MLS GAMEWEEK 9
Gameweek 8 produced four 0-0 score lines and another couple of unexpected away wins, to again show us that the MLS is still very unpredictable. FanTeam has again got the full slate up this week with all 14 games in the slate. As usual 11 players needed to compete, and I’m here to run through each game and give you my best plays for this gameweek.
THE CONTEST
The full round contest runs through 23-25 April
The full round game has 1 contest this week with an entry fee of €5 and a prizepool of €600.
The rules are simple to follow. You will be required to pick 11 players to fill out your squad whilst staying within a budget of 108.0m. For each team you enter, you must select a captain and a vice captain. Your captain will score 2x points. However, in the event that your captain does not play, your vice captain will then score 2x points.
You can select a maximum of 3 players from the same team. It is worth noting that if you select two or more defensive players from the same team (GK and DEF), and the team keeps a clean sheet, a stacking penalty will apply.
No bench required in this contest, folks. Instead, you have the innovative safety net feature to fall back on! This means if you have a player who does not start, your player will be replaced at the beginning of the match. This is dependent on a player being available from the same team, at the same price or less. The closest price to your player value will be automatically selected.
Standard scoring applies to this contest.
With the rules covered, let’s take a look at some of my picks from each game shall we?
THE GAMES
FC Dallas Vs Houston Dynamo – 8pm BST
Looking at the table this looks like it will be a close game. Both teams sit on 12 points after seven games, both having scored 10 goals in that time. With Dallas being the better team defensively. Both unbeaten in their last five games just to top it off. Games between the two usually produce goals. I can see this being a close game with Dallas being better defensively swaying me towards them. Maarten Paes ( 8.6M ) has three clean sheets in 7 and has made 17 saves, so is a good option this week. Jesus Ferreira ( 11.7M ) has five goals to his name and could be a good option against a team who does leak a goal. Houston will be looking for Darwin Quintero ( 6.9M ) with four goals in seven to try and break down that Dallas defense. His midfield partner Fabrice Picault ( 6.7M ) has two goals and an assist this season so could be an option if you fancy houston to get something here
Philadelphia Union Vs CF Montreal – 8pm BST
Philadelphia will be looking to bounce back from their defeat last week away to Toronto, so they will be pleased to be back on home soil. They welcome a Montreal team who are undefeated in their last four, winning the last three. Montreal have the worst defensive record in the Eastern Conference and second worst in the MLS. However they are the top scorers in the Eastern Conference. So goals look to be on the cards here. Games between the two usually produce goals with both teams scoring in their last six meetings. Probably my favorite MLS DFS player at the moment Daniel Gazdag ( 12.5M ) is a great player this week, his price is high but I will be looking to get him in where I can, as much as I can. Four goals this season from midfield is a good output. Philadelphia have four good striking options and do usually go two up top. Julian Carranza ( 11.4M ) 2 goals and 2 assists to his name this season is usually the starter. Montreal have talisman Djordje Mihailovic ( 6.8M ) with four goals and two assists to try and keep their run going.
Minnesota Vs Chicago Fire – 10pm BST
Both these sides sit 7th in their respective conference. Chicago have the best defensive record in the league, but also the worst attacking record in the league. Nothing suggests this will change much. Minnesota also aren’t the biggest goal scorers so a tight game looks the order of the day here. Gabriel Slonina ( 5.8M ) will be wanting to keep the best defensive record in the league and add to his five clean sheets in seven. Minnesota has a few players who could cause Chicago some damage. Robin Lod ( 10.2M ) has two goals and two assists and Minnesota will need him to try and break down this Chicago defense. Dayne St. Clair ( 8.1M ) is an interesting option to have in goal this week with Chicago struggling to score so far this season.
DC United Vs New England Revolution – 12.30am BST
At the beginning of the week I looked at this game and thought New England win this and both teams score. Since then DC have sacked their manager and promoted their assistant coach to be their interim manager. DC sit bottom of the Eastern Conference, with New England only being three places above them. Looking at the head to heads between the two, New England usually has DC’s number, not losing to them since 2018. Defensively both teams aren’t great so goals are the focus for me again here. Ola Kamara ( 10.5M ) has three goals so far this season and scored a couple in midweek in the cup. Michael Estrada ( 9.9M ) also played midweek so it will be interesting to see if DC go with two up top this weekend. New England will be looking for Carles Gil ( 9.2M ) to be on form this week to be able to keep their change of fortunes going in the right direction. However the return of Adam Buksa ( 9.3M ) on the scoresheet last week was much needed and I’d be looking at him to add to this for New England to grab the win this weekend.
