For several reasons, including injuries, red-card suspensions, and the departure of goalkeeper Brad Guzan, Chivas USA has used a total of 26 different groups of 11 starters in its 28 MLS games. The team used the same starters on 5/24, 5/31, and 6/5, but other than that, each game has seen a different starting 11.
This season, Chivas USA Head Coach Preki has handed a first MLS start to no fewer than eleven players: goalkeeper Dan Kennedy, defenders Bobby Burling and Eric Ebert, midfielders Kraig Chiles, Dejair, Jorge Flores, Daniel Paladini, Keith Savage, and Raphaël Wicky, and forwards Justin Braun and Roberto Nurse. All – except Flores who came in as a substitute in one match in 2007 – have also made their MLS debuts this season.
In fact, Chivas USA could field a full team of players who have made their first MLS start this season, with each player in a position they have played in either a First Team or Reserve Team game during the 2008 season:
------------BRAUN-----------NURSE----------
---------------------DEJAIR-------------------
CHILES-------------------------------SAVAGE
---------------------WICKY--------------------
PALADINI----BURLING---EBERT----FLORES
-------------------KENNEDY-------------------
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