A guide for the upcoming Copa Libertadores final between Santos and Palmeiras
Hey fellas, as some of you may know, January 30th will see two Brazilian sides deciding the next Libertadores in a single game at nothing less than the legendary Maracanã Stadium. Given that most of the sub doesn’t really follow South American football but are probably interested in such a hyped match, I thought it’d be nice to write up a little guide on the history of both teams in the competition, how and why they got to the final this year, and what players could tip the balance on such a big stage. This first part ended up way longer than I expected, so I guess it’s better to make this into a 2-part post. I’ll post the rest sometime this next week. Sorry about my poor English sometimes! Santos in Libertadores - We could have more Considering the power and fame of the 1960s Santos squad, one could expect them to have lifted continental glory more than twice in that period. After steamrolling two back-to-back Libertadores, in 1962 and 1963, the team of Pelé, Vavá, Coutinho, Mengálvio and others didn’t win another cup until 2011, with a 20-year old Neymar as their brightest star. In 1964, Pelé was injured against the Argentinian Independiente. In 1965, an upsetting defeat in 3 matches against the losing side in 1962, Peñarol, with Pelé on the pitch this time. Worth noticing that in 62 and 63 Santos also won the Club World Cup, against European champions Benfica and Milan. 1962 Santos: State, country, continent and world champions. For some years after 1965, the Brazilian presence in Libertadores was an on-and-off thing, because the country’s federation decided it would be more economically appealling to tour Europe than to play the defunded continental competition. So in 3 years (1966, 1969-70) there were no representatives from Brazil and in one year (1967) Santos declined to play, because the traveling would jeopardize their performance in the national league. So one could say Santos’ 1960s golden generation, which is to many the best team of the world in that decade, didn’t have a continental performance to match their 6 domestic titles and all the deserved international praise it used to get. After almost going all the way in 2003, but losing to a teenage Carlitos Tevez and his Boca Juniors in the finals, the Santos 2011 Libertadores run was nothing short of amazing. Passing a shaky group stage, the young team led by Neymar and Paulo Henrique Ganso showed mental fortitude to knockout the Mexican America, the Colombian Once Caldas and the Paraguayan Cerro Porteño before facing, once again, Peñarol. In all stages prior to the finals, Santos had drawed one leg and won the other one. The pattern repeated itself, as after a 0-0 in Uruguay, the Brazilian club triumphed with a 2-1 in São Paulo to become South American champions once again, 48 years later. This dude was already rocking South America with 19 years old. Palmeiras in Libertadores - Oh boy, here we go again Palmeiras is a domestic kraken. No other team has won as many national titles as the Italian descendants in green. They have 10 in total, plus 4 other runner-up campaigns. The second on that list, with 8 titles? You guessed, it, Santos. It’s common place to say that in Brazil, the national league always has at least 10 real contenders. In recent years, this has been changing with a few short dinasties popping up here and there, but througout the 20th century, each team of the “Big Twelve” has had their time to shine. Except from the late 50s to the early 70s. During this period, Palmeiras and Santos staged a two-club dinasty that saw one of them either as champion or runner up in of 15 out of 17 competitions between 1959 and 1972. The influence of these two squads was so great that, some years after this complete dominance of both teams, the Palmeiras-Santos derby was appropriately coined "The Derby of Nostalgia". Pelé x Ademir da Guia - my grandpa says they were pretty good, and he knows a lot about football. Palmeiras’ squad from the 60s, with the legendary Ademir da Guia at their helm, found much success in the earliest forms of the Brazilian national league, but disappointed when crossing the border. No Libertadores glory from that era, with runner-up runs in 1961, in a tight 1-0 loss against, you called it, Peñarol; and in 1968, when not even the 11 cup goals by Tupãzinho helped them - a 2-0 defeat in the third match against the Argentinian Estudiantes de La Plata. But unlike Santos, which had many lost decades after their golden one, only resurfacing to relevance in the last 20 years, Palmeiras was a bit more constant. After a dark 1980s, they returned to proeminence in the 90s with several great squads, mostly due to a very lucrative partnership with Parmalat. Edmundo, Evair, Alex, Oséas, Zinho, Djalminha, Paulo Nunes, César Sampaio, Júnior Baiano - year in, year out, some of the best players in the continent were seen in green. They went all the way in 93 and 94, stopping short in knockout upsets in other years. But in the hall of Libertadores champions of the 90s, you’d see many Brazilian clubs - São Paulo, Grêmio, Cruzeiro, Vasco - but not Palmeiras. They just didn’t have the mindset to win the continent? Bad luck? Pressure? It changed in 1999, under the command of Luis Felipe Scolari. After winning the domestic cup in 1998, Palmeiras qualified for Libertadores. At the time, the rules were to stack teams from the same country together - so Palmeiras had to face Brazilian champions and fierce rivals Corinthians, as well as Paraguayans Cerro Porteño and Olímpia. After winning the derby in the opening round and a assuring 5-2 triumph against Cerro, three bad games brought suspicion among the ranks - 4-2 defeat against Olimpia, 1-1 against the weak Cerro and a 2-1 defeat against Corinthians. In the last group stage game, a tight 2-1 win against Olimpia and Palmeiras was through. Ask any Brazilian 90s kid what was the best team of the decade and the answer will be a prompt \"THE PARMALAT PALMEIRAS\" 90% of the time - the other 10% will probably be Corinthians supporters. In the Round of 16, facing reigning Libertadores champions Vasco da Gama, an easy 4-2 win in the second leg. Then Corinthians again, this time in the quarterfinals. In the first leg, even though the final score marked 2-0 for Palmeiras, the goalkeeper Marcos was undoubtedly the man of the match, with a memorable performance. He had been filling for Palmeiras icon Velloso, who injured himself back in the group stage. In the second leg, Corinthians returned the 2-0, but Marcos once again was heroic, defending a penalty kick by Vampeta and carrying Palmeiras through the semifinals, against River Plate. After losing in Argentina, a 3-0 win in São Paulo with a great performance by a 21-year old Alex. After 31 years, Palmeiras was playing a Libertadores finals, against the Colombian Deportivo Cali. Palmeiras lost the first leg 1-0 again, and won the second 2-1, taking the match to another penalty shootout. With two misses by the Colombian side, Palmeiras was continental champion for the first time in its history. A historic duel HYPED UP AS FVCK. This is a derby that has been played since 1916. Given the historical importance of both clubs in the Brazilian football history, I’m very excited for this match. Both teams flew under the radar of the bloodthirsty Brazilian sports press for the most part of the year (more on this on the next post), but after the semifinals they both seem like good picks for a betting man. From a historical standpoint, Santos is trying to cement their past 20 years of relative national and international success and show everyone they are not a club made of past glories - they often get picked on for not being from the city of São Paulo and not having a big fanbase as their rivals. They’re usually quoted as “every Brazilian’s second team”, a lovable, harmless club to cheer for if yours isn’t playing. Palmeiras, on the other hand, needs to start winning South America and build on their already colossal domestic legacy. And, who knows, maybe end once and for all the general banter in Brazil, that they don’t have a Club World Cup!
The plan is simple: Replace all of PSG’s pampered and overpaid squad with some English grit and determination. Who needs the likes of Neymar & Mbappe when you could have Andros Townsend & Jonjo Shelvey? Thiago Silva? Run that name through google translate and you get Phil Jones. And who could forget free transfer Daniel Sturridge? Cavani will be the first out the door when Sturridge signs. All I need to do is avoid getting sacked. So I need to balance by pursuit of the entire England team with good results on the field. And eventually I will need to somehow sell Neymar & Mbappe without incurring the wrath of the fans and/or board. First Summer transfer window. IN
Jack Wilshere - £15.25m
Jude Bellingham - £20m & a friendly
Daniel Sturridge – Free
James Tavernier - £13m & a friendly
Jordan Henderson - £63m & a friendly
Ben Chilwell - £65m (£20m + £45m over 3 years) & a friendly
James Maddison - £55m (£17.5m + £37.5m over 3 years)
Mason Greenwood - £50m (£20m + £30m over 3 years)
Angel “Di Maria 2.0” Gomes – Loan. I intend to sign him on a free at the end of the season.
OUT
Edison Cavani - £27m to Real Madrid
Layvin Kurzawa - £5m to Spartak Moscow
Thilo Kehreh - £8.5 to Lyon
Angel Di Maria - £35m to Guangshou & a friendly & I pay £69k of his wages... snigger
Leandro Paredes to Leicester on loan. Optional 20m future fee.
Juan Bernat - £22.5m to Man City & I pay £20k of his wages
Julian Draxler - £20.5m to Man U
So, that’s half my pre-season friendlies sorted for next year. Easily won the Trophee des Champions 3-0 vs Rennes. 2 Marquinhos goals and an OG. Leading into the new season, I told Marquinhos that I was going to replace him as Vice Captain. He was fine with it. I picked Jordan Henderson as my new Vice Captain. Thiago Silva is still the main man... for now. There are rumblings of a possible takeover. Could I be sacked before England FC has the chance to win the French League? The bookies have me at evens to win the league. EVENS? If I could I’d bet the entire transfer budget on that. Evens? I’m PSG with Jack Wilshere. I’m basically unstoppable. 3 days before the opening league fixture, Jack Wilshere tore his ankle ligaments in training. I am Jack's complete lack of surprise. Good thing I didn’t make that bet. With Jack out I’ll have to rely on the likes of (check’s squad list) Neymar for creativity. Won the opening game of the season 2-0 against Strasborg. This included Ben Chilwell scoring a screamer into the top corner from 25 yards and a Neymar tap in. Jude Bellingham also became PSG's youngest ever player as he started in midfield. I forgot to mention that I am also hiring lots of English staff members. Terry Butcher is managing my reserves. Paul Ince, Teddy Sheringham, James Beattie and Tony Adams are coaching my youth team. Les Reed is my director of football. David Platt is coaching the first team. I’ve also got English physios and fitness staff, but I can’t be arsed to look up their names. 2-0 again in the next game, this time away to Marseille. For the 2nd game running Ben Chilwell scored, followed by a tidy finish from Jordan Henderson. I'm currently playing with a half English team in the outfield. Fullbacks, CM, AM and Striker are all English. The wingers, centre backs, 1 CM and keeper are all non-English. Daniel Sturridge sits on the bench… brooding. 1-0 next up against Montpellier. Chilly Willy's run of scoring came to an end as Neymar bagged the only goal of the game. On the downside Mbappe pulled his ankle ligaments and will be out for a couple of weeks. More rumblings of a take over. The PSG owner rubbishes these rumours. Looks like he’s behind England Rangers and their plans to restart the 100 years war. 4-1 win away to AS Saint-Etienne. A hat trick for Neymar along with Mason Greenwood's first goal for the club helped to mask the pain of finally conceding for the first time this season. Keylor Navas really shat the bed trying to pass out from the back. I can’t help but think that Jordan Pickford would have kept the sheets clean. UCL Group drawn. The Media describe my group as “Tough” as I am drawn against Valencia, Napoli and RB Leipzig. I don’t include Herrera or Munier in my UCL squad and they are both unhappy. I tell them to shut up and drop both into the reserves. Neither apologises and both are sulking. Luckily nobody in the squad likes them so nobody cares. One of my young midfielders breaks his back whilst lifting weights. I think Jack Wilshere was giving him pointers. Jordan Henderson scores his first ever international goal in his 53rd cap. I can’t help but feel that is entirely down to my coaching. Jack Wilshere is back in light training. Verratti, Neymar & Mbappe score in a 3-0 demolition of Toulouse. Henderson bags an assist. Daniel Sturridge still can’t open his account for PSG. First UCL game is next up. Valencia at home. Verratti and Neymar are both suspended. I seem to remember this being to do with their reactions to losing in the knock out stages to Man U in the previous season, following that ridiculous penalty decision given against… Kimpembe? I refuse to look it up to verify. That’s the past. This is the present. Neymar is replaced by Angel Gomes for his debut. That’s easy enough. However, the lack of Verratti and with Herrera rotting away in the reserves, I may be forced to play Wilshere before he’s fully fit… but since he’s never ever ever been fully fit, this seems like the right thing to do! Boom! We smash Valencia 2-0. Wilshere setting up Greenwood with a defence splitting through pass, and Tavernier crossing to the edge of the box for Henderson to drill home. Wilshere had to be subbed off at half time since he’s Jack Wilshere. Still. 1 game. 1 assist. I am fully justified in signing him. Big game up next vs Lyon. 1st vs 2nd. For a game like this I need my top players. Wilshere is getting his league debut. Verratti will have to be happy with a spot on the bench. Oh. Kehrer is set to play against me for the first time since I sold him. Apparently there is “no love lost” between us. I’d honestly forgot I sold him to Lyon. I tell the media that his was a shitbag and nobody liked him here. A superb come from behind victory for The Englishmen! After trailing to an early penalty conceded by Silva, we turned things around to win 2-1 with goals from Mbappe and Marquinos, assisted by Maddison and Chilwell. Wilshere once again managed 45 mins of football. And that shitbag Kehrer didn’t even play. Damn. Marquinhos is suspended for a game after 3 bookings in his last 10 matches. I didn’t know that was how the French League did things. Interesting. Chuopo-Moting dislocated his jaw in training. I can only assume that Jack Wilshere was trying to teach him how to eat a Cornish Pasty in one go. Holy crap. I almost lost to Metz! 2-0 down going into the final quarter of the match. Needed a 91st minute equaliser from Neymar to avoid defeat. Still, unbeaten so far. I really need some English grit to toughen my central defence. Silva is good and all, but he’s no John Stones. Before every single game: Jack Wilshere may struggle to see out the match. I know. He’s Jack Wilshere. We beat Angers 3-1 with Tavernier (pen) and Angel Gomes both bagging their first goals for the club. Neymar gets the 3rd off the bench. Gomes gets the MOTM award to go with the goal. Napoli away next. Wilshere set to start his 5th game in a row for probably the first time in his whole career. Neymar is still suspended, so Gomes will be able to build on his man of the match performance with another start. The board have announced that they have decreased the percentage of transfer revenue available to be retained from player sales to 75%. What the fuck? I’M PSG!!! I want 200% of all sales to go back into the transfer kitty. We beat Napoli 2-0 with goals from Greenwood and Marquinhos. Greenwood set up Marquinhos by heading a corner back across goal to him, whilst Wilshere set up Greenwood with another great defence splitting through pass, just like the Valencia game. Wilshere lasted 63 mins this game, having been subbed off at half time of every previous game. Still, those 63 mins were enough to win him the MOTM award. Go Jack! Side quest unlocked: Somehow get Jack Wilshere back into the England squad. Wilshere is grateful for my faith in him. Aw, Jackie. I love you too, boo. The Montpellier manager says that PSG are amongst the favourites to qualify for continental football this season. No shit Sherlock. Wilshere didn’t make the latest England squad. No worry Jack. Next time it’s a friendly I’ll pull Madison and Henderson from the squad. Then maybe you will make it? Or plan B, wait for Southgate to get fired then apply for the job. Gomes keeps his place in the team, meaning that Neymar is on the bench for the 2nd league game in a row. We beat Amiens 2-0 away, with goals from Henderson and Mbappe. Wilshere picked up a booking before being subbed off . Still, no injury. That rejuvenating Parisian tap water is doing wonders for the boy! International break. I give Wilshere a week off. I’m worried that if he trains his knees may fall off. Meanwhile, Maddison gets his first international goal. More takeover rumours. I guess Wilshere is interesting possible investors. The week’s rest did the trick! This is the first game he’s started where I haven’t been told that Wilshere “may struggle to see out the match”. My medical staff are certainly earning their wages. Wilshere lasted the full match as an 87th minute James Tavernier penalty scraped us a 1-0 win at home to Nantes. That’s 10 in a row unbeaten in the league, with 28 points from a possible 30. Frank Lampard was spotted at the game. Apparently he is interested in signing Marquinhos. This could be a good way for me to sign Fikayo Tomori and/or Reece James. Watch this space… Next up: RB Leipzig away. Tavernier and Mbappe have developed a solid green link down the right side. This was unexpected. As was the result. RB Leipzig 4-6 PSG! A hat trick for Mbappe, 2 for Greenwood and 1 for Neymar. The defence was an absolute shambles this game. Luckily the attack bailed them out. I really need a couple of Englishmen to replace those 2 Brazilians in the centre of defence. HOLY CRAP. Gareth Southgate was spotted at Red Bull Arena, casting an eye over basically half my team for the upcoming internationals. Jack Wilshere’s name is included among the players he was watching. GO JACK! Next up we beat Lille 3-2 away. Take a quick 2-0 lead through Neymar and a Tavernier penalty. Switch off and it’s 2-2 at half time. Spend the entire second half throwing everything at them and finally in the 87th minute Tavernier pops up at the back post to tap in the winner. 