The Thorns Prediction Game: Reading the PTFC Leaves – Matchday 5

No player predicted last week’s 1-1 draw with the Spirit, so the scores were a bit low this week. A perfect prediction would have earned 17 points; this week’s winner was One.Goal.Beyond with five points for calling a Sinclair PK and getting a “rec” for the prediction that the Thorns’ excellence would distract the Riveters from the lack of tater tots. New player cccccc earned four points for calling the Sinclair PK and Sonnett yellow card.

Ted Servata remains in first place but it’s getting tighter. The middle-of-the-pack position is a tie between tonysocref and ddornblaser.

This week sees the Thorns off to Salt Lake City for the first time. As we know all too well, Laura Harvey has historically had Mark Parsons’ number at home, except for that one glorious time last year in Seattle. However, her new team has been lacking punch up front, scoring only three goals this season, two on goalkeeping howlers. The Royals aren’t likely to get any gifts from Eckerstrom or Franch.

How this works:

Add a comment to this post. In the comment title, put your predicted result, for example, 3-1 Thorns.

In the body of your comment, start with the goals and assists, like so:

Weber (Klingenberg)

Sinclair (Free kick)

Horan (Unassisted)

Jonsdottir (PK)

Next, name the first yellow card recipient: First yellow to Sonnett

Then reds, if any. (NOTE: no points awarded for correctly calling a red-card-free match, so take a guess.) Sauerbrunn gets a red for tripping Sinclair on the edge of the box.

And lastly, make your fun prediction:

The Thorns trainer has a six-pack of oxygen bottles instead of water and the players share hits during injury breaks.

Scoring:

· 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)

· Most recommended/most outrageously accurate prediction: 2 points

Some ground rules and explanations/clarifications (the fine print):

Comments must be posted before kickoff, but you can edit or amend an earlier prediction right up to the starting whistle.

Keep your scoreline predictions realistic. No crazy scores just to pad out your odds of getting goals and assists.

The goal/assist bonus is an additional point if you predict the correct scorer and assistant on the same goal—for example, you say Onumonu scores from a Horan assist and that is exactly what happens.

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: not in run of play. For the purposes of this thread, Penalty Kick and Free Kick are the same thing. No entry means unassisted.

Have fun, tell your friends, let me know if you have any questions or if I screw up your score.