Austin FC VS Vancouver Whitecaps – 1.30am BST
Austin has finally won me over, and has a great matchup this week. Vancouver just aren’t very good and have mustered a point away from home yet this season. Austin are the joint top scorers in the league and have an array of talent who you will be wanting in your team this week. Sebastian Driussi ( 13.7M ) despite being a big price this weekend is another must have for your line ups this week. Five goals in seven and two assists has him sitting on top of the goalscorer table in the MLS. Diego Fagundez ( 13.1M ) is the assist king for this team, five in seven games and a goal himself makes him an option also. From a Vancouver point of view there isn’t anyone I would be rushing to get into my team. Cristian Dajome ( 6.3M ) is probably the best option if you’re looking to build around him with more expensive players.
Sporting Kansas City Vs Columbus Crew – 1.30am BST
Both these teams are in terrible form. Both have lost their last three. Sportings two wins however have been at home, Columbus have two away draws but have yet to get a win away from home. So despite both being bad currently i do fancy Sporting to scrape a win here. Daniel Salloi ( 9.2M ) will need to find his scoring boots for Sporting to get the win here. Remi Walter (8.4M) is an interesting option and is currently Sportings top goalscorer with two goals this season. With Columbus out of form Lucas Zelarayan ( 8.5M ) will need to up his game to help Columbus turn around their fortunes here. Derrick Etienne ( 8M ) will also need to be on top form to get something from this game.
Colorado Rapids Vs Charlotte – 2am BST
Colorado good at home vs Charlotte poor away. Both know where the net is but both also like to concede. Charlotte is still working out how to get a result away from home, and I feel they will still be waiting after this weekend. Diego Rubio ( 12.2M ) is Colorado’s top scorer with four this season and will be licking his lips this weekend to add to this. Defensively i like Lucas Esteves (9.1M) he has two assists also this season so an added bonus if he can add to that here. Charlotte will need Karol Swiderski ( 6M ) to find his scoring boots if they want a positive result this weekend.
Portland Timbers Vs Real Salt Lake – 3am BST
Portland are probably the most inconsistent team in the MLS, they are two unbeaten but were three without a win before that. Real Salt Lake got off to a great start but are now four without a win and were thrashed 6-0 away to NYCFC last weekend, and will be looking to put that result behind them. However Portland have won the last five head to heads between the two and will be wanting to add to Real Salt Lake’s misery. Portland spread the goals around the team and Jaroslaw Niezgoda ( 11.3M ) leads the line and has two goals so far this season. Yimmi Chara ( 11.5M ) pulls the strings in the midfield for portland and chips in with a goal and has three this season. Real Salt Lake will need some inspiration from somewhere and Bobby Wood ( 6.8M ) will be needed to add to his two goal tally to try and stop the rot.
San Jose Earthquakes Vs Seattle Sounders – 3am BST
Most would expect a Seattle win here, but i don’t see it. Hear me out. Seattle have the first leg of the CONCACAF final during the week and have made no secret that their focus is solely on this for the time being. Despite San Jose being the worst team in the league, they too have dismissed their manager this week and this could cause a possible turn around in their fortunes. Jeremy Ebobisse ( 10.1M ) is on fire at the moment with five goals in three games and could be a great option against a possibly weakened Seattle team. Jan Gregus ( 8.7M ) has five assists and San Jose aren’t shy in front of goal. It’s been defensively where they have been awful. From a Seattle point of view it’s hard to predict what their team will be. Will Bruin (8.3M ) is the back up striker and could be a cheaper option for your front line as San Jose just can’t keep the ball out the back of their net. Other than that you can’t trust Seattle here and I won’t be looking to have much else from them till they play the final.
LA Galaxy Vs Nashville SC – 3.30am BST
We are finally here, Nashville’s last away game before they make their home debut at their new stadium. I feel like we have been waiting a while for them to play at home and I’m sure next weekend will be massive for them. Unfortunately for them they play away to the Galaxy this weekend, and they are in good form despite firing a blank last week away to Chicago. Javier Hernandez ( 10.9M ) is joint top goal scorer in the MLS and is key to this Galaxy team getting the win here this weekend. Douglas Costa ( 10M ) was back in the starting line up last weekend but despite having a goal disallowed was taken off in the 72nd minute. I expect him to start again this weekend but I’m wary he won’t see out the whole game, which he is yet to do in his MLS debut season. Nashville will be hoping to get something here before returning home, Hany Mukhtar ( 7.1M ) is the main man for this team and is a great price for a team who are used to playing away from home this season.
