Fantasy Blog

Fantasy Pro: Last chance for points

Jonathan Nierman — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:59:00 GMT

With just one week left in the 2009 Major League Soccer season, six teams are still in the hunt for the final three postseason berths. It all comes down to this.

In the fantasy game, you have just four trades left to make this season and just one more chance to pick up points to make your own final-week surge. Who should you put on your roster? Players that are participating in meaningful games. For clubs who have already clinched, this week is all about getting (and/or staying) healthy and prepping for the playoffs. That means safety first, and some marquee players could even be rested entirely. But with so many sides still in the hunt, you have plenty of options for MLS's Week 32.

Below is my list of six players -- one from each of the teams fighting for those final playoff spots -- that give you the best chance to earn points. Put as many of these guys as possible on your squad and hope for the best. Good luck!

Colorado Rapids (40 points, seventh place)

Conor Casey (Forward) -- Trailing Jeff Cunningham (see FC Dallas below) by one goal in the Golden Boot race gives the U.S. international even more motivation heading into the Rapids' season finale on the road in Salt Lake City on Saturday. Casey didn't have a good game for the U.S. team against Costa Rica in the last World Cup qualifying match and he failed to find the net last weekend against Dallas. There's still plenty to prove for the burly goal scorer.

Toronto FC (39 points, eighth place)

Dwayne De Rosario (Forward) -- The 2009 campaign hasn't been a dominating one by the Canadian's standards, but he does lead this team with 11 goals, six more than second-place Chad Barrett and Amado Guevara. TFC will be looking to get the job done on the road, but they're visiting the lowly Red Bulls, mercifully putting an end to the Giants Stadium era in New York. Expect to see De Ro's trademark strut/shake after hitting the back of the net against the worst team in MLS.

New England Revolution (39 points, ninth place)

Shalrie Joseph (Midfielder) -- The Revs just don't have all that many attacking options, leaving Shalrie Joseph as the man most likely to pick up points for you, either by scoring himself (he has eight goals this season) or by setting up others (he's also got eight assists). Playing the last game of the season means the Revs should know what they need to do before kickoff, and their opponent, Columbus, is already into the postseason and could even have the Supporters' Shield in hand by then.

D.C. United (39 points, 10th place)

Luciano Emilio (Forward) -- The Brazilian has had a pretty average season, just like his club. Emilio did keep the Black-and-Red's playoff hopes alive last weekend by scoring the only goal in D.C.'s victory over the Crew. After bursting onto the MLS scene in 2007 with 20 goals, Emilio needs one more to tie last year's mark of 11. The club is desperate to get back into the playoffs after missing out last season, and Emilio needs to show that he's worth the Designated Player money he's raking in.

FC Dallas (39 points, 11th place)

Jeff Cunningham (Forward) -- This one is a no-brainer. It seems as though Cunningham has almost singlehandedly lifted this team into contention. The Hoops managed to earn a win last weekend even without Cunningham getting on the score sheet, though he did set up one of his team's two goals. With 17 goals so far this season, Cunningham is in first place in the Golden Boot race, and he's looking to lock up that award and add to his incredible tally of 121 career MLS goals.

Real Salt Lake (37 points, 12th place)

Robbie Findley (Forward) -- Though he hasn't found the net in almost two months, Findley is a spark plug, and that's just what RSL needs if they're going to make the leap into the postseason. He injected energy into his team's last game, though it wasn't enough to earn the club any desperately-needed points. Facing their biggest rivals, Colorado, at home should mean a big and loud crowd at Rio Tinto; hopefully Findley can feed off of that and get the job done.

Fantasy Pro: The good, the bad, and the both

Jonathan Nierman — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 21:08:00 GMT

Week 27 provided quite a few impressive performances, and it also had its share of not so impressive performances. That's to be expected. Interestingly, there were also a few performances that included elements of both. Let's take a look at how things went down.

THE GOOD

Zach Thornton (Goalkeeper, Chivas USA) -- Definitely the man of the match in the Goats' scoreless draw on the road in Seattle. The big man made save after save, helping Chivas to a precious point to keep them in the thick of the playoff hunt.

Jeff Cunningham (Forward, FC Dallas) -- This guy just can't stop scoring goals. A tap-in against the Wizards was his 13th of the season, a figure only bested by ...

Conor Casey (Forward, Colorado Rapids) -- A last-gasp penalty kick -- and a questionable one, at that -- allowed the Rapids to escape lowly San Jose with a point on Friday night. Casey clearly has his eye on that Golden Boot award.

Brad Davis (Midfielder, Houston Dynamo) -- The winger's gifted left foot either set up or scored each of the Dynamo's three goals in a big win over Real Salt Lake on Saturday night. When Davis is on, there's not a better left-sided midfielder in MLS.

Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Midfielder, Columbus Crew) -- After missing time in the middle of the season due to injury, the reigning MVP is back on his game. Two second half goals by the former Argentina international gave the champs a draw in Chicago Sunday.

THE BAD

Marcelo Saragosa (Midfielder, Chivas USA) -- A kick to Fredy Montero's face earned Saragosa a straight red, leaving his team to battle with just 10 men for the final 20-odd minutes on Saturday. They couldn't muster a goal and had to settle for a single point.

Jamison Olave (Defender, Real Salt Lake) -- A dirty tackle sent Olave to an early shower Saturday, meaning RSL had to play about two thirds of the match with a numerical disadvantage. All coach Jason Kreis could do was shake his head.

Toronto FC's Offense -- One shot on goal against the Galaxy. That's just not going to cut it, especially when you have talent that includes Amado Guevara, Dwayne De Rosario, and Chad Barrett. Is a playoff spot slipping away?

THE BOTH

Jimmy Conrad (Defender, Kansas City Wizards) -- The World Cup veteran was having an atrocious outing Saturday, where he was almost entirely responsible for both FC Dallas goals. Redemption was sweet for the K.C. captain, as he eventually scored the game-winner in the 80th minute -- his first of the 2009 season.

David Beckham (Midfielder, Los Angeles Galaxy) -- A goal and an assist in a 2-0 win looks pretty good on paper. Missing the target completely from 13 yards with only the goalkeeper in front of you looks terrible no matter how you look at it. And you want to play for England in the World Cup?

