Bargains to be found

So you think you can build a winning MLS club for a bargain basement price?

It isn't easy to do, but it can be done. Just avoid pouring too much money into high-profile injury risks (John O'Brien) and do your homework in the MLS Draft (Jonathan Bornstein) and you too can field an MLS Cup-winning side for A-League prices.

Some teams have managed to avoid waste (Chicago) better than others (Kansas City), but the real key to success in MLS is finding those players who flourish for a fraction of the price of some national team veterans and international retreads.

How good a starting 11 could you field for the fraction of one superstar? Here is a lineup you could put on the field that would cost you less than one Freddy Adu ($550,000):

Goalkeeper: Troy Perkins, D.C. United ($29,400).

One of the easiest selections on this team, Perkins has been the best goalkeeper in the Eastern Conference all season and will battle Los Angeles' Kevin Hartman for Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Not bad for a player making $29,400 and working a second job. Perkins' salary is about a third of what more than a half-dozen MLS goalkeepers make.

Jon Conway has been a career backup so he should fit right in as Perkins' understudy on this squad. The Red Bulls goalkeeper has posted a 4-1-2 mark and 1.00 goals against average this season at a salary of $48,250, a good enough showing to stake a claim for the Red Bulls starting job in 2007.

Who are the overpaid goalkeepers in MLS? D.C. backup Nick Rimando was a modest buy at $102,800 but that salary is too much for a backup. Crew goalkeeper Jonny Walker has been sidelined by back problems all season, making his $110,000 an empty investment for the Crew.

Defenders: Bobby Boswell, D.C. United (29,400), Dasan Robinson, Chicago Fire ($11,700), Carlos Mendes, New York Red Bulls (44,625).

Most teams in MLS try to find good bargains in the back, but those inexpensive defenders aren't always good bargains. Boswell is a steal for D.C., giving the East leaders an All-Star defender at a tenth of the cost of someone like veteran all-star Eddie Pope ($394,687).

Robinson went from the 22nd player chosen in the 2006 supplemental draft to a regular starter on a solid Chicago defense. Mendes might not sound like a bargain but you could argue that he has been the steadiest player on the Red Bulls at any position.

What defenders are burning a hole in their teams' salary caps? Frankie Hejduk played just four games for the Crew before tearing his ACL, not quite the production you want for $211,000. Tony Sanneh almost made the all-overpaid squad for a second straight season but he has been a key to the Fire's recent resurgence, making his hefty $365,000 price tag slightly more bearable. Revs defender/midfielder Daniel Hernandez was solid for New England last season but injuries have limited him to just five games this year at a price tag of $156,250.

Midfielders: Andy Dorman, New England ($29,400), Clint Dempsey, New England ($86,487.50), Jonathan Bornstein, Chivas USA ($28,000).

Finding true bargains in midfield wasn't easy, at least not as easy as it was to find some real busts. This forces us to put versatile Rookie of the Year favorite Bornstein at midfield. Six goals and three assists for $28,000 is a deal any coach would take and that isn't even counting the value Bornstein brings by being able to play multiple positions.

Dempsey is on this team for a second straight year, which certainly drives him crazy. He has played in just 16 goals but has still managed five goals and three assists while providing the Revs with one of the most dangerous midfield players in the league.

Dempsey isn't even the best midfield bargain on his own team. Dorman has quickly developed into one of the league's most versatile midfielders. Equally adept at finishing his chances as he is at delivering sharp passes, Dorman is regarded by some as the league's most underrated player.

So where is the money in MLS being wasted? Clint Mathis is the captain of the all-overpaid team, checking it at a hefty $410,000. U.S. national team midfielder John O'Brien has played just five minutes for Chivas USA, which makes his $270,000 salary downright painful. Peter Canero was supposed to be a dynamic winger for the Red Bulls but the $142,966 spent on him has been largely wasted. Former U.S. Under-17 national team star Guillermo Gonzalez checks in at a salary of $117,000, not bad for a player who hasn't played a minute for the Galaxy.

