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Welcome to another season of our Vancouver Whitecaps contest “Guess the Starting XI and Final Score”. As is tradition, thanks to former regular Spencer for starting this several years ago. It has grown into a great contest and I am appreciative of him for the original idea. Like last season, we will break the contest up into the three ‘seasons’: first half, second half, and non-MLS. We will continue to have fun monthly ‘bonus’ prediction categories, with some being based on whatever it topical at the time. Last season we had things like “Robbo post-match quotes”, “yellow cards”, “first goal scorer”, and several others. However, to start the season, we will keep March simple. With that out of the way, let’s remind you all how the scoring is done.
P.S. I would love if someone would create a great little graphic that we could use for these articles!
Contest Details
- Contest article will be posted 2-3 days prior to game day.
- We will keep track of first half, 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, each half of the season will be based on 17 matches, with your worst two match predictions being dropped. This will allow everyone a few misses or bad guesses throughout the season.
- Predictions will be ‘valid’ if posted HERE 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!
After each match, I will tally the scores and update the standings, which will be posted with the following match’s prediction article. I will post three sets of standings. First, the results from the previous match. Second, the monthly standings. Third, the first/second half standings (with your worst two match predictions removed).
MLS Match #9 (Real Salt Lake)
| Ranking | User | Overall Score | Lineup | Bonus | Winner | Score | Sub |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranking | User | Overall Score | Lineup | Bonus | Winner | Score | Sub |
| 1 | Jph003 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | tecate | 15 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | Adamhutchison31 | 14 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | AtlantisB | 14 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Jitsuo | 14 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Arjon | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Cashen | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | edmondk | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | hbamaral | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | IrfanD | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Island Life | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | JStebeck | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | olikchivas | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | progers50 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | rtomsheck | 13 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | BlackPanther99 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | AmandaC | 12 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | MarcoD77 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | robbosg1 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | AdamP 17 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | chuckbiscuits | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | GreyHouseEffect | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | MacMhuirrich | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | The Squirrel | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | Caps72 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | CascadiaCrunchFC | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | ZTJ9901 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | CWilkins | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Westsider13 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Final April Standings
| Previous Rank | Current Ranking | Change in | User | Overall Score | vs RSL | at SKC | vs LAFC | at RSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous Rank | Current Ranking | Change in | User | Overall Score | vs RSL | at SKC | vs LAFC | at RSL |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | Arjon | 55 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 17 |
| 5 | 1 | 4 | Jitsuo | 55 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 17 |
| 1 | 3 | -2 | GreyHouseEffect | 54 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 16 |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | AmandaC | 54 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 16 |
| 6 | 5 | 1 | tecate | 53 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 19 |
| 7 | 6 | 1 | edmondk | 50 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 9 |
| 9 | 7 | 2 | Cashen | 49 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 9 |
| 2 | 8 | -6 | Westsider13 | 48 | 4 | 15 | 14 | 15 |
| 10 | 8 | 2 | Island Life | 48 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 11 |
| 11 | 8 | 3 | AtlantisB | 48 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 10 |
| 11 | 11 | 0 | robbosg1 | 46 | 12 | 15 | 9 | 10 |
| 15 | 12 | 3 | hbamaral | 45 | 13 | 16 | 8 | 8 |
| 15 | 12 | 3 | olikchivas | 45 | 13 | 14 | 8 | 10 |
| 7 | 14 | -7 | CascadiaCrunchFC | 44 | 7 | 17 | 9 | 11 |
| 18 | 15 | 3 | progers50 | 43 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 9 |
| 20 | 16 | 4 | rtomsheck | 42 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| 13 | 17 | -4 | AdamP 17 | 41 | 8 | 17 | 7 | 9 |
| 13 | 17 | -4 | chuckbiscuits | 41 | 8 | 16 | 9 | 8 |
| 20 | 17 | 3 | BlackPanther99 | 41 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| 22 | 17 | 5 | IrfanD | 41 | 13 | 8 | 12 | 8 |
| 23 | 17 | 6 | Adamhutchison31 | 41 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 10 |
| 26 | 17 | 9 | Jph003 | 41 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| 15 | 23 | -8 | The Squirrel | 40 | 8 | 13 | 8 | 11 |
| 26 | 24 | 2 | JStebeck | 39 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 9 |
| 18 | 25 | -7 | CWilkins | 35 | 5 | 13 | 9 | 8 |
| 23 | 26 | -3 | ZTJ9901 | 33 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| 29 | 27 | 2 | Caps72 | 28 | 7 | 12 | 9 | 0 |