Brian Ching (Forward, Houston Dynamo) -- The U.S international scored his eighth goal of the season early in the Dynamo's win over RSL, but Ching will miss Houston's next league match as he was given a straight red for a violent late tackle. It's not much to worry about for Houston, though, as they're all but assured of a spot in the postseason.

Check in again two weeks from now for my final piece of the season -- a look at who can help get you points in the last weekend of the regular season.

Fantasy Pro: Bubble team difference makers

Jonathan Nierman — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:02:00 GMT

Time is running out on the 2009 MLS season and it looks like the race for the playoffs is going to go right down to the wire. Each game now carries so much importance that it's almost like the playoffs have already begun.

If the season ended today, Columbus and Chicago would claim the Eastern Conference automatic berths, while Houston and Los Angeles would be in from the West. But it's the at-large berths that are really tight. Seven teams are serious contenders for the four spots: Colorado, Seattle, New England, Chivas USA, Real Salt Lake, D.C. United and Toronto. These are the teams that I'll say are "on the bubble."

Each club has only a precious few more chances to secure a spot. In my opinion, players that have something to prove and a specific goal are the ones you want. That's why this week I'm picking one difference maker from each of the above bubble teams. These are the guys that need to step up, and these are the guys I'll be trusting to earn me some valuable late-season points.

Colorado Rapids

Everyone knows about Conor Casey and Omar Cummings, and each is still a great value. But you might also consider goalkeeper Matt Pickens, who comes on the cheap (about 90K) but has recorded seven shutouts this season, including one Saturday against Toronto FC. Having a 'keeper from a winning team is huge, and only Houston has recorded more wins than the Rapids.

Seattle Sounders FC

Fredy Montero is the Sounders' go-to guy on offense, but what about in the back? James Riley is averaging 10 fantasy points per game and he'll only cost you about 75K. He does have a tendency to lose his cool, so just hope that he can stay out of trouble as the expansion side looks for a playoff berth in the inaugural season at Qwest Field.

New England Revolution

It was only a few weeks ago that this team looked almost dead and buried, but now they're right in the thick of it, even after suffering a 4-2 loss to Kansas City over the weekend. Rookie Kevin Alston has looked lively on the wing, and they don't come any cheaper than 45K. The Maryland native is still looking for his first professional goal, but he's averaging seven fantasy points per game.

Chivas USA

Maicon Santos picked up an assist in his first appearance for Chivas USA and has seen time in three matches since joining the club on loan. The Brazilian has looked solid so far and will certainly be trying to make an impression while helping Preki's club into the postseason. Snap this guy up and hope he pans out.

Real Salt Lake

This is a tough one to pick, but I'll stick my neck out and say Clint Mathis. He's an experienced guy who always seems to play better in big games. From now until the end of the season, every RSL is a big game for the club. He should add to his totals of two goals and seven assists. But you don't need me to explain why he's a risky pick either.

D.C. United

The Black-and-Red are desperate to get into the postseason but have been consistently inconsistent this year. A big stretch of home games might be just what the doctor ordered. It's a bit of a revolving door in the back these days, but Bryan Namoff is the ever-present member of this back line. The veteran has already set career highs in goals (two) and assists (four) and has suddenly emerged as a pretty serious threat on set pieces.

Toronto FC

Nobody's really talking aobut this team, but they've got a great opportunity to get into the playoffs, despite a mediocre 8-9-7 record. Stafan Frei has been very good in goal, and he is a fantastic value at around 55K. While his stats may show him as one of the league's best in net, he's averaging 11 points a game -- right up there with the best in the business.

Get out there and make your trades because you're running out of time. Good luck!

Fantasy Pro: Multiple magic in MLS

Jonathan Nierman — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:52:00 GMT

You want to know who's hot? A player who scores multiple goals in a game is hot. This weekend, four different players accomplished that feat. All of them are accomplished goal scorers, though they've had different levels of success this season. But nothing enhances a player's confidence like hitting the back of the net more than once in a game. Taking these players will probably help you accumulate points as the 2009 season begins to wind down.

HOT AS HECK

Kheli Dube (Forward, New England Revolution) -- A hat trick from the native of Zimbabwe was more than enough for the home side on Sunday as the Revs took down Real Salt Lake 3-1. A speedster who often finds himself in the right place at the right time, Dube helped New England leapfrog D.C. United in the Eastern Conference standings, and they have two games in hand. Could the Revs be primed for yet another late-season run toward the playoffs and MLS Cup?

Sacha Kljestan (Midfielder, Chivas USA) -- Kljestan's 2009 season has been pretty poor, but the U.S. international recorded his first two goals of the season Saturday night as Chivas disposed of Toronto FC at The Home Depot Center. The first was a tap-in, but the second was a tidy finish on a great through ball from new signing Maicon Santos. Still with several games in hand, Preki's team is in a great spot to lock up one of the two automatic berths from the Western Conference. An in-form Kljestan will only help matters.

Juan Pablo Angel (Forward, New York Red Bulls) -- This team's season is over, but nothing shakes things up like a coaching change. Juan Carlos Osorio's departure could have been the spark as New York, led by a double from Juan Pablo Angel, earned a hard-fought 3-2 win Sunday over FC Dallas. The former Colombian international now has nine goals for the season. The entire club has only scored nineteen. Incredibly, Angel is in the hunt for the Golden Boot, even though his team is easily the worst in the league. No matter what, this guy scores goals.

Omar Cummings (Forward, Colorado Rapids) -- Cummings scored his seventh and eighth goals of the season Sunday, though the Rapids would eventually fall to the Fire 3-2 in a dramatic match at Toyota Park. With 10 assists also this season, Cummings would have to be strongly considered in any MVP discussions. Things are tight in the West, but with Cummings and his strike partner Conor Casey both scoring regularly, anything can happen for this team.

COLD AS ICE CREAM

D.C. United -- What happened to this team? Schedule congestion, fatigue, whatever. The fact of the matter is, they can't win a game. The Black-and-Red haven't defeated an MLS opponent in over a month and they have a lot of work to do if they hope to make the postseason. With the talent on their roster, it can be done. But names don't win games. Somebody (Luciano Emilio? Santino Quaranta? Christian Gomez?) needs to stand up and lead this team.

