by Dave and Jimmy Bowers, Special to FoxSoccer.com

Updated: July 16, 2008, 4:54 AM EST 1 comment

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There's been the expected and a lot of the unexpected. First of all, who would of thought Edson Buddle of the L.A. Galaxy would have 11 goals when the Galaxy have Landon Donovan and David Beckham? You would think Donovan and Becks would be doing all the work.

Also, Real Salt Lake is in first place of the Western Conference for the first time ever in franchise history! No offense, but that was definitely unexpected. But hey, it's only the midseason!

Now let's take a look back at the other highs and lows of this season so far:

Highs

Surprises: Edson Buddle (11g, 1a; 5g, 2a all of last season), Jimmy Conrad (4goals, 0a; 0 goals last season), Kenny Cooper (8g, 1a; 4g, 2a Missed 16 games last year due to a broken leg), Jon Busch (5 clean sheets and 0.93 GAA), Steve Ralston (6g, 4a; Had 4 goals all of last season)

Same as last year: Luciano Emilio (10g, 2a; 20g, 1a all of last season), Landon Donovan (11g, 7a; 8g, 13a all of last season).

Lows

Injuries: Taylor Twellman, Christian Gomez, Juan Pablo Angel, Claudio Reyna, Maykael Galindo.

Under-performers from last season: Juan Toja (1g, 2a; 6g,1 last season), Fred (1g, 3a; 7g, 8a last season), Brad Guzan (4 clean sheets and 1.33 GAA; 13 clean sheets and 0.93 GAA last season).

Disappointing new arrivals: Kenny Deuchar (2g, 1a), Claudio Lopez (3g, 3a), Marcelo Gallardo (4g, 3a).

What will the second half bring? We can't wait to see!

Fire and Ice

On Fire

Guillermo Barros Schelotto (CLB, $418,000) - 2 goals, 3 assists in last 5 games
Chris Rolfe (CHI, $430,000) - 2 goals, 1 assist in last 2 games
Ante Razov (CV, $434,000) - 3 game goal scoring streak
Nick Rimando (RSL, $484,000) - 5 clean sheets in last 7 games

Cold as Ice

Javier Morales (RSL, $282,000) - 1 goal, 0 assist in last 5 games
Kyle Beckerman (RSL, $175,000) - 0 goal, 0 assists in last 5 games
Kheli Dube (NE, $321,000) - 0 goals in last 3 games, 4 goals, 3 assists in previous 6 games
Sainey Naissey (NE, $186,000) - 0 goals, 0 assists in last 5 games; started 2 goals in 1st 3 games

Things to keep an eye out for this week

Injuries: Justin Braun (CV), Ante Jazic (LA), and Joe Franchino (LA) all went out early in their game. Chivas does not play this week.
Lineup changes: Edwards out, Sutton back in (TOR); Gutierrez out, Woolard in (CHI); Iro out, Junge in (CLB); Deuchar out, Movsisyan in (RSL); Richards out, Sassano in (NY); Suarez out, Thomas in (CV); Vagenas in (LA).
Discipline: Garcia(SJ), Edu(TOR), Jewsbury (KC), Thorrington & Segares (CHI), all out this week due to yellow card accumulation. Yallop (SJ) out due to red card.

Tip(s) of the week

Chivas USA, D.C. United, Houston, and New England idle in MLS this week.

This weeks Top XI for points

Goalkeeper: Jon Busch (CHI)
The North Carolina-Charlotte alumnus has been a stalwart in goal all season for the Fire. Playing against an RSL team that has only scored 4 goals in 7 games away from home, look for Busch to add to his 5 clean sheets he already has for the season.

Defender: Wilman Conde (CHI)
Now that the 25-year old Colombian is back in good graces with the Fire, he has provided a menacing presence on the backline for Busch. With a home game against RSL this week, look for shutout points here.

Defender: Mike Randolph (LA)
Listed as a defender in MLS Fantasy Challenge, Randolph has been using his speed to run up and down the flanks for the Galaxy as a midfielder. His passing from the left midfield position has led to 3 assists so far this season. Look for more this week with an away game against the New York Red Bulls.