2 goals for my right back. Not too shabby. Side quest unlocked: Get James Tavernier his first England cap. This might be too difficult. Ahead of him he has Trent, Walker, Wan-Bissaka, Trippier & James. Heck, Tavernier never even got any youth caps for England. Still, if he keeps on playing as well as he does then even Gareth “I only pick players on form but actually fuck that let’s keep playing Pickford and Maguire even though they are having the worst seasons of their professional careers IRL” Southgate can’t ignore him forever. Keylor Navas is injured. For absolutely no reason I set about signing 32 year old (and 1 time England U21 international) Ben Alnwick on a free. PSG gain another sponsor. This is a 1 season deal worth £29m with a “European telecommunications company”. Totally not a FFP get around. Not at all. I ask the board for more transfer funds. They say no. I whine like a little bitch. They give me £75m. Nice! With the new funds available, Director of Football Les Reed recommends Sadio Mane as our top transfer target. Fuck that. I’m buying John Stones! I have completely fucked up with a rookie mistake. With Navas injured, I forgot to stop Rico playing for the reserves. Now I’m about to play Brest (snigger) at home and both my keepers can’t play. With the Alnwick transfer yet to be completed, it looks like I’m going to have to rely on a 20 year old Pole called Marcin Bulka. Relegation zone Brest manage to put 2 past him, but my attack get 3 to scrape a 3-2 win. Well, I say attack. Maddison, Sarabia and Tavenier (another penalty) get the goals. Mbappe and Wilshere (nooooooooo) pick up injuries in the game. Mbappe will miss 4-6 weeks with a twisted ankle, whilst Wilshere will miss just a few days with a bruised thigh. This does mean he will miss the RB Leipzig return fixture in midweek. Ben Alnwick joins the club. I tell the press that he will be a massive boost to the entire squad. I quickly arrange a midweek friendly for the reserves so that he can get some game time before the weekend fixture in the league. I move every keeper (5?!) from the reserves into the first team to make sure that Terry Butcher has to play Alnwick. I’ll have to play Rico in the UCL, since I can’t register Ben… yet. At home against Red Bull Leipzig we cruise to a 4-2 victory. A brace from Neymar, another open play goal for Tavernier, along with a goal for Greenwood wrap things up. I’m still concerned by my centre backs though. They need some English heart replace the Brazilian skill. That win qualifies us from the group. So some players get bonuses paid. Including Alfonse Areola (snigger) who is on loan at Real Madrid. You still have to pay bonuses to players who aren't at the club? DAMN YOU GARETH SOUTHGATE. He calls up Chilwell, Henderson and Maddison. Poor Jack and Jim. They feel so unloved. Alnwick keeps a clean sheet for the reserves. That’s enough for me. 2 training sessions and 1 reserves game since the end of the previous season is enough to earn him a start at the weekend against 5th placed Nice. GOD FUCKING DAMMIT. I forgot to put the reserve keepers back in the reserves squad, so Ben Alnwick played for the reserves today. Now he can’t play against Nice. I’ll have to play Johnny Rico (totally setting that as his nickname now) again. On the plus side at least Wilshere is back. We absolutely smash Nice 3-0 away. An OG, another Tavernier penalty and a Verratti goal. Wilshere lasts the 90 and bags a MOTM award for his troubles. I send Henderson, Chilwell and Maddison on holiday for a week just before they are supposed to join the England squad in the international break. Fuck you Southgate. Pick Wilshere you bastard. I also send Neymar, Marquinhos and Thiago Silva on holiday for a week, but that’s just for shits and giggles. That’s the defence sorted! Once the January transfer window opens I’ve got John Stones, Rob Holding and Jordan Pickford all joining the club. That’s a Champions League winning line up if ever I saw one. Looks like Marquinhos, Navas and Thiago Silva will either have to leave or enjoy being benched. Gaylord Kitenge is 12 months away from being homegrown. His parents are mean. More takeover rumours. My owner quashes them. He is (not) quoted as saying that he is 100% behind his visionary manager and King Wilshere. For no reason at all I am now training Ander Herrera as a left back. Double intensity. Ah. The “send them on holiday” scheme didn’t work. They still played for their countries. Dang. Neymar is hotly tipped to win Foreign Player of the year. He is up against the likes of blah blah blah and James Tavernier! Next game is home against Dijon. Let’s see if Ben Alnwick can cut the mustard (snigger). Another James Tavernier penalty as we beat Dijon 2-1. They managed 2 shots on target all game, and one of them went in. I am starting to think that Ben Alnwick is not the super human shot stopper that I bigged him up to be. Oh, that was our 10th win in a row. That’s a new record for PSG. I’ve sent half my first team on holiday for a week. They need a rest and since I’ve already qualified I’ll just play the likes of Verratti against Valencia. You know. Reserves. Man U turned down my bid of a friendly in exchange for Phil Jones. I thought it was a more than fair offer. Holy crap. We beat Valencia away 1-0, despite resting the entire outfield apart from Henderson. Both fullbacks were 17 year olds from the youth team. There’s only 1 explanation for it: Jordan Henderson is an amazing captain who led his troops to victory. It has nothing to do with the Valencia red card. Ander Herrera has had a change of heart and no longer wants to leave. Tough titties mate. You’re a left back now. Train harder! Nimes are brushed aside 2-0 away. Mbappe and Sarabia score. This takes us on to 12 wins in a row. November ends. The board rate my performance as a B. What the fuck? I have literally won every single game and we are playing attacking football. Apparently they aren’t happy with Ben Alnwick’s signing. Fair point. We are on course to pass the financial fair play regulations. Lol Reims are demolished 6-0 at home. Another 2 goals for MOTM Tavernier (1 penalty, 1 from open play), Henderson, Sarabia & 2 for Mbappe. That’s 13 wins in a row. Idrissa Gueye has handed in a transfer request. I think the fact that I forgot he even existed may be partly responsible for this. I accept the request. James Tavernier is currently the joint second highest scorer in the league on 9 goals. DID YOU HEAR THAT SOUTHGATE? Call him up. Monaco are smashed 3-0 away with an Icardi hat trick. On the down side Chilwell has reached his yellow cards limit whilst Neymar has sprained his ankle and is out for 3 weeks. When’s his sister’s birthday again? Home game against Napoli to round off the UCL group stages. I’m going to rest everyone. Pre-match Gattuso tells the press how much he admires me. I tell the press that Gattuso is a wanker. I still remember him headbutting 100 year old Joe Jordan in the face. My fans are confident ahead of the Napoli game. They haven’t seen the team yet… and I still win 2-0. MOTM Angel Gomes and Paplo Sarabia with the goals. This result was enough for Red Bull Leipzig to leapfrog Napoli and qualify 2nd in the group with 9 points and a goal difference of -2. They are one of 2 teams to qualify with a negative goal difference, the other being Dinamo Zagreb. I am one of 2 teams to qualify with 6 wins out of 6, the other two being Tottenham and Chelsea. Bordeaux are swept aside next. 3-0 at home, with goals from Greenwood, Mbappe and Henderson. That’s 16 wins in a row in all competitions. Ander Herrera has handed in a transfer request. I guess he doesn’t like being in the reserves and being trained as a left back. I accept the request. I draw Ajax in the UCL first knock out round. That’s a very winnable tie for Wilshere & co. Meanwhile, Liverpool draw Real Madrid and Juventus draw Bayern Munich. Next up is the Coupe de la Ligue BKT game vs Amiens at home. I will be fined £6.5k if I don’t pick 7 players in the squad who have played in at least 1 of my last 2 competitive games. Interesting idea, but a fine like that means nothing to me. I was going to rotate everyone to intentionally incur the fine. However, 2 games ago I played my reserves vs Napoli, so I’ve pretty much played everyone in the last 2 games anyway. We absolutely steamroll them 4-0, with goals from Kimpembe, Mbappe and MOTM Greenwood bagging 2. More importantly, Ben Alnwick kept a clean sheet. Also, Bellingham becomes the youngest ever Coupe de la Ligue BKT player. Athletico Bilbao offer me £15m for Herrera, with me paying £83k of his wages every week. I tell them to stick that offer up their arse, and counter with a non-negotiable £15m and £100 per week of his wages being paid. They agree to this! Rennes frustrate us with a 0-0 draw. Despite MOTM Wilshere picking out passes left and right, the finishing was poor. The run of 17 wins in a row is halted. Still, currently unbeaten this season. The fans are reported to have hated Angel Gomes since he joined on loan. Bloody Anglophobes. That’s it for Part 1. Just entered the winter break. Next up: Part 2 - The Ballard of Rob Holding
The Wukong Illusion: Why You Tunnel and 3 Ways to Improve Awareness
How many times has tunneling costed you a stupid death or even a game? I bet the answer is too many. You didn't notice the enemy Jungler ganking your lane. You're mad at Mid for the enemy's roam, but he spammed the Missing Ping 4 times. When you tunnel, you miss the obvious because you're so engrossed with a specific task. This sort of focus is great, but without all the information, it can lead to critical mistakes. Learning some science and tips can improve your decision-making.
Inattentional Blindness
Tunneling in LoL is similar to what cognitive psychologists call inattentional blindness. Inattentional blindness is the failure to see unexpected yet obvious visual information. How did I not see that Ward? Where the hell did Warwick come from? If you didn't notice something in front of you point-blank, that's inattentional blindness. This phenomenon doesn't happen because of visual defects. It happens because of a lapse of attention.
The Wukong Illusion
An example of inattentional blindness is a famous study conducted by Daniel Simons. The researchers asked subjects to watch a video of two basketball teams, white and black. Their goal was to count how many times the black team passed the ball. You can watch the video here and see if you can pass the test. SPOILERS AHEAD! If you counted 15 passes, you're correct! Congratulations, you're a genius! But did you see the gorilla? Watch the video again and see if you can spot him. Most people don't see the gorilla due to inattentional blindness. You were too busy paying attention to counting the passes. That gorilla takes many forms in League. It could be the enemy Jungler, a Thresh Lantern, a Control Ward. They're screaming for your attention, but you fail to notice. Other studies which use more simple distractors, such as a red crosshair, see the same effect.
Okay, But Why?
Theory 1: Perceptual Load One supported theory that explains inattentional blindness is perceptual load. Your brain power has a limit. Some tasks demand more of that limit, leaving less room for other tasks. During the gorilla video, you were paying close attention to the passing. This task was demanding enough for you to neglect the gorilla. Expert basketball players are more likely to notice the gorilla than novice ones. That's because they've honed the skill of tracking the ball. They can use less energy to achieve the same level of performance. Theory 2: Expectation This theory is more straight-forward. You just didn't expect a gorilla to be in this video. You know what a gorilla is, how it behaves, and what it looks like, yet you didn't notice one. Likewise, you know Wukong is their Top Laner and has Teleport. You just didn't expect him to tp-gank 4 minutes into the game. The combination of poor game awareness and inadequate knowledge causes tunneling.
3 Ways to Improve Awareness
By understanding this phenomenon, you're now better-equipped to avoid it. The same researchers have found ways to lessen inattentional blindness. Moreover, these theories lend themselves to actionable advice. 1. Practice for Automation League is a complex game. You can break it down to thousands of small, significant tasks. Some of these tasks, such as controlling your champion and farming, are part of every game. Think of how much energy you spend on last-hitting minions and landing abilities. That's why having a small champion pool is favorable. Over time, you will build up enough practice until these tasks become second nature. You can kill cannon minions and time Wind Walls in your sleep. Automating these tasks through practice means freeing up your brain's RAM. 2. Study the Unexpected In the moment, you're convinced that no one could have seen that gank coming. But a simple review of the incident reveals telling signs. Their half-health Vayne stepped forward into your huge minion wave. Your summoners are up. In no world she kills you here. Alone that is. League is a game of common patterns. If you study these patterns, you can protect yourself and trick the enemy. Topics, such as Jungle Pathing, Warding Times, and Rotations, are a great place to start. 3. Exercise MindfulnessStudies show that performing a mindfulness task before cognitive tests reduces inattentional blindness. Being aware of your senses is a form of deep focus. It can also quiet your racing thoughts, freeing up more brain RAM. There's no right way to mindfulness, but Transcendental Meditation is a popular method. Follow a short guide before or between Soloqueue games. I recommend Sam Harris's 9-minute guide on YouTube. You can even do micro exercises during death timers and walking to lane. You can talk to yourself about the game state and next steps. This internal dialogue may seem weird, but it primes yourself for conscious thinking. Okay, no one is on the map and I'm heading to their Jungle. Huge nope.
