Guess the Starting XI & Final Score 2019 (MLS Match #28) - SJ Earthquakes

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 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).

Match Review and Preview (AtlantisB and Tres_Tristes_Tigres)

We are halfway through the month of August! Like the Whitecaps, it is a summer to forget for myself, as I continue to be at the bottom of the weekly standings! However, let’s look at the more positive scores!

Another week of high scores as the Caps opt for consistency following some (relatively) promising performances. Over half of us got lineup bonuses this week, including four perfect lineups. The most common error was to start Henry in favour of Cornelius, despite Henry being healthy and available. MDS addressed this after the game saying that Henry is still number one on the depth chart but he wanted to be fair to Cornelius given his performances with Godoy in recent games. Does that continue this match or with the schedule crunch do we see Henry get back in there?

Congrats to both tecate and Stick of butter who earned perfect lineup scores as well as points for their win predictions. For the first time in August no bonus was earned for the card prediction. Montero, Henry, and Adnan continue to be the most frequently predicted to be carded.

Speaking of August, Columbian_Southsider77 maintained their overall lead, but saw it dwindle to one (48 to 47). Meanwhile, we have a logjam right behind them with five people sporting 44 points.

While I am out of it, Westsider13 has not had the best August either, however, they are still in the running for the Second Half title, so they will want to turn it around this match. chuckbiscuits remains at the top of the standings, with a three point lead over Westsider13 (110 to 107), while Isabelt inched closer to the front two, now at 106. There is a three-way tie for fourth at 104, and 9 participants are within 10 of the leader, so we still have a long way to go!

August continues on, despite me being back at school! Who starts classes in August??? That means that we are still predicting the first yellow card of the match for the Whitecaps. Get it correct and receive three points towards your August standings only (doesn’t count towards Second Half standings).

I would ramble on, but the new semester means lots of work, so I will part with you here. Make sure to check out our Know the Enemy and Match Preview befofe making your lineup predictions.

Good luck!