Defender: Marco Velez (TOR)
The 28-year old Puerto Rican international captain plays a home game against a San Jose team that has had an impotent offensive team all season. Look for the first year MLS player to get shutout points here.

Midfielder: David Beckham (LA)
The leader in All-Star voting this season, Beckham is a threat in every game he plays — to either put a spot on pass to the leading goal scorers in MLS (Donovan and Buddle) or to put it in the back of the net himself. The Galaxy have scored 11 goals in 6 away games this season. Look for Becks to help add to that total this week with an away game against New York.

Midfielder: Cuauhtemoc Blanco (CHI)
Is the summer heat beginning to get to Blanco? He has been on a very cold streak of late, and his nastiness in the Open Cup game against D.C. United was a sign of his frustration. He should be able to shake his poor performance this week with a home game at Toyota Park against an RSL team that has allowed 13 goals in 7 away games.

Midfielder: Amado Guevara (TOR)
The 32-year old Honduran international captain plays against an expansion San Jose team that has allowed 13 goals in away games. Look for Guevara to add to his 2 goals and 3 assists in this game.

Midfielder: Guillermo Barros Schelotto (CLB )
On a hot streak of late, the 35-year old Argentinean is showing no signs of wearing out. Playing on a Columbus team that has scored 13 goals in 8 home games, look for the former Boca Juniors member to help add to that total.

Forward: Kenny Cooper (FCD)
The 23-year old All-Star has had a great start to his season with 8 goals and 1 assist in the first half. Cooper's favorite TV show is "Lost", which would aptly describe his opponents (Colorado) defense in away games, having allowed 16 goals in 8 games. Look for Cooper to add his 9th goal this season in this game.

Forward: Chris Rolfe (CHI)
The 25-year old alumnus of the University of Dayton has finally found his touch, with 2 goals and an assist in his last 2 games. Look for him to continue his excellent performance with a home game against an RSL team that is horrible (1-6-0, 13 goals allowed) away from home.

Forward: Edson Buddle (LA)
The 27-year old New York native will be returning home this week with an away game against the New York Red Bulls. This should be incentive enough for Buddle to add to his league leading 11 goals (tied with Donovan). Look for it to happen.

Here are our official teams for Week 17

Dave:GK Jon Busch; DF Ryan Johnson; DF Marco Velez ; DF Jimmy Conrad; MF David Beckham; MF Guillermo Barros Schelotto ;MF Robbie Rogers; MF Cuahatemoc Blanco; FW Edson Buddle; FW Kenny Cooper; FW Landon Donovan. Coach Denis Hamlet. Bench: Alejandro Moreno, Bobby Boswell, Sacha Kljestan.
Traded: Kevin Hartman for Jon Busch, Gonzalo Segares for Marco Velez, and Christian Gomez for Guillermo Barros Schelotto.
Moved: Sacha Kljestan and Alejandro Moreno to bench, Kenny Cooper to FW.

Jimmy: GK Jon Busch; DF Brandon Prideaux ; DF Marco Velez ; DF Ryan Johnson; MF David Beckham; MF Cuauhtemoc Blanco; MF Robbie Rogers; MF Guillermo Barros Schelotto; FW Kenny Cooper; FW Edson Buddle; FW Landon Donovan. Coach: Denis Hamlett. Bench: MF Sacha Kljestan, MF Christian Gomez, FW Alejandro Moreno.
Traded: GK Kevin Hartman for MF Guillermo Barros Schelotto; DF Claudio Suarez for DF Brandon Prideaux; DF Gonzalo Segares for DF Marco Velez.
Moved: GK Jon Busch and FW Kenny Cooper to Starting Lineup; MF Robbie Rogers and MF Sacha Kljestan to Bench.

Questions? Comments? Contact us at mlsfantasygurus@comcast.net

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer, FoxSoccer.com or MLSnet.com.