Silverpaw Prediction League: 2008-09

The first post in this thread contains the rules for this season's Silverpaw Prediction League, a few tips, and the schedule of rounds. It will be updated if necessary.

The purpose of the competition is to predict the results, including the scores, of Premier League matches. Any forum member can compete. No registration is necessary; members can predict as often or as infrequently as they like, though regular prediction is more likely to result in higher scores.

Scoring is simply three points for an all correct prediction of a match's scoreline, and one point for a correct result but incorrect score.

A separate thread will be started for each round of the competition, and predictions should be made in the thread. For any match, a prediction will be valid if the timestamp of the post is earlier (even by one minute) than the scheduled kick-off time. Beware of editing your posts, as an entire post will be assumed to have the time of the last edit. If you wish to change predictions for later matches after the first match has kicked off, the safe way to do this is to make a separate post. Results will be published weekly, and will be included in the appropriate prediction thread.

Threads will usually be opened early in the week preceding the weekend's matches. At holiday times, e.g. August, half-terms, Christmas, New Year and Easter, threads will generally be opened a little earlier, so that members going away can have a greater opportunity to make predictions. However, there is nothing to stop anyone from opening a week's prediction thread if you're likely to be absent at a different time. Just make sure "Silverpaw" and the dates of the matches appear in the thread title.

Following feedback, we will be operating for weekend matches and the Christmas holiday matches only. The three rounds of mid-week games, and any postponed matches will be not be included this season.

Probable schedule for the season:

(in all cases the competition will also include matches rescheduled by one or two days due to television or other requirements)

Round 1. 16 Aug - results by Dazza
R2. 23 Aug - Dazza
R3. 30 Aug - Howard
R4. 13 Sep - D
R5. 20 Sep - H
R6. 27 Sep - The Pat (thanks!)
R7. 4 Oct - H
R8. 18 Oct - D
R9. 25 Oct - H
R10. 1 Nov - D
R11. 8 Nov - H
R12. 15 Nov - D
R13. 22 Nov - H
R14. 29 Nov - D
R15. 6 Dec - H
R16. 13 Dec - D
R17. 20 Dec - H
R18. (Fri) 26 Dec - D
R19. (Sun) 28 Dec - H
R20. 10 Jan - D
R21. 17 Jan - H
R22. 31 Jan - D
R23. 7 Feb - H
R24. 21 Feb - D
R25. 28 Feb - H
R26. 14 Mar - D
R27. 21 Mar - H
R28. 4 Apr - D
R29. 11 Apr - H
R30. 18 Apr - D
R31. 25 Apr - H
R32. 2 May - D
R33. 9 May - H
R34. 16 May - D
R35. (Sun) 24 May - H

Good work and nice one on putting yourself forward again Howard :]

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO <3 Silverpaw

Thanks for taking on another year howard and crew!

Do it Howard, do it.

Its what I look forward to every weekend

Nice one H and whatever format you choose is fine by me

Nice one. I missed that start of the predictions last year, and then faded away at the end too. But it'll be good to have it back

I'd be more than happy to help out again, Howard.

Was just thinking the other day that I hadn't seen you around for a while, and was going to post something like this myself!

Would be good if you do it again Howard

One thing I would say is don't extend it to midweek matches as some people mentioned last season. Its good just being a weekend thing and including any matches played on weekends. Think the balance was perfect last season.

Can't wait I'm going for a title after good performances for two seasons in a row.

Aye, I'm not too keen on midweek either, unless the deadline was on a Saturday as normal. Too many people would forget every now and then otherwise I think.

I certainly take your point about not including mid-week fixtures, Hinchy and Ripper. It's obviously better if as many people as possible can take part as often as possible. There are only three schedules mid-week programmes this season, so we won't lose much if we don't operate on those days.

I've just noticed that there is no extra Premier League programme for Easter Week once again. Also no New Year Programme at all, due to FA Cup. Also, the season is continuing later than I've ever known it, with the final round of matches on 24th May.

Thanks Dazza for offering to help once again. Are you going to be ok for the first two weeks of the season? I can't do either of them, nor 27th September or 11th October.

So if you start with two, and then we alternate, we should be ok. Let me know if there are any that you can't do.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I'll have the first thread started sometime this week, so people can start predicting before going on hols.

Drawoh Tesremos said:

I've just noticed that there is no extra Premier League programme for Easter Week once again. Also no New Year Programme at all, due to FA Cup. Also, the season is continuing later than I've ever known it, with the final round of matches on 24th May.

Thanks Dazza for offering to help once again. Are you going to be ok for the first two weeks of the season? I can't do either of them, nor 27th September or 11th October.

So if you start with two, and then we alternate, we should be ok. Let me know if there are any that you can't do.

Click to expand...

First time I remember it finishing after my birthday!

Those dates are fine with me Howard. AFAIK there aren't any I won't be able to do, but if anything crops up, then you'll probably know nearer the time. As of yet, I'm not planning on going anywhere on holiday

Just a quick question:

In your first post, Howard, you mention people can post as frequently or infrequently as they like, but will we be having a "cut-off" like last year?

e.g After (x) games, people with less than (x) predictions will not be included in the table, unless they catch up later?

Perhaps after every 7 games, people who have predicted 1 round of matches or less will not be included in the overall scoreboard, then after 14 games, 2 rounds or less, 21 matches - 3 rounds or less, etc.

Not a problem, Dazza. In my spreadsheet I keep a record of all predictions. But when publishing the results omit those near the bottom. So someone who only predicts for the first couple of weeks, takes most of the season off, then returns for the last eight weeks, will still be shown at the end with 10 weeks of predictions, but won't appear in the tables for a lot of the season.
As far as publishing results for the season, I agree with your suggestion, after every seven games knock one more off the bottom.

Drawoh Tesremos said:

Not a problem, Dazza. In my spreadsheet I keep a record of all predictions. But when publishing the results omit those near the bottom. So someone who only predicts for the first couple of weeks, takes most of the season off, then returns for the last eight weeks, will still be shown at the end with 10 weeks of predictions, but won't appear in the tables for a lot of the season.
As far as publishing results for the season, I agree with your suggestion, after every seven games knock one more off the bottom.

Click to expand...

Good stuff

Random question... Why not just use I Know The Score on Barclays Premier League site?

Doubt as many people would bother with that. This has more of a community feel to it

Is there not going to be a round for this Wednesday?

We don't do midweek games iinm.

Fair fair.