2008 MLS Probable Starting Lineups: Western Conference

Eastern conference post is here. Once again, 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. CD CHIVAS USA .................Razov........Galindo..................... .............Mendoza.............Kljestan......... .................Wicky..........Marsch............ ...Bornstein...Suarez...Thomas...Vaughn... ........................Guzan............................... Alex Zotinca's big injury (acl tear) means that Vaughn will start at right back. Swiss international Wicky is a defensive midfielder and will likely take Paulo Nagamura's spot. The other possible change is at center back, where Thomas got a late start to preseason due to visa issues. Jim Curtin would go if he doesn't. COLORADO RAPIDS ....................Cummings................... ......................C.Gomez................... ...Clark...Gomes...Mastroeni...Cooke... ...Burciaga...Erpen...Keel...Kimura...... ......................Coundoul..................... The Rapids are going with a 4-5-1. When healthy, you can expect to see Mike Petke in for Keel and possibly Ugo Ihemelu for Kimura. Dan Gargan is also a RB option and they have Kelly Gray on trial. Also, there's a very decent possibility that Mastroeni may not start the opener; in that case it looks like that spot would go to Ciaran O'Brien or maybe John DiRaimondo. Conor Casey also would probably start up top for Cummings as well, if he was healthy. Two more players worth mentioning: Gomes is a new signing from the Portuguese second division. Herculez Gomez is an option up top or on the left. FC DALLAS ..............Cooper........Ricardinho.......... ..........................Toja................. ...Wagenfuhr...Rocha...Ricchetti...McCarty... ............Serioux.....Davino.....Yi........... ...........................Sala...................... 3rddegree does a great job keeping us to date on the FC Dallas lineup. With Arturo Alvarez and Drew Moor suspended for the opener, the lineup's going to look a bit different. Yi should take Moor's spot for that one game, but Wagenfuhr could start longer due to an Alvarez injury (Alvarez could always go on the right too). Davino's injured at the moment right now as well; if he misses the opener Aaron Pitchkolan will fill in. Marcelo Saragosa is also an excellent candidate for the central midfield positions. Rocha is a new Brazilian and another loan from Atletico Paranaense. HOUSTON DYNAMO ............Ching............Wondolowski......... ........................De Rosario...................... .........Davis...........................Mullan...... ............................Clark........................... ...Barrett...Robinson...Boswell...Waibel... ...........................Onstad......................... Same as last year except Wondolowski up top and Boswell instead of Ryan Cochrane. Richard Mulrooney will see plenty of time as well; he's started on the right during the Champions Cup due to Mullan's knock. Corey Ashe also started in place of Davis versus Municipal. New signing Franco Caraccio and Kyle Brown are options if Wondo falters; they also talked about maybe putting DeRo or Mullan up top. But it looks like this is set. LOS ANGELES GALAXY .......................Ruiz................ ....Donovan......................Beckham... ..............Allen.....McDonald............... ......................Pires.......................... ...Gavin...Vanney...Xavier...Klein... ....................Cronin......................... Now this is still way up in the air. At least we know the center backs and goalkeeper are set. Steve Davis' comments on Soccernet suggest Ruud Gullit will play a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 with Donovan and Beckham on the left and right. We know they'll be in the lineup regardless of where they actually take the field. Up top, Alan Gordon could play in a 4-4-2. At right back, Klein faces competition from first round pick Sean Franklin. At left back, Mike Randolph is also an option but the spot appears to be rookie Gavin's for the taking. Pretty good for a supplemental draft pick. Their exhibition match last night featured Alvaro Pires (or just Alvaro in the Brazilian tradition) and draft picks Ely Allen and Brandon McDonald completing the lineup. Not sure if Pires is officially signed yet or not, but he looks the most likely of those three to start. Josh Tudela's another option, while Pete Vagenas is apparently hurt at the moment. So it looks like the Galaxy could start three rookies in the opening match next week. REAL SALT LAKE ...........Deuchar............Findley.............. .....................Morales................. .........Cordoba.............Kovalenko....... .....................Beckerman................. ...Joy...Borchers...Olave...Wingert... ....................Rimando...................... Findley may not start due to missing time at Olympic qualifying. Fabian Espindola should partner Deuchar in his possible absence. That is if Deuchar makes it there. Rookie Tony Beltran could go instead of Wingert, Matias Mantilla could start for Olave, while midfield is far from settled. You have veterans Andy Williams and Carey Talley fighting for spots there; they both started last night in the final friendly instead of Cordoba/Kovalenko. Anyway, I bet Beltran will beat out Wingert sooner or later (likely sooner). SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES .............Kamara...........Glinton................. ...Guerrero...Grabavoy...Corrales...O'Brien... ...Riley...Cochrane...Garcia...Hernandez... ......................Cannon...................... Ha, nice forwards. This actually doesn't look too bad outside of that, but the depth is awful.