out due to red cards. Jaime Moreno (DC) -- out due to second game of 2-game suspension. John Thorrington (CHI) and David Beckham (LA) -- out due to yellow card accumulation.
Tip(s) of the week: Watch for what players will be playing for their national teams in their qualifiers this week. Again, start thinking ahead to the week of Oct. 15, when Houston and San Jose play twice that week.
This week's Top XI for points:
Goalkeeper: Nick Rimando (RSL). The 9-year vet out of UCLA has been outstanding at home this season, putting RSL squarely in the playoff race. With a home game against a Red Bulls team that has only scored nine goals in 13 away games; look for Rimando to get his ninth clean sheet of the season in this game.
Defender: Bobby Boswell (HOU). If Boswell's not in the mix for Defender of the Year, he should be. He has been playing back to his 2006 standards, when he won the MLS Defender of the Year award. Playing against his former team, who have only scored 11 goals in 13 away games, this week at home should net your team shutout points.
Defender: Jimmy Conrad (KC). Still in the running for the "Golden Helmet" award, Jimmy has been a consistent factor in the defense and offense for Kansas City. Watch for the 31-year-old UCLA product to help Kevin Hartman achieve his 10th shutout of the season.
Defender: Nat Borchers (RSL). Back to MLS after a brief stint in the Norwegian first division, Borchers has helped Rimando achieve eight shutouts so far this season. Look for him to help Rimando get his ninth clean sheet of the season at home against a New York team that has had difficulty scoring away form home.
Midfielder: Javier Morales (RSL). The 28-year-old Argentinian has been the offensive spark plug that has Real Salt Lake in the playoff hunt. Look for him to add to his six goals and 12 assists with a home game, where they have scored 20 goals in 13 games, against the New York Red Bulls.
Midfielder: Brian Mullan (HOU). Quietly flying under the radar, Mullan has been out performing some of the more heralded players on his team. The 30-year-old with speed and energy to burn should produce this week at home, where Houston has scored 25 goals in 12 home goals.
Midfielder: Davy Arnaud (KC). The 28-year-old West Texas A&M product was K.C.'s 2007 assist leader and has diversified his game this season playing out of the midfield and contributing five goals and three assists on the season. Playing at home, where K.C. has scored 18 goals in 13 games, look for Arnaud to add to those totals.
Midfielder: Cuauhtemoc Blanco (CHI). After starting out strong on the season, and then missing from the attack the middle third of the season, Blanco is beginning to find himself again. Playing at home this week, look for the Fire DP to add to his season totals of six goals and eight assists.
Forward: Darren Huckerby (SJ). The former Norwich City player has been on fire since coming to MLS. Playing well at home, San Jose has scored 20 goals in those 13 home games. Look for Huckerby to add to his six goals and four assists in this week's game against Chivas.
Forward: Kenny Cooper (DAL). The second-leading goal-scorer in MLS, Cooper (whose dad coached Jimmy's club soccer coach, Richard Chinapoo, back in the day) should be able to continue his goal-scoring ways with a home game against Toronto.
Forward: Kei Kamara (HOU). After having come over from San Jose in a midseason trade, Kamara has played well in his nine games with Houston, having registered two goals and two assists. Look for Kamara to use his speed to score against a struggling (OK, ugly) D.C. United defense.
Here are our official teams for Week 29:
Dave:
GK Nick Rimando; DF Bobby Boswell; DF Jimmy Conrad; DF Nat Borchers; MF Javier Morales; MF Sacha Kljestan; MF Dwayne De Rosario; MF David Beckham; FW Darren Huckerby; FW Kenny Cooper; FW Taylor Twellman. Coach: Steve Nicol. Bench: FW Landon Donovan, MF Guillermo Barros Schelotto, DF Shavar Thomas.
Traded: GK Matt Reis for Nick Rimando, Coach Steve Nicol for Dominic Kinnear, DF Nat Borchers for Gabriel Cichero.
Jimmy:
GK Nick Rimando; DF Drew Moor; DF Gabriel Cichero; DF Ryan Johnson; MF David Beckham; MF Dwayne De Rosario; MF Steve Ralston; MF Arturo Alvarez; FW Landon Donovan; FW Brian Ching; FW Taylor Twellman. Coach: Dominic Kinnear. Bench: FW Edson Buddle; FW Luciano Emilio; MF Cuauthemoc Blanco.
Traded: GK Joe Cannon for Nick Rimando; Coach Juan Carlos Osorio for Dominic Kinnear; FW Juan Pablo Angel for FW Brian Ching. Moved: None
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