clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Buy 'Em or Bag 'Em Week 3: Zizzo, Zubar, Miller, Grella, and Peguy

RBNY is back in action. It's time for Part I of the Atlantic Cup, and it's not going to be all hugs and handshakes.

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Roster change deadline: Friday March 20, 7:00pm ET UPDATE (3/20/15): Saturday March 21, 3:00pm ET

Amount of Free Transfers this week: 2

After a week off, the New York Red Bulls will take on rival D.C. United on Sunday March 22nd at 5:00pm.  The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2, but if you are in the area, make your presence know at Red Bull Arena.  It should be a fast-paced affair, not only because of the on-going rivalry, but because both teams are coming off of two weeks rest.

Lone Red Bull casualty from last game, Ronald Zubar, may still be out.  His hamstring strain kept him out of training on Tuesday.  We need to await Jesse Marsch's media call on Thursday to shed some light on returning to the field.  Zubar experienced a similar injury in training this offseason, which made him take it easy for a month.  Bag 'em for now.

Another Bag 'Em is veteran Roy Miller, who picked up an injury in training Tuesday. New signing Kemar Lawrence is likely to get the start at LB.

Mike Grella had a lot of grit and tenacity in the Sporting Kansas City game, but lacked the knowledge and experience necessary to create scoring chances in the final third.  I would bag 'em if you can.  If you are looking for another RB replacement, buy Sal Zizzo.  He came in the for the final 23 minutes of last game and had much better showing than Grella.  I would bet that he will get the start at left wing on Sunday evening.  The 305 current Zizzo owners will thank me later.

RBNY will probably take the field in a 4-2-3-1 again.  Most of the starters from SKC will return.  With Zizzo and Lloyd Sam as the wingers, it should give Bradley Wright-Phillips, Sacha Kljestan and Felipe Martins some more service in the mixer.  Dax McCarty may be the one to benefit from any poor clearances by DC as he likes to lurk right outside the box waiting for his chance.  We may even catch a glimpse of the "Taxi", Kemar Lawrence, RB's new signing from Harbour View FC in Jamaica.

And if you haven't already, get Peguy Luyindula off your team.  He is the only player (besides New York City FC loanee, Ryan Meara) that doesn't have a jersey number next to his name on the team's official roster.  Unless he throws on the un-numbered jersey that Lloyd Sam wore in the second half against SKC, you're not going to see him on the field.... or in the locker room.

The back line could see a little shake up.  Even though he couldn't convert, Dom Dwyer wreaked havoc on Damien Perrinelle and Zubar most of the game.  Also, on KC's goal, Perrinelle was playing the ball on the outside, so outer backs Miller and Chris Duvall needed to cover the middle.  Which they didn't do very well, hence a 1-1 score line.  We may have an Andrew Jean-Baptiste sighting for the first time this season.  Hopefully he is ready to go because DC striker Jairo Arrieta will be.

Even though RB-DC doesn't take place until Sunday, the Philadelphia Union vs. FC Dallas game on Friday night will mark the closure of Week 3's transfer deadline.  Get your picks in early.

UPDATE (3/20/15): The PHL-FCD game has been postponed to 4:00pm on Saturday due to inclement weather.  The new transfer deadline has been moved to 3:00pm on Saturday 3/21 before the NE-MTL game.

Buy'Em

  • Sal Zizzo ($6.5M)

Bag'Em

  • Roy Miller ($7.0M)
  • Ronald Zubar ($7.5M)
  • Mike Grella ($6.0M)
  • Peguy Luyindula ($7.5M)

Want to start a team? Visit the MLS Fantasy website to register!