After a week off, it’s time to make some more Timbers predictions! Two weeks ago, as you may recall, the Portland Timbers surprised MLS by not only winning against league-leaders New York City FC, but doing so in convincing fashion with their first shut out of the season. Though the team only had around 25% possession, they dominated the counter and general chance creation on their way to scoring three goals thanks to Sebastian Blanco, Fanendo Adi, and Larrys Mabiala. Meanwhile, NYCFC had only three shots on target, two of which were from beyond 25 yards.
Predictions of the week go to 4-5-2, RCTID26, and STYLES34 who all predicted a Timbers win and earned seven points each. Silliness of the week goes to BarmyTarmy for his prediction that the Timbers would outshoot NYCFC on the way to a 3-0 loss, with only one of those shots on target. It didn’t quite happen exactly in reverse, but NYCFC did have more total shots than PTFC, yet still failed to cause much trouble for Jeff Attinella.
A perfect prediction would have earned 21 points:
Timbers 3-0 NYCFC
Blanco (Andres Flores OR Alvas Powell); Adi (unassisted); Mabiala (Diego Valeri)
Alexander Ring for first yellow.
Under on total cards
After their first two home games of 2018, the Timbers go on the road once again to face the San Jose Earthquakes. San Jose is one of two teams in the western conference with a worse record than the Timbers, with two draws and one win. And in three home matches so far, they’ve won one, drawn one, and lost one, so Avaya Stadium hasn’t been particularly friendly this year. PTFC, on the other hand has yet to win an away game, despite having five tries already this season. So, at least on paper, this match up looks to be one that might lack decisive soccer. Which team will come out on top, if either? Can the Timbers finally get a road win, or will San Jose be too desperate for a result at home?
Total Cards O/U: 5.5
The Scoring Format:
- Correct score: 5 points
- Correct result (draw/win/loss): 3 points
- Each clean sheet: 2 points
- Each goal-scorer: 1 point
- Each FK/PK/assist/lack of assist: 1 point
- Goal/assist bonus: 1 point
- Player with the first yellow card of the match: 1 point
- Each player with a red card: 1 point (Cannot earn points for predicting 0 red cards, but you may predict up to 3 players with a red.)
- Over/under on total cards: 1 point
- Most outrageous(ly accurate) prediction: 2 points
Some ground rules and explanations/clarifications (the fine print):
You may amend your prediction at any point up to kick off to account for game day 18 announcements. I recommend at least getting an initial prediction sooner, just in case you forget to come back in that hour or two before the game.
Keep your scoreline predictions realistic. Basically, if you’re predicting lots of goals all the time to just earn points on goals and assists and ignoring the score, I feel that goes against the spirit of this thread. This hasn’t been at all a problem in the last two years, so let’s keep it that way!
The goal/assist bonus is an additional point if you correctly get the correct scorer and assistant on the same goal. (e.g., if Nagbe scores, assisted by Valeri, and you predicted that exact combination you get a total of three points - 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 bonus. However, if you predicted Nagbe scores assisted by Adi and Adi scores assisted by Valeri, you would get two points from the Nagbe/Valeri prediction - 1 goal, 1 assist)
Please be clear whether you think a goal will be unassisted, assisted, or from a PK/FK. Unassisted = no assist, run of play; Assisted = player who got the assist; PK/FK = directly from a free kick. For the purposes of this thread, a PK counts as a FK, and a FK as a PK. If you just leave the assist section blank, I will assume you’re declining to make an assist prediction.
Even though a player can be awarded a secondary assist by OPTA, I will award a maximum of one assist point per goal. But that point can come from either the primary or secondary assist in the box score. However, please keep your predictions to one assist per goal.
For the over/under on cards, a second yellow leading to a red counts as two cards, not three.
You may predict more than one red card if you’re expecting a chippy match, but only up to three total.
For the most outrageous(ly accurate) prediction, I will be trying to toe a line between completely absurd and mundane in my choices. As I see it, the goal here is to add even more fun without going too over-the-top ridiculous. So, in my mind, the best predictions will be something that could conceivably happen, but don’t happen often, like amusing coaching spats or goals that bounce off the crossbar, then off the keeper’s back, and then in. Things like that.
If you’re looking for where I set the over/under on total cards, check the end of the preview paragraph after the standings.
Format:
In the comment title, post your predicted score with the winners, eg: 4-2 Timbers
In the body of your comment, start with the goals and assists, like so:
Nagbe (Valeri)
Valeri (Free kick)
Adi (PK)
Blanco (Unassisted)
Beckham (Free kick)
Donovan (Beckham)
Next, choose your first yellow card, and that means picking only one person.
First yellow to Nigel De Jong
Then reds, if any. (NOTE: no points awarded for correctly calling a red-card-free match, so take a guess.)
Nigel De Jong gets a red card for stomping Blanco.
Clearly note whether you’re predicting over or under on total cards. Don’t leave me to try and figure it out!
And lastly, make your fun prediction.
Nigel de Jong tries to stomp Nagbe’s ankle again, but this time, Nagbe avoids the tackle. Being angry Nagbe for the first time in three years, he kicks the ball straight into NDJ’s groin. Camera pans to a trademark Chara smile.
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