| 23 | 28 | -5 | dfree646 | 27 | 0 | 13 | 8 | 6 |
| 28 | 29 | -1 | Slowkid | 25 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 8 |
| 30 | 30 | 0 | MarcoD77 | 22 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| - | 31 | NA | MacMhuirrich | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | 32 | -1 | Alan Osborne | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 32 | 33 | -1 | MarcusEarth | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
First Half Standings (Excluding Worst 2 Matches)
| Previous Rank | Current Ranking | Change in Rank | User | Overall Score | Match #1 | Match #2 | Match #3 | Match #4 | Match #5 | Match #6 | Match #7 | Match #8 | Match #9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Previous Rank | Current Ranking | Change in Rank | User | Overall Score | Match #1 | Match #2 | Match #3 | Match #4 | Match #5 | Match #6 | Match #7 | Match #8 | Match #9 |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | GreyHouseEffect | 106 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 8 |
| 5 | 2 | 3 | Arjon | 99 | 22 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 13 |
| 7 | 2 | 5 | AtlantisB | 99 | 20 | 11 | 14 | 16 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 14 |
| 5 | 4 | 1 | BlackPanther99 | 98 | 20 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| 7 | 4 | 3 | Island Life | 98 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 13 |
| 2 | 6 | -4 | chuckbiscuits | 97 | 20 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 8 | 9 | 16 | 8 |
| 9 | 6 | 3 | edmondk | 97 | 22 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
| 4 | 8 | -4 | CascadiaCrunchFC | 96 | 22 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 17 | 7 |
| 3 | 8 | -5 | dfree646 | 96 | 19 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 0 |
| 11 | 10 | 1 | hbamaral | 94 | 20 | 17 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 13 |
| 12 | 11 | 1 | olikchivas | 93 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 14 | 13 |
| 13 | 12 | 1 | robbosg1 | 92 | 22 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 13 |
| 13 | 12 | 1 | rtomsheck | 92 | 19 | 19 | 8 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 |
| 10 | 14 | -4 | Westsider13 | 91 | 15 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 11 | 8 | 14 | 15 | 4 |
| 17 | 15 | 2 | AmandaC | 90 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 12 |
| 20 | 16 | 4 | Cashen | 89 | 19 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 13 |
| 13 | 17 | -4 | CWilkins | 88 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 5 |
| 21 | 18 | 3 | progers50 | 87 | 0 | 19 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 13 |
| 13 | 18 | -5 | The Squirrel | 87 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 8 |
| 17 | 18 | -1 | ZTJ99901 | 87 | 22 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 9 | 6 |
| 19 | 21 | -2 | AdamP 17 | 86 | 19 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 17 | 8 |
| 23 | 21 | 2 | Jitsuo | 86 | 0 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 0 | 17 | 13 | 11 | 14 |
| 22 | 21 | 1 | lrfanD | 86 | 19 | 15 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 13 |
| 24 | 24 | 0 | tecate | 85 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 17 | 8 | 11 | 15 |
| 24 | 25 | -1 | Adamhutchison31 | 84 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 14 |
| 26 | 26 | 0 | Jph003 | 83 | 20 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 15 |
| 27 | 27 | 0 | JStebeck | 79 | 0 | 17 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 13 |
| 28 | 28 | 0 | Slowkid | 62 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| 30 | 29 | 1 | MarcoD77 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 29 | 30 | -1 | Caps72 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 12 | 7 |
| 31 | 31 | 0 | Marcus Earth | 29 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | 32 | 0 | Tdahl | 25 | 17 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | 33 | 0 | TrevFresh | 23 | 12 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | 34 | 0 | jacinto | 16 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| - | 35 | NA | MacMhuirrich | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 35 | 36 | -1 | Alan Osborne | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | 36 | -1 | matthew fjermestad | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Match in Review (Real Salt Lake) Preview (Minnesota United)
It was a low-scoring match. While the Caps were able to pull out the 2-0 victory over RSL, Carl Robinson made a lot of lineup changes. The two fullback changes threw everyone, as did the omission of Felipe and Alphonso. As a result, the Jph003 and tecate finished the match at the top, each with 15 points.
It was the final match of April as well, so that means we have to announce a winner. We see a familiar face at the top, Arjon, who tied with one of our new writers this season Jitsuo. Congrats! You are now alongside dfree646 as 2018 winners! Like with dfree646, your prizes are in the mail. Tracking says they will arrive in 10-20 years!
Nothing much changes in the Overall Standings. GreyHouseEffect still holds a large lead (7 points). Previous victors Arjon and AtlantisB have made their moves up the standings, slotting in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
With a new month (May) comes a new contest. This month, we will keep it simple. Predict the Whitecaps first goal scorer. If you get the prediction correct, you earn an addition 2 points for the May standings.
The Vancouver Whitecaps now travel to Minnesota to take on United. It will be an early kick-off (11am). Minnesota has been rather poor this season, while the Caps have been impressive on the road. It is quite possible that the Caps can steal another road victory. Several players, include Felipe and Davies were rested last match. Will they return to the Starting XI this week? Nerwinski has sat out a few match, while Levis looked good in place of de Jong. Who starts at full back? Kei Kamara might be back. Does he start or does Blondell get another run? Maybe Hurtado starts?
Time to get your predictions in.