As is routine for every match, we have our regular Vancouver Whitecaps Guess the Starting XI and Final Score contest. Let’s see how good you are at getting into the manager’s head and predicting how the game will turn out. In addition, we will have monthly, fun, bonus prediction categories, such as yellow cards, substitutions, goal scorers, etc.

How Scoring is Determined

• Predictions will be ‘valid’ if posted HERE half-an-hour prior to the lineup being officially announced, which means 1.5 hours before kickoff.
• 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 typically 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 (Seattle Sounders) and Preview (Portland Timbers)

The Vancouver Whitecaps played a rare Tuesday night affair against a formidable opponent in Seattle Sounders. It went as well as we all expected. In my case, exactly how I expected (I don’t get to brag too often so I am taking the opportunity). Congrats to me for taking the crown of highest score (18). I was followed closely by Westsider13 and Isabelt. IslandLife and tecate rounded out the top five. elcapitano2 was just behind in sixth thanks to an unexpected, match-high, 9/11 on lineup prediction. How’s this for a front six prediction! Baldi, Bikel, Tiebert, Ricketts, Bair. Raposo. Now if only we could get elcapitano2 to not predict a Caps victory every match!

This was the last match of October for Vancouver, which means it is time to announce a winner for the monthly standings. We had SEVEN matches to count so plenty of movement in the standings. In the end though, IslandLife was able to hold on to the victory, securing 118 points to tecate’s 110 points. Congrats! We will add your name and title to the Hall of Fame!

I am going to hold off on displaying the Overall Standings until the conclusion of the season because I want the standings to be a bit up in the air so no one can hedge their bets. I feel like it will be better that way. Since I am not in the running for the top, I am at no advantage by knowing the current standings than anyone else.

We move from one Cascadia rival to the other. There was heavy rotation in the Tuesday match against Seattle. With a win needed by Vancouver, especially after the announcement of PPG being used to determine final standings, expect a full-strength lineup. The problem is, what is a full-strength lineup for the Caps? I don’t think Milinkovic is back, but I would anticipate a lineup similar to that against LA Galaxy and San Jose. We will see if they can get back in the win column and try to secure a playoff spot.

With only two matches left this season we won’t have any official bonus categories, so feel free to make up your own (or use tecate’s).

Good luck everyone!