EPL Survivor Pool

Which pool option do you prefer

  • A) One team to win or draw each week, must pick new team each week, resets for second half

    Votes: 1 14.3%
  • B) One team to win or draw each week, must pick new team each week, pool for 1st & 2nd halves

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • C) One team to win or draw each week, each team may be picked up to 2x, one pool for season

    Votes: 6 85.7%

  • Total voters
    7

candylandriots

unkempt
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
Hey guys - I'll update everyone on the competition probably tomorrow. But I did want to pass on some sad news. I don't think any of you knew him, but Marcos Rios from our pool passed away this weekend. You'd have a hard time finding a kinder, gentler man than Marcos. I had just gotten him into soccer because he has a 7-month old baby, and I think it's kind of the law for new dads who are sports fans, right? Even better, Marcos decided to support Palace with me, and I got his son a CP onesie (and have a great picture of them watching the game together in it). Marcos was a lifelong Sox and Pats fan, and grew up in Southbridge, MA. One of my favorite memories with him was seeing the Sox and Yankees in London together.

There is zero obligation to do anything like this, but if anyone wants to chip in a small contribution to his son Gabe's college fund, you can do it here (and I'm amazed at how much it's grown in a single day).

https://gofund.me/f57e76c6

Full disclosure: my wife and I are not contributing to the GFM, but are going to do something separate for Gabe.
 

candylandriots

unkempt
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
Things looking pretty good for Ronny right now. I had Southamption in my spreadsheet, but remembered I didn't send myself an email with a pick to have proof, and decided to change to Manchester United. Galaxy brain in action apparently.

If this ends this weekend (which is looking quite possible), would you guys prefer to do a new pool right away, or wait until the second half of the season?
 

teddykgb

Member
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Jul 16, 2005
11,016
Chelmsford, MA
You had it backwards btw. I gladly chose United because either I got through or I got to laugh because United lost to Watford. It was a win/win
 

candylandriots

unkempt
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
Did we decide on rules for draws?
Do you mean for drawn games or if Spurs/Ronny lose tomorrow?

If the former...we haven't decided anything. I get what people are saying regarding the "feel" about players advancing with draws. But at the same time, this thing is going to be over before 1/3 of the season has been played. Do we need to make it harder?

If the latter...I guess we can either have a discussion among the three last player whether to keep going or split the money.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,845
Do you mean for drawn games or if Spurs/Ronny lose tomorrow?

If the former...we haven't decided anything. I get what people are saying regarding the "feel" about players advancing with draws. But at the same time, this thing is going to be over before 1/3 of the season has been played. Do we need to make it harder?
I'll go with whatever is decided. I just meant it we may start next week, I wanted to know what they rules were.
 

candylandriots

unkempt
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
Just sent this email out to the players, but copying here if there is wider interest:

Hello Everyone

Well, it's all over...at least the first one. Congratulations to Ronny S., who like his native Canada, sits atop our CONCACAFish competition here. Ronny, you should receive your winnings shortly.

There seems to be interest in doing another round (or two) of this. So, a few questions for everyone:

1) Do you want to start in Week 13, or start at the midpoint of the season?
2) Should we have any rule changes?
a) Fewer than two picks per team in a shorter round
b) A penalty for picking teams that draw. The best suggestion I've seen is that if you pick two teams that draw in a row, you'd be eliminated.

My personal view is that this was difficult enough as it was, cleaning everyone out after only 12 weeks, and I don't think that we need any real changes. But if there is a strong view, I'm certainly open to making some changes.

It would be great to get some additional players into the game as well, so feel free to share this among friends that may be interested.

If you want to get things started again right away, please let me know in the next couple of days...Otherwise, we can start it at the midway point of the season (after week 19).

Thanks for playing and good luck next time around.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
Congrats to Ronny! Is he a SOSH member? I have trouble linking real names to SOSH handles.

And big thanks to Jeff for running this thing and offering to do it again, even in the face of a terrible tragedy.

I'm up for going again.

My gut instinct is not to mess with the rule regarding draws, as my worry would be that this would incentivize people just to completely frontload the best teams rather than taking some calculated risks on lower table sides and that would make it a little boring. But I don't have strong feelings and will go with anything.

I'm happy to start now or mid-season. If we started now, how would it work in terms of the number of times you could pick each team? Allowing two picks per team might be too much, as you could go through the rest of the season without ever selecting any of the relegation-threatened sides. Maybe we can only pick each team once and then if the league is somehow still going 20 weeks from now then we figure out some kind of system for weeks 33-38?
 

CPT Neuron

Got Pitching?
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Dec 4, 2001
3,515
Biddeford, ME
Congrats, Ronny...

