The Euros provided a good glimpse into what works and what doesn't with running a Pick One competition for European football and the hope is the EPL Challenge will be even better for longer. Similarly to the Euros, the scoring system will run off of SofaScore's Player Rating system. This will allow for a set standard without having to come up with a fantasy point scoring system that would make defenders, goalkeepers, holding midfielders, and facilitating attackers more desirable selections.
The way the pick process will go is as follows:
- You will pick one person for every day there is a game. There could be as few as one (like today) and as many as ten.
- The challenge is the fixtures can sometimes be all over the place with mid-week runs as well as Friday and Monday Night Football. I will do my best to make sure all of a day's fixtures are announced for Challenge participants over all of the forms of social media I personally have at my disposal.
- However, I am aware that we are all adults, with lives, so there is going to be some level of forgetfulness over a 38 Matchweek season. It is inevitable. So with seeing how many DNP's reared their ugly head in previous Pick One Challenges I am introducing the BREAK GLASS LIST to the EPL Challenge. This list will be however long in length you so desire and in whatever order YOU choose. If you for any reason you miss a pick on any particular day, I will take the first person off that list that is actively playing in one of the day's games. I will tell you when your list is under five players or empty, whichever works best for you individually.
- Another mechanism to avoid DNP's with a chance for inadvertent boom or bust is LAST MAN IN. Similarly to the Break Glass List, if for any reason you miss a day and have an empty BGL you get the last person subbed in to the last game that registers a match rating. If you've taken that person, you get one more crack with the last sub from the other team. If those options are exhausted, a big fat zero is waiting for you and more than likely will cripple you in the Challenge.
That's pretty much it. As has been the case for the previous three games, the fee for entry is just $10 and will be payable to the eventual winner at the end of the Challenge. If you have any outstanding debts from previous Pick Ones, please settle those before diving into this one or any of the NFL ones that will be announced this weekend. But before I go, let's run through the possible tie-breakers in case that comes to pass.
- Most Goals- Whoever has the most goals from selected players in the League. If still tied...
- Most Assists- Whoever has the most assists from selected players in the League. If still tied...
- Most Clean Sheets- Whoever has the most clean sheets from selected defenders/goalkeepers in the League. If still tied...
- Most Selections From League Champion- Whoever has the most selected players from the eventual Premier League champion. If still tied...
- Flip A Fucking Coin- Because if it isn't broken by this point, let a dead president decide.
Sheets will be completed by the end of day today so if you need any assistance in who is starting for Arsenal or Brentford this afternoon (3PM ET), do not hesitate to ask. Hope to see some familiar faces and some new ones as well! Good luck!