Conclusion
Inattentional blindness is a well-studied phenomenon in cognitive psychology. The research in this area helps explain Tunnel Vision in League. In a sense, tunneling is a double-edged sword. You're concentrating on a single task with immense focus. At the same time, you're ignoring other information which can change the game. By applying these tips, you can strike the perfect balance between stepping back and going all in.
Bayern is on an excellent run, as they booked six wins in a row. The Bundesliga side holds the top spot in the domestic championship and is a major favorite for the title. Hans Flick’s team is seven points clear from RB Leipzig, and they look pretty confident. Joshua Kimmich and the lads conceded only twice in the last six games, and Bayern is very hard to crack. On the other hand, Robert Lewandowski and the lads are clinical in front of the oppositions’ net. Bayern Munich eliminated the African champions Al Ahly in the semi-finals with a 2:0 win. They are just one step away from lifting another trophy this season. Tigres had a tougher path through the competition, as they started from the quarter-finals. The Mexican side was better than Ulsan Hyundai on its first step, while they eliminated Palmeiras in the semis. The experienced striker Andre-Pierre Gignac will be a major threat for the opposition, as he scored all three goals for his team. Ricardo Ferretti’s team just started the MX League Clausura, and Tigres sit in eighth place. The CONCACAF champions have never reached the finals so far, and Tigres might be the first team from North and Central America to win the FIFA Club World Cup. However, a very tough challenge is in front of them.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
Although European sides are always considered favorites, final matches have usually been pretty tight. However, Bayern has been pretty dominant in the past two seasons, and they should meet the expectations. Since the odds for Bayern’s win are pretty slim, we believe they can celebrate by at least a two-goal margin.
Goals Market Prediction
Tigres won’t give up, and they are capable of scoring against any opponent. Therefore, we don’t expect the nets to remain intact. Bayern Munich AH -1.5 @ 1.65 BTTS Yes @ 2.05 Correct score 3:1 @ 11.00 Read the analysishereand share your opinion with us!
N0tBr0ke Personal Scouting 1 Round Mock Draft with Write-Ups v1
INTRODUCTION: Hello all and happy holidays! I finally got around to making my first in depth one round mock draft of the year based solely on my own personal scouting. To be clear about what this is, I am making picks for each team based on what I think of players, and not what will actually happen in the draft or what the consensus on a player is. My end goal in making these is always to match closely to what a redraft would look like in five years, rather than what the board will look like on draft night. I will undoubtedly be wrong about a lot of these picks. MOCK DRAFT AND WRITE-UPS: 1st Overall - Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence - Clemson - QB The Rams send not only an extra 1st to Duval, but now the first overall pick. Lawrence boasts not only ideal frame, arm strength, and accuracy, but most notably a quick recognition and ability to distribute the ball quickly and accurately. Given adequate weapons, Lawrence will elevate the play of the offensive line as soon as his first year, and show elite talent to methodically matriculate the ball as well as threaten defenses with the deep passing game. The Jaguars get an elite day 1 starter with all-time great potential. An easy pick. 2nd Overall - New York Jets - Justin Fields - Ohio State - QB With Lawrence now off the table, the decision to move on from Darnold is slightly less obvious. For a rebuilding club, there are many options available at the second overall pick that would make a lot of sense, but as the Jets GM I still elect to grab my franchise quarterback. Fields may be raw, but the talent he possesses won’t be found in many other prospects, in this draft or subsequent classes. His elite combination of arm strength and accuracy alone is one of the most reliable traits when projecting to the next level, and his top tier athleticism and escapability will go a long way in masking his deficiencies between the ears. If the past 5 drafts have shown us anything, is that quarterbacks with Fields’ talent can be developed and thrive in the NFL, and success at the next level can often rely more on the situation they are put in. With a boatload of picks in the next two drafts and an inevitable coaching change, Fields can certainly be a star quarterback for the Jets. 3rd Overall - Cincinnati Bengals - Penei Sewell - Oregon - OT After the Burrow injury, all eyes in Cincinnati turned towards the draft, and more specifically one name: Penei Sewell. At this point, no one questions the fit, and arguably the best player available fits a desperate need. Sewell already boasts NFL ready technique in a hulking 6’6” 330 pound frame. His footwork is clean and quick, his grip is nearly inescapable when he gets a hold on defenders, and he moves bodies with ease in the run game. With Jonah Williams continuously fighting injury on top of the already apparent need on the line, the Bengals can’t pass on Sewell. Burrow gets his protector and Cincy possibly sees the second coming of Anthony Munoz. 4th Overall - Carolina Panthers - Caleb Farley - Virginia Tech - CB With the departure of James Bradberry in the offseason, cornerback became a dire need for the Panthers. Luckily, in a strong corner class, Caleb Farley can help assuage the Panthers’ secondary woes and help Matt Rhule along in his defensive rebuild. Farley not only projects as a lockdown corner at the next level, but possesses the top tier athleticism, awareness, and ball skills to potentially be the NFL’s next great ballhawk. Farley’s footwork is a little rough around the edges, but strong overall, using his leverages and fluid hips to stay in his receivers’ pocket through the route. In zone coverage, he is aggressive and instinctive, where he can often be burned, but more often make a strong play on the ball and break up passes. However, where he justifies the fourth overall pick, is in his closing speed and ball skills. Once the ball is in the air, Farley shows the ability to close separation in an instant, and turn himself into the receiver without taking penalties. For the Panthers, Farley’s floor is interesting, but his ceiling is higher than almost anyone since Jalen Ramsey. Carolina not only gets a steady corner, but potentially a complete game changer at one of the most important positions in football. 5th Overall - Atlanta Falcons - Patrick Surtain II - Alabama - CB The Falcons find themselves once again in the no man's land of the NFL this year: not fully rebuilding, not coming close to contending. As such, there are many directions the Falcons could go with the fifth overall pick. I won’t mince words, I have hated the Falcons drafting over the last few seasons, and they routinely take the players I think are overrated. So despite having drafted a few cornerbacks in recent years, I think it’s still enough a need to address again this year. Patrick Surtain II is a very different prospect from Farley, relying mainly on his veteran level intelligence and polish to lock down some of the best receivers in college. Surtain’s excellent use of leverage, as well as strong hand technique and avoidance of wasted steps allows him to stay perfectly in phase from the line of scrimmage and use his length and athleticism to break up passes. Like Okudah in last year’s draft, it may take him a year or so to learn the tendencies of NFL receivers, but Surtain projects to be a strong CB1 with elite upside in a league where top tier corners are becoming more and more valuable. 6th Overall - Miami Dolphins (via Houston) - Devonta Smith - Alabama - WR The Dolphins are building a deep, fundamentally sound team in South Beach, and with a gifted top 10 pick from Houston they are primed to address their biggest remaining need: talent on offense. Luckily, my top wide receiver, Devonta Smith, is nothing but talent. Smith is one of the smartest route runners coming out of the draft in a long, long time, he has some of the best hands since Odell, and has more than enough speed to outrun the leagues top corners when he needs to. Additionally, after the catch, he is a threat to take any slant or screen to the house. All reports are that he is humble, dedicated, and intelligent and should be a strong interview for any team considering him. Frame is the only concern for Smith, with some worry about durability at the next level, but I refuse to pass on a talent like this. Devonta Smith honestly might be the best prospect in the class, and recreating the Tua/Smith connection is too good to pass up. 7th Overall - Philadelphia Eagles - Micah Parsons - Penn State - ILB The Eagles don’t often place a high importance on the linebacker position, and would more likely take a receiver or corner with this pick, but to me Parsons has fallen too far for the Eagles to pass on. Parsons falls into the mould of ‘freak athlete’ that always entices NFL scouts, but where he differs from past top linebackers is between the ears in his play recognition. Parsons routinely is able to sniff out play calls from a mile away and use his explosiveness and fluidity to rip through offenses for TFL’s and PBU’s. He has stopping power in the downhill run game, and the ability to quickly navigate traffic east and west to make a play. In coverage, he is intelligent reading the quarterback’s eyes, and can break on the ball quickly. I don’t think I’m getting carried away by saying Parsons is the best linebacker prospect since Wagner and Keuchely, and is the kind of guy you build your defensive system around. It may not be the most pressing need for Philadelphia, but it's a fit you aren’t going to get anywhere else in any draft, so you take it if it’s there. 8th Overall - Dallas Cowboys - Jaycee Horn - South Carolina - CB And here goes the final of my top cornerbacks, and not a moment too soon. The Cowboys secondary was hurting bad before Byron Jones left, and now they are left with next to nothing. Jaycee Horn isn’t as sure a prospect as Farley or Surtain, but no doubt has as high a ceiling and maybe higher. Horn is a physical, fluid corner that can frustrate a receivers gameplan and routinely keep the game in front of him. His footwork could be refined, as he can take some false steps, but he makes up for it with fantastic hand usage to jam at the line. When he is at his best technically, he can lean on his size and athleticism to make plays on the ball and create a few turnovers in the process. A top 10 selection may be a slight reach, as I have a top 15 grade on him, but for a team with this big a need at the position, Horn is well worth the pick. 9th Overall - Los Angeles Chargers - Jalen Mayfield - Michigan - OT This may be my first big hot take of the mock, with many mocking Mayfield as low as the second round but to me Mayfield is the Jedrick Wills of this class; a fitting comparison as Wills was similarly given a second round grade for much of the 2019 season. Mayfield is a true technician at the right tackle spot, with near flawless footwork, a strong base, and reliable hands. In pass protection, Mayfield has an extremely high floor, and is almost guaranteed to be a quality starter. In the run game, he lacks the ability to truly move players off their spot, but makes up for it with great technique to wall defenders off and speed getting to his spots and stealing leverage. The Chargers need to rebuild their line for Herbert, and Mayfield would be a very reliable anchor at either tackle spot even in year one. In no way does this completely fix their line, but this pick is a very strong start for a team that really can’t afford to not address the need. 10th Overall - New York Giants - Ja’marr Chase - LSU - WR Despite opting out of the season, Chase remains one of the top receivers in the class, and in strong contention for the top receiver spot. His route running is already elite, and packaged with a big frame and jump ball ability Chase has likely the highest floor of any receiver in the past few drafts. His speed doesn’t impress on its own, but Chase is already a master at tailoring his routes to the technique and leverage of DB’s to generate separation. With Saquon set to return in 2021 and the offensive line steadily improving, the Giants need a go-to target to take the top off of defenses and take pressure off of Saquon and Daniel. Chase is a great fit in that role, as he can just as easily find separation underneath as he can haul in fifty-fifty balls on deep throws. 11th Overall - Detroit Lions - Patrick Jones II - Pittsburgh - EDGE The 2021 EDGE class lacks the true top 10 talent that past drafts had, but there are a few interesting names to watch between the first and second rounds. To me, however, there is none with the upside of Patrick Jones II. For many this pick is a reach, I understand, but Jones’ combination of speed, strength, length, motor, and bend is too rare to pass up for a team like the Lions that needs a game-changer. Jones leans heavily on the bull rush, a skill that doesn’t always translate to the next level, but his raw power to move big tackles inspires confidence that even NFL tackles will have a difficult time anchoring down. But what’s underrated about his game to me is the flashes of diversity and intelligence he shows in rushing the passer. The more you watch Patrick Jones the more you see well executed rip moves, spins, and more generally the ability to attack with a plan and execute at a high level. When tackles adjust to his bull rush, he starts to attack the outside with speed. When tackles adjust to his speed, he counters inside. If all else fails, he pulls out his length and bend to dip even farther around the corner. Is he a polished prospect? Not even close. But he is absolutely relentless rushing the passer, and possesses every raw tool you could ask for on a wishlist. He shows more than enough technical polish to inspire confidence that he can improve, and the ceiling to be a true game changing pass rusher is certainly there. 12th Overall - San Francisco 49ers - Creed Humphrey - Oklahoma - iOL Ok, I know mocking a quarterback at the very next pick is probably not what 49ers fans want to see. I understand. However, this pick to me does two things: takes the best player available and strengthens a strength, which to me is not a bad thing at all. Whether at guard or center, Humphrey shows elite strength, speed, and awareness in all facets of the game. In pass protection, he has the awareness to find the right work when uncovered and the anchor, strength, and footwork to fortify pocket integrity when covered. In the run game, he can get to his spot very quickly, steal leverages, and move bodies as he pleases. He can pull with the best of them and get to the second level to break big runs. I was so, so close to mocking a quarterback here, but Humphrey is too good to pass up. A true quarterback of the offensive line, a game changer in the run game, and an overall stud. No matter who is at quarterback, Shanahan’s run game is the team’s identity and the star of the show. I’ll reluctantly run it back with Jimmy G for a year and know that my offensive line is set to do what the 49ers do best for the foreseeable future. 