Forwards: Kenny Cooper, FC Dallas ($58,000), Scott Sealy, Kansas City ($31,500), Chris Rolfe, Chicago ($50,000), Nate Jaqua, Chicago ($53,372).

The bargains at forward are made especially interesting when compared to some of their teammates. Cooper has proven to be one of the league's best young players, notching nine goals and four assists in his first year in MLS. That is one more goal than teammate Carlos Ruiz ($360,000) for almost a seventh of the cost.

If there were ever a player who could gripe for a pay raise it is Sealy. The Trinidad & Tobago international has amassed seven goals and one assist, one more goal than the combined six goals and one assist recorded by teammates Eddie Johnson and Josh Wolff, who check in at a combined salary of $1.29 million. Yes, you read that right. Sealy has outscored a forward tandem that makes 40 times more than he does.

Young Fire forwards Rolfe and Jaqua were on this team last year, and received well-earned raises, but they remain good bargains, having combined for 12 goals so far this season.

Where has the money gone wasted up front? Johnson was supposed to give the Wizards a goal-machine but all KC has gotten for $875,000 is one goal in MLS play after week one. Santino Quaranta was a super-sized bust at $145,500 for D.C. United but his pair of goals since joining the Galaxy shows that maybe he will provide some value.

So how much would this starting 11 cost to put on the field? About $451,884.50, or $30,000 more than fielding just Josh Wolff and little more than half the cost of Eddie Johnson. That isn't bad but not as good as last year's All-Bargain team, which cost just $282,325.

Game Previews

You can call the next two days 'Win or Else Weekend' because at least three teams head into this weekend's games needing a victory to have any realistic chance of making the playoffs. Real Salt Lake, Los Angeles and the Red Bulls need wins to stay within striking distance of the playoff packs.

The game of the week features D.C. United and Chicago in a match that will indicate just who the favorite will be when the Eastern Conference playoffs begin next month. Chicago probably won't catch D.C. in the standings but it is riding momentum at a time when D.C. is struggling badly with injuries.

My own personal "Win or Else Weekend" took place last week and let's just say I settled for the 'Or Else'. A 3-6 mark has crushed my chances of a miraculous climb to .500. Why continue making picks? Who else is going to scare fans by picking their teams to win?

Saturday

Columbus Crew at New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls have been strong at home all year while the Crew has been awful on the road. Youri Djorkaeff is back and he should terrorize a vulnerable Columbus defense. Red Bulls 2, Crew 0.

FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake

RSL needs three points to stay within striking distance of Colorado for a playoff berth but FC Dallas isn't going to do the Lakers any favors. One thing in Salt Lake's favor is the Hoops' recent road form. They have just one win in their last five road matches. Dallas has beaten RSL twice this year and should make it three for three. FC Dallas 3, Real Salt Lake 2.

Colorado Rapids at Los Angeles Galaxy

The task is simple for the Galaxy, win and move within a point of the Rapids for the last playoff spot in the West, lose and Frank Yallop can start thinking about the 2007 draft. The Rapids are riding high after a key win against Chicago but their poor road form makes the Galaxy the pick. Can you really pick against Landon Donovan in a must-win game? Galaxy 1, Rapids 0.

Sunday

D.C. United at Chicago Fire

The Fire was playing some of the best soccer in MLS before Wednesday's loss to Colorado, but that setback won't keep Chicago from wanting to keep D.C. sliding. United should have all its starters back from injury and that will be enough to help the East leaders show Chicago which team is the strongest in the East. D.C. United 2, Fire 1.

Chivas USA at Houston Dynamo

After putting together an impressive run of results (3-1-6 in their last 10), the Goats are just one point behind the Dynamo for second place in the West. Coming off an important win against FC Dallas, the Goats should have some momentum, but Houston is tough at home and won't be ready to give up the No. 2 seed in the playoffs just yet. Dynamo 2, Chivas USA 2

Last week: 3-6

Overall: 48-65

Ives Galarcep covers MLS for ESPN.com and is a writer and columnist for the Herald News (N.J.). He can be reached at Ivespn79@aol.com.