Kevin Goldthwaite (Defender, New York Red Bulls) -- Goldthwaite will miss the Red Bulls' home contest next Sunday against the East-leading Crew after picking up a red card for throwing a punch at FCD defender Andre Rocha. Solid contact may not have been made, but the intent was certainly there. Don't be surprised if an extra game or two is tacked on to that suspension.

Dasan Robinson (Defender, Chicago Fire) -- Yes, the same Dasan Robinson who scored the Fire's last-gasp, come-from-behind win over Colorado on Sunday. Why "Cold as Ice Cream?" Because getting thrown out of the game for picking up a second yellow celebrating a goal is just plain stupid. Robinson won't be celebrating much next weekend when he's riding the bench for D.C. United's visit to Toyota Park.

QUICK TIPS

- FC Dallas has this week off. Trade Hoops players on your roster.
- Chivas and RSL each play twice this week. Load up for two chances to accumulate points this week.

Fantasy Pro: Grading the hometown superstars

Jonathan Nierman — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:25:00 GMT

Real Madrid’s 3-0 defeat of D.C. United on Sunday has officially closed the book on this summer’s run of international friendlies. From the MLS All-Stars’ loss to Everton to the L.A. Galaxy’s respectable performance against FC Barcelona, there were superstars aplenty on display for large crowds across the nation.

The list is an impressive one, including Lionel Messi, Raul, Tim Howard, Kaka, Christiano Ronaldo, and Thierry Henry, just to name a few. Such an injection of talent onto the MLS playing field got me thinking about our own hometown superstars. That list is also impressive, but have they lived up to the billing? Let’s take a team-by-team look at the biggest names in MLS, assessing whether or not they’ve made the fantasy grade with two-thirds of the season now in the books.

Chicago Fire – Cuauhtemoc Blanco

The recently-recalled Mexican international has four goals and eight assists in 15 appearances this season. No Chicago field player has accumulated more points than the fiery (pun intended) forward. A solid season means Blanco has been up to par. Grade: A-

Chivas USA – Sacha Kljestan

The U.S. national team player may be the closest thing this team has to a superstar, and as the most expensive player on the team’s fantasy roster, Kljestan has been a big disappointment. Thirteen games have produced just one assist (no goals), and he’s averaging just four points per appearance. Grade: D-

Colorado Rapids – Conor Casey

A hat trick against Chivas in his return from injury Saturday has put Casey at the top of the scoring charts in MLS with 11 goals. He has deservingly parlayed his amazing season into U.S. national team appearances, and he could well see action when the Red, White & Blue head to Azteca Stadium for Wednesday’s crucial World Cup qualifier. Amazingly, Casey’s point total of 242 isn’t even the best on his team; that honor goes to strike partner Omar Cummings (268). Grade: A+

Columbus Crew – Guillermo Barros Schelotto

The reigning MLS and MLS Cup MVP has been great this season – when he has been on the field. The Argentine missed his fourth straight game Saturday due to injury, but it hasn’t hurt the Crew, which has won all of those matches, dating back to July 18. His vision is the best in the league, but he can’t earn you points when he’s sitting on the bench. Look for him to make a return soon. Grade: B+

D.C. United – Luciano Emilio

As a Designated Player, many have expected more from Emilio this season. He’s always dangerous, but the Brazilian is such a streaky player. He goes through long scoreless stretches but then explodes, but it seems there have been more periods of the former in 2009. Eight goals and two assists isn’t terrible, but Emilio isn’t exactly lighting it up either. Grade: C+

FC Dallas – Jeff Cunningham

With the departure of Kenny Cooper to Europe, Cunningham has stepped up in a major way. Five goals in his last two games has at least put the Hoops back in striking distance in the Western Conference and Cunningham is only two goals behind Casey for the league lead. Factor in his relatively low asking price and Cunningham has proven to be a great value. Grade: A

Houston Dynamo – Pat Onstad

No goalkeeper in the league has racked up more points than Onstad. What else needs to be said? The Canadian continues to dominate and is a big reason the Dynamo are in first place in the West. He’s not inexpensive, but he’s certainly reliable. Grade: A

Kansas City Wizards – Claudio Lopez

Though he’s no longer a Designated Player, Lopez is still a former Argentina international with World Cup experience and a resume that includes some of the top teams in the world, so he certainly qualifies as an MLS superstar. Five goals and four assists in 18 appearances is not bad, but it’s not out of this world either. Grade: C+

Los Angeles Galaxy – David Beckham

Landon Donovan costs more and is a huge player for the U.S. national team, but there are very few players on Earth that are bigger superstars than David Beckham. After turning his back on the Galaxy for the first half of the season, Becks has returned stateside and hasn’t looked too shabby. He scored a nice goal against Barcelona, but that doesn’t count in league play or the fantasy game. Three appearances and just one assist. Grade: F

New England Revolution – Taylor Twellman

A neck injury has kept Twellman on the sidelines for practically the entire MLS season. He has two goals in just two appearances, and without him on the field the Revs look like a very ordinary team. Their 6-6-6 record proves that point. You can’t really blame Twellman since being injured isn’t his fault, but the season has been a big bust for the St. Louis native. Grade: F

New York Red Bulls – Juan Pablo Angel

Speaking of seasons that are a bust… The Red Bulls are just awful, and that’s coming off their best-ever season last year, when they made it all the way to MLS Cup for the first time ever. They are now easily the worst team in MLS, and Angel is probably the most frustrated member of the club. The Colombian is a great player, but he can’t be expected to do it all himself. Grade: D+

Real Salt Lake – Javier Morales

The Argentinean playmaker hasn’t been the dominant force that he was last season, registering just one goal and four assists in 18 appearances thus far in 2009. The result is a team that is below .500 with just 10 games left in the regular season. Averaging just six points per game isn’t going to cut it for Morales. Grade: C-

San Jose Earthquakes – Joe Cannon

In reality, this team doesn’t really have a superstar, but Joe Cannon is probably the closest thing the Quakes have to one. The ‘keeper has played every minute of the MLS season, but his solid play hasn’t helped San Jose stay out of the Western Conference basement. It’s unfair to blame the Quakes struggles on Cannon, but sometimes life just isn’t fair. Grade: D