13th Overall - Denver Broncos - Kyle Trask - Florida - QB You know, I don’t hate Drew Lock. Maybe, just maybe, he has a big year in him next season. But when looking at the Broncos needs moving forward, I am pretty high on the team they have put together on paper. A solid offensive line, a ton of weapons, good defensive line (when healthy), some playmakers in the secondary. I think with a healthy season and a reliable quarterback they can be a lot closer to a playoff team than many think. Enter Kyle Trask. Often being lost in the weeds with other intriguing prospects in this class, I think Trask possesses two skills that set him above the rest: accuracy when mechanics fail and throwing with anticipation. After the top two quarterbacks in this class, no one really has great mechanics and Trask is no exception. Trask has a very bad habit of not setting his feet under pressure, often bringing his left foot back and throwing from a standing position falling away. But unlike other prospects, Trask still somehow manages to throw on target and with anticipation anyways. He can throw basically all with his arm and still drop a dime downfield to a streaking receiver. Additionally, without pressure in his face, Trask maintains a very solid base, and shows very solid mechanics all around. He can read defenses very well and throw his players open in a way few in this class can, and has shown production against the highest levels of competition. He may never be a dynamic quarterback, but he is more than capable of being what Tannehill has been for the Titans, and with the weapons Denver possesses, that could be more than enough to revive this offense. 14th Overall - Minnesota Vikings - Alijah Vera-Tucker - USC - OG One of my favorite prospects in the class, Vera-Tucker really is the complete package at guard. A fantastic blend of technical mastery and athletic talent projects the USC guard as a plug and play impact starter at the next level. You will rarely find a snap where Vera-Tucker doesn’t show an exceptional base and footwork, a strong punch, and leg drive to move bodies in the run game. He is equally as quick as he is strong, and can easily play the zone running scheme that Minnesota often leans on to generate offense. The Vikings have succeeded for years despite poor offensive line play, and additions such as Vera-Tucker really could be the missing pieces to helping them graduate to true contender status. The skill is there offensively for Minnesota, but a great offensive line could unlock something even more. 15th Overall - New England Patriots - Tamorrion Terry - Florida State - WR How many times are we going to let receivers with this kind of talent fall to the second round? There were concerns over Metcalf’s route running, there were concerns over Claypool’s route running, and now there are similar concerns about Terry. As a route runner he is raw without a doubt, doesn’t know how to manipulate leverages yet, or set up defenders at the line of scrimmage. But like the aforementioned second round receivers, Terry can do one thing very few receivers can: consistently win with athleticism. Terry is a 6’4” speed demon with a long reach and stellar vertical. Additionally, he is a very fluid athlete with shifty lateral quickness to win on routes and create after the catch. He wins foot races against speedy corners just as easily as he goes over big corners for fifty-fifty balls. Terry will never be Metcalf, but he is a true playmaker that projects very well to the modern NFL. The Patriots need talent on offense very badly, and while in his rookie year Terry may or may not not have someone to throw him the ball, once New England does find their quarterback of the future, Terry will quickly become his favorite target. 16th Overall - Chicago Bears - Liam Eichenberg - Notre Dame - OT It’s true that the Bears have a strong need at the quarterback positions, but without a player I’m confident in taking here I feel very good about addressing another dire need on the offensive line. For all of Nagy’s faults, it’s hard to generate offense without an offensive line, and the Bears line has been underwhelming for quite a while. Eichenberg boasts a high floor and clear ability to play either tackle positions on day one. He isn’t the athlete that many look for at the position, but he more than makes up for it with strong fundamentals and plenty of experience. Eichenberg’s strong footwork is fully on display against the interior pass rush, where he stout, and can casually ride defenders around the outside to allow his quarterback to step up in the pocket. You won’t see many pancakes in the run game, but a strong base and core strength allow him to wall off defenders and create lanes for his running back on a consistent basis. A sure pass protector and a solid run blocker, Eichenberg is a very strong, albeit unexciting pick for a Bears club that desperately needs an unexciting player to help the entire offense elevate its game. 17th Overall - Las Vegas Raiders - Marvin Wilson - Florida State - DT The first year in Las Vegas has been a bit of a roller coaster for the team, often looking like contenders then subsequently making the Jets look competent. Ultimately, it seems Gruden is building something good for the black and silver and really the team should just stay the course and keep building the same way they have been. When it comes to the defensive line, Wilson is exactly what the doctor ordered. He possesses rare speed and burst for a man his size, and impresses with a handful of well executed pass rushing moves to create pressure from the interior. Quick off the ball, Wilson can eat one on one matchups for breakfast in a myriad of ways. His use of hands allows him to capitalize on his athletic advantage and put himself in a position to either bull rush defenders or open the door to the outside and win on leverage. He could improve his approach to double teams, as he often fails to get low enough to anchor down, but there is no doubt he has the tools to succeed when doubled. WIlson can take a lot of the pressure off of Las Vegas’ young edge rushers, and generate coveted pressure from the interior that can disrupt even the most mobile quarterbacks. 18th Overall - Baltimore Ravens - Wyatt Davis - Ohio State - OG With the retirement of Marshall Yanda, guard has become a significant hole on what is otherwise a stout group on the offensive line. The Ravens offense relies heavily on putting defenders in conflict using Lamar Jackson’s dual threat abilities and the speed of the weapons around him. To me, even more than their other needs, the Ravens need to re-establish a dominant run game to take pressure off of Lamar and the best way to address this need is to draft a powerful, stout guard in Wyatt Davis. Davis pops off the tape with strength and ability to anchor in pass protection and move bodies in the run game. He is very quick to perform difficult reach blocks and steal leverage away from defenders to create holes in the run game. In the run game his footwork is top tier, and he shows the tenacity to be a plus blocker at the next level. My only small concern with him is his footwork in pass protection, where he sometimes swings his outside foot back and allows defenders to ‘open the door’ on him, but this isn’t a significant issue that will show up often on tape. Overall, Davis would be a key piece in establishing a run game in Baltimore to allow Harbaugh to run his option heavy offense off of and give Lamar all the tools he needs to get back to MVP form. 19th Overall - Washington Football Team - Terrace Marshall Jr. - LSU - WR Marshall unfortunately spent most of his career at LSU behind Chase and Jefferson, the latter of whom is already dominating the NFL as a rookie, but early in the season Marshall proved that he himself is a top receiver prospect serving as the WR1 for a rebuilding LSU squad. In his short 2020 stint, he showed top tier route running, very solid hands, and good use of his large frame to box out defenders. Ultimately, Marshall should project as a similar player to someone like Allen Robinson. He will routinely win on route running alone, despite lacking elite athleticism at the position, and will come down with the majority of the fifty-fifty balls thrown his way. For a Washington club that struggles passing to anyone not named Terry McLauren, Marshall is a perfect fit as a very good ‘X’ receiver to compliment McLauren’s speed and quickness. He should be a red-zone machine, as well as a very dependable target to move the chains. WFT gets a great player at a major need, who would likely be gone at pick 19 in most draft classes. 20th Overall - Arizona Cardinals - Deommodore Lenoir - Oregon - CB The Cardinals have all the pieces of a team with a great future, starting with the head coach and quarterback, but with Patrick Peterson showing signs of aging and no good options opposite him, outside cornerback has become a serious position of need. Enter the oft underrated Deommodore Lenoir. As an athlete, Lenoir boasts everything you could want in a corner except size. He is a speedy and fluid athlete and shows the strength and willingness to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage. Lenoir’s game is characterized by his aggressive approach, choosing to attack defenders rather than play passively and showing the athleticism and ball skills to attack passes in the air. Technically, Lenoir shows solid, but improvable footwork to stay in phase with defenders man to man, and good instincts and vision in zone to stay on his assignments and break up passes. If you draft Lenoir, you are drafting the athlete more so than the player, but by no means is Lenoir a raw corner. The Cardinals get a great athlete with solid fundamentals that can develop and become a good complement to Peterson and Murphy, and may eventually be able to truly step into the CB1 role. 21st Overall - Miami Dolphins - C.J. Verdell - Oregon - RB My hottest take of the draft by far. I don’t think I’ve heard much buzz about Verdell as a top running back, but to me I see all the tools to be an elite back at the NFL level. On tape, the most impressive trait Verdell flashes is his top tier burst and explosiveness. When C.J. decides to hit a hole, he is through it in an instant. A true slasher, Verdell can make one cut and take any play to the house even against some of the fastest, most stout defenses. He may not be the strongest back outright, but moving at top speed he is a sledge hammer between the tackles, and can navigate through traffic to find space and fall forwards for extra yards. As far as vision, Verdell shows both good and bad on tape. As a downhill runner, Verdell can often get tunnel vision and miss open opportunities to bounce runs outside. This may improve with NFL coaching, as Oregon runs a very downhill rushing attack, but it is still a concern going into the draft. But, conversely, within the rushing scheme, C.J. shows very quick recognition of run fits to find the open lane almost instantly, hitting it at top speed with his eyes up to make an extra cut. The ceiling for a back like Verdell is very, very high and his athleticism alone makes him a solid bet to translate to the next level. He reminds me a lot of a young Dalvin Cook: an explosive one-cut slasher with home run ability. If he can put on a little extra muscle and improve his shiftiness in space, Verdell might be the steal of the draft. The Dolphins need elite talent to surround Tua with, and Verdell very well might fit the bill to a tee. 22nd Overall - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Rashawn Slater - Northwestern - OT The Buccaneers look like one of the most complete rosters in the NFL in 2020, with talent at nearly every position group, but the offensive line remains a work in progress. Wirfs has been very impressive at right tackle in his rookie campaign, but improvement at left tackle and the guards positions would go a long way in helping Brady and/or his successor mount a superbowl run. Rashawn Slater enters the draft as a strong, technically sound tackle prospect that should find immediate success in the NFL just as Wirfs has on the other side. His footwork is extremely polished already: playing angles perfectly, quick to adjust to changes in direction, always in a position to get his hands on a defender and ride them outside around the pocket. hands. In the run game, Slater is ‘sticky’ and can control his defenders with a wide base and a great punch. His intelligence knowing leverages and blocking angles allows him to wall off defenders and create running lanes, even if he doesn’t move people off their spot. He shows above average awareness in pass protection, recognizing stunts and twists quickly and powering down his feet to brace for the twisting defender. Slater should be another plug and play tackle in a strong and deep tackle class. 23rd Overall - Indianapolis Colts - Chris Olave - Ohio State - WR With T.Y. Hilton having a resurgence the last few weeks, I was tempted to change this pick, but at 31 with injury history, I’m not sure Hilton’s play prevents me from drafting a guy like Olave. Much like former Ohio State receiver Terry McLauren, Olave shows very good route running and superior athleticism that projects him as a dynamic receiver at the next level. He isn’t a technical machine that many expect of ‘good’ route runners, but Olave shows exceptional awareness of leverages, defensive schemes, and techniques that allows him to tailor routes to the defense he sees in front of him. He always seems to know exactly what he should be doing and where he should be going to get separation and give his quarterback a window to throw into. He uses his speed to generate big plays down the field, his awareness projects him as a good red zone and third down threat, and his hands are reliable enough to gain the trust of a veteran quarterback like Rivers. Olave would be a great complement next to the big bodied Pittman, and he brings a lot of the awareness that made Hilton such a great receiver in his prime. 24th Overall - Cleveland Browns - Kwity Paye - Michigan - EDGE How long have the Browns been looking for a long term answer opposite Myles Garrett? Kwity Paye projects as a quick, technical edge rusher that can capitalize on one-on-one matchups created by Garrett’s presence. At 6’4” with decently long arms, Paye has the length to play against the NFL’s top tackles, despite looking a bit smaller on tape. The most impressive aspect of Paye’s game to me is his hand-usage, which is very active and technically sound. Tackles routinely struggle to get their hands on him, which allows him to use his speed to take the outside shoulder and get a hand on the quarterback. He is patient and efficient on stunts, once again using speed and motor to find open space and generate pressure. In the run game, he is once again disruptive when he can get penetration, but often lacks the strength to compete with well executed tackle play. Opposite Myles Garrett, Paye should be able to generate enough pressure to make life easy for a young and sometimes porous Cleveland secondary and maybe even take pressure off of Garrett himself and allow him to be even more dominant. I don’t expect Paye to ever be an elite rusher, but he has a high floor to be a disruptive presence at the end position, and a much needed partner in crime to the former 1st overall pick. 25th Overall - Jacksonville Jaguars (via LA Rams) - Pat Freiermuth - Penn State - TE In a very good tight end class, with some elite, elite athleticism, I opt to go with what I believe are more translatable traits in Pat Freiermuth, namely intelligence and blocking. Freiermuth is far from the flashiest tight end in this class, but his awareness of both offensive and defensive scheme is second to none in this class or any of the previous classes in recent memory. As a route runner, Freiermuth is an expert manipulating leverage a la Travis Kelce to be the reliable safety valve for his quarterback. He can create separation down the field as well with strong, subtle route running and excellent use of his large frame. He is an extremely reliable red zone threat, routinely finding open space in zone and boxing out defenders to make tight catches. In the run game, he isn’t elite technically, but his awareness of blocking schemes allows him to be in the perfect place at the right time on trap blocks and getting to the second level. He is a true three down tight end that won’t tip your hand to the defense about your play call. More so than any prospect in recent classes, Freiermuth has all the tools necessary to fall into the mould of a Kelce or Witten. Nothing too flashy, but elite at doing their jobs. Lawrence to Freiermuth has some chance of becoming the next Mahomes to Kelce. There is a very, very good argument for placing different tight end at this spot, or another player at a different position of need for Jacksonville, but I can’t shake the feeling Freiermuth is going to be special. 