Inter Miami Vs Atlanta Utd – 6pm BST
Since touting Phil Neville for the sack Miami have won their last two league games. I’m still not convinced by them, however they have not lost at home to Atlanta since being in the MLS. Atlanta since losing Josef Martinez ( 9.1M ) to injury have struggled to find the back of the net. However Atlanta do have their own Ronaldo, Cisneros ( 7.6M ) who is still finding his feet in this team but could be worth having in your team this weekend. Miami’s recent form coincides with Gonzalo Higuain ( 9.6M ) being injured and Leonardo Campana ( 9.4M ) finding some form to fire in the goals. This game could be forgiven for being lost in the slate but could make or break your team if you’re brave enough to have players from this one.
Orlando City Vs New York Red Bulls – 8.30pm BST
Probably for me the game of the weekend. Games between the two usually produce goals. Orlando are in decent form winning their last two games, with New York looking to turn their fortunes around after failing to win in their last two. Orlando sits second and New York fourth in the Eastern Conference. Both have very similar goals for and against records but Orlando have played a game more. Ercan Kara ( 8.6M ) has been going about his business quietly this season but has chipped in with two goals and two assists. Orlando has 4/5 players who all contribute to their attack, Junior Urso ( 8.7M ) is another top pick to try and get into your team. New York will need to decide who is going to lead their attack this week. Patryk Klimala ( 7.6M) if chosen will need to show he wants the job, because Ashley Fletcher ( 6.8M ) will be wanting another opportunity to show what he can do.
Cincinnati Vs Los Angeles FC – 10pm BST
On paper this screams away win. LAFC are top of their conference and scoring for fun. Cincinnati cant seem to keep the goals out despite their first clean sheet last weekend against a goal shy Atlanta. LAFC themselves do tend to concede, so goals here could be the way to go for your teams. Carlos Vela ( 12.2M ) yet again lures me in for a game he should be scoring in, but he hasn’t scored in his last three games. But do you dare to leave him out knowing he could easily score a hat trick? Could you be tempted to go for his team mate Cristian Arango (10.6M) who seems to be the man on form for LAFC. Cincinnati does have Brandon Vazquez (9.9M ) who does have an eye for goal and is usually the one on the scoresheet for them.
New York City Vs Toronto FC – 10pm BST
Both teams had massive wins last week but in different ways. NYCFC smashed six past Real Salt Lake with Valentin Castellano ( 14.5M ) scoring four and this week is the most expensive player on the slate. They were his first goals of the season, so do you jump on the bandwagon and have to look for value elsewhere or do you dare to fade him again this week. Thiago Andrade ( 13.9M ) also got in on the act last weekend with scoring the other two in the thrashing of Real Salt Lake. Toronto on the other hand showed they are no mugs this season with an impressive 2-1 victory over Philadelphia. Jesus Jimenez ( 5.9M ) has four goals this season and at the price could be worth the risk. Alejandro Pozuelo ( 5.7M ) also scored in last week’s impressive win and is a key part to this Toronto team. This game will be very interesting and could tell us where both teams are with almost a third of the season played.
TEAM REVEAL
As this contest allows multi entries, I will likely be entering different line ups. Here’s an example of one of my line ups I will be entering using some of the players mentioned.
I hope this article has given you plenty of food for thought – especially for those of you that know very little about MLS, but are playing in Saturday’s Full Round contest.
MLS Full Round cash contests start at 8.00pm BST, so be sure to enter your lineups early to avoid missing out.
Please feel free to message me on Twitter @David_Bailey8 if you have any questions – all support queries should go to @FanTeamOfficial.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
If you’re new to FanTeam then you’ll need to create a new account here – alternatively, head on over to fanteam.com and click the green ‘Register’ button in the top right corner.
Existing users can click the graphic below for direct access to the weekly monster or head on over to the Football lobby.
Best of luck to everyone entering – I look forward to seeing your usernames on the Leaderboard.
Add Comment