Seattle Sounders – Freddie Ljungberg

It’s the other Fred – Montero – that has made the most noise on the field in Seattle’s first season in MLS, but Ljungberg, a former Swedish international, has had an up and down season for the Sounders. The ex-Arsenal man has the ability to change a game with one play, but he certainly hasn’t been dominant. Two goals and five assists are modest numbers, though the club as a whole has been a great success both on and off the field. Grade: B-

Toronto FC – Dwayne De Rosario

Finally with his hometown team, De Rosario has carried his fine form from Houston up over the border this season. His eight goals and three assists in 18 games have helped keep this team very much in the race in the Eastern Conference. De Ro has always been a big game player, so look for him to step up even more as the race for the playoffs heats up in the last third of the season. Grade: B

Fantasy Pro: The 2009 MLS Fantasy All-Stars

Jonathan Nierman — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:32:00 GMT

We’ve made it to the All-Star break, and it will be exciting to watch the best of MLS take on Everton Wednesday. But this website is all about fantasy soccer, so I now present to you my picks for this season’s Fantasy All-Stars.

Remember, this isn’t necessarily a representation of which players I think are best, but rather which are tops when it comes to racking up points and doing so for a good value. And there’s still a third of the season to go, so there’s plenty of time for others to make an impact as we head into the home stretch.

GOALKEEPERS

My starter is Zach Thornton of Chivas USA. His goals-against average is less than one per game, yet the big man still is under the $100K mark. Pat Onstad (Houston Dynamo) technically has better numbers, but he’ll cost you over $50K more. Thornton’s backup is Donovan Ricketts of L.A., who averages 11 points per game but also is under triple digits.

DEFENDERS

Starters for me are Omar Gonzalez (Los Angeles), Tim Ward (Chicago Fire) and Jordan Harvey (Colorado Rapids). Each man has earned over 100 fantasy points and they’re all hovering around the $50K mark. Substitutes are Aaron Hohlbein (Kansas City) and Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire). Conde costs a bit more, but his ability to get forward and be dangerous adds value to his game. He costs considerably less than standout defenders Bobby Boswell (Houston Dynamo) and Bryan Namoff (D.C. United), who have similar points outputs.

MIDFIELDERS

Ryan Johnson (San Jose) has picked up almost 200 points so far this season, despite playing for one of the worst teams in the league and costing a mere $80K. He’s a definite starter. The other three to line up alongside him are Christian Gomez, the former league MVP from D.C. who is an absolute steal at around $100K, Brad Davis of Houston (averaging 10 points a game but costing around $90K) and the always-reliable Shalrie Joseph (New England). Subs are the D.C. rookie twins Rodney Wallace and Chris Pontius, as well as Marco Pappa (Chicago Fire) and Clint Mathis (RSL).

FORWARDS

Fredy Montero is the obvious first choice, as he leads an exciting Sounders with nine goals, just one from the top spot in the league. Who holds that spot? Last year’s season and championship game MVP: Gillermo Barros Schelotto. But compare their costs – the young Colombian (Montero) will set you back a mere $95K, while the old(er) Argentine is $171. Montero’s partner is Omar Cummings of Colorado, who has six goals and seven assists in 16 games. Somehow he is still less than $90K. Coming off the bench are Montero’s regular partner Nate Jaqua (194 points, $90K) and Cummings’ teammate Conor Casey, who has found the net eight times for the Rapids in just 13 appearances.

Fantasy Pro: Remember the 'King of Pop'

Jonathan Nierman — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:17:00 GMT

There hasn't been enough coverage of Michael Jackson's sudden death (or "golden goal" as we call it in soccer) in the mainstream media. But don't worry, I'm here to fill the void for you. I now proudly present the Fantasy Blog tribute to the "King of Pop."

"Bad" -- Let's start with an easy one. This belongs to the New York Red Bulls. They've got the fewest points in the league (10), despite having played the most games (19). The good news is they weren't defeated in Week 17 (but only because they were off). The bad news is that now they have to face the suddenly-hot L.A. Galaxy, which has won three straight and is set to welcome back David Beckham, on Thursday.

"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" -- This one is Fredy Montero of Seattle. The Colombian will turn just 22 later this month, and he's definitely one of the most exciting players in MLS to watch. Everything about his play is "pretty," from his passing to his vision to his goalscoring ability. He's got five goals in the Sounders' last five matches, putting the expansion side in second place in the West.

"Smooth Criminal" -- Hello Chad Barrett. The Toronto FC striker "stole" the clinching goal in his team's 3-1 win over San Jose Saturday, racing in to face Joe Cannon one-on-one after Aaron Pitchkolan collapsed with what appeared to be a groin injury. To be fair, it was Barrett's second goal of the game, and he earned the first one.

"Off The Wall (Pass)" -- OK, so I added the "pass" part to that album name. But still, the give-and-go, or "wall pass" between Kosuke Kimura and Mehdi Ballouchy that resulted in Colorado's only goal and three points against FC Dallas was a thing of beauty. Ballouchy held the ball just long enough to let Kimura get in behind the defense, and the Japanese import made no mistake with the finish, blasting the ball high into the roof of the net.

"Dangerous" -- Yes, Lance Watson's tackle was "dangerous," but it certainly didn't deserve a red card. Unlucky, son. Fortunately for him the Wizards were able to hold on for the tie at New England.

"You Are Not Alone" -- This one goes out to Landon Donovan. With Beckham coming back and Edson Buddle finding his form, the fate of the Galaxy no longer relies solely on Captain America. I have no doubt that he and Becks will be able to sort things out pretty quickly, and with the Western Conference so tight, things are looking up for Bruce Arena's side.

"Thriller" -- Though he didn't find the net or pick up an assist this weekend, Guillermo Barros Schelotto continues to be the most "thrilling" player in the league to watch. He came close on a few occasions Saturday as the Crew tied the Fire, but the Argentine still leads the league in goals with 10 and Columbus is just a point out of first place in the East.

"Beat It" -- Hopefully that's what the U.S. national team will do to the rest of the competition at the Gold Cup.

ENCORE:

- FC Dallas has a break from league action until July July 24.
- The Wizards don't have another league match until the next day, July 25.
- The Seattle Sounders host Chelsea on Saturday on ESPN2. Tune in.
- The L.A. Galaxy take on AC Milan Sunday night on ESPN. Watch that too.

