The Official 2023/24 Premier League Predictathon Thread
Discussion
Continued from here: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Please read the following rules they are effectively the same as last season but with an addendum concerning the final matchday's forecasting procedure.
RULES FOR SEASON 2023-2024
These rules can be amended/added to by a simple consensus of more than half the people playing all agreeing to the change - this isn't my game, it belongs to everyone playing – UP TO A POINT. Any rule changes which increase the workload for the Administrator can be vetoed by him. You can ask any following administrator to reconsider should that happen.
Once agreed, however, and in order to be fair and unbiased, the rules will be adhered to all season as once you allow one person to bend them, others begin to think there's favouritism being shown.
So, the rules are as follows:
1. THIS THREAD
Please keep this thread for Predictathon business only. Banter etc is always welcome as before, but if you want to have in-depth discussions about other football subjects, please do it on another thread.
2. POSTING YOUR PREDICTIONS
If you’ve agreed to play you MUST keep an eye on this thread including looking back to pages that you’ve haven’t read before and posting your predictions in good time.
All predictions must be submitted by Friday at 6pm for weekend games, and before the actual kick-off that night for any other mid-week forecasts. It is 6pm as once again there are to be Friday night EPL games this season. This is subject to change depending upon circumstances but the default is 6pm. Please post in this forum in the same format as before, listing your scores below the fixtures thus:
Arsenal v Crystal Palace 1-1
Burnley v Chelsea 1-2
Leicester City v Everton 3-3
Liverpool v Southampton 0-2
Manchester United v Swansea City 1-2
Newcastle United v Manchester City 1-2
Queens Park Rangers v Hull City 1-1
Stoke City v Aston Villa 2-1
West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland 1-1
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur 1-1
1 1
1 2
3 3
0 2
1 2
1 2
1 1
2 1
1 1
1 1
You must use the published fixture list I produce each week for your forecasts as it makes it easier for me to cut & paste your forecasts straight into the spreadsheet. The key for me is the second list of scores as this will be pasted into the spreadsheet and hence the order and spacing needs to be correct so that each score corresponds to the correct match.
Make sure you have the right number of scores in the list! If you don't it will be your loss as I won’t be counting your entries and notifying you if you are short, in such cases your scores will be deemed to correspond to the games in order, ie. if you only post 9 scores, these will be deemed to apply to the first nine matches and you will be awarded zero points for the tenth match. ‘Edited’ forecasts are not permissible and will be ignored so once you press ‘post’ I’m afraid that’s it.
Likewise check that you have not posted any spaces after each forecast. These screw-up the spreadsheet and do not register any points as being earned for forecasts with the spaces after them. It’s easy to check if you have posted any spaces by simply highlighting your post by dragging the mouse across your forecasts. If in doubt, ask me.
3. MISSING THE DEADLINE
If you forget to submit your predictions or submit them too late, you will be awarded zero points for every game. This applies even if you are only 1 minute late I’m afraid.
4. EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR MISSING THE DEADLINE
This is a fairly simple one to answer, there aren't any. If your Aunt accidentally fell in the washing machine and drowned or your cat was squashed by an arctic lorry I'm sorry for you but the world moves on so sit up straight and post when you are supposed to.
I can’t forget to post the fixtures each week - which over holiday periods can be tricky - so you can’t forget the simple task of Predicting each week or whenever there are matches.
Should you snuff it during the season I still expect your forecasts by the deadline - seek out a medium, I'm listening.
5. HOLIDAYS ETC
If you are going away please tell me by posting on this thread (don’t email me as I don’t check my emails that frequently) and I will email you the fixtures you will miss for you to forecast in advance. Post your forecasts onto the thread, do not send them back to me. If you don't do this you'll be awarded zero points for each game you miss and will be removed from the game should that take you over the limit of 3 (yes 3, more on that in a minute) matchdays in total each season that you can miss.
6. FAILING TO PREDICT
There is a ‘3 strikes’ rule in operation. If you do not forecast for 3 matchdays in total without a prior notification of your intention not to forecast being posted on this thread (ie you are going on holiday, your cat did actually get run over, your woman slapped you about a bit, you’ve injured yourself with a paper cut etc), you will be removed from the league with no re-admittance this season or NEXT season (It will be the Administrators choice). There will be no warnings given if you are already at 2 strikes and you fail to forecast again - you will simply find yourself excluded from the game. If you can’t be bothered for 3 matchdays in the season I won’t be chasing your a*se. There will be no readmittance to the Predictathon should you have not had the decency to inform the administrator (ie Me) that you won’t be forecasting over the course of 3 matchdays in the season. It’s not fair for you to do this as it’s a LOT of work. There appear to people waiting to take your place so if you want to keep it please cherish it and predict or notify me of your 'issue' in advance. Likewise, if you register to play and then don't play in the very first week without prior notice you'll be removed. Sorry, but you've got to show willing right from the outset.