26th Overall - New York Jets (via Seattle) - Najee Harris - Alabama - RB I know he is only the second running back on my board, and I know the Jets probably need help elsewhere more than at running back, but I am in love with Najee Harris as a prospect. There just isn’t anything he isn’t great at. His vision is exceptional, with both good immediate play recognition and great patience to follow his blocks to generate an even bigger play. His balance and agility are elite, shedding and side stepping tackles with apparent ease. Harris is just as powerful between the tackles as he is quick in bouncing outside, with no wasted motion in either facet of his game. He is a strong receiving option as well, with sure hands and solid route running/awareness. The Jets will have an opportunity to grab another player shortly with their high second round pick, so I feel good grabbing the best player on the board. Harris will do a ton to make the offensive line better in the run game, and additionally take pressure off of Fields so defenses can’t tee off on the passing game. The dynamic of Harris and Fields in both the rushing attack and the passing game would make me feel a lot better about the future of the Jets offense, and maybe take some of the sting away from missing out on Lawrence. 27th Overall - Tennessee Titans - Gregory Rousseau - Miami - EDGE I’ll be honest, I never understood the top 10 hype for Rousseau, but for a team that is desperate for help rushing the passer, I am more than willing to take a chance on his physical traits. Rousseau most notably possesses ideal length for the position at 6’7” with long arms to compete with NFL caliber tackles. Rousseau boasts natural, functional strength with a very powerful bull rush, and similarly anchors down well in the run game. He is moderately quick for his size, and while he won’t be a significant speed threat outside at the next level, has enough speed to keep tackles guessing. Where Rousseau doesn’t stack up to other rushers in this class is in his technique and awareness, where he shows a one track mind on tape. Outside of his bull rush, Rousseau rarely rushes with a plan, often leaning too heavily on his strength and frame to win reps outright. His hands are often very passive and unrefined, where he often fails to keep punches off his chest. Rousseau needs to develop consistent technique, build some flexibility, and maybe an inside move to diversify his attack before he can be an impact player at the next level, but the tools are there. The Titans get a stout run defender in the short term who may be able to generate pressure and a handful of sacks on talent alone. With some coaching, however, Rousseau has more than enough upside to be a plus pass rusher. 28th Overall - Pittsburgh Steelers - Christian Darrisaw - Virginia Tech - OT With Big Ben’s recent play, a quarterback would make a lot of sense here. However, I opt instead to deal with a once great offensive line that needs a few pieces to return to former glory. Darrisaw would slot in very nicely at right tackle next to the aging Villanueva, and could potentially be a replacement at left tackle in the future. Darrisaw stands at 6’5” 313 lbs, and uses all of his frame to play with power and stability. While his feet can be choppy, his functional strength makes it tough for defenders to move him even when they get an extra step on him. His grip, when his punches land, is difficult to break, allowing Darrisaw to maintain control even when he has lost some leverage. In this run game, he could still use refinement technically, especially with his hands, but he shows flashes of being a true people mover with ‘pancaking’ upside. Again, there is some concern about his speed fighting off outside moves, but his strength alone is worth developing, and with even slightly more fluid footwork he could be a stalwart tackle in this league for many years. The Steelers need to improve their run game to take pressure off of Ben and the receiving core, and the future at the tackle position needs to be addressed. Darrisaw shows the upside on tape to help with both issues. 29th Overall - New Orleans Saints - Andre Cisco - Syracuse - S Arguably the most complete roster in the league, New Orleans more or less has the freedom to take the best player available, depending on what you think of Hill and Winston as potential Brees replacements. To me, Cisco is one of the best ‘under the radar’ players in this class for his high end awareness playing a ‘robber’ type strong safety role. Despite versatility to play free safety as well, Cisco shows elite talent at reading the eyes of the quarterback, diagnosing play calls, and breaking on routes for PBU’s and interceptions. He is likely one of the hardest hitters in this class, and can knock balls loose over the middle with clean contact after the catch. As a free safety, he shows similar awareness playing the true center field role, and has decent speed to play sideline to sideline, but will likely have a lot more success playing the role that Vonn Bell played before leaving for the Cincinnati. Cisco is a ‘do it all’ safety with elite intelligence and closing speed to be a ball hawk and bruiser in the New Orleans secondary. The Saints defense is rolling already, but Cisco has the potential to do what Minkah Fitzpatrick did for the Steelers and elevate the play of everyone around him. If the offense can just do enough with Kamara and Thomas, this defense can carry them to Payton’s second superbowl with the club. 30th Overall - Buffalo Bills - Asante Samuel Jr. - Florida State - CB Samuel Jr. isn’t the flashiest pick at the cornerback position, but for a team ready to compete and a defense having a bit of a down year, a high foor pick like Asante may be just what the team needs. Opposite an All-Pro in Tre White, Samuel is more than capable of being a very reliable, intelligent CB2 from day one. His footwork and fluidity are top tier coming out of college and easily NFL caliber already, which is unsurprising given his NFL pedigree. Samuel is quick recognizing routes, and is not easily fooled by double moves or trickery at the line of scrimmage. With the ball in the air, Samuel is a dynamic athlete who can make plays on the ball and close on receivers quickly to break up passes. There isn’t really much more to say about Samuel. Arguably one of the safest picks in the draft, you know you are getting an NFL caliber corner who won’t be beat easily and will chime in with enough PBU’s and turnovers to make this pick more than worthwhile. Really a perfect pick for where the Bills are right now. 31st Overall - Green Bay Packers - Amon-Ra St. Brown - USC - WR Reuniting the St. Brown brothers, the Packers get easily the best receiver in the family tree. While only 6’1”, St. Brown plays bigger than his frame, but also possesses the speed and route running to be a dynamic threat down the field and in open space. With very sure hands and a large catch radius, St. Brown will quickly gain the trust of Rodgers (or Love potentially) and become the ‘go-to’ second option in Green Bay overnight. His route running is very crisp and nuanced, and he shows great ability to set up defenders and move them away from his eventual route. After the catch, St. Brown is quick and hard to tackle, demonstrating very solid yards after the catch ability in the screen or jet sweep game. Although I’m not sure his big play ability will translate quite as well due to his relative lack of speed, Amon-Ra St. Brown will undoubtedly be a reliable target at the next level in the short and intermediate game, and has enough speed and ball skills to come down with a few deep shots at the NFL level. Adams and MVS have proven to be a very solid tandem in Green Bay, but the addition of St. Brown adds an extra element to the receiving room, and when you have a quarterback like Rodgers, there is absolutely no such thing as too many weapons. 32nd Overall - Kansas City Chiefs - Rashod Bateman - Minnesota - WR Many may scoff at the idea of the Chiefs taking a receiver in the first round; after all, they already have the best skill position group in all of football. If anything, that to me proves why the Chiefs should continue investing in weapons for Mahomes: it works! With Watkins likely gone in the offseason, the Chiefs need another reliable, possession receiver to make plays over the middle and move the chains. We’ve seen over the last three years that this formula with Tyreek, Kelce and Watkins isn’t just a contender, but a champion. Bateman brings fluid route running and fantastic hands to the Chiefs, and will haul in any pass regardless of accuracy and separation. Speed is a bit of a limiting factor when it comes to his production, but his athleticism with the ball in the air, and creativeness after the catch make him an ideal fit for what Kansas City needs. Bateman can be yet another red zone threat for the Chiefs, who are already elite at finishing drives, and can put defenses in even more of a bind wondering “how are the Chiefs going to score on us this time?”. Bateman is built to be an ‘X’ receiver, and has the skill to not only fill Watkins’ shoes, but maybe become an even better possession receiver overall, with less of the downfield threat. There is nothing wrong with strengthening your teams’ strengths, especially when that strength is winning you superbowls. Continue to invest in Mahomes, and Kansas City will continue to be a city of champions. It’s that simple.
After a very poor start of the season, very few people believed Manchester United could even get into the top four. However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side entered a streak that launched them right behind Liverpool. The Red Devils are just two points behind their fiercest rivals, thanks to nine matches in which they missed the chance to win only twice. Although the hosts failed to secure a place in the Champions League knockout stage, they can fully focus on the title race instead. Bruno Fernandes and the lads have shown a strong mentality since they trailed in several matches but managed to end up as winners eventually. It seemed that Wolves would remain undefeated at Old Trafford last Tuesday, but Marcus Rashford’s injury-time goal brought them an important victory. Manchester United had a very poor record at Theather of Dreams, but they managed to improve and get ten points from the last four games at the home ground. They need to be consistent to remain in the title battle. Aston Villa barely survived last season, and they were projected to fight against the relegation once again. However, they are enjoying an excellent campaign and sit in fifth place, being three points behind Everton and Leicester City, but with a game in hand. The visitors entered a five-match unbeatable run, during which they celebrated three times. Dean Smith’s side is one of the best defensive teams in the league, having conceded only 14 goals. On the other hand, Jack Grealish and the lads scored twice more and managed to find the back of the net eight out of the last nine games. The Villans are the third-best visiting team, as they suffered just one defeat from seven outings. In addition, they recorded only one draw and managed to get back home with all three points on five occasions. The away side hopes they can continue the unbeatable run at the Red Devils’ expense.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
We expect to see a very exciting clash as both teams should search for a win. However, we find the hosts being slight favorites, and they should pick up all three points from this game.
Goals Market Prediction
Six out of their last seven clashes at Old Trafford went over a 2.5 margin. We expect to see another interesting display from both sides, and at least three goals in total. Manchester United to win @ 1.75 Over 2.5 FT @ 1.55 Correct score 2:1 @ 9.50 Read the analysishereand share your opinion with us!
After two rounds from which they picked up only a point, Manchester United got back on the winning track with style. They booked an astonishing 9:0 victory over Southampton last Tuesday and remained three points behind Manchester City. That one made Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side the most efficient team in the Premier League. However, Marcus Rashford and the lads need to continue in the same fashion and hope for their rivals to slump at the same time. The Red Devils had a terrible start to the campaign, especially when playing at Old Trafford. Nevertheless, they managed to improve home displays, and Manchester United booked four wins in the previous five games at their ground. The hosts need to be on their top-level in February since great challenges expect them starting from March. Everton sits in 7th place, but the visitors don’t give up on the Champions League spot battle. They are only four points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, with two games in hand. Carlo Ancelotti’s side has been in a variable form lately as they booked two wins and lost twice in the previous five rounds. Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the lads are doing a very good job in the front. On the other hand, although the defense has been decent, the away side didn’t manage to keep the clean sheet on the past five occasions. Everton puts excellent performances on the road, and they won four times in a row at the away grounds. Seven wins from ten outings is a fantastic record, and the visitors hope of extending it.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
It is going to be an exciting clash as both sides have the chance to get some points from it. However, the hosts are full of confidence after their remarkable victory in the latest round, and they will take all three points.
Goals Market Prediction
Manchester United has been involved in many efficient matches at Old Trafford this season. We expect to see another exciting display, and the game should go over a 2.5 margin. Manchester United to win @ 1.55 Over 2.5 FT @ 1.65 Correct score 3:1 @ 13.00 Read the analysishereand share your opinion with us!
Gladbach improved its form lately as the hosts picked up ten points from the last four rounds. They come to this game after a narrow 1:0 win over Werder Bremen on Wednesday. Although they sit in 7th place, the Colts are just one point behind the top four. Marco Rose’s side has been pretty efficient this season, although they might try tightening up their defense. Gladbach suffered only one defeat at Borussia-Park but also allowed their opponents to get away with a draw four times. Lars Stindl and the lads are searching for the third consecutive home victory that can get them back into the battle for the Champions League places. However, the hosts still cannot count on the suspended Marcus Thuram. After two straight victories, everybody saw Borussia Dortmund back on the winning track. However, the visitors managed to pick up just a point against struggling Mainz at home, while they failed to a 2:1 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen last round. They are still fourth on the table, but only one pint ahead of their upcoming rivals. Dortmund needs to be more consistent, and Erling Haaland should get much more support from his teammates. The Norwegian International is by far the best player on the team, while Jadon Sancho isn’t even close to the last season’s level. Dortmund also needs to address some defensive issues as the away side conceded too many times this season. They will also face some injury and suspension troubles, as Thomas Delaney, Axel Witsel, and Dan-Axel Zagadou will be sidelined.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
Every Dortmund's game is tricky to predict this season, and this one is not much different. In our opinion, both teams have an equal chance of winning, and therefore, we expect the game to end in a draw.
Goals Market Prediction
Both sides have been involved in many efficient matches this season. They have significant attacking potential, but they don’t do very well in the back. That is why we don’t believe the nets are going to remain intact Draw @ 3.60 BTTS Yes @ 1.50 Correct score 2:2 @ 11.00 Read the analysishereand share your opinion with us!
Wandslinging in Eberron. A Wandslinger Background and a Dueling Downtime Activity.
