2008 MLS Probable Starting Lineups: Eastern Conference

This is what I've been able to gather from the message boards, other sites, quotes from coaches, and match reports. Shape of the formations is definitely not going to be 100% accurate. CHICAGO FIRE ........Frankowski............Barrett.............. ...........................Blanco........................... .........Mapp...........................Rolfe......... ...........................Pause............................... ...Segares...Conde...Brown....Robinson... ..........................Busch............................. Busch will take over for the departed Matt Pickens (QPR), while new Polish signing Frankowski should start up top. His strike partner is less certain, though. Looks like it will be Barrett, with Andy Herron also a possibility. Should be a much more attack oriented team with that front five. Who knows if Conde will really start after the offseason controversy. COLUMBUS CREW ............Hernandez..........Moreno......... .......................Schelotto.................. ......Rogers.......................Gaven........ ..........................Carroll.................... ...Padula...Marshall...O'Rourke...Hejduk... ........................Hesmer................... This is my best guess. Sigi Schmid's comments here are confusing, but suggest that the top 5 will all be starting. There's always the possibility of a 4-3-3/4-5-1 with Moreno alone up top too. I'd say Hernandez is less certain to start than him. Stefani Miglioranzi and Duncan Oughton could start in the midfield as well, if Sigi goes for two DMs. Not sure if Padula is officially signed yet, but he looks likely to start. Miglioranzi is a good candidate there if he's not ready. And who knows about the foreign players in camp. DC UNITED .............Niell.........Emilio....... ................Gallardo............. ......Fred..................McTavish........ ..................Simms.................. ....Burch.....Peralta...Martinez...Namoff... ........................Wells............... Three foreign signing move into the lineup: two central defenders and a playmaker are replacing starters from last year's great team. Ben Olsen will miss at least the first month of the season. He's been replaced by the impressive McTavish. And it looks like Jaime Moreno may not be ready for the opener; if so he'll be replaced by Franco Niell. KANSAS CITY WIZARDS ...........Lopez......Trujillo................. ...Harrington...Marinelli...Myers... ..........Zavagnin........Morsink..... .....Wahl.....Conrad.....Jewsbury...... .................Hartman........................ They will be using the 3-5-2 this season. Sealy should start on the bench, although he might not if the foreign additions aren't fit. It looks as though based on the lineups so far, they're going into the season with a questionable defense featuring Wahl on the left and Jewsbury on the right. Behind Wahl, I guess Aaron Hohlbein would be next in line. Davy Arnaud's recovery from injury means that #1 pick Chance Myers should start on the right in the early going. EDIT: I guess they'll be using a 4-4-2 after all? If so, move Harrington to LB and (probably) Morsink to the bench in favor of Sasha Victorine or whoever mans the left side of midfield. Jewsbury and Myers could still both start on the right though. Also, Lopez may note have his visa in which case Scott Sealy would get the nod. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION .........Twellman.....Cristman.......... ...Smith.....Ralston.....Thompson... ........Joseph........Larentowicz....... .....Heaps.....Parkhurst.....Albright..... ...........................Reis.................. OK, unusually for the Revs there's lots to discuss here. First, Steve Nicol is apparently considering a 4-4-2, although mostly in second halves with the reserves. Second, the starting forward spot next to Twellman is up for grabs. Gambian Abdoulie Mansally and Zimbabwe's Kheli Dube are also options. Also, Honduran international Mauricio Castro has signed and can play on the left or as a #10. He'll probably end up starting eventually at the expense of Smith/Thompson (whoever is playing worse). Although who knows given Nicol's history with hispanic players (somewhere, Paul Gardner has already started to write the column). RED BULL NEW YORK ............Angel..........Altidore.............. .....v.d.Bergh......Magee......Sassano....... ..........Stammler.......Reyna........ .....Goldthwaite...Parke...Mendes..... ......................Conway.................. Looks as though a three defender formation will be in effect here too. Dane Richards' injury means that rookie Luke Sassano will get an opportunity; he's been starting in the Carolina Challenge Cup. Oscar Echeverry, the Colombian forward, could start as well and will certainly get plenty of time nonetheless with Altidore going to the Olympics. Like Ives has said, the team needs a playmaker and a left back. Lider Marmol would probably start somewhere if he ever signs. TORONTO FC ........Dichio.........Cunningham...... ....Dunivant...Robinson...Edu...Brittain.... ....Brennan....Phelan...Marshall...Wynne.... ...............Sutton............... Hmm. I have fellow rookie Pat Phelan in there due to Julius James' injury, but Puerto Rican signing Mario Velez and Andrew Boyens are also options. That article also mentions English trialist Martin Brittain, who could play on the right side of midfield. He's been starting in preseason, but is not under contract. Still, who else do they have? Maybe they could put Velez at right back and move Wynne up. There also could be a place for midfielder Kevin Harmse.