7. COMEDY FORECASTS
Please don’t post comedy forecasts (ie 10-0 or 3-0 continuously - or other obvious nonsense) - this isn't allowed and you'll be given zero points for all of that matchday’s forecasts if you do it. By all means post funny comments above the actual list of scores that I'll be cut 'n' pasting but take the forecasts seriously - a lot of work goes into this so silly forecasts might just make me wonder whether to bother. I really can't think who might do this though
8. POINTS
As in previous years, 1 point will be given for a correct prediction (home win/away win/draw) with an additional 3 bonus points awarded for a correct score line.
9. YOUR WEEKLY SCORE
You are responsible for checking that I have got your points earned that week correct and letting me know if something is amiss, which I’m sure you will.
10. MY WEEKLY SCORE
You’re all welcome to double check my score each week and I’d suggest you do. I cheat, frequently. So if suddenly I’m top of the table, you’d be well advised to check.
11. POSTPONED OR REARRANGED GAMES
Scores will be held in the system/spreadsheet for postponed games and points will be calculated once the games have been played. I’m afraid that due to time constraints should a game be postponed for several months, all participants will NOT be given the opportunity to revise their prediction, the scores held in the spreadsheet will apply.
12. THE TABLE
I will publish the table when I can the following week. Bear in mind that it takes a lot of work, so some weeks there may not be an update.
13. TABLE POSITIONS
In the event of 2 or more players having the same points totals the league table positions will be determined firstly by the amount of correct results predicted and secondly by the amount of correct score lines predicted. If it’s still equal, alphabetical order will be used.
14. RELEGATION
There IS relegation, so watch the table! The bottom 3 will be relegated. Once relegated you are omitted from the competition for the following season and your place will be taken by a newcomer or somebody returning after a season in exile. Relegation will allow any future administrator to control the number of contestants should he wish. Even if you know you’ll be relegated you MUST continue to forecast until the season end as you will have the chance to re-enter the Predictathon after a season out. Previously relegated players with a complete posting record in their season of relegation with take precedence over Newcomers if places are tight. If you fall foul of the 3 strikes rule YOU WON’T take precedence. I believe relegation will make things more interesting and the banter more cruel/funny.
In the event of more than 3 newbies or returnees from bygone seasons wanting to play the first to be replaced will be the players in the relegation zone starting from the bottom of the table up. Then it will be those outside of the relegation zone but who fell foul of the 3 strikes rule, again from the bottom up.
15. FINAL MATCHDAY FIXTURES - THE POSTING PROCEDURE
At the top of the table: Whoever is top must post their predictions before anybody who is within 15 points of them. The second placed player (if within 15 points of the leader) then posts his forecasts and so on until all players within 15 points of the leader have forecast. Deadline hours will be allotted when the players who fit the criteria are known after matchday 37 has been played and the table published.
At the bottom of the table: It's almost the same as the above rule only here players within 15 points of the 18th placed player must post first. Again deadlines will be allotted after matchday 37 has completed. Should the player in 20th position not be within 15 points of 17th position (safety) then it moves up a place and this rule will apply to the player in 19th position (and so on to position 18) in the event that he too isn't within 15 points of safety.
These 2 new rules add a little spice to the last matchdays forecasts and give a chance for the Top position to be reached by anyone within a fair radius of 15 points. Likewise it gives the players in the relegation zone a fair crack at getting out on the last day.
16. NUMBER OF PLAYERS
This is limited to 20 in-line with the actual Premier League. We cannot currently take any more entries than 20.
17. COURT OF ARBITRATION
They sit each Friday, once a week, at the bottom of my garden - right next to the pixies.
18. YOU & I - OUR PACT
In short, I agree to
1. Publish the fixtures each week
2. Gather in your forecasts
3. Store any predictions for postponed games and apply them when due.
4. Calculate your points
5. Record any missing forecasts each week
6. Compile and Publish the League Table
The End.
You agree to
1. Read the thread
2. Follow any instructions or set timetables and revisions for Holiday periods
3. Actually forecast.
Everyone must pull their weight as the administrator doesn't have the time or the inclination to pull both his weight and yours.
