TAP Fantasy Soccer Breakdown Week 2
By Doug Smith
This was a tough week for MLS Fantasy Manager owners with Seattle, Houston, and LA on a bye week in between the CONCACAF Champions League matches. Also, the players that ended up putting up the big points were a little off the radar. Kudos to anyone that scored above 80 points this week. Rivalry week is coming up and more teams are in action, so it may not be the best time to make a move. Remember transfers on the game can cost you some points, so choose wisely.
In the TAP league, William Ferrell scored 69 points to take the week and move into fourth place. The squad that has Ferrell in the top 50 overall this week included:
GK: Bill Hamid
D: Matt Hedges, Victor Bernardez, Aurelien Collin, Austin Berry
M: David Ferreira, Diego Valeri, Graham Zusi, Oriol Rosell Argerich
F: Ryan Johnson, Federico Higuaín
Picking multiple players from the same team worked in our league, but overall the score had room for improvement. Sporting KC had a bad week and FC Dallas faltered late.
The dream team that would have scored 103 points would have been a 5-3-2.
GK: Matt Reis
D: Hassoun Camara, Dejan Jakovic, Jose Goncalves, Brandon McDonald, Chris Korb
M: Amobi Okugo, Edgar Mejia, Graham Zusi
F: Robert Earnshaw, Juan Agudelo
The two goals by Earnshaw make him the top scorer on the week. Reis and Camara were second with 10 points. Obvious some late game heroics this week changed a lot of the statistics. A sneaky captain pick of Camara or Okugo would have been a nice investment.
Mar 2, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Montreal Impact defender Jeb Brovsky (5) heads the ball during the 1st half against the Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field. Montreal defeated Seattle 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Stock Down
Luis Robles – GK, New York: Two weeks in a row the Red Bulls have faltered in the last 30 minutes and Robles is part of the issue. He looks slow with his decision making. Give him and the team a few weeks to come around.
Chad Marshall – D, Columbus: Marshall ended up on an island a lot this past weekend. There were several instances that he had no outlet and had to go back to his keeper. Defending points can come in bunches is you believe in a team’s back line, but Columbus is not on the same page.
Conor Casey – F, Philadelphia: The attack will run through Jack McInerney regardless of if he starts or not. Philadelphia will build from the back and scoring could be spread out on this team.
Stock Up
Joe Cannon – GK, Vancouver: Vancouver isn’t going anywhere this year. They are a team that has gelled early and even an injury to Jay Demerit did not slow them this past week.
Kelyn Rowe – M, New England: Come off the bench and put in a perfect pass for a goal. That is time well spent. He will get the call in the starting lineup as well.
Claudio Bieler – F, SKC: He has scored each week and has the look of a tactical finisher. Play like this will keep CJ Sapong on the bench.
Watch List
Kenny Miller – F, Vancouver: Miller scored after taking advantage of a sleeping Columbus defense. He found the back of the net and that could be huge for him.
Shea Salinas – M, San Jose: In two weeks of play for San Jose he may be the best Quake on the pitch thus far. He may be substituted for a few weeks and things could change in San Jose when they get healthy. Side note: Keep an eye on Adam Jahn.
Jeb Brovsky – D, Montreal: Brovsky has something to prove after being offered in the expansion draft. If Montreal can win this week it is time to take their back line seriously.