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 (Real Salt Lake) and Preview (LAFC)

Well, that much against RSL didn’t go as many of us expected but, for once, that is a good thing! I was more than happy to finish lower in the standings and the Caps get the win. To be honest though, I wasn’t that optimistic after that red. Is it just me or do the Caps seem to play WORSE when they have the man advantage? I feel like they sit back even more than usual and it gets them in trouble. I don’t have the stats in front of me, but I am curious how they compare to other teams in goals against when they have the man advantage. I suspect it is not good. However, some magic by Montero and Cavallini pulled out the victory.

Combined with the ‘traditional’ 2-1 scoreline, we had some good match predictions this week. IslandLife led the pack with 22 points. They only missed on one lineup prediction. They even got Bikel with the first yellow. CDPrior was send with 18. If not for the poor lineup prediction (7), they would have been higher. chuckbiscuits and Mykvechkin round out the top three with scores of 17.

It has been a few weeks since I updated the overall standings, so here we go. IslandLife took the strong scoreline this match to jump into the lead ahead of Westsider13 (97 to 95), but they have plenty of people right on their tails. Eight other combatants are within 8 of the leader, so plenty of opportunities to make a run. This is buoyed by IslandLife already using up their two ‘discards’ with ‘0’ in second TFC match and first Montreal match. That means all of their matches until the end of the season will count! Should be a fun race to the end.

I liked AmandaC’s suggestion for a bonus category (the only person to suggest one), but I think we will go with the first yellow category for the rest of the month. elcapitano2 reminded me that if you predict no player will receive a yellow, you need to note that.

The Caps are now in LA for a match against LAFC. The Caps are on a bit of a streak while LA has been struggling of late. This could be an opportunity for the Caps to pick up some much needed points that would have previously looked very unlikely. The question is what to do with the lineup. On Twitter I suggested a lineup of Hasal, Nerwinski, Cornelius, Ranko (or Godoy), Adnan, Bikel, Baldisimo, Dajome, Milinkovic, Montero, and Cavallini. This got some positive responses but some also suggested Gutierrez for Adnan. Looks like the youngster has won the affection of some fans...or maybe Adnan has lost it. I like the proposed lineup here, but feel like there is no way Teibert sits. I also am not sure who is better right now, Ranko or Godoy. I was hoping that Cornelius would be #4 on the CB depth chart, but he has certainly shown that he deserves to start. What are your thoughts? Your lineup look like this?

Get your predictions in and we will see how it all pans out!