Fantasy Pro: Watch me!

Jonathan Nierman — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:24:00 GMT

It has been a great couple of weeks in the world of soccer watching, with the U.S. stunning the world (but not me) with their play at the Confederations Cup. A great performance against Egypt, a surprising upset of Spain, and a fantastic first half against Brazil had the U.S. this close to its first title at a major FIFA competition (for the full national men's team). Fortunately, that's not all the soccer we have to take in.

Next up is the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where is decidedly younger squad will take on decidedly less-challenging opposition. And of course, there's still MLS, where those that are left are battling to get their teams close to an all-important playoff spot. Several of the MLS players in action this past week have been clamoring for their own attention, and I'm going to give it to them.

First up is Fredy Montero of the Seattle Sounders. The Colombian youngster lit up the first match of the season but then seemed to lose focus. He's definitely back now, having found the net in four straight games. I'd tell you to snatch him up right away, but the Sounders have the July 4 weekend off. Definitely keep an eye on him, though, and grab him in time for Seattle's match against Houston on July 11.

Then there's also Nate Jaqua. Montero's teammate has three goals in his team's last three games, including a pair Sunday as the Sounders blew away the Colorado Rapids. Jaqua is another player that could make a fine addition to your team after Independence Day.

Real Salt Lake's Clint Mathis might be trying to get U.S. coach Bob Bradley's attention as well. The former U.S. star had a great game against Toronto FC Saturday, scoring a goal and setting up another. That's two goals and six assists for him on the season, which is two more goals and six more assists than he had in all of 2008. He's got a long way to go to get back to the glory days, but in the meantime he could probably help you gain some points, particularly since RSL's next game is at home Friday against the lowly San Jose Earthquakes.

And while we're on the subject of lowly teams, how bout those New York Red Bulls? They are just horrible. An MLS finalist last year, the club is now the worst team in the league with a 2-12-4 record. I would say they should send Juan Carlos Osorio packing, but what good would that do? They fire their coach every year, and every year they still stink (including last year, when a bit of luck and a short run of good form got them to the final). If Juan Pietravallo is on your team, you might want to drop him. Why? Because the team terminated his contract last week, that's why. Ouch.

I've already mentioned that the Sounders have next weekend off, but you should be aware that Chivas USA and Toronto FC also have some down time. Replace members of those clubs with others for this week. You can always go back and reclaim Zach Thornton or Amado Guevara if you want.

Make sure you tune in to the Gold Cup starting July 3, and get out there and support your local MLS teams as well. Enjoy the summer soccer!

Fantasy Pro: The good, the bad, and the ugly

Jonathan Nierman — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:06:00 GMT

There's plenty of material to cover and the headline speaks for itself, so let's get right to it.

THE GOOD

- Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Midfielder, Columbus Crew) scored twice more on Sunday to give the home side a 2-1 victory over Chivas USA. It was the second time in as many matches that the Argentinean provided all the scoring in a Crew victory on two goals.The reigning league MVP is all alone atop the scoring charts with 10 goals in 13 games.

- Marco Pappa (Midfielder, Chicago Fire) scored a wonderful goal for the visitors at RFK Stadium, though it ultimately wasn't enough. The Guatemalan now has four goals and two assists this season, and he's a big reason the Fire are still very much in a good spot, just a point behind D.C. United in the East.

- Christian Gomez (Midfielder, D.C. United) gave the Black-and-Red that top spot in the East on a wicked free kick, and he was unfortunate not to get a second goal later when his shot from long distance pinged off the crossbar. It looked like the Gomez of old, and a little confidence can go a long way.

- Cam Weaver (Forward, Houston Dynamo) netted a double on Saturday, scoring his first goals for the Dynamo after starting the season in San Jose. With Brian Ching in the national team picture, the rookie is likely to get more time. He could be a great third forward picked up on the cheap.

- Freddie Ljungberg (Midfielder, Seattle Sounders FC) had a goal and an assist in a home victory over San Jose. It's amazing how much better he plays when he's healthy...

THE BAD

- More questionable officiating over the weekend, with D.C. and Chicago both getting soft penalty kicks called against them. Unfortunately for the Fire, they couldn't convert theirs after an obvious make up call.

- Eddie Lewis (Midfielder, L.A. Galaxy) was shown a straight red card for throwing the ball at a player who was down following a foul call. It was a soft call at best, but it's L.A.'s fifth red card in 13 games. Playing a man down so much surely doesn't help matters for Bruce Arena.

- Emmanuel Osei (Defender, New England Revolution) got tossed for taking a whack at Claudio Lopez while on the ground. Stupid move.

- New York's defense left surprise starting goalkeeper Danny Cepero out to dry as the Red Bulls lost again Saturday, this time 2-1 at BMO Field. Both of Toronto FC's goals came on rebounds, including one on a penalty kick that Cepero had stopped. At 2-10-3, how much longer will it be before the club changes coaches ... for the umpteenth time.

THE UGLY

- Andrew Boyens (Defender, New York Red Bulls) completely whiffed on an attempted clearance Sunday, resulting in a simple finish for the opposing forward on Sunday. The only good news for Red Bulls fans was that he embarrassed himself while wearing his national team jersey. New Zealand was thoroughly trounced by Spain 5-0 at the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

Fantasy Pro: A week of firsts

Jonathan Nierman — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 01:28:00 GMT

The highlights from Week 11 in Major League Soccer included a number of season firsts. Why is this significant to the fantasy game? Because those firsts should give you reason to be hopeful about the future of some of those involved. Here's my take.

- Taylor Twellman (Forward, New England Revolution) made his first appearance of the season on Saturday, playing 65 minutes in the home side's controversial victory over D.C. United. While he didn't find the net, the pesky striker did find himself in good positions. It's only a matter of time before one of the league's most prolific scorers tallies his first this season.

- Fred (Midfielder, D.C. United) did find the net in that match for his first of the season. He was unlucky not to have more, especially with his wicked shot from the top of the box clanging off the crossbar. The Brazilian lined up in a central position with Christian Gomez out because of injury. Coach Tom Soehn could let the mono-named star run the show again Thursday night vs. New York.

