Welcome again everybody.

When you’re new to the competition or the positioning, welcome! That is our lineup and rating prediction contest we run right here at Eighty Six Without end, so be happy to become involved!

I hope you’re all wanting ahead to a different season of the Guess the Beginning XI contest as a lot as I’m. A brand new season is one other alternative to start out from a clean slate and after early season struggles final yr, the Vancouver Whitecaps might be trying to hit the bottom working in 2023 in opposition to RSL on Saturday night time at BC Place.

Actual Salt Lake snuck into the playoffs final season regardless of scoring simply 43 targets and having a -2 purpose distinction. Total, it is a group that’s glad to sit down in a low block and see what they will do with the possibilities they’re given. Notably, their main scorer final yr, Sergio Cordova, is now a member of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Equally, RSL misplaced one other key cog of their squad this low season with Aaron Herrera transferring to CF Montreal.

It’s not all unhealthy information for RSL although. After taking part in simply 5 matches in 2022 on account of harm, Damir Kreilach appears to be like able to go for the beginning of 2023, having began most of RSL’s pre-season matchups. RSL additionally added Colombian winger Andres Gomez, who has the tempo to supply a dynamic attacking risk alongside Jefferson Savorino in huge areas. Will Salt Lake fill the web in 2023? In all probability not, but it surely’s additionally not loopy to say that they need to be higher than final yr, at the very least in assault.

By way of the Whitecaps, I might anticipate their lineup this season to be rather more predictable than the primary 1.5 years beneath Vanni Sartini, excellent news for you! Key spots to look at for on opening day are few and much between when it comes to open competitions. Nonetheless, the three spots that would generate some robust decisions are Goalkeeper, Fullback, and Striker.

I might anticipate Yohei Takaoka to start out for Vancouver however given his current introduction to the squad, there’s at all times an opportunity we see Thomas Hasal between the sticks on Saturday. One thing related could be mentioned for the aforementioned Sergio Cordova at striker. Whereas he’s clearly the primary selection choice, Mind White should begin Saturday as the brand new addition integrates to the squad. Lastly, fullback is a very open competitors with numerous potential choices, though I think about that Luis Martins is the favorite in the mean time, adopted carefully by Ryan Raposo.

Okay, now on to some housekeeping. The principles for 2023 will keep a lot the identical as final yr, except there are vital objections. It’s additionally price noting that we are going to have a mess of competitions to deal with this yr, so I’m open to strategies for a way we should always take care of that. Listed here are the principles for week to week proceedings:

Predictions might be ‘legitimate’ if posted HERE (or extra precisely, whichever is the right match thread) earlier than the lineup is formally introduced, often about an hour earlier than kickoff.

You obtain 1 level for each participant you appropriately guess to be within the Beginning XI. You obtain 4 bonus factors for appropriately predicting all 11 starters.

You get 5 factors for appropriately guessing Win/Lose/Draw, this doubles to 10 when you additionally predict the precise score-line together with the consequence.

All this implies, when you appropriately predict the Beginning XI, Last Rating, and Winner, you may earn 25 factors!

On the finish of every half, the contestant’s lowest two scores of that interval might be deducted from the cumulative standings.

As an extra administrative observe, there might be some modifications to the web site over the approaching months as we transition away from our relationship with SB Nation and Vox media. Relaxation assured that we are going to be doing all the things we are able to to make this transition as seamless as attainable. We’ll maintain you up to date when there are any vital modifications which may alter Guess the Beginning XI, however issues ought to stay largely the identical.

Good luck everybody and benefit from the residence opener!