Thank you for reading this and good luck.
RULES FOR SEASON 2023-2024
These rules can be amended/added to by a simple consensus of more than half the people playing all agreeing to the change - this isn't my game, it belongs to everyone playing – UP TO A POINT. Any rule changes which increase the workload for the Administrator can be vetoed by him. You can ask any following administrator to reconsider should that happen.
Once agreed, however, and in order to be fair and unbiased, the rules will be adhered to all season as once you allow one person to bend them, others begin to think there's favouritism being shown.
So, the rules are as follows:
1. THIS THREAD
Please keep this thread for Predictathon business only. Banter etc is always welcome as before, but if you want to have in-depth discussions about other football subjects, please do it on another thread.
2. POSTING YOUR PREDICTIONS
If you’ve agreed to play you MUST keep an eye on this thread including looking back to pages that you’ve haven’t read before and posting your predictions in good time.
All predictions must be submitted by Friday at 6pm for weekend games, and before the actual kick-off that night for any other mid-week forecasts. It is 6pm as once again there are to be Friday night EPL games this season. This is subject to change depending upon circumstances but the default is 6pm. Please post in this forum in the same format as before, listing your scores below the fixtures thus:
Arsenal v Crystal Palace 1-1
Burnley v Chelsea 1-2
Leicester City v Everton 3-3
Liverpool v Southampton 0-2
Manchester United v Swansea City 1-2
Newcastle United v Manchester City 1-2
Queens Park Rangers v Hull City 1-1
Stoke City v Aston Villa 2-1
West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland 1-1
West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur 1-1
1 1
1 2
3 3
0 2
1 2
1 2
1 1
2 1
1 1
1 1
You must use the published fixture list I produce each week for your forecasts as it makes it easier for me to cut & paste your forecasts straight into the spreadsheet. The key for me is the second list of scores as this will be pasted into the spreadsheet and hence the order and spacing needs to be correct so that each score corresponds to the correct match.
Make sure you have the right number of scores in the list! If you don't it will be your loss as I won’t be counting your entries and notifying you if you are short, in such cases your scores will be deemed to correspond to the games in order, ie. if you only post 9 scores, these will be deemed to apply to the first nine matches and you will be awarded zero points for the tenth match. ‘Edited’ forecasts are not permissible and will be ignored so once you press ‘post’ I’m afraid that’s it.
Likewise check that you have not posted any spaces after each forecast. These screw-up the spreadsheet and do not register any points as being earned for forecasts with the spaces after them. It’s easy to check if you have posted any spaces by simply highlighting your post by dragging the mouse across your forecasts. If in doubt, ask me.
3. MISSING THE DEADLINE
If you forget to submit your predictions or submit them too late, you will be awarded zero points for every game. This applies even if you are only 1 minute late I’m afraid.
4. EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES FOR MISSING THE DEADLINE
This is a fairly simple one to answer, there aren't any. If your Aunt accidentally fell in the washing machine and drowned or your cat was squashed by an arctic lorry I'm sorry for you but the world moves on so sit up straight and post when you are supposed to.
I can’t forget to post the fixtures each week - which over holiday periods can be tricky - so you can’t forget the simple task of Predicting each week or whenever there are matches.
Should you snuff it during the season I still expect your forecasts by the deadline - seek out a medium, I'm listening.
5. HOLIDAYS ETC
If you are going away please tell me by posting on this thread (don’t email me as I don’t check my emails that frequently) and I will email you the fixtures you will miss for you to forecast in advance. Post your forecasts onto the thread, do not send them back to me. If you don't do this you'll be awarded zero points for each game you miss and will be removed from the game should that take you over the limit of 3 (yes 3, more on that in a minute) matchdays in total each season that you can miss.
6. FAILING TO PREDICT
There is a ‘3 strikes’ rule in operation. If you do not forecast for 3 matchdays in total without a prior notification of your intention not to forecast being posted on this thread (ie you are going on holiday, your cat did actually get run over, your woman slapped you about a bit, you’ve injured yourself with a paper cut etc), you will be removed from the league with no re-admittance this season or NEXT season (It will be the Administrators choice). There will be no warnings given if you are already at 2 strikes and you fail to forecast again - you will simply find yourself excluded from the game. If you can’t be bothered for 3 matchdays in the season I won’t be chasing your a*se. There will be no readmittance to the Predictathon should you have not had the decency to inform the administrator (ie Me) that you won’t be forecasting over the course of 3 matchdays in the season. It’s not fair for you to do this as it’s a LOT of work. There appear to people waiting to take your place so if you want to keep it please cherish it and predict or notify me of your 'issue' in advance. Likewise, if you register to play and then don't play in the very first week without prior notice you'll be removed. Sorry, but you've got to show willing right from the outset.
