. With two games this week, one at home vs. New York and the other away vs. Real Salt Lake, look for Ralston to take advantage of his multiple opportunities to add to his streak.
Midfielder: Christian Gomez (COL). The 33-year-old Argentinean has a home game against Houston this week. He has begun the season with three goals and five assists, keeping him on pace to equal last year's production of 10 goals and nine assists.
Midfielder: David Beckham (LA). When you play for the leading offensive team in the league, there is always an opportunity to get in the boxscore. Beckham's four goals and six assists don't even begin to speak for his influence on the Galaxy's offense. Look for Beckham to add to these totals with a home game vs. Columbus, especially if Donovan comes back from his international duty, as expected.
Forward: Luciano Emilio (DC). He's waaaaay back now! Having a hat trick this past weekend against the New York Red Bulls, Emilio is starting to scorch the nets again. With a home game against the expansion San Jose team, we're not taking him out of this one.
Forward: Juan Pablo Angel (NY). A member of the MLS 2007 Best XI, Angel has started slowly this year, with just two goals and two assists. Look for the 33-year-old Colombian international to snap out of his slump with two games this week, away against New England and home against FC Dallas.
Forward: Kheli Dube (NE). The Zimbabwe native out of Coastal Carolina University has been lighting it up this year, with four goals and two assists to begin the season. Look for the 24-year-old to add to these totals with a home game vs. New York and an away game vs. Real Salt Lake.
Our official teams for Week 13:
Dave:
GK Matt Reis; DF Ryan Johnson; DF Bobby Boswell; DF Michael Parkhurst; MF David Beckham; MF Christian Gomez; MF Robbie Rogers; MF Javier Morales; FW Luciano Emilio; FW Kenny Cooper; FW Landon Donovan. Coach Steve Nicol. Bench: Alejandro Moreno, Marc Burch, Sacha Kljestan.
Traded: GK Kevin Hartman for GK Matt Reis, DF Michael Parkhurst for DF Nat Borchers, Coach Dominic Kinnear for Coach Steve Nicol. Moved: Sacha Kljestan and Alejandro Moreno to bench, Christian Gomez to MF, Landon Donovan to FW.
Jimmy:
GK Matt Reis; DF Marc Burch; DF Chris Wingert; DF Ryan Johnson; MF David Beckham; MF Cuauhtemoc Blanco; MF Javier Morales; MF Christian Gomez; FW Kenny Cooper; FW Luciano Emilio; FW Landon Donovan. Coach: Steve Nicol. Bench: MF Robbie Rogers, GK Jon Busch, FW Alejandro Moreno.
Traded: DF Patrick Ianni for DF Chris Wingert; FW Brian Ching for GK Matt Reis; Coach Dominic Kinnear for Coach Steve Nicol. Moved: FW Landon Donovan, GK Matt Reis, and MF Javier Morales to Starting Lineup; GK Jon Busch, MF Robbie Rogers and FW Alejandro Moreno to Bench.
Questions? Comments? Contact us at mlsfantasygurus@comcast.net.