Let's run it back - not sure I would change the rules if we start up immediately, but can see the logic of making a few caveats (maybe you can only pick a team a second time after all teams have been picked once?). If we wait and start at the half-way point, I'd suggest that a player can only choose a team once.
 

candylandriots

unkempt
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
First off, Ronny is not a member here. He has the distinction of being one of the few people I genuinely liked at my old company and probably the first person that I really discussed soccer with. We worked together for many years (him in Toronto, me in New York), and he's the rare finance person that I'm happy to stay in touch with. On the negative side for Ronny, he's a Toronto FC, Chelsea and Lazio fan (that one is by birth), so adjust your opinions of him accordingly (in his defense, I'm completely sure he's not a fascist, and I remember him sounding apologetic about it to me before I knew their history and he didn't know that I was clueless then.) I can't defend the Chelsea thing though, because that was 100% his own choice. His father either is or was on the Toronto FC board, so I forgive him that one.

Seems like the bit of feedback that I've gotten is that people are eager to start again. I think we take this week off, and start at week 14. Hopefully this will give us a chance to get a few more participants as well. I think that since we will be starting with 24 weeks left in the season, 2x per team is still ok. Does anyone have strong objections? And advance with win or draw?

Thanks for your feedback and participation. Ideally, we will can get enough players recruited for next season that we can go a whole season and not need to restart. That would be my goal anyway.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
It's fun. i'm in whatever the rules.

Suggestions and that's all they are:

-Draw is ok but you must win the next week. 2 draws in a row = out.
-Can pick a team 2x but second pick must be a win - if you're going to go back to the well you can't skate with a draw.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
It's fun. i'm in whatever the rules.

Suggestions and that's all they are:

-Draw is ok but you must win the next week. 2 draws in a row = out.
-Can pick a team 2x but second pick must be a win - if you're going to go back to the well you can't skate with a draw.
I don't care for the first suggestion but love the second. Unless that makes it much harder on @candylandriots
 

candylandriots

unkempt
Lifetime Member
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
Just sent out this email to the participants of round 1. For those Gazzers that didn't play the first time around, you should get in! I think that it was enjoyed by pretty much everyone.

Thank you all for your feedback. We are going to take this week off, and then start again in Week 14. This is partly because I'm moving on Tuesday and things will be hectic enough, partly to give everyone a break and time to strategize and partly so you guys can hopefully have some time to recruit some additional players.

I am not going to make any changes to the rules this time around. You can still pick each team up to twice. Ideally, I'd like to get this thing large enough for next season that we can hopefully go an entire season through instead of lasting only 12 weeks. That might mean some rule tweaks then. The best suggestion that I've seen is that if you pick a team a second time, they have to win instead of just draw. We will talk all that out before the new season starts, but for now, we will have exactly the same rules as the first time around.

Entry fee is still $20 to jkempa@yahoo.com via PayPal. Please make NO MENTION of the pool/gambling.

If you have any questions, please do let me know. Please try and get some new folks to join as well! The more the merrier!

Thank you all!
Jeff
 

Jimy Hendrix

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2002
5,846
I think I'm out for this one, too many other balls in the air at this time.

It was super fun though, I'll probably do more in the future and encourage anyone reading and thinking "hrmmm" to throw in.
 

candylandriots

unkempt
Lifetime Member
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
And sorry to keep banging this drum, but we're missing a lot of players from the first time around. So hopefully you're all just waiting for the last minute ;)

Apologies for my disorganization though the past few weeks with getting this restarted. The pool will run more smoothly than getting it restarted has been.
 

Marceline

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Sep 9, 2002
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And sorry to keep banging this drum, but we're missing a lot of players from the first time around. So hopefully you're all just waiting for the last minute ;)

Apologies for my disorganization though the past few weeks with getting this restarted. The pool will run more smoothly than getting it restarted has been.
Just sent mine
 

teddykgb

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
11,016
Chelmsford, MA
Gonna pass this time as I just don’t trust myself to pick during Xmas period. Keep me on the mail list as I’d definitely do next season
 

candylandriots

unkempt
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
Reminder that there is a Friday game this week, so picks due by 3pm eastern.

Also, looks like Brighton-Spurs has been postponed, so you’ll only have 9 games to pick from.
 

Marceline

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Not sure if Jeff is checking email so just sharing here for the record, I'd picked Burnley and since the match was postponed late, I'm switching my pick to Crystal Palace.
 

candylandriots

unkempt
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
Not sure if Jeff is checking email so just sharing here for the record, I'd picked Burnley and since the match was postponed late, I'm switching my pick to Crystal Palace.
Gotcha - thanks for sending the change!