7. COMEDY FORECASTS
Please don’t post comedy forecasts (ie 10-0 or 3-0 continuously - or other obvious nonsense) - this isn't allowed and you'll be given zero points for all of that matchday’s forecasts if you do it. By all means post funny comments above the actual list of scores that I'll be cut 'n' pasting but take the forecasts seriously - a lot of work goes into this so silly forecasts might just make me wonder whether to bother. I really can't think who might do this though
8. POINTS
As in previous years, 1 point will be given for a correct prediction (home win/away win/draw) with an additional 3 bonus points awarded for a correct score line.
9. YOUR WEEKLY SCORE
You are responsible for checking that I have got your points earned that week correct and letting me know if something is amiss, which I’m sure you will.
10. MY WEEKLY SCORE
You’re all welcome to double check my score each week and I’d suggest you do. I cheat, frequently. So if suddenly I’m top of the table, you’d be well advised to check.
11. POSTPONED OR REARRANGED GAMES
Scores will be held in the system/spreadsheet for postponed games and points will be calculated once the games have been played. I’m afraid that due to time constraints should a game be postponed for several months, all participants will NOT be given the opportunity to revise their prediction, the scores held in the spreadsheet will apply.
12. THE TABLE
I will publish the table when I can the following week. Bear in mind that it takes a lot of work, so some weeks there may not be an update.
13. TABLE POSITIONS
In the event of 2 or more players having the same points totals the league table positions will be determined firstly by the amount of correct results predicted and secondly by the amount of correct score lines predicted. If it’s still equal, alphabetical order will be used.
14. RELEGATION
There IS relegation, so watch the table! The bottom 3 will be relegated. Once relegated you are omitted from the competition for the following season and your place will be taken by a newcomer or somebody returning after a season in exile. Relegation will allow any future administrator to control the number of contestants should he wish. Even if you know you’ll be relegated you MUST continue to forecast until the season end as you will have the chance to re-enter the Predictathon after a season out. Previously relegated players with a complete posting record in their season of relegation with take precedence over Newcomers if places are tight. If you fall foul of the 3 strikes rule YOU WON’T take precedence. I believe relegation will make things more interesting and the banter more cruel/funny.
In the event of more than 3 newbies or returnees from bygone seasons wanting to play the first to be replaced will be the players in the relegation zone starting from the bottom of the table up. Then it will be those outside of the relegation zone but who fell foul of the 3 strikes rule, again from the bottom up.
15. FINAL MATCHDAY FIXTURES - THE POSTING PROCEDURE
At the top of the table: Whoever is top must post their predictions before anybody who is within 15 points of them. The second placed player (if within 15 points of the leader) then posts his forecasts and so on until all players within 15 points of the leader have forecast. Deadline hours will be allotted when the players who fit the criteria are known after matchday 37 has been played and the table published.
At the bottom of the table: It's almost the same as the above rule only here players within 15 points of the 18th placed player must post first. Again deadlines will be allotted after matchday 37 has completed. Should the player in 20th position not be within 15 points of 17th position (safety) then it moves up a place and this rule will apply to the player in 19th position (and so on to position 18) in the event that he too isn't within 15 points of safety.
These 2 new rules add a little spice to the last matchdays forecasts and give a chance for the Top position to be reached by anyone within a fair radius of 15 points. Likewise it gives the players in the relegation zone a fair crack at getting out on the last day.
16. NUMBER OF PLAYERS
This is limited to 20 in-line with the actual Premier League. We cannot currently take any more entries than 20.
17. COURT OF ARBITRATION
They sit each Friday, once a week, at the bottom of my garden - right next to the pixies.
18. YOU & I - OUR PACT
In short, I agree to
1. Publish the fixtures each week
2. Gather in your forecasts
3. Store any predictions for postponed games and apply them when due.
4. Calculate your points
5. Record any missing forecasts each week
6. Compile and Publish the League Table
The End.
You agree to
1. Read the thread
2. Follow any instructions or set timetables and revisions for Holiday periods
3. Actually forecast.
Everyone must pull their weight as the administrator doesn't have the time or the inclination to pull both his weight and yours.
Thank you for reading this and good luck.
Edited by Gadgetmac on Wednesday 2nd August 08:55
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