Eighty Six Forever, Guess the Starting XI, Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Guess the Starting XI – Match 23 vs. San Jose

Welcome back, everyone.

After a restful Leagues Cup break, the Vancouver Whitecaps are back to MLS action this weekend as they host the San Jose Earthquakes at BC Place. This will be the last home match for Vancouver for more than a month, as they set off on a lengthy road trip following this match, which will likely make or break their playoff positioning.

Obviously, all eyes will be on newcomers Richie Laryea and Sam Adekugbe as they will look to make their Whitecaps debuts. How exactly Vanni Sartini aims to use them will be of significant interest, especially Adekugbe, who’s best position is perhaps more debatable than his counterpart.

Equally, this break should have allowed some time for fellow Canadian International Ali Ahmed to get back up to speed, as after a Voyageurs Cup concussion and subsequent Gold Cup injury, his progression with the Whitecaps has been significantly delayed. Many will be hoping, myself included, that he can return to an impact midfield contributor for this team down the stretch.

In terms of San Jose, they had a disappointing Leagues Cup, losing to both Portland and Tigres, failing to emerge from their group. Given this, they’ve been off since July. In MLS play, San Jose sits just one point above the Whitecaps, 6th in the West, but with one more match played. San Jose’s advanced numbers suggest that they are greatly over-performing in MLS play, so the Whitecaps will be looking to bring them back down to earth on Sunday. Cristian Espinoza is solo 4th in MLS with 11 goals on just 6.2 xG, so that probably helps.

It’s my understanding everyone is available for selection, I will provide any further updates here when available. Update as of Sunday AM: Luis Martins is out with a left calf strain.

Ok, on to rules and standings:

  • Predictions will be ‘valid’ if posted HERE (or more accurately, whichever is the correct match thread) before the lineup is officially announced, usually about an hour before kickoff.
  • You receive 1 point for every player you correctly guess to be in the Starting XI. You receive 4 bonus points for correctly predicting all 11 starters.
  • You get 5 points for correctly guessing Win/Lose/Draw, this doubles to 10 if you also predict the right score-line along with the result.
  • All this means, if you correctly predict the Starting XI, Final Score, and Winner, you can earn 25 points!
  • At the end of each half, the contestant’s lowest two scores of that period will be deducted from the cumulative standings

19 thoughts on “Guess the Starting XI – Match 23 vs. San Jose”

  1. 2-0 Whitecaps
    Takaoka
    Laryea Veselinovic Blackmon
    Cubas
    Berhalter Schopf Vite White
    Gauld Cordova

    I’m not 100% confident that the Caps will get a clean sheet but there is certainly a chance! I’m not confident about two goals either — I would be for one goal! Also, no clue what the mid will look like! Or in front! Is Ahmed back? Would love to put him in!

    Two SJ matches at BC Place always stand out in my mind because for one, I had said Wondolowski would score, and he did. And for the other, I was so turned off by my date during the match that I dumped him immediately after.

    Reply

  10. Takaoka
    Blackmon Veselinovic Martins
    Laryea Ahmed Cubas Schöpf Laryea
    White Gauld

    3-0 Caps. Bring on the inevitably playoff bound Inter Miami for the MLS Cup final!

    Reply

  11. I dont think my post posted

    I remember our game 1 loss to SJ away. Were loooked soo good and still lost. Surely we gonna crush our “rivals” at bc place.
    5 0 W

    Takaoka
    Blackmon, ranko, laborda
    Cubas
    Ahmed, shopf, vite, adekugbe
    White, gauld

    Reply

  12. 5 0 W I remember game 1 of the year. Away at SJ. We looked great at lost big time. Surely we can crush them at home.

    Takaoka
    Laborda, ranko, blackmon
    Cubas
    Ahmed, vite, shopf, adekugbe
    Gauld, white

    Reply

  14. Great to be back to whitecaps MLS play. This is my wish list lineup not sure Ali or Richie will start.

    Takaoka
    Blackmon Veselinovic Adekugbe
    Cubas
    Laryea Schopf Vite Ahmed
    White Gauld

    2-1 VFC

    Reply

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