Rose City Forecast 4: Chicago Fire vs Portland Timbers

Once again, it’s time to predict the outcome of the Timbers match this weekend. But first, the results from the last two games:

MindfulCyclist had the foresight to be pessimistic enough to pick a loss to NYRB and got two of the goal scorers, plus two assists to take home the pick of the week for that match while oregonvania gets the two points for the absurdist prediction that two NYRB players would collide in the box, the ref would think PTFC was to blame until VAR, and then everyone would freak out. It sounds almost as comical as what actually happened. And that’s that for that match. Hopefully we need never mention it again.

Last weekend, the Timbers got their first result, a 1-1 draw in Dallas (Frisco). Considering the team’s history there, not a bad result at all. And if that’s not enough reason for a tinge of optimism, well, Chara’s back! In addition, Ridgewell wasn’t just left out of the starting eleven, he was left in Portland. But, his replacement, Bill Tuiloma, served more than capably; earning a nod to MLS’s team of the week. The goals came courtesy of Roland Lamah for Dallas with Hayes on the assist, and Sebastian Blanco via Fanendo Adi for PTFC. And then, of course, there was the red card. If you missed it, go watch Lawrence Olum get his second yellow for a failed ‘hand of God’ attempt. Alas, none of you predicted that he would be sent off.

Matthew Hoffman and UNOPrivateer share the honors for most accurate pick as the only two to correctly guess the 1-1 scoreline. After the NYRB debacle, most of you were a little too pessimistic, and so point totals weren’t very high. landoid takes the amusing pick for suggesting that a) Urruti would score, and b) would then proceed to accidentally shoot himself in the foot with his bow-and-arrow celebration. Someone should suggest that to him, just for laughs.

Anyway, the perfect prediction (for 17 points) would’ve been:

1-1

Blanco (Adi)

Lamah (Hayes)

First yellow to Hedges.

Over on total cards.

And a red to Olum.

Onto the important part, the standings.

This weekend, the Timbers have their fourth of their five road games to start the season; this time in Illinois to face the Chicago Fire. The Fire are the one MLS team (with more than one historical meeting) that has never beaten the Timbers, and they’ve started 2018 in similar fashion to the Timbers - with two losses. However, it was their turn to have a bye week, so perhaps they’ve managed a turnaround. On the other side, PTFC finally found some stability with their Christmas Tree formation and the return of one Diego Chara. It is also the second match for which Liam Ridgewell did not travel. Can Tuiloma replicate last week’s performance and help the Timbers maintain their unbeaten streak versus the fire?

Total Cards O/U: 3.5

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.

As always, any questions about anything?