I made this Background for my Artillerist Artificer as well as a Downtime Activity of Dueling. Working with my DM it evolved into an emerging sport in Eberron, similar to a Martial Arts Tournament crossed with the Major League Football. Below I am posting the Wandslinger Duelist Background as well as a reposting of the downtime rules I came up with. Feedback is greatly appreciated! DnDBeyond Link
Background: Wandslinger Duelist
Following the Last War, a number of spellcasters from the Five Nations were left without jobs but still had plenty of grudges. The Aurum has capitalized on this and set up a series of public dueling competitions for sport, organized at local and continent wide levels. These non-lethal competitions are growing larger crowds each time they are held, especially when National Leagues get to compete with each other. The Wandslinger Association of Khorvaire hosts bi-weekly through yearly events for participants of all skills and abilities. You have begun to participate in these events and have qualified to compete for Silver level status in the Association. The call to adventure is a simple next step for many Association members, most using the opportunity to practice new skills, obtain exotic materials for their spells or wands, or to find more challenging opponents and push themselves further. Skill Proficiencies: You have proficiency with Arcana and one the following skills: Acrobatics, Sleight of Hand, Perception, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, or Performance. Tool Proficiencies: One gaming set (Dragonchess, Dice, Playing Cards or Three-Dragon Ante) and Woodcarver's tools. Equipment: Two wands (suitable as Arcane Focuses) both rough-worn and won in duels, a gaming set of choice, one brooch or keepsake from a mentor, a small medal or ribbon from a small Dueling competition, a letter challenging you to a duel that you never showed up to because the date and location got smudged, and a pouch containing 15 gp. Signature Implement: While you've many Arcane Focuses over the years and have several on your person, there is one which is your favorite and most known for using. Choose or roll on the table below. d20 Signature Implements 1) (Wand) A simple wooden wand like what most people learn with. It's my Ol' Faithful. 2) (Wand) A garish wand plated in electrum and fake rubies. 3) (Wand) A dagger handled wand I keep in a sheath at my side. 4) (Wand) All my wands are identical Zebrawood with Copper trim. 5) (Wand) A curved Purple Heartwood Wand that forks at the tip. It's a family heirloom and very sought after by other duelists. 6) (Wand) A Wenge with Turquoise inlay wand, which I recently lost in a duel. 7) (Wand) A narrow and long blue colored wand with a spiral copper inlay running the length of the implement. 8) (Wand or Crystal)A single piece of fulgurite you found after a bad storm. 9) (Wand) An intricately carved Cherry wand with a carved spiral grip. The handle is hollowed out and a small vial of Eberron Dragonshard dust is visible between the spiral wood of the grip. 10) (Wand) An unusually squared wand, colored grey and black. There are yellow draconic runes carved into it that the salesman who sold it to you swore meant "Strength Through Intelligence" 11) (Wand) A Cannith made 12 piece wand that is meant to be disassembled and reassembled for cleaning and maintenance. There was supposed to be a 13th piece, but you couldn't find it in the box. (Shout-out to u/MakerMage for the suggestion!) 12) (Rod) An Mahogany and Iron Rod I keep strapped to my thigh or back. 13) (Rod) A piece from a shattered Siege Staff you helped destroy in the War. You worked the charred remains into a functioning, but not entirely attractive looking, Rod. 14) (Rod) A simple but sturdy Steel and Oak Rod that you were issued when you joined the military. 15) (Staff) An Ash Staff I keep meticulously clean in a fringed leather carrying pouch wherever I go. 16) (Staff) An Oak Staff with intricately shaped iron capped ends. It was a gift to your grandparent for their deeds in combat and they left it to you when they passed away. 17) (Crystal) A Crystal on a leather string tied to my wrist. I like throw off my opponents with my unusual style. 18) (Crystal) It used to be an Orb, but now its a Crystal. Guess the Maul is mightier than the Orb. 19) (Orb) An blue and green hued Glass Orb. (I prefer the term "Orb-Slinger", thank you very much) 20) (Any) A regular off-the-shelf Arcane Focus. It is in no way physically distinct from any other Implement of its kind, but you are always able to tell it apart from the others. Winona is special and better than all the others and no-one can convince you otherwise. Suggested Characteristics As a duelist, your experience and ego can vary widely - you could be humble about your countless wins, and a willing mentor to admiring young duelists. Or, you could be insecure about your barely-held-together streak and snappishly refuse to add anyone else to the competition. d6 Personality Trait 1) I always fight fair, for winning a duel by cheating isn't winning at all. 2) I'm always willing to give tips to those willing to learn. 3) I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me. 4) I never turn my back to anyone. Ever. 5) My honor above my life. 6) Dueling is the only thing that makes me feel alive anymore. d6 Ideal 1) Generosity. Everyone should be given a proper chance to surpass the expectations of others. You never know, they might surprise you. (Good) 2) Duels have rules, and I would die before I break those rules. (Lawful) 3) Flexibility. If someone wants to duel me under unusual circumstances (possibly because those circumstances might be illegal), I don't have a problem with it. (Chaotic) 4) Pride. I never, EVER, back down from a challenge. (Any) 5) Dignity. If I lose a duel, I will accept the result with honor. If I win, I will not lord my victory in front of my fallen opponent. (Neutral) 6) Bloodlust. The song of the wand and the smell of hot blood are my only joys in life. (Evil) d6 Bond 1) Dueling is an art that should not be forgotten; I travel around the world teaching tomorrow's duelists the art of the wand. 2) I am fighting to restore the honor to my family's name, and won't stop until the world recognizes my house once again. 3) I'll carve my way back to the one(s) who killed my family. 4) I will become the greatest duelist that ever lived. 5) Someone I loved died because of I mistake I made. That will never happen again. 6) My weapon is like a person to me. d6 Flaw 1) I like dueling... too much. Whenever I see anyone with a Wand, all I can think about is my strategy for when I inevitably duel them. 2) I'm hotheaded and reckless; if anyone slanders me or my name, I show them why I am called so handy with the wand. 3) When faced with a choice between revenge and my friends, I usually choose revenge. 4) I have a fondness for low living: I drink, whore and gamble, often in excess. 5) An innocent person is in prison following a duel that I won. I’m indebted to his family. 6) I have a crippling addiction to gambling. Feature: Fan Favorite You are making a name for yourself through the various duels you have been in. A lesser noble or wealthy merchant is quite taken with your grit and determination and has told you how much they admire you and offers their services. You begrudgingly accept their offer of favors. You may use this lesser noble as a contact for small favors or information. These favors have not come with any strings attached...yet. d6 Contacts Roll on the table below to see who you are the Fan Favorite of. 1) Lord Artanis ir'Hasting. A retired merchant who bought his title and land outside a small seaside town for retirement. After turning his shop over to his grandchild he focusses his newfound free-time on Wandlsinger Duelists, specifically you. 2) Lady Nessa ir'Wolfhammer is a local legend. Earning her Knighthood, surname, and position as Sherriff by defending a settlement from a pack of Dire Wolves at the cost of her left arm, she still makes time to mentor people she thinks have great promise. 3) Lady Cassandra ir'Nestaroth is the fifth heir in line to her family's Barony. With all other duties relegated to her older siblings, she spends her generous free-time studying and researching matters of the Arcane and watching Arcane Duels. 4) Krusk Ironstripe. The Half-Orc who runs the Dueling Arena where you developed your skill. A no-nonsense businessman and one heck of a Wandlsinger himself. Speaks softly and carries a Rod of Scorching Rays. 5) Harald "The Axe Beak Jarl" Falkenberg. This self-proclaimed Jarl is the founder of a very successful Axe Beak farm and sells them as mounts across the country. He has become a very invested fan of yours. He made signs for you; the Axe Beaks weahold them. 6) Captain Vanessa Camish. Captain of the local guard, Vanessa strikes an imposing figure even with a Silver Ring on each finger. She has taken an interest in your skill, and believes you could have a great career working for her. Variant Feature: Renown of the Arena A Wandslinger is in every way a fighter and a performer. In the Arena, you rouse the crowd with your displays of fighting prowess killing or maiming other combatants, and like any other well-known performer, there is rarely a dull moment in your day-to-day life. On the streets, the people may recognize you for these feats of in the Arena. Oftentimes your fans might present you with small gifts, discounts on combat gear, a free round of drinks, or a free nights stay at the local Tavern & Inn. Sometimes you might have to deal with the occasional stalker, or other times you are the victim of an "unfortunate accident" due to vengeful fans of a fighter you've fought against.
Xanathar's This Is Your Life Additions
Personal Decisions: Backgrounds d6 I Became a Wandslinger Because... 1) I come from a family with a strong Arcane tradition. I've been using a wand for as long as I can remember. 2) I was trained as a Wandslinger by the military and am just trying to use my skills to make a living. 3) I was saved by a Wandlsinger at a young age and have always strove to emulate them. 4) Wielding a wand gives me a feeling of strength and purpose that nothing else ever has. 5) A close friend or relative gifted me a wand before they died. I endeavor to be the best Wandslinger I can be to honor their memory. 6) I always played Adventurers VS Monsters as a child and teenager. One day while playing with an old, fake wand I'd had for years, I actually cast a spell. I saved up to buy a real one and am living my childhood dream.
Downtime Activity: Dueling Tournament
In my Eberron, Wandslinging Duels are an up and coming form of entertainment, especially popular among Aundairians and Nobles. *I HIGHLY suggest to use the Rivals, Patrons and Pit Fighting Complication Tables that already exists in Xanathar's Guide. I don't feel the need to completely reinvent the wheel. DOWNTIME RULES Wandslinging Dueling A Wandslinging Duel is more than just two individuals throwing spells at each other until one falls. Accuracy, nimbleness, adaptability, terrain and reading your opponent all factor into it. This ruleset is designed to be class neutral, only requiring an individual to be able to cast an offensive spell. Resources: Engaging in this activity requires one workweek of effort from the character. Resolution: The Character must make a series of checks, with a DC determined at random based on the quality of opposition that the character runs into. A big part of the challenge of Dueling lies in the unknown nature of the character's opponents. What spells have they prepared? What spells do they favor? Etc. The Character makes three checks:
A Spell Attack Roll to see how accurate you will be.
An Athletics or Acrobatics Check to see how nimble and hard to hit you will be.
An Intimidation, Deception, Investigation, Insight, Performance, or Sleight of Hand check. This is to either read the opponent, prevent the opponent from reading you, or tricking them in some way.
If desired, the character can expend Spell Slots or uses of Pact Magic to augment their rolls. You can gain a bonus equal to the Spell Level expended, up to your Proficiency Bonus. You may do this for each roll as long as you have Spell Slots to spare. You do not regain any Spell Slots or Pact Magic uses between each roll. You must decide to do this BEFORE you roll your check. Example: Leon d'Cannith is a 5th level Artillerist. He has a Proficiency Bonus of +3, as well as two 2nd level Spell Slots and four 1st level Spell Slots. He spends 3 first level slots to augment is first roll and can add +3 to that roll. He spends his last 1st level on his second roll for a +1 to the roll. For his last roll, he uses two 2nd level spell slots, but only gets a +3 to the roll because that is his Proficiency Bonus. The DC for these checks is 2d10 + 1 Renown Die. (Renown Die will be explained below) It is also common practice for Duelists to wager their wands in duels. The winner gets the wand of the loser. In most Tournament settings, this is carried out as a "Buy Out" of the loser giving the victor the coin value of their chosen implement rather than actually turning it over. Results
0 Successes: Lose your duels, earns nothing. Lose 1 Renown Die x gp cost of your Spellcasting Focus of choice.
1 Success: 25gp + (1 Renown Die x 10gp)
2 Successes: 50gp + (2 Renown Dice x 10gp)
3 Successes: 75gp + (3 Renown Dice x 10gp)
Tier-less Play If you don't want an established sporting event for magical dueling as listed below, simply replace any reference to Renown Dice with your Proficiency Bonus. Tiers As you duel, you can advance in Tiers of Skill. You can earn more money, but also will face on average tougher opponents. You start at the Copper Tier and work your way up to Platinum. You only have 1 Renown Die value at any time as indicated on the table below. TIER NAME : RENOWN DIE
Copper : 1d4
Silver : 1d6
Electrum: 1d8
Gold: 1d10
Platinum: 1d12
In order to advance through the Tiers, you must accumulate 10 total successes from Duels in order to qualify to attend a tournament where you can attempt to advance in rank in the competitive circuit. These tournaments require 1 week of downtime and follow the same rules as standard Downtime Dueling with the following results for the number of successes rolled.
0 Successes: You perform poorly and must accumulate 10 more Successes before you can compete again.
1 Success: You do not place. Win no money, lose no money. Can compete the next time a tournament is held.
2 Successes: You compete well enough to advance one Tier, but win no money.
3 Successes: You win the tournament! Congratulations! Not only do you advance to the next Tier, but you also win 1 Renown Die (from old Tier) x 100gp! (This is also a great time for DMs to implement a Rival or SponsoPatron)
Complications Each week spent Dueling brings a 10 percent chance of a complication, examples of which can be found in the table below. d10 Complications 1) An opponent swears revenge on you. 2) A Crime boss approaches you and offers to pay you to intentionally lose a few matches. 3) You defeat a popular local duelist, drawing the anger of their fans. 4) You defeat a noble, drawing the wrath of their house. 5) You are accused of cheating. You cannot participate in official Duels in this area for 30 days while they investigate the allegations. 6) You accidentally deliver a near-fatal wound to a foe. 7) You had an upset victory and cost a member of a local crime guild to lose their bets. They want their money back. 8) Someone you didn't get matched against wants to duel you: alone, at dawn, and outside the city. 9) A local approaches you about hiring you to deal with a local gang in possession of a Wand of Acid Arrow. 10) You wake up to find your Signature Implement stolen and being used by another Wandslinger who refuses to return it. Some things to keep in mind: Tournaments aren't held every day, or even every week. The higher you are in skill, the less often a High Tier Tournament will be held. Copper Tier Events are held once or twice a month across Khorvaire, but there might only be one Platinum Tournament a year held in Sharn. You can only compete in a Tournament up to 1 level below where you currently are (Electrum Characters can compete in Electrum or Silver tier tournaments, but are too accomplished to participate in Copper.) Copper level events have turnouts similar to a small city baseball team while a Platinum Tournament is akin to the Super Bowl. Nobles often attend Copper and Silver events in order to find rising talent and become their Patrons. Tournaments are also watched by various government and criminal organizations looking for potential new recruits. Aurum members may pay particularly popular Duelists to NOT join other organizations. Due to the recent outlawing of sword duels in Aundaire, this sport is particularly popular. Arcanix allows Upper Class students to participate. Dueling Arenas are typically held 200 feet away from the audience in outdoor events, in a 20ft deep pit in smaller areas, surrounded on the sides by panels of Arcane Resistant Glass (made by Cannith with ground Dragonshard powder added to the glass before melting. Gives it a slight Orange, Yellow or Purple Tint based on the Dragonshard used) when indoors, or several Kundarak Wandslingers are on site with Wands of Counterspell to protect the Audience. Arena's have no set size or layout. Some utilize Medium sized geometric obstacles make of wood or stone, others are completely unobstructed. Higher tier tournaments are also more likely to have Common, Uncommon or possibly Rare magic items as prizes for Tournament Champions. (Wands of Pyrotechnics, Imbued Wands, Wands of Magic Missile, Wands of Ice Knife, Wands of Scorching Ray, Brooches of Shielding, etc) PERSONAL DUELS Sometimes, you might be challenged by a rival or other passing Wandslinger to a duel outside of a tournament setting. The rules can be very different from traditional tournament rules, but will always be agreed upon by both parties prior to any wands being drawn. Below are the most common rules.
First to land 3 spells on the opponent wins
K.O.s are automatic victories
Killing is a victory, unless agreed upon beforehand that the duel will be non-lethal. Lethal Duels have been outlawed in most areas.
Losing Duelist forfeits their equipped wand/implement to the victor. This is a tradition outside of the tournament setting, and most accomplished duelists have a collection of wands from their defeated opponents. This can be a great way to earn a new Wand of Magic Missile or Imbued Wand. How you want to handle Non-Downtime Duels is up to you. You can run them with the above outlined Downtime mechanics, you can have first to 3 with contested Spellcasting Rolls, you could run it with standard 5E combat mechanics in a 1 vs 1 setting or you could have it set up as a Skill Challenge. I personally like the idea of the Skill Challenge, and think 5e missed an opportunity to carry over one of the best ideas of 4e. The opponent casting Burning Hands results in the PC needing to make an Athletics or Acrobatics check to get out of the way to not take the hit and cast their own spell back. At the end of the day, do what is most fun for you, this guide is primarily about the Downtime aspect, but I felt a need to address a more "Live Action" version of dueling also. EDIT 1: (11 Nov) Spelling and Formatting. EDIT 2: (11 Nov.) Lowered base gold winnings of Tournaments otherwise it's more profitable than Adventuring which is against 5e design intent and balance. EDIT 3: (11 Nov.) Added links to the Background on DnDBeyond. EDIT 4: (11 Nov.) Adding more options to the Signature Implement Table. Too much fun to come up with them. EDIT 5: (12 Nov.) Added a Tier-less play option for those who might not be able to fit a structured organization of magical dueling into their setting (for the non-Eberron players out there) EDIT 6: (13 Nov.) Added a "Contacts" section for the Background based on an entry in DnDBeyond. Cause why not? EDIT 7: (13 Nov.) Added a Complications Table HEAVILY copied inspired by the Pit Fighting Downtime Activity. EDIT 8: (13 Nov) Added a Xanathar's This is Your Life rollable table for the Wandlsinger Background. EDIT 9: (8 Dec) Changed how spells can be used to affect the rolls. No longer replaced the rolls, but provides a bonus to them. Also rearranged the Signature Implement table.
