Since the slacker STT is slacking again , I'll go ahead and start the weekly prediction thread for this season. Week 1 matches: Saturday March 24- North Carolina vs Portland at 3:30 PM EST Orlando vs Utah at 7:30 PM EST Seattle vs Washington at 10 PM EST Sunday March 25- Housron vs Chicago at 5 PM EST. Reminder that all predictions are due before kickoff.
Wow, talking about reminders, I'll post here just as a reminder that I'll have to post my predictions before the week-end!!! I am incredibly busy these days, but my only strength in this kind of competition has always been not missing a match! Shouldn't there also be a ladder prediction thread or something of the kind?
(home team first) NC vs. POR ORL vs. UTAH SEA vs. WAS HOU vs. CHI NC - 1 vs. POR - 0 ORL - 3 vs. UTAH - 0 SEA - 1 vs. WAS -1 HOU - 0 vs. CHI -1
I'll probably to forget to post my season predictions, so here they are now. I have no rationale for #5-#8, and the top 4 could finish in any order. 1. NC 2. CHI 3. POR 4. ORL 5. WAS 6. SEA 7. UTAH 8. SKY 9. HOU NC over ORL - OT CHI over POR - regulation NC over CHI (crystal dunn factor) - regulation
Season predictions: 1. North Carolina 2. Orlando 3. Portland 4. Seattle 5. Chicago 6. Utah 7. SkyBlue 8. Washington 9. Houston Playoffs: North Carolina over Seattle in 90. Portland over Orlando in 120. North Carolina over Portland in 90. Week 1 predictions: North Carolina 2, Portland 0 Orlando 3, Utah 0 Seattle 2, Washington 1 Houston 0, Chicago 1
OK, stats-determined end-of-season predictions (in other words, last year's order of finish in points): 1 North Carolina 2 Portland 3 Orlando 4 Chicago 5 Seattle 6 NJNY 7 Utah 8 Houston 9 Washington Playoffs (using last year's season as stats source): North Carolina (H) 2 v Chicago 1 Portland (H) 2 v Orlando 1 North Carolina 1 v Portland 1 decided by KFTM, Portland wins based on GK. This assumes the game is at a neutral site. If not, the home team wins 2-1 in regular time.
Stats-determined results for this week. I've simply used last season's results as the stats source (less the championship game since it was at a neutral site): North Carolina 2 v Portland 1 Orlando 2 v Utah 1 Seattle 2 v Washington 1 Houston 1 v Chicago 2 I've decided, for my stats, to use last year's results as the data bases for this week's predictions. Each week, as I add games into the data base, I'll drop a week's games out of last year's results. An underlying assumption of this is that teams don't change a lot from year to year, from a stats perspective. With coaching changes, the folding of the Breakers, and some fairly major player movement this year, that may prove to be a poor assumption, but I have to start with some data base. We'll see.
My season standing prediction 1. NCFC - They are simply the best team in the league top to bottom. Only way I see them not finishing first is if they acquire the injury bug or another team massively over performs. 2. Seattle - I know there's some bias on my part with this pick but I genuine think they will do well this season. Other than NCFC they are the next complete team top to bottom. 3. Orlando - This squad is very thin and overly reliant on internationals. Yes NWSL does not overlap with too many FIFA dates but it still takes a toll on international players. 4. Chicago - Picks 4-6 are a toss up for me. But I think Chicago edges out Portland and Utah as they have greater depth. 5. Utah - If they don't sign Press I don't see where the goals come from. 6. Portland - Paper thin squad, too many injuries. 7. Sky Blue FC - They could be a dark horse this season and could potentially make the playoffs. They have solid midfield and strikers but their defense is suspect. 8 Washington - Too many young players and Gabarra is not that great a coach. I'm surprised how long he has maintained his head coaching gig and various leagues. 9. Houston - Not sure what to say here. They have no midfield. Might defend well but if your forwards can't get the ball, well.
This week's predictions: North Carolina 1 Portland 0 Orlando 2 Utah 1 Seattle 3 Washington 0 Houston 0 Chicago 2 My ladder: 1. Seattle Reign 2. North Carolina Courage 3. Portland Thorns 4. Chicago Red Stars 5. Orlando Pride 6. Utah Royals 7. Washington Spirit 8. Sky Blue FC 9. Houston Dash Seattle Reign 3 Chicago Red Stars 1 in regulation North Carolina Courage 1 Portland Thorns 0 in regulation (revenge from last year) Seattle Reign 2 North Carolina 1 in regulation (and finally a well deserved title for Seattle!!!) @cpthomas could capitalize on being the only one not predicting Houston at last place, if for some reason they should come out from their current apparently awful situation. Is it a case that someone informs @SiberianThunderT that we've opened the thread without him (and waiting for him)?