Edit: and nice choice already! I’m rooting for you :)
 

candylandriots

unkempt
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
As of this moment in time, five of this weekend's ten games have been postponed. Still scheduled are Villa-Burnley, Leeds-Arsenal, Wolves-Chelsea, Toon-Man City, Spurs-Liverpool. All of the other games have been postponed due to Covid (I'll just take this moment to note that if you had to pick one team that it was guaranteed to be running through, Watford would have to be your choice, right?)

What do you want to do?

1) We can play with the five games we have this week. There are some games that I'd imagine people would have picked anyway.
2) We can play this week and reassess after the end of the weekend's games.
3) We can put a hold on the competition until the EPL is back to playing regularly scheduled games (say, 8 or more per gameweek).

Open to any thoughts, comments, etc.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
I replied to Jeff's email but I'll post here- I hate to say it but I think 3 is the only choice given the possible inequities that come out of this, with different people having different teams off the board.
 

Marceline

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Sep 9, 2002
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I would vote for #2 but I don't have strong feelings either way and would have no objections if people want option 3.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,845
I also responded via email but I think 3 is best option. Part of the strategy is using certain teams and saving certain teams, and having half the teams unavailable is tough.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
I wrote to Jeff over email and de facto voted for #1/#2 but I don't have strong feelings. I do think submitting backup choices should be considered if we do decide to go forward.

This is what I wrote:

If there are still five games, my inclination is just to keep going for this weekend. My guess is that the PL makes the decision for us after this weekend anyway (shutting down the league for a while).

One thing we might consider for this weekend is asking people to submit a backup choice, so if you pick, say, Man City on Sunday and that fixture gets canceled at the last minute due to an outbreak, your backup choice of Aston Villa on Saturday becomes your first choice. Otherwise a late cancellation could throw things into chaos.
 

CPT Neuron

Got Pitching?
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Dec 4, 2001
3,515
Biddeford, ME
I have no strong feelings , though I did email Jeff my pick in case it goes forward, either way. I can see arguments for each position for sure. My inclination is to continue to pick as long as they keep playing, limiting our pool of teams to those that are actually playing, but that is going to make for some tough sledding. SO I'm good with the voice of the many.
 

candylandriots

unkempt
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
Just sent this email

Hi Everyone

I have been thinking about this today. I appreciate all of the feedback and also encouraging words that I received from you all. I think that the most fair thing to do is to suspend the pool for now. We basically all are still in (except for one of Ronny's picks), and given the realistic choices along with the strategies everyone may be employing, I think that this is the fairest option for now.

Please keep up with your email over the holidays. I may restart on short notice, but I think I won't restart until there are at least 8 games that will be played during a game week.

Thank you all for understanding and hopefully we will restart soon!
Jeff
 

candylandriots

unkempt
Lifetime Member
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Mar 30, 2004
12,327
Berlin
As it currently stands, it looks like we have eight games scheduled for Sunday (Leeds and Watford still unable to field teams, so their games have been postponed. I have some thoughts on that, but I guess this isn’t the place.)

Should we go ahead with picks for Boxing Day? I was thinking that we could maybe set a minimum game requirement of say, at least 6 matches must be played for it to be a valid week. Please provide some feedback on these two ideas (play Boxing Day and automatic suspension with fewer than 6 games being played in a game week).
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
As it currently stands, it looks like we have eight games scheduled for Sunday (Leeds and Watford still unable to field teams, so their games have been postponed. I have some thoughts on that, but I guess this isn’t the place.)

Should we go ahead with picks for Boxing Day? I was thinking that we could maybe set a minimum game requirement of say, at least 6 matches must be played for it to be a valid week. Please provide some feedback on these two ideas (play Boxing Day and automatic suspension with fewer than 6 games being played in a game week).
I just posted w/r/t the actual PL competition that I think they should shut it down, the cancellations and need to dip deep into the rosters threatens the integrity of the competition.

Which i think it does with this too. Even clubs that are playing have some players out, I know Everton are down to 9 outfield players and 3 keepers available and they're still being made to play. They're going to have to go deep into the U23's and some kids are going to have to make their PL debuts. I've been advocating for playing the kids but this is a bit much. For purposes of the survivor pool, it's the functional equivalent of trying to handicap a spring-training game with squads composed of a bunch of high school and college grads with jersey numbers in the 60's and 70's. I don't know if Everton's 17 yos are better than Burnley's. Plus the game I pick could be called even after I make the pick, which is a logistical nightmare.

I do put some work into who to pick and others do too, but it might as well be darts now.

Long winded post and this is all for fun anyway so who cares, but I'd say let's stop until they stabilize.