The scoring system will once again 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. With it being an aggregate rating system, be careful of getting ahead of yourself if you see a certain score at match's end. It could very well rise or fall by the next morning.
The way the pick process will go is as follows:
- You will pick one person for every day there is a match. There could be as few as one offering 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.
- One mechanism to avoid DNP's with a chance for inadvertent boom or bust is LAST MAN IN. For any reason you miss a day 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 second to last sub regardless of what team it came from. If those options are exhausted, a big fat zero is waiting for you and more than likely will cripple you in the Challenge.
- The lengthy midseason break for the Qatar World Cup is unprecedented in the Premier League era. While I more than likely will run a game for that tournament, you'll have no responsibilities for this particular challenge during that time running from November 21st to December 18th. Fixtures will return on Boxing Day (December 26th).
That's pretty much it. As has been the case for the previous games, the fee for entry is just $10 and will be payable at sign up and be distributed to the eventual winner at the end of the Challenge. The payout structure will be based on how many participants we get. If it is unanimously agreed upon by the full player list, we could even up the entry fee slightly to make sure the prize pool is just a bit more enticing. On the other end of the spectrum, since there is no second division in the Pick One, we are going to try FINANCIAL RELEGATION meaning the last place participant pays DOUBLE at season's end. This is an effort to keep things interesting for all players even if the top spot is out of reach.
But before I go, let's run through the possible tie-breakers in case this season was as close as last season.
- 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 Monday and will be updated with all transfers as of their completion. The season officially starts Friday August 5th with Crystal Palace hosting Arsenal at Selhurst Park at 3PM EST. Hope to see you all there!