The Wukong Illusion: Why You Tunnel and 3 Ways to Improve Awareness
How many times has tunneling costed you a stupid death or even a game? I bet the answer is too many. You didn't notice the enemy Jungler ganking your lane. You're mad at Mid for the enemy's roam, but he spammed the Missing Ping 4 times. When you tunnel, you miss the obvious because you're so engrossed with a specific task. This sort of focus is great, but without all the information, it can lead to critical mistakes. Learning some science and tips can improve your decision-making.
Inattentional Blindness
Tunneling in LoL is similar to what cognitive psychologists call inattentional blindness. Inattentional blindness is the failure to see unexpected yet obvious visual information. How did I not see that Ward? Where the hell did Warwick come from? If you didn't notice something in front of you point-blank, that's inattentional blindness. This phenomenon doesn't happen because of visual defects. It happens because of a lapse of attention.
The Wukong Illusion
An example of inattentional blindness is a famous study conducted by Daniel Simons. The researchers asked subjects to watch a video of two basketball teams, white and black. Their goal was to count how many times the black team passed the ball. You can watch the video here and see if you can pass the test. SPOILERS AHEAD! If you counted 15 passes, you're correct! Congratulations, you're a genius! But did you see the gorilla? Watch the video again and see if you can spot him. Most people don't see the gorilla due to inattentional blindness. You were too busy paying attention to counting the passes. That gorilla takes many forms in League. It could be the enemy Jungler, a Thresh Lantern, a Control Ward. They're screaming for your attention, but you fail to notice. Other studies which use more simple distractors, such as a red crosshair, see the same effect.
Okay, But Why?
Theory 1: Perceptual Load One supported theory that explains inattentional blindness is perceptual load. Your brain power has a limit. Some tasks demand more of that limit, leaving less room for other tasks. During the gorilla video, you were paying close attention to the passing. This task was demanding enough for you to neglect the gorilla. Expert basketball players are more likely to notice the gorilla than novice ones. That's because they've honed the skill of tracking the ball. They can use less energy to achieve the same level of performance. Theory 2: Expectation This theory is more straight-forward. You just didn't expect a gorilla to be in this video. You know what a gorilla is, how it behaves, and what it looks like, yet you didn't notice one. Likewise, you know Wukong is their Top Laner and has Teleport. You just didn't expect him to tp-gank 4 minutes into the game. The combination of poor game awareness and inadequate knowledge causes tunneling.
3 Ways to Improve Awareness
By understanding this phenomenon, you're now better-equipped to avoid it. The same researchers have found ways to lessen inattentional blindness. Moreover, these theories lend themselves to actionable advice. 1. Practice for Automation League is a complex game. You can break it down to thousands of small, significant tasks. Some of these tasks, such as controlling your champion and farming, are part of every game. Think of how much energy you spend on last-hitting minions and landing abilities. That's why having a small champion pool is favorable. Over time, you will build up enough practice until these tasks become second nature. You can kill cannon minions and time Wind Walls in your sleep. Automating these tasks through practice means freeing up your brain's RAM. 2. Study the Unexpected In the moment, you're convinced that no one could have seen that gank coming. But a simple review of the incident reveals telling signs. Their half-health Vayne stepped forward into your huge minion wave. Your summoners are up. In no world she kills you here. Alone that is. League is a game of common patterns. If you study these patterns, you can protect yourself and trick the enemy. Topics, such as Jungle Pathing, Warding Times, and Rotations, are a great place to start. 3. Exercise MindfulnessStudies show that performing a mindfulness task before cognitive tests reduces inattentional blindness. Being aware of your senses is a form of deep focus. It can also quiet your racing thoughts, freeing up more brain RAM. There's no right way to mindfulness, but Transcendental Meditation is a popular method. Follow a short guide before or between Soloqueue games. I recommend Sam Harris's 9-minute guide on YouTube. You can even do micro exercises during death timers and walking to lane. You can talk to yourself about the game state and next steps. This internal dialogue may seem weird, but it primes yourself for conscious thinking. Okay, no one is on the map and I'm heading to their Jungle. Huge nope.
Conclusion
Inattentional blindness is a well-studied phenomenon in cognitive psychology. The research in this area helps explain Tunnel Vision in League. In a sense, tunneling is a double-edged sword. You're concentrating on a single task with immense focus. At the same time, you're ignoring other information which can change the game. By applying these tips, you can strike the perfect balance between stepping back and going all in.
Leeds United is on a good track of securing at least the safe mid-table position. The home side is 15 points ahead of the danger zone and sitting in 12th place. Marcelo Bielsa’s team booked two wins in a row, both on the road. The Whites managed to beat Newcastle United first, while in the latest round, they surprised Leicester City despite trailing 1:0 early in the game. Patrick Bamford and the lads have been very good in front of the oppositions’ net. However, their defensive work should be improved as Leeds conceded 36 times so far. The hosts also need to be more confident at the home ground, as they celebrated only three times at Elland Road. If they win the third time in a row, Leeds could enter the continental spots race. After picking only a point in the last two rounds, Everton slipped to the 8th spot. Nevertheless, they are only six points behind Leicester City, with two games in hand. Carlo Ancelotti’s side failed to a surprising 2:0 defeat against struggling Newcastle, although everybody expected an easy win. The Toffees haven’t celebrated at home on the last three occasions, and therefore, they missed the chance to remain in the top four. On the other hand, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and the lads are excellent on the road. They missed the opportunity to win only once in the last five outings. Six victories from nine trips are one of the best away records in the league. Everton needs to keep up that pace if they want to secure a Champions League spot next season.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
Leeds United can upset any team in the Premier League, and they will search for another win. On the other hand, Everton is one of the best visiting teams in the competition. Therefore, we won’t be surprised if these two teams split points.
Goals Market Prediction
Everton failed to score just once on the road, while Leeds United enjoys its attacking style. We think both sides are capable of scoring, and the nets won’t remain still in this clash. Draw @ 3.60 BTTS Yes @ 1.55 Correct score 2:2 @ 12.00 Read the analysishereand share your opinion with us!
A surprising defeat against Sheffield United last Wednesday ended United’s unbeatable run of 13 matches. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side managed to get back from London with just a point from Arsenal last weekend. Therefore, the red Devils slipped to 2nd place, being three points behind Manchester City. Liverpool also managed to improve lately and, we should see an exciting title battle. The hosts now need to show the winning character, as the public thinks they got afraid of becoming the champions. Bruno Fernandes and the lads need to improve their finishing since four goals in the last five rounds are not enough for remaining on the top. United shouldn’t spill more points at Old Trafford, and they need to get back on the winning track. Southampton entered a poor streak, as they lost three times in a row. They have been around the continental qualification for a long time, but the visitors slipped to the 11th spot. Everybody expected them to keep up the pace after a 1:0 win over Liverpool, but that didn’t happen. Danny Ings and the lads have some trouble in converting their chances into goals lately. The Saints scored only twice in the previous five Premier League rounds, and Ralph Hasenhuttl needs to urgently address that issue. It’s still not too late for Southampton to enter the battle for the Europa League spot as they are four points behind Tottenham. They have been pretty tight when playing away from home this season, as Southampton lost only twice on the road. However, they have also been involved in a lot of draws. The visitors need to put a disciplined performance and try to remain undefeated in this match.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
The hosts cannot allow themselves to lose points at Old Trafford if they want to keep challenging the title. We believe they will meet the expectations and get all three points from this match.
Goals Market Prediction
Head-to-head matches between these two sides have been very exciting and efficient lately. Bots teams were able to score in their last five encounters, and we don’t think this one will be much different. Manchester United to win @ 1.55 BTTS Yes @ 1.70 Correct score 2:1 @ 9.00 Read the analysishereand share your opinion with us!
Thanks to an excellent run and three victories in a row, Monaco climbed to 4th position, only four points behind Lyon. The hosts haven’t lost five times in a row, and during that streak, they missed the chance to win only once. Although Niko Kovac’s side should be tighter in the back, their attacking work significantly improved. Kevin Volland and the lads scored at least three goals in each of the previous three games. Monaco also got back on the winning track at the home soil after losing to Lens and drawing against St. Etienne. The home side is the second most productive team in the league, and if they manage to keep up the form, Monaco could enter the race for a Champions League spot. On the other hand, Marseille entered a winless run that saw them declining to 6th place. They are four points behind their upcoming rivals, but with one game in hand. The away side picked up just a point from the last three rounds, and the lack of efficiency should worry Andre Villas-Boas. If we consider the Super Cup game against PSG, their losing streak extends to three matches. Marseille lost their last two home games, and one of those was against Nimes, the bottom-placed team at that time. Hiroki Sakai and the lads are among the best defensive sides in Ligue 1, but Marseille netted just once in the last three league games. Nevertheless, they have been doing well at away grounds this season. However, the visitors failed to get back home with a win from their last three outings. They need to improve the form urgently to stay in the race for the continental spots.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
Monaco has been in much better form lately, and they want to pick up where they left off. On the other hand, Marseille’s confidence is low, and we won’t be surprised if they fail to another defeat
Goals Market Prediction
Head-to-head clashes between these two sides have been very exciting lately. Football fans could see goals in both nets on the previous nine occasions. Only one of their last 13 matches remained under a 2.5 margin. Therefore, we expect to see another efficient game with at least three goals in total. Monaco to win @ 1.75 Over 2.5 FT @ 1.80 Correct score 3:2 @ 23.00 Read the analysishereand share your opinion with us!
2020 r/baseball Power Rankings -- Week 11 / Special Playoff Edition: Who Is Most Likely to Win the World Series?
Hey Sportsfans — it's time for Week 11 of baseball's 2020 Power Rankings — In our final ranking of the season we are doing things a little bit differently. You'll notice only the 16 playoff teams are ranked in this week's edition and you should note the different voting rules for the week below. I would like to take a moment to thank all the readers of this weekly feature that make this project worthwhile. Another year in the books! Cheers to you, and I tip my cap to all the team representatives, past and present, who make this project possible.
Edit: Numerous errors have been fixed and the rankings updated.
Every voter has their own style / system and the only voting instructions are these: (Special Playoff Rules)
"Please rank the playoff teams from most likely to win the World Series to least likely, taking into account match ups, route to the WS, and anything unique about the playoffs."
Full end of season retrospectives will be posted in the comments for all teams TRANSPARENCY: this link will show you who voted each team where and has added neat statistics! Please note: Because our dedicated team of voters have trouble breaking their habits, you may notice some people voted for all 30 teams. You can safely ignore those votes. Or argue about them since I can't stop you. You may notice some other wonkiness because of this. If something is a little messed up, feel free to pester me let me know. Total Votes: 28 of 30. Missing votes / blurbs may be on their way.
#
Team
Δ
Comment
Record
1
Dodgers
With all the uncertainty we have all been faced with this year, the Dodgers have truly been one of the pillars of reliability and stability in an ever turbulant world. Simply put, they have been exactly who we all expected them to be (which uhhhh, is the best team in baseball) and seem fully locked and loaded to make another major push at that long overdue piece of metal. But they have been able to do it with a pretty notable difference in who the reliable contributors have been. A year ago, we'd be looking at this team going into the postseason with Ryu, Hill, and Maeda to flank Buehler and Kershaw (can you imagine still having those guys on this team 😳) and be led by postseason heroes of Muncy and Pederson alongside our MVP Bellinger, and the ever present questionmark that is the Dodger pen. Now, the rookie arms of May, Gonsolin, and the Mango Man alongside a revitalized Jake McGee and a seemingly "back" Blake Treinen shore up the original gang (with Kenley's massive shadow looming over with impending doom) with the bats of AJ Pollock, Corey Seager, and the new savior Mookie Betts looking to bring a ring back to LA. But what would be more 2020, the Dodgers getting knocked off surprisingly early, or the Dodgers finally not getting knocked off at all?
43-17
2
Rays
The Rays came into 2020 looking to be a legitimate contender and have 100% delivered on those expectations. They won the AL East for the first time since 2010 and were the only American League team to win 40 games. In addition to that, they also had one of the toughest schedules and had the best record in baseball vs winning teams. The name of the game has been consistency, which has been true of both sides of the ball. Injuries have come and gone, but in classic Rays fashion the guys filling in, especially pitchers, performed fantastically. The only struggles came in fielding, which was atrocious the first couple weeks but has since returned to normal. There was a little bit of drama, a few magic moments, some wacky shenanigans, and a lot of happy flappy boi posting, which filled up this shortened season to the fullest. This is looking like the Rays strongest chance since 2008, now it’s time to get it done in the playoffs. (cont. in comments)
40-20
3
Athletics
Someday soon we will all look back at 2020 fondly. One reason for me will be the A's. Yes, the owners robbed us out of June and most of July baseball. D. Mengden caught SARSII, causing a week of hectic isolation. M. Chapman, the energy behind this team, left with a hip injury. Yet this team ended the year with a .600 winning percentage- the 21st time in team history we've reached or surpassed that momentous milestone. And a lot of those teams won pennants- one inspired a movie. This was a season full of amazing snapshots- M. Olson's walk off grand slam on "opening" day under the new dumb rules, the Piscotty walk off grand slam against Texas, the historic comeback off McCovey Cove. Most of all the team seemed to like each other, led by the shrewd Bob Melvin and player leaders M. Semien and C. Pinder. Yes, this could have been M. Semien's last year. It also might have been T. La Stella's only year on the A's and it is special watching that guy rarely strike out. There was R. Laureano's hot headed yet heroic stand against Astro villany. The A. Allen charged 13th inning game against HOU. Fans will be so spoiled with the defensive wizardry of Sean Murphy and J. Heim- they can hit, too! Bet you thought I'd mention M. Olson when I started that sentance- people are still sleeping on the best LH hitter in baseball. (cont. in comments)
36-24
4
Padres
Take it with a grain of salt, as I was not fortunate enough to have watched Tony in his prime, but this past season has been my favorite, most exciting, and most interesting brand of Padres Baseball I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. I come away not thinking that the team is the best at anything. The starting pitching can sometimes put us in an early hole, hitters can sometimes all seem off on the same night, the bullpen, once a staple, can sometimes blow a lead all together, if not making the game too close for comfort. Yet...with this group of guys, I’m still on the edge of my seat, waiting for the big moment to happen, because they’ve come through so very often. (cont. in comments)-
37-23
5
Twins
After a stomach-twisting final week, the Twins have repeated as AL Central Champions! Heading into the playoffs, Twins fans should be fairly optimistic as we'll have 29 other teams at our back when we face the below-.500 trash-can-banging asterisk-loving boys from Houston in the first round. With a rotation of Maeda-Berrios-Pineda, the Twins have an excellent chance to advance. How much success we have after that will depend on unlucky late injuries to Buxton and Donaldson, and if they can come back quickly to make meaningful contributions.