Previously, I have been confident that my predictions would be more or less accurate -- and I think they have been. But....this year I haven't got a clue. I think 7 teams will be fighting to make the playoffs -- with only Utah and Houston unlikely to compete. Thus, with no confidence whatsoever....here's my prediction. 1. North Carolina 2 Chicago 3. Seattle 4. Sky Blue 5. Orlando 6. Portland 7. Washington 8. Utah 9. Houston
Table prediction 1) North Carolina: no real weaknesses; add even more speed with Dunn; they are gritty, athletic and technical -- a winning formula. 2) Orlando: starting 11 is great, perhaps too reliant on internationals 3) Seattle: veteran-heavy team; Vlatko is the best coach in NWSL 4) Chicago: can they overcome injuries, and score goals during Kerr's early season absence? Defense is also a little sketchy. 5) Portland: don't know why, but for some reason I feel they will miss the playoffs. Just a hunch. 6) Sky Blue: their stable of young attackers (and Lloyd) is intriguing, watching Reddy find the best combination will be fun to watch 7) Washington: vastly improved from 2017, but need a year to gel before moving up further 8) Utah: just like the old FCKC, goalscoring will be a problem, unless they trade for Press or Arod can magically find form after not playing since 2015. Also they lost Averbuch, Taylor and Gibbons who with Sauerbrunn were a tough nut to crack defensively. I want them to succeed though; as a new team, winning will be important to draw fans. 9) Houston: no explanation needed This season is the most unpredictable so far. So many personnel changes, and besides Houston all the rosters are pretty talented. In particular, the middle of the table (4 to 8) is almost interchangeable in my mind.
Week 1 predictions North Carolina 2, Portland 1 Orlando 3, Utah 0 Seattle 1, Washington 1 Houston 0, Chicago 2
I don't want to step on anyone's feet, but I guess having the home team always at first place will make it easier for whoever will keep the score on this thread.
Fixed it. Out of habit I put the winning team first, but if home team first is the tradition here I'll gladly abide by it.
I wouldn't mind some of the crew from last year to join again: apart from @SiberianThunderT, of course, we still miss 2017 regular season winner @lil_one, excellent @LucyFearsTheMorningStar, who had helped keeping track of the score from some time if I remember correctly, @lunatica and @59Amerinorsk, if he wants to join us at least from time to time. Anyone knows them enough to get the chance to poke them about this thread?
OK, I know nothing... so, I'll make a guess: This week's predictions: North Carolina 2 Portland 0 Orlando 1 Utah 1 Seattle 2 Washington 0 Houston 1 Chicago 2 My ladder: 1. North Carolina Courage 2. Seattle Reign 3. Portland Thorns 4. Utah Royals 5. Chicago Red Stars 6. Orlando Pride 7. Sky Blue FC 8. Washington Spirit 9. Houston Dash North Carolina 2 Utah Royals 1 Regulation Seattle Reign 1 Portland Thorns 2 Regulation North Carolina 2 Portland Thorns 1 Regulation Yes, I am a believer in the Royals. Why? Because the players can tell the owner cares about their success, comfort, and happiness in both their professional lives and personal lives. Therefore, their play will elevate compared to KC years and we have a top level coach.
OK, here goes... Season prediction: 1. NC 2. Orlando 3. Seattle 4. Chicago 5. Washington 6. Portland 7. Utah 8. Sky Blue 9. Houston Playoffs: NC over Chicago, in regulation Orlando over Seattle, in regulation Final: NC over Orlando, in OT For this week's games: NC 2 - Portland 0 Orlando 2 - Utah 0 Seattle 1 - Spirit 0 Houston 0 - Chicago 0
This week's predictions: North Carolina 2 Portland 1 Orlando 2 Utah 0 Seattle 2 Washington 1 Houston 0 Chicago 2
North Carolina 2 Portland 2 Orlando 2 Utah 1 (is EThor playing forward for Utah ?) Seattle 2 Washington 1 Houston 1 Chicago 2
Season prediction: 1. Chicago 2. NC 3. Orlando 4. Seattle 5. Portland 6. Utah 7. Washington 8. Sky Blue 9. Houston Playoffs: Chicago def. Seattle, 90 min. NC def. Orlando, 90 min. Final: Chicago def. NC, 90 min.
Season prediction: 1. Chicago 2. NC 3. Orlando 4. Seattle 5. Portland 6. Washington 7. Utah 8. Sky Blue 9. Houston Playoffs: Chicago over Seattle, in regulation NC over Orlando, in regulation Final: Chicago over NC, in OT For this week's games: NC 1 - Portland 0 Orlando 2 - Utah 0 Seattle 1 - Spirit 1 Houston 1 - Chicago 0
Ok, seems incredible, since 1-0 was the most common result NC Courage was posting last season, but I was one of just three people (the other ones being Lunatica and, appropriately, CoachJon) to nail the exact result of NC Courage-Portland Thorns (1-0, just finished). For sure, starting the season with a perfect score in the first match of the season is much satisfying! Let's hope it won't be my only good result.