- Pat Noonan (Midfielder/Forward, Columbus Crew) finally picked up his first start of the season for Columbus as well. He celebrated with a picture-perfect assist -- his first of the season -- on Alejandro Moreno's goal. A win at home and a draw on the road last week means the defending MLS Cup champs are showing signs of life. Noonan's full return can only help.

- Edson Buddle (Forward, Los Angeles Galaxy) scored his first goal of the season Saturday. His club's 1-1 draw with their fourth game in a row with that score line, and their fifth consecutive draw. But if Buddle can get back to the kind of form he enjoyed last season, when he scored a career-high 15 goals, the Galaxy might actually be able to improve on their ridiculous 1-1-9 record.

- Jeff Cunningham (Forward, FC Dallas) also found the net for the first time in the 2009 this season, providing the first goal in a 3-0 rout of the Chicago Fire Sunday. The Hoops will need plenty more from the veteran marksman if they are to climb out of the Western Conference basement and get into playoff contention.

- Cornell Glen (Forward, San Jose Earthquakes) made his first appearance of the season in his team's midweek loss to the Crew. Things went much better for both club and player on Saturday, as San Jose picked up its first win since March with a 2-1 victory over Real Salt Lake. Glen's first of the season got them off and running. Just like with FCD, the Quakes still have a long way to go. Glen's addition certainly won't hurt matters though.

And just so that you don't think all was peachy around the league last week, here are a few blemishes to consider.

- Poor refereeing stole points from both Chivas USA and D.C. United, as stoppage time penalty kicks doomed each to a loss when they should have had a draw. Neither "foul" was beyond question, and most would probably agree that the decisions were at least harsh.

- Freddie Ljungberg (Midfielder, Seattle Sounders FC) scuffed a penalty kick wide of the target Saturday at home against the reigning MLS Cup champs. Because of the miss nearly 30,000 fans on hand were forced settle for just one point. It was the team's fifth straight draw, meaning they were both unbeaten and winless in the month of May.

- Gregg Berhalter (Defender, Los Angeles Galaxy) had to take his second straight red card of the season Saturday. In each situation he has pulled down an attacking player after being beaten as the last man.

Fantasy Pro: Random thoughts and observations

Jonathan Nierman — Sun, 17 May 2009 19:26:00 GMT

- Josh Wolff (Forward, Kansas City Wizards) is on the prowl. With goals in his team's last three games, the Georgia native has the Wizards just one point back of Eastern Conference co-leaders Chicago and D.C. Take notice, Bob Bradley.

- Andre Rocha (Midfielder, FC Dallas) scored a lovely goal for the Hoops in their draw with Seattle on Saturday. However, if he'd put away what can only be described as a sitter earlier in the match, Dallas would have walked away with two more points that they desperately need.

- Maykel Galindo (Forward, Chivas USA) made his first start for Chivas USA in over a year on Saturday, scoring a goal in his side's 2-2 draw with D.C. United at The Home Depot Center on Saturday. If he's finally back to full fitness, the Cuban could be a great addition to your front line.

- Toronto FC should work on heading. There were at least four excellent chances in the air for them to get back in to Saturday's game against Chicago. They wasted them all and fell 2-0 at home and got leapfrogged by the Fire.

- The Red Bulls were unimpressive once again Saturday. It didn't help when midfielder Jorge Rojas was ejected for a vicious elbow on Brian Mullan. Don't be surprised if his suspension is extended by the league's disciplinary committee. Despite being down a man, New York was able to escape with a point after a late strike from substitute striker John Wolyniec. One could certainly argue that the Staten Island native deserves a start for his efforts.

- Corey Ashe (Midfielder, Houston Dynamo) has been having a very solid season so far, though he doesn't necessarily have the numbers to prove it. The speedster picked up his first assist on Saturday with a beautiful ball from the left wing that Chris Wondolowski buried. More of that and bench warmer DaMarcus Beasley is going to have to be concerned. (Side note: Sweet ATV, DMB!)

- Trailing Chivas USA 2-0 on the road, D.C. United coach Tom Soehn inserted winger Fred after halftime and playmaker Christian Gomez with 20 minutes remaining. Low and behold, the Black-and-Red rally for two late goals to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games. That's all well and good, but why were they on the bench to begin with? Talent like that needs to be on the field.

- Going into Sunday's matinée between Columbus and Los Angeles, each team had recorded a single win in eight tries. What happened at The Home Depot Center? They tied, of course! Tony Sanneh gifted a goal to Guillermo Barros Schelotto that put the visitors on front, but Eddie Lewis absolutely hammered home a late equalizer for the Galaxy. It was a frantic and exciting finish, but a single point does little to help either side.

- The Crew have next week off. Plan accordingly.

Fantasy Pro: Who's hot, who's not

Jonathan Nierman — Sun, 03 May 2009 19:38:00 GMT

It's back to basics in this week's fantasy blog entry. No funny business this time, but just a simple look at which players are lighting it up, and which ones are stinking it up.

WHO'S HOT

Landon Donovan (Forward, Los Angeles Galaxy) -- The Galaxy finally picked up their first victory of the 2009 season over the weekend, topping the lowly New York Red Bulls 1-0 on Landon Donovan's penalty kick. In six games, Bruce Arena's side has only managed to score seven goals, but Donovan has had a hand in all of them (four goals, three assists). There's no denying Donovan's talent, but there's also no denying that the team around him leaves a lot to be desired. When you add on his huge price tag, I still don't think he's a very good value.

Jaime Moreno (Forward, D.C. United) -- The Bolivian veteran celebrated his return to the United lineup by scoring twice and hitting the post once as United beat FC Dallas and moved to the top of the table. Moreno was the best player on the field by a long ways, and that can only mean good things for D.C. Moreno's second strike came from a perfectly-weighted through ball from Christian Gomez, who also has struggled with injuries early in the season. When both are healthy, opposing defenses better beware.

Zach Thornton (Goalkeeper, Chivas USA) -- No player in the Fantasy Pro game has racked up as many points (128) as Zach Thornton so far this season. He has been the best goalkeeper in the league and is on the best team in the league as well. Thornton has been beaten only three times in eight games and leads the league in shutouts with five. The goats have won three of their last four and currently are the class of the league with 19 points. Almost unbelievably, there are over a dozen goalkeepers that will cost you more money. With that kind of value, why would you use anybody else but Thornton?