36-24
6
Braves
There's wind boys...blew us to our 3rd straight division title! It wasn't always pretty, we had major injuries along the way including Soroka, Albies and Acuña for significant time. After losing Soroka we knew our offense would have to carry us on their backs...and oh boy did they! As a team, we were second in the MLB in AVG (.268), second in homeruns (103), second in runs scored (348), first in OBP (.349), first OPS (.832), first in hits (.556) and tied for first in slugging percentage (.483). This was highlighted by a 29 run game and huge individual efforts by the most fearsome 1-3 in baseball. Freddie Freeman should win his first MVP and Ozuna will get votes as well. When healthy, Roñald was dominant. Max Fried stepped up huge for us an proved to be an ace. Ian Anderson showed up and was really good, Kyle Wright seemingly turned it around and was very effective in his final starts. With a healthy Soroka next year, these 4 young arms will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. Hopefully we shake our playoff woes this year and have history repeat itself: win the world series in a shortened season! Let's bring it home.
35-25
7
Yankees
Thanks to the Orioles, the Yankees play the Indians in the first round, and then the Rays/Jays. So Cole/Bieber, Tanaka/Carrasco and then whatever Boone cobbles togethePlesac. The Indians have one hitter, and if we can throw around him, the pitching rotation we have to face looks a little less intimidating. This season, for the Yankees, has been the story of being very hot and very cold. It goes without saying that this team can hit when it needs to, and at the very least, you feel like this team has the potential to beat anyone on this 16 team list. It's just a matter of which Yanks show up.
33-27
8
Cubs
While this was a frustrating season to watch, the Cubs managed to lock down the NL Central before the final day of the season. Highlights included Darvish's Cy Young campaign, Hendricks' excellent season, Heyward's resurgance, and a relatively cozy late September for once. Some of the most frustrating parts of the season were Bryant/Rizzo/Contreras/Baez collectively hitting worse than the Texas Rangers, the bullpen's woes in the first half, Lester's inconsistency, and Quintana barely getting on the field. The Cubs actually have one of the easier paths to the World Series, especially if the Dodgers and Padres get knocked out by the NLCS. However, anything can happen in a 3-game series and Cubs fans are still traumatized by the 2003 series against the Marlins. I myself am so excited to watch an absurd amount of baseball over the next month-- now let's get weird!
34-26
9
White Sox
Is there a fanbase that actively hates their own team as much as the White Sox? There are exactly 5 teams in the MLB with a better record than the Sox. If you extrapolate this season, they gained 22 wins from last year, made the playoffs and 90% of the talk about is how horrible the manager is and how bad we were down the stretch. If you asked most fans at the beginning of the season if 10 games above 500 and a playoff spot would be good, they would all be ecstatic. Perspective is really important, especially after 12 years of not reaching the playoffs. Sure, there are plenty disappointments, and yes, Ricky Renteria's bullpen management and lineup decisions are bad. But this is also a team that went on an absolute tear for a month and finally generated some nationwide buzz that they could actually win it all. We have exciting, young players all over the field. We have a top 3 MVP candidate, our ace threw a fricken no-hitter this year. Even Ricky made improvements from past seasons. He hardly bunted at all this year! And he put Grandal, a high OBP guy in the #2 spot for a good portion of the season. No, we aren't the best team in the league, but before the season, we weren't even seriously considered a playoff team. This year is an absolutely, unqualified success. (And I still hold out the slimmest bit of hope that Ricky stops playing the long game in the playoffs and actively puts his best players in.)
35-25
10
Indians
There's no question that Cleveland's 1-2-3 of Bieber-Carrasco-Plesac is about as good as there is in the Silly Series. But can their weak lineup pull their weight? Who will win the battle of right-handed strikeout pitchers vs. right-handed power hitters? Anything can happen in a three-game series, and we'll find out this week.
35-25
11
Reds
The Reds go into the playoffs (!!!) as the hottest team in baseball. They've now won 5 series in a row, four of which came against playoff teams. The bullpen regressed nicely and is no longer a Phillies-esque liability. There are definitely some issues with the bat, but they've proven over the past week that they don't need to rely on solo home runs to win. Akiyama has turned into a reliable leadoff hitter, and the catching tandem has become one of the most reliable in the league. But where this team will really give the Braves fits is the starting pitching. With 2020 NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer taking the mound on Wednesday, followed by Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray, this team is built for a short series.
31-29
12
Cardinals
baseball just began / and now it's the postseason / i still long for march
30-28
13
Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays had one of, if not the most, tumultuous years in baseball. After what was seen as a broadly successful offseason, highlighted by the acquisition of Hyun-Jin Ryu, the Jays were expected to play ~.500 ball, and maybe have an outside chance at a wildcard spot. The front office showed a marked desire to start opening the window of contention. Bringing in innings eater Tanner Roark, reclamation project Travis Shaw, and Japanese League stars Rafael Dolis and Shun Yamaguchi. 2020 was also the final turning point for the Blue Jays. The departure of Anthopoulos/Beeston holdover, Justin Smoak, meant the page had finally, truly turned, and this was now the team built by Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins. We would finally get to see what their team looked like. Then, the unthinkable happened. - 134 days without baseball. Canada’s response to the pandemic was unflinchingly strict. After a Summer Camp in the Skydome, that featured a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. move to 1B, the Blue Jays were sent packing, and headed off to an uncertain future, without a home. Rumours circulated that they would find a home in Pittsburgh, Baltimore, or even at Spring Training HQ in Dunedin, but when all was said and done, the Jays landed in The Queen City, home of the Bisons, Buffalo, New York. (cont. in comments)
32-28
14
Astros
Finishing a regular season, as short and weird as it was, under .500 for the first time since 2014 is an uncomfortable feeling. It's unsurprising, given the blows our pitching staff received and the inability of our hitters to stay consistent. Blame it on the shortened season, blame it on being unable to cheat, blame it on whatever you want - the fact remains we have decidedly moved backwards as a franchise this year. For the first time in a few years, I do not feel confident in our pitching staff or our hitters to win a playoff series. If we had Verlander, my optimism would increase, but our bullpen would be a huge question mark no matter what. These next three games may be the last George Springer spends in an Astros uniform, so hopefully we're treated to the Springer Dingers we've become accustomed to over the years. It's difficult to look ahead to 2021 given the uncertainty in the world right now, but with (presumably) a full season and a chance to either find some help in free agency or extend some of our upcoming FA-eligible players, I'm optimistic James Click will steer the ship in the right direction. Let's make sure we give Dusty plenty of popsicles.
29-31
15
Marlins
OH BOY. First off i just wanna give the NBC Philadelphia broadcast team a huge shoutout, AY RICKY BO STAY BEAUTIFUL. Anywho, we have had a hell of a season. Despite calling up damn near over a dozen top prospects up this season, some of them way too early, we managed to stay afloat during the dog days of corona quarantine. Yall already know the deal so i dont have to say much, the starters are nasty and the defense is solid. The huge question mark going into the post season is how will the bats fare. That is our current weakest link. I made the prediction that Monte Harrison will heat up (see what i did there?) in the post season and hit october dingers in the marlins discord and im sticking by that. Cubs vs Marlins gives me some real feels going back to when i was still a jit, hopefully lightning strikes twice. Oh, and Ill say it now: we swindled the cardinals, phillies and yankees. Thanks for all the prospects suckers!
31-29
16
Brewers
Well MIlwaukee made the playoffs, that's definitely someting. The path forward is simple, get the game to the bullpen with a lead. The Brewers bullpen has shown it to be the best bullpen in all of baseball, however the bats have not seem to woken up from the winter hibernation. Only one qualified batter is hitting over .250 (Orlando Arcia with a whopping .260) Christian Yelich and Keston Hiura spent the entire year trying to race Miguel Sano to 100 Strikeouts. Plain and simple the bats are bad
After a slow start into the campaign, the home side entered their recognizable form and tied eight straight wins in all competitions. City missed the chance to win only three times on the last 15 occasions, and that excellent run launched them to 2nd place. They are two points behind Manchester United, but with one game in hand. Ruben Dias and the lads have been unbeatable in the back, and the hosts managed to keep their net intact four times in a row. Manchester City conceded only three times in the last 15 games, and they are the best defensive team in the league. Besides a good campaign in the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s side progressed into the next round of the FA Cup, EFL Cup, and the Champions League knockout stage. The hosts will be looking to continue their winning streak and remain an active contender in the title race. The schedule in the past few weeks has been very tough for the visitors as they faced some of the biggest Premier League clubs. The Villans picked up a point away to Chelsea but failed to a 2:1 defeat against the Red Devils at Old Trafford. The away side had several players infected by the Covid-19 virus and had to close its ground for the last ten days. Those issues saw them fielding youngsters against Liverpool in the FA Cup, and they got knocked out by a 4:1 defeat that everybody saw coming. Nevertheless, Dean Smith should have his main players at his disposal on Wednesday and try to break City’s winning streak. Aston Villa sits in the middle of the table, seven points behind the fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, but with three games in hand. Tyrone Mings and the lads are doing an excellent job in the back and are among the best defensive sides in the competition. Villa conceded just five goals on the road and suffered two defeats. They need another disciplined performance to stand a chance of remaining undefeated.
Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction
Manchester City celebrated five times in a row against Aston Villa, and they want to keep that run going. The visitors remained undefeated at Etihad Stadium last time in 2007, and City is a strong favorite in this one. We believe they are going to meet the expectations and book another victory against the rivals from Birmingham.
Goals Market Prediction
Man City’s defense has been rock-solid lately, while Villa hasn’t scored in their last two games at Etihad Stadium. We expect the hosts to keep the clean sheet once again, so our second pick is BTTS No. Manchester City to win @ 1.30 BTTS No @ 1.90 Correct score 2:0 @ 8.00 Read the analysishereand share your opinion with us!
Premier League Predictions for Merseyside Teams on Matchday 13
The Merseyside teams are doing well this season in the Premier League. Reigning champions Liverpool are sharing the top spot of the table with Tottenham, as Everton are trying to get back into the top-four zone. Our Premier League specialist Kate Richardson prepared a special article covering important points on games for Matchday 13 in the PL involving Reds and Blues from Merseyside. If you want to check Kate out, you can click here.
Leicester - Everton
https://preview.redd.it/tlppc90j59e61.jpg?width=1600&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=57efb1322d5bcddef41b66fe89c4e20d282fb854 https://unsplash.com/photos/WGB9EEnAaMQ Leicester and Everton have a match scheduled for Wednesday, at the King Power Stadium, in a game for MD 13 of the spain league prediction. The home team came from a comfortable 3-0 victory over Brighton, and moved third on 24 points, just one away from the leaders Tottenham and Liverpool, who will face each other this Wednesday, at Anfield Road. The Toffees, on the other hand, returned to their winning ways last matchday, beating Chelsea 1-0, and continued in seventh position, with 20 points. A balanced game is thus expected, with Leicester looking for their fourth consecutive victory in all competitions and Everton trying to grab their second consecutive win.
In three of the Foxes’ last five games there have been more than 2.5 goals.
In three of the last five games for the toffees as visitors, there have been more than 2.5 goals.
In three of the last five games between the two teams in Leicester there have been more than 2.5 goals.
We expect a balanced game with real goal chances for both sides. Bet on more than 2.5 goals. You can get more tips for this match at Mightytips.
Champions League Betting Tips & Predictions 2020-21. The Champions League is one of the most popular football tournaments for online betting. With the best of the best teams competing over months to be crowned as the Kings of Europe, the betting action and the markets are certainly massive. Champions League 2020/21 Betting Tips. The draw for the Champions League Round of 16 has been made – and it hasn’t disappointed. We could be seeing some big names facing early elimination with several European heavyweights going head-to-head. Here’s our look at the UCL betting heading ahead of a fascinating round of knockout matches. Champions League tips . The Champions League is the biggest and best tournament which draws millions of viewers across the world. There is never a lack of action and surprise here and that is why you need to learn a few things before making your first bets. That's why it's important to check the Champions league predictions. Before making your first bet, make sure you get some guidance on how ... Champions League Predictions & Betting Tips You’ll be able to follow all of our Champions League betting tips during the 2020/21 campaign, and watch as a handful of teams vie for the most prized ... Expert Champions League Betting Tips. As we’ve already touched upon, Champions League predictions are posted in their thousands every season. While it’s unrealistic to expect all of our tips to be winners, we are home to some informed, passionate tipsters. In depth Analysis, detailed Match Previews, Predictions and Free Bet Tips for every matchday of Europe’s most exciting tournament ‘The UEFA Champions League’ 16 February 2020, Tuesday. RB Leipzig vs Liverpool. Kick-off 20:00 UK. Barcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain. Kick-off 20:00 UK. 17 February 2020, Wednesday. Sevilla vs Borussia Dortmund. Kick-off 20:00 UK. FC Porto vs Juventus. Kick-off ... Während in der Champions League aktuell also mehr Tore fallen, ist die Anzahl der Spiele, in denen beide Teams treffen, geringer als in der Europa League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Premier League und Serie A. In knapp über 49 % aller Partien sind beide Mannschaften vor dem gegnerischen Tor erfolgreich. Insgesamt endeten weniger als 7 % aller Champions-League-Spiele torlos, während in 80 % der ... Champions League 2020-21: Beat the bookies! It is the best football tournament on the planet, and Champions League betting tips are essential! Many believe that the best quality football seen ... Champions League Tipps Wett Tipps zu allen Spielen der Fussball Champions League – Profis helfen mit Wettvorhersagen, Prognosen und Quotenvergleichen. Bereits seit 2008 findest Du auf wettfreunde.net hilfreiche Ratgeber zu allen Bereichen des Wettens – darunter auch Sportwetten Tipps zur Champions League.
10 BEST & EASIEST Champions For BEGINNERS - League of ...
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