MLS Interlude

[08:29] JSpitzberg: i have NO interest in MLS anymore

That's how I started my converstation with Neal this morning.  And I really don't.  With the Premier League gearing up it's hard to keep the enthusiasm for what I call my methadone, which I use to bridge the gap between English seasons.  But that being said, and I'm sure to jinx it here, I'm well placed in the overall standings and I have a reputation to uphold.  And a trophy to win back from Neal.  So here we go again.

This week the clear pick is Colorado hosting the Red Bulls who are just DIRE on the road.  I had Connor Casey on my team but he is suspended due to accumulation so I had to make some other moves to afford Omar Cummings.  Here's hoping he can come good.  I've also added Kimura to the backline as I have more fingers on one hand than the Red Bulls have road goals.  Matt Pickens would be a great, um, pick in net too.

DCUnited travel to the West Coast to play San Jose, who are struggling.  The Earthquakes are reshaping their team in the middle of the season which isn't a good sign.  Even though I don't like picking road teams in MLS - especially not those travelling from one coast to the other - I had to pick up Christian Gomez to join Chris Pontius in the midfield.  Gomez is playing really well right now and without Santino he should hold down his spot and set piece duties.

The LA Galaxy travel too, but face a Kansas City team missing their best attacker in Arnaud and starting defenders Conrad and Watson, who was red carded last week.  So Landon Donovan not only stays in the team, but keeps the captain's armband.  And as much as I want to sell Beckham, I can't.  He's cheaper than Blanco and 1) I needed the money for Gomez and Cummings, and 2) Chicago are at Seattle and Blanco is going to have Alonso on him like a cheap suit all day.  So here's hoping Beckham feels that he has something to prove after this week's incidents.

Football. Futbol. Soccer.

Time for another look at the rapidly (oops, MLS pun alert!) approaching week in MLS fantasy. The game week begins tonight at the Galaxy travel to NY to take on the Red Bulls. Of course this game is David Beckham's return to MLS after his very successful stint with AC Milan and the recent contrversy around Grant Wahl's Beckham book and Landon Donovan's statements therein.  Last time Becks had prime time in NYC he lived up to the hype in the Galaxy's 5-4 win over the Red Bulls, and I'm thinking that both he and Landon Donovan are sure things this week. And that's even though they're the road team in a league where things are always stacked in favor of the home team. To get them I've had to sell Mike Magee, whom I would still recommend as a fantasy option. Especially as he's cheaper than the two big stars and I think he'll keep his place. Kirovski, not so much. However, you can only have three players from a team on your fantasy team and I've got Omar "OG" Gonzalez as an ever present in the back line. OG is also interesting as his height makes him a target on set pieces. Look for the Galaxy to go to him or Buddle if they can.

Saturday we have the meat of the schedule, including Toronto FC hosting Houston (who are still struggling against injuries and call-ups); Chicago hosting San Jose (who just traded away another striker - Pablo Campos this time. What can they be working on?!?!?); the Crew without the hamstrung Guillermo Barros Schelotto (that's a good injury tip right there!) host RSL; and DCUnited host the Rapids. Finally Sunday sees struggling Chivas make the cross-country trip to play the struggling Revolution. I think that last one is a stay away match unless you're in for either team's defenders.

For me, other than the LA three discussed above, I'm brining in Casey to replace Montero whose Sounders have a friendly against Chelsea rather than a league match this weekend. (Will Montero remain in the MLS much longer if he can put on a good show against one of Europe's biggest clubs? I would guess not.)  Casey is on the road, but I'm going to gamble that DCUnited misses Jankovic, who is still at the CONCACAF Gold Cup with the Canadian national team.  GBS stays on the bench and Ryan Johnson (who else can San Jose run out at forward?) keeps that spot in the line-up.

In midfield, I fianlly sold Brad Davis who made me look silly in wanting to sell him last week - albeit happy I didn't - with an early goal. I also sold Marco Pappa (although I don't necessarily recommend that you do), but kept his Fire teammate, Chuatehamoc Blanco. In comes Dwayne DeRosario on the "scoring against his old team" corollary and Chris Pontius who was benched last week as DC United didn't have a league game.

In goal I'm again going with Stefan Frei over Pat Onstad. They are head to head this weekend and I just have to give the nod to Frei as he's on the home side.

Another MLS interlude

If you'll forgive our stateside fixation on our Premier League blog, but today is decision day for those of us playing fantasy Major League Soccer. With Gold Cup in full swing, injuries and suspensions mounting and the odd schedule quirk it's a tough week to pick.

First of all you have a lot of good players on international duty. We've certainly written enough about that. Injuries and suspensions are another matter. New England is missing half its first team through injury and the Red Bulls have half of their first eleven questionable. Houston is going to be stretched really thin. Not only are they missing defenders Robinson (long-standing injury) and Barrett, and Waibel but Hainault is on international duty with Canada and their starting center backs, Geoff Cameron and Bobby Boswell, are both suspended for the road game against Seattle. They should have Clarke back in the midfield so Mulrooney can cover at fullback, but that's a bandaid. So I'm dropping Onstad and picking up Frei (TFC@SJ - not ideal but he was on the bench so it doesn't burn a trade) in net. And at forward I'm hoping Montero can continue his hot streak in front of goal. One note of caution before you pile in on Sounders, they have an exhibition match with Chelsea next week so they don't play in the league.

I've saved my trades for the midfield. I dropped my two FCDallas middies (who didn't do anything for me last week against the Red Bulls) and I've had to bench Pontius as DCUnited are off this week. Finally I sold Kandji as he's injured. That means Brad Davis keeps his place by default even though he's been a points black hole for a month or more. And in come Pappas and Blanco from Chicago. They're home against Columbus this week and home again next week to San Jose. I'm not thrilled about those two, but there are so few quality midfielders actually playing this week because of all the above reasons.

The last midfield spot goes to Mike Magee, who's always been a blog favorite even though his MLS roots are with NY/NJ. Hopefully he can keep his place in an improving Galaxy side (I'm thinking he stays at attacking mid and Landon Donovan, who is my captain again this week, goes back to forward for now) against the struggling cross-town Goats.

Finally at forward I'm dropping GBS for Ryan Johnson. I'm unsure of this move, but going for the home team as the tie-breaker. That and if Frei can't keep a clean sheet, maybe it will be RJ who gets the points. So he's the pick for a hedge.

Donovan returning to Galaxy after loan

The Galaxy announced Thursday that Donovan, last season’s team MVP, will return from an overseas loan to play for the MLS team this season. Donovan, who was playing with Bayern Munich of the Bundesliga, will begin training with Los Angeles on March 10...

"I am very excited to be returning home to my teammates and the LA Galaxy,” Donovan said in a written statement. “Although the results were not what we had hoped for, the time in Germany still was very positive for me. I am fit, motivated, and excited to be coming back as a better, more experienced player."

This is obviously great news for the Galaxy.  Though I'm not sure they have enough players left on their roster to fill the other ten spots - Beckham or no Beckham!  But the league starts in two weeks... time to start doing the research in front of what's sure to be another slightly entertaining fantasy summer.

Solano in Galaxy talks

Nolberto Solano could be set to link up with David Beckham at Los Angeles Galaxy.

The Peruvian winger's agent claims MLS side LA Galaxy are keen on signing the former Newcastle ace.

I don't know if I understand this move... I guess it would mean Becks moves infield permanently. But regardless, I'm a big fan of Nobby's and would love to see him stateside.