WHO'S NOT

Matt Reis (Goalkeeper, New England Revolution) -- Matt Reis made his return to the Revolution lineup on Sunday afternoon against Houston, and after Brad Knighton surrendered six last week against RSL, you'd think that would be a very good thing. But Reis showed that there most definitely was some rust when he botched what should have been a routine save on Stuart Holden's fairly tame long-range effort. As he went to the ground to reel the ball in, it simply squirted under Reis and headed into the net directly through his legs. Ouch.

Fredy Montero (Forward, Seattle Sounders FC) -- After scoring three goals in his first two MLS games, Fredy Montero has gone missing, failing to register a goal or an assist in all of April. Things only got worse for the young Colombian in May, as he was shown a straight red card for a high elbow in the Sounders' 1-1 draw at Chicago Saturday. It's not that Seattle isn't having success without his contributions; they are in second place in the West, and only Chivas has secured more points. But for now, Montero needs to be demoted to your bench, especially with a suspension ahead.

Columbus Crew (MLS Cup Champions in 2008) -- Every other team in Major League Soccer now has a win. It's only last year's champs that have yet to break into the win column. A 1-1 draw with Toronto Saturday was the Crew's fifth tie in seven outings. The offense is sputtering and the defense just seems lost. Chad Barrett was wide open on the six-yard line to head in Toronto's equalizer. Until Robert Warzycha can right the ship, I say steer clear.

Scheduling Tip: Four clubs will be in action twice next week, giving you extra opportunities to pick up points and move up in the standings (or retain your lead if you're already a pro). D.C., Kansas City, Los Angeles, and RSL will all be in action Wednesday night, and then again over the weekend. Stock up on their players accordingly. The Colorado Rapids have the week off.

Fantasy Pro: Grading the new faces

Jonathan Nierman — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:15:00 GMT

With each MLS team now having played at least four games, the picture is becoming a little bit clearer in regards to the league's newest players. It's still early days in the 2009 season, but we've had enough of a sampling to get some idea about which rookies and/or new signings have what it takes to thrive in the league. Here's a look at which new player for each team is already making a difference.

Chicago Fire - Marco Pappa
The Guatemalan youth international (and soon to be full international) has been superb so far this season for the Fire. He has two goals and two assists in five games and is a big reason Chicago is in first place in the Eastern Conference. He's also very economical at around $77,000.

Chivas USA - Eduardo Lillingston
With a dozen years of experience south of the border, this is a player that surely has talent. However, he hasn't yet shown me that he's going to be a huge success in MLS. He wouldn't be the first Mexican player to go bust here, and there's still plenty of time to prove me wrong. He currently leads the team with two goals, though it was fellow newcomer Chukwudi Chijindu who found the net last weekend. Competition for playing time is never a bad thing...

Colorado Rapids - TBD
Nobody has really made a breakthrough yet for the Rapids. So far it has been all about Conor Casey, but he was blanked on Sunday against Houston, missing a penalty kick in the process. Expect to see some new blood getting involved soon, perhaps in the form of defender Scott Palguta, a starter vs. the Dynamo.

Columbus Crew - TBD
The MLS Cup champions are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference and still without a win, so it's hard to say that anybody has stood out, much less a newcomer. Columbus was off this past weekend, but Eric Brunner did pick up his first MLS minutes a week ago. He's someone to keep an eye on, but the jury is definitely still out.

D.C. United - Rodney Wallace
There are lots of new players seeing time for the Black-and-Red in 2009, including Wallace, a local product who left NCAA powerhouse Maryland after just two seasons. Having seen action in each of D.C.'s first five games, it looks pretty clear that Wallace is going to play a significant role this year. He's not one to rack up lots of points, but he's dirt cheap at $45,000 and therefore a great placeholder if necessary.

FC Dallas - David Ferreira
The Brazilian has had a few good moments, including his first assists for the Hoops Sunday, which helped the club to its first win of the campaign. However, he hasn't performed well enough yet to be worth spending over $90,000 on. Put him on your watch list for now.

Houston Dynamo - Andrew Hainault?
Houston hasn't had many newbies on the field so far this season, but Canadian international Andrew Hainault may change that. He finally was granted his international transfer certificate last week, but was left on the bench for the Dynamo's 1-0 win over Colorado Sunday. Look for him to make an appearance on the field (and in the Fantasy Pro game) very soon.

Kansas City Wizards - Santiago Hirsig
The Wizards obviously like having an Argentinean wearing the No. 10 shirt, and Hirsig has stepped into the role vacated by Carlos Marinelli. He stared last weekend against the Fire, but only played the first half, in which the Wizards fell two goals behind and generated absolutely nothing offensively. While he may perk up later, Hirsig is definitely not worth the asking price at the moment.

Los Angeles Galaxy - Omar Gonzalez
This highly-touted rookie out of the University of Maryland has stepped right into L.A.'s back line, but that's not exactly saying much. Three points from four games to start the season (including the first three at home), is not very good. But with his size (6'5"), the Dallas native is also a threat on set pieces and will likely notch a few goals this season. He's already got one. Taking defenders from bad teams is a risk, but he just might be worth it, with the price so low.

New England Revolution - Brad Knighton
Though he has technically been on the Revs' roster for two seasons already, Knighton is being considered a "new face" here since he hadn't seen any MLS action until this year. Matt Reis is out with an injury, but Knighton has done well in his place, particuarly last Friday against D.C. United, where he made several spectacular saves. Three goals allowed in three games is a pretty good record.

Real Salt Lake - TBD
Coach Jason Kreis is taking his time working the new players into his side, but there are a few intriguing possibilites when you look at his bench. Those include an Argentinean forward (Luis Miguel Escalada) and a U.S. U-17 international (Alex Nimo). For now, though, it's just a waiting game.

San Jose Earthquakes - Cam Weaver and Pablo Campos
Both of these players are back in the States after testing the waters in Scandinavia. Weaver has a goal and an assist in five appearances, while Campos recorded his first MLS goal in the Quakes' draw with Los Angeles over the weekend. Be wary of their high price tags though; neither has yet proven to be worth that kind of money.

