Guess the Starting XI & Final Score 2019 (MLS Match #16 - Toronto FC)

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.

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 half-an-hour 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).

RECAP (courtesy of Tres_Tristes_Tigres & AtlantisB)

Welcome back everyone! We are going to be updating all the standings, so this might get a bit long and rambling. I will try to keep it short(er). Let’s start with the FC Dallas scores. Although perfect lineup predictions can be rare, especially with double-match weeks, we had two this week, with edmondk and Island Life predicting them all. In fact, edmondk went beyond getting a perfect lineup. They had a perfect week, correctly predicting the winner and final score. They even received a bonus two points for getting PC coming in right. Impressive considering that was a injury substitution! Everyone else was able to get into double-digits with their predictions this match, compared to NYRB where only ColombianSouthsider77 was in double-digits. Unfortunately, they did not make a prediction this match so they were unable to go two-for-two this week.

The strong FC Dallas match vaulted Island Life (94) into the Monthly Standings lead. They are followed by AtlantisB (90) and edmondk (89). With one match to go this month, it could be an interesting finish.

The FC Dallas match also gave Island Life the First Half Standings lead. They are one point (174 to 173) ahead of AtlantisB, followed by Isabelt (170), edmondk (169), and AmandaC (168). With two matches left to determine that winner, there is plenty still up in the air. Anyone lower down in the standings have a goal for finishing place?

The Vancouver Whitecaps will now host their Canadian compatriot Toronto FC on Friday evening. For details on the match, make sure to check out our Pre-Match and Know the Enemy pieces. Also, in the comments last match it was asked where people can get injury updates. Previously I would list them in this article but we have allocated that to the Pre-Match article. However, another place to find them is on the match pressers with MDS, posted on WhitecapsFC.com, a day or so prior to the match. They are worth checking out. It is why I knew that Ardaiz would not be available for this match.

Speaking of MDS, he may have provided us with some help for future lineups predictions when he stated, after the match, that the team has two formations -4-3-3 and 3-5-2. For those of us tempted to predict 4-4-2 sometimes, it might be useful to remember this tidbit.

Enjoy the break from the double-game weeks. I know that we are feeling a little fatigued with the continuous coverage. We can’t image how the players feel.

Good luck everyone. It will be an exciting end to the month and the first half!