TAP MLS Fantasy Manager Update: International Matches Mean Transfers
By Doug Smith
This week Major League Soccer coaches have to deal with a changing roster because of World Cup qualifying matches. Real Salt Lake has multiple starters on international duty. This means fantasy managers will have to make changes and risk reducing their total score for the transfers. Graham Zusi is owned by 40% of all managers in the game, while Robbie Keane was the captain on the most teams. Both of these players are out for week. So what now?
Before getting to some players to look at a big nod goes to Team Sescquatch in the TAP fantasy league for scoring the most points last week using a 4-3-3. The team sits second in the league with only one transfer so far. The team that scored 74 points is below.
GK: Bill Hamid
D: Aurélien Collin, Matt Hedges, Glauber, Jhon Kennedy
M: Graham Zusi, Diego Valeri, Brad Davis
F: Federico Higuaín, Chris Wondolowski, Fabian Espindolo
The dream team on the week scored 94 points with these players.
GK: Bill Hamid
D: Glauber, George John, Justin Morrow, Jeff Parke, Jalil Anibaba
M: Steve Zakuani, Brad Davis, Graham Zusi, Sebastien Le Toux
F: Higuaín
So it is time to really make some smart moves. If you have any of the following 39 players on your squad it is time to make a move.
United States:
G – Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)
G – Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
D – Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake)
D – Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City)
D – Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
D – Justin Morrow (San Jose Earthquakes)
M – Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake)
M – Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
F – Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)
Canada:
M – Kyle Bekker (Toronto FC)
D – Dejan Jakovic (D.C. United)
M – Will Johnson (Portland Timbers)
D – Ashtone Morgan (Toronto FC)
Honduras:
D – Víctor Bernárdez (San Jose Earthquakes)
M – Oscar Boniek García (Houston Dynamo)
M – Mario Martínez (Seattle Sounders)
F – Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution)
Jamaica:
G – Donovan Ricketts (Portland Timbers)
M – Jermaine Taylor (Houston Dynamo)
M – Je-Vaughn Watson (FC Dallas)
F – Ryan Johnson (Portland Timbers)
Costa Rica:
D – Roy Miller (New York Red Bulls)
F – Álvaro Saborío (Real Salt Lake)
F – Jairo Arrieta (Columbus Crew)
Panama:
M – Marcos Sánchez (D.C. United)
F – Blas Pérez (FC Dallas)
Trinidad & Tobago:
M – Keon Daniel (Philadelphia Union)
CONMEBOL
Peru:
G – Raúl Fernández (FC Dallas)
UEFA
Ireland:
D – Darren O’Dea (Toronto FC)
F – Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy)
Scotland:
F – Kenny Miller (Vancouver Whitecaps)
Estonia:
M – Joel Lindpere (Chicago Fire)
CAF (Africa)
Nigeria:
F – Obafemi Martins (Seattle Sounders)
Gambia:
D – Mamadou “Futty” Danso (Portland Timbers)
F – Abdoulie Mansally (Real Salt Lake)
M – Sanna Nyassi (Montreal)
Mali:
D – Bakary Soumaré (Philadelphia Union)
AFC (Asia)
Australia:
M – Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls)
Stock Down
March 16, 2013; Sandy, UT, USA; Real Salt Lake forward Joao Plata (8) passes the ball against the Colorado Rapids during the second half at Rio Tinto Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas C. Pizac-USA Today Sports
Chris Rolfe – M, Chicago – The Fire are struggling and Rolfe is finding himself on an island. He has no one to send service to and his team isn’t giving him the space he needs. He needs Sherjill McDonald to get into the flow more to open up the space.
Thierry Henry – F, New York – Henry was hobbled at the end of the last week and skirted out avoiding the media. He might be a bench option now until New York get their game figured out.
Luis Gil – M, Real Salt Lake – This is a depleted team this week and so it will be hard for RSL to build an attack through the middle. They may have action on both ends of the formation, but it is hard to say where Gil will fit in with so many regulars out of the lineup.
Stock Up
Joao Plata – F, Real Salt Lake – While the midfield may not have action, Plata could be the spark plug for the attack. He has the speed and elusiveness to find a seam for a long ball. With Saborio out, he could play more time.
Jose Villarreal – F, LA Galaxy – They need a striker with Keane out and he has been getting minutes. He is very dynamic. His price is good.
Steve Zakuani – M, Seattle – He has plenty of speed and will still be attacking hard without Eddie Johnson. Given his level of play in the early part of the season, Zakuani looks like a fringe starter.
Watch List
Josh Saunders – GK, Real Salt Lake – He might not be the best option here but his price is great. If you have to deduct some points for transferring play makers, Saunders might be the most affordable as he fills in for Nick Rimando. Be careful, as this is definitely not a long term solution.
Clint Irwin – GK, Colorado – Irwin filled in well last week when Matt Pickens went down. Pickens will be out an extended period of time and Irwin looks ready to step in.
Dominic Oduro – M/F, Columbus – This may be similar to Saunders in that Oduro’s value may never be as high as it is this week. Columbus wants to use his quickness and athleticism and he could be paired with Higuaín to start the match.