Seattle Sounders FC - Take your pick.
From Kasey Keller to Fredy Montero to Freddie Ljungberg, this is a team that is packed from top to bottom with new and talented players. After starting the season with three straight wins, the expansion side has dropped its last two games, but they're still holding strong in second place in the Western Conference. Of the three aforementioned players, Keller is the safest bet, simply because you know what you're going to get. Montero has been brilliant at times and absent at others, while Ljungberg's fitness is still questionable, and probably will be all season.

Toronto FC - Stefan Frei
There are other newcomers to the Toronto FC roster who could factor in later, but the Swiss-born goalkeeper has already played in three games, which is impressive considering TFC also has Greg Sutton at its disposal. Not as impressive is that Frei allowed three goals against FC Dallas Sunday. But goals aren't only the fault of the 'keeper, now are they? He's definitely inexpensive, as far as goalkeeping options are concerned, but he's also risky.

Scheduling Tip:
Two games this week: Chivas USA, Toronto FC, New York Red Bulls, Kansas City Wizards
Off: Houston Dynamo

Fantasy Pro: Seeing red

Jonathan Nierman — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:58:00 GMT

There were seven red cards handed out in MLS matches on April 11, an average of one per game. They ran the gamut from questionable to well deserved, as well as stupid to smart. There were big names and unfamiliar ones. And if they were given to players on your Fantasy Pro teams, there were points lost and there are changes to be made. Here are my suggestions.

Kasey Keller saw his first MLS red card for a handling the ball outside the box. Although the Sounders went on to lose the match, it was atually not a bad card to take. Looking for a replacement for the superb 'keeper? How about Chivas USA's Zach Thornton? He's a bargain at around $90,000, and picked up yet his second shutout in four games Saturday.

Gregg Berhalter was having a very solid game before having his weak pass picked off, forcing him to tug down Alecko Eskandarian as he bolted towards goal with nobody left to beat but the 'keeper. Instead of the U.S. national team veteran, go with Chicago's Tim Ward next week. He has played every minute of the season so far and his team is in first place.

Shea Salinas made a bonehead play when he picked up a second yellow for throwing the ball away and wasting time. Not smart. Don't be a bonehead. Replace him with Marco Pappa. The Guatemalan is an absolute steal at $77,000. He's got two goals and two assists in four games.

Carlos Johnson (New York) got a straight red card for a pointless challenge on the endline late in the Red Bulls' scoreless draw with Houston. Not to be outdone, Mike Chabala was sent to the showers just 10 minutes after coming on for his MLS debut. His two-footed tackle came all the way up in New York's penalty area, and it was right in front of the referee. That was obviously a rookie mistake. Go with experience instead. Jamison Olvae for RSL is an experienced Colombian back and he costs only about $65,000. He hasn't missed a minute for the 2-1-0 club.

Paulo Nagamura was a bit unlucky to be sent off. His second yellow card was probably the right call, but the first was softer than a velvet-covered pillow-top mattress. No worries though. His teammate Jesse Marsch can step right in for you. He was probably the best player on the field in the battle for L.A.

Alan Gordon did something off the ball to earn a second yellow just three minutes after getting one for dissent. He hadn't done much up to that point anyway. On the other hand, Conor Casey is the league's leading scorer with four goals in as many games. Think you can't afford the hottest player in MLS? Think again. A reasonable $109,000 will put the Rapids marksman on your team.

Here's hoping for more goals and fewer reds next week. Good luck!

Fantasy Pro: First kick, first impressions

Jonathan Nierman — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:51:00 GMT

There were some great moments in the opening week of the 2009 MLS season, including spectacular goals, surprise results and even the announcement of a new team to join the party in 2011. But one of my favorite parts about the early part of the MLS season is getting a first look the players that are new to the league, and have often been much ballyhooed in the slow-news offseason.

Not every acquisition will stick (remember Sergio Galvan Rey, anybody?), but it sure is fun watching to see which ones will become stars and which ones will return home with tail tightly tucked between legs (remember Landon Donovan, Bayern Munich fans? I didn't think so.). Since this is a fantasy blog, let's have a little fun with it. Below you'll see my first impressions of just a few of the new names gracing lineup cards across the nation over the past weekend. Some could be major bargain buys for your team, and others you may take a chance on only to see them go down in flames. Only time will tell.

Fred Montero (Seattle Sounders FC) - This is the obviously place to start, since the Colombian scored the first goal in the first game of the season, which also happened to be the first goal ever in MLS for the Sounders. As if that wasn't enough, he tacked on an assist and yet another goal as the New York Red Bulls were "soundly" beaten. Sorry, couldn't help it. There's no denying that this kid blew out of the gate with one heck of a flying start. He certainly is hot, but will he burn all season or fade away like so many before him?

Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC) - At long last the native Washingtonian has arrived in MLS, and a couple of huge saves at key moments were just as important to the Sounders' win as Montero's timely strikes. Even though he's up there in years, you can count on Keller being solid all year, even if not every game ends up with a clean sheet. There's still risk in buying him, as even the best goalkeepers can't completely safe a defense that is leaky. So far so good on that front.

Cam Weaver / Pablo Campos (San Jose Earthquakes) - Each of these players has joined MLS after time in the ever-popular Scandinavian leagues, and each also wasted golden opportunities for the Quakes in their home loss to the New England Revolution. Yes, they were in the right place at the right time, but that's really only useful if you do the right thing (find the net) when you're there. It's too soon to make a definitive call, but they didn't do themselves any favors by missing the target.

Chris Pontius ( D.C. United) - Here's a striker who made the most of his surprise debut thanks to a Jaime Moreno knock. The rookie out of UCSB buried great shot against the Galaxy that should have given the Black-and-Red three huge road points. Of course, they blew it, but that wasn't his fault. Once Moreno is healthy Pontius will almost certainly be demoted to the bench, but he might be a good value option in a third forward slot until then.

There were a host of other débutantes who didn't really make an impact one way or the other, so it's tough to really judge them. If you see somebody that you think has potential, perhaps a spot on your Watch List makes the most sense. But no matter what, keep in mind that it's a very long season. One performance doesn't mean all that much, so you'll need to have some patience, some skill, and maybe even a little luck to make it to the top. Good luck!