Welcome back for another season of our contest "Guess the Starting XI and Final Score". As always, thanks to former regular Spencer for starting this several years ago. Like last season, we will keep the non-MLS and MLS standings separate. We will also do a first half, second half, and overall standings. Finally, I will have various monthly contests where we add in an ‘extra’ thing to predict, like goal scorers, cards, suspensions, etc. With the basics out of the way, let’s get to the scoring.
MLS Scoring Details
- Contest article will be posted 2-3 days prior to game day
- We will keep track of overall, first/second half, and monthly winners so that late joiners will have something to play for
- I will have a separate ‘contest’ for Voyageurs and Champions League.
- As the MLS season is 34 matches, the overall standings will be based on each participant’s top 30 match guesses. This will allow everyone a few misses or bad guesses throughout the season.
- The first/second Half standings will exclude your worst two match guesses.
- Predictions will be 'valid' if posted prior to the lineup being officially announced (1 hour before kickoff)
How Scoring is Determined
- You receive 1 point for every player you correctly guess to be in the Starting XI. Receive 1 bonus point for correctly predicting 10 starters. Receive 3 bonus points for correctly predicting 11 starters.
- You get 5 points for correctly guessing Win/Lose/Draw.
- You receive 1 point for correctly guessing each team’s final score. Receive 1 bonus point for correctly guessing both teams final score (for a total of 3).
- That means, if you correctly predict the Starting XI, Final Score, and Winner, you can earn 22 points!
At the end of each week, I will tally the scores and update the standings, to be posted with the next week's match thread.
August Standings (with Previous Match)
| Previous Rank | Current Ranking | Change in | User | Overall Score | Lineup | Bonus | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous Rank | Current Ranking | Change in | User | Overall Score | Lineup | Bonus | Winner | Score |
| Ranking | ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 0 | jacinto | 16 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | robbosg1 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | Rob R. Scott | 14 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | The Squirrel | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | MarcoD77 | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 6 | 6 | 0 | MarcusEarth | 12 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | 7 | 0 | DougCuth | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | 8 | 0 | BlackPanther99 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | 8 | 0 | AtlantisB | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | 8 | 0 | edmondk | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | 8 | 0 | chuckbiscuits | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | 8 | 0 | Jph003 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | 8 | 0 | forbrydelsen | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | 8 | 0 | dfree646 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | 0 | rtomsheck | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | 0 | Arjon | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | 0 | GreyHouseEffect | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | 0 | Westsider13 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | 15 | 0 | tecate | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 20 | 20 | 0 | olikchivas | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Second Half Standings (Best 2 Matches)
| Previous Rank | Current Ranking | Change in | User | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous Rank | Current Ranking | Change in | User | Overall |
| Ranking | Score | |||
| 1 | 1 | 0 | olikchivas | 30 |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | The Squirrel | 29 |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | MarcoD77 | 29 |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | BlackPanther99 | 27 |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | MarcusEarth | 27 |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | AtlantisB | 27 |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | rtomsheck | 27 |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | edmondk | 27 |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | chuckbiscuits | 27 |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | jacinto | 27 |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | justcaps | 27 |
| 12 | 12 | 0 | forbrydelsen | 26 |
| 13 | 13 | 0 | Jph003 | 25 |
| 13 | 13 | 0 | robbosg1 | 25 |
| 15 | 15 | 0 | Arjon | 23 |
| 15 | 15 | 0 | DougCuth | 23 |
| 15 | 15 | 0 | GreyHouseEffect | 23 |
| 18 | 18 | 0 | Westsider13 | 22 |
| 19 | 19 | 0 | tecate | 21 |
| 20 | 20 | 0 | dfree646 | 19 |
| 21 | 21 | 0 | Rob R. Scott | 14 |
Match in Review (Colorado Rapids) and Preview (New England Revolution)
We have a few things to cover today. First, a shout out dfree646, who last week predicted BOTH Williams and de Jong, and I missed it. Second, Congrats to Jacinto this week who was the only person to correctly predict a 2-2 scoreline, for which I mocked. Clearly we can see who had the last laugh. Third, I forgot to start our new contest for the month of August. So, we will be starting a match late. For August, you can an addition 2 points (?....sure, why not) for correctly predicting which 15-minute time frame the Vancouver Whitecaps will score their first goal. I wanted to be optimistic, so there will be no ‘no goal’ predictions. Basically, you will post whether you think the Caps first goal will be scored between 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, or 76-90. If the Caps FIRST goal is in that 15-minute period, you get an additional 2 points. Did I explain that well enough. More importantly, who actually reads my writeups? Anyone?
On to Boston! The good news is that New England are TERRIBLE on the road, having yet to win a match. The bad news is that the game will be in Boston, where NE are 7-2-2. The Revolution may be 10th in the East, only ahead of DC United, but they have won 2 of their last 3; both home matches. Will be tough to predict.
Carl Robinson has his full squad back now, so he has been able to rotate the team a bit. That is great for the squad, bad for lineup predictions. We had a LOT of 8’s and 9’s last match. We will see if people can be better. I hedged by starting Jacobson and Waston, knowing one would not play (and one would). It is expected that Waston will be back with the club this week, after he was back in Costa Rica handling some immigration issues last week. No new injuries that I am aware of, but check back here Saturday morning to see if we have any news. If I learn it, I will pass it along.
The Caps lineup has been fluid the last two matches, but successful. However, Techera has not gotten a start. Does he get back in or will he be coming off the bench. In my opinion, despite the goal against Dallas, Ibini has been so-so. Does he come of the bench this week? What about Mezquida? Gets goal of the week then doesn’t get a sniff of the field against Colorado (although, to be fair, he was ready to come in but was pulled back when the Caps scored the equalizer).
Time to make your lineup, score, and now time of first goal, predictions.
Known Out (will be updated as information becomes available)
Injured: Brett Levis, David Edgar
Suspension: None