Season 18 in Review - Printable Version +- SSL Forum (https://forum.simulationsoccer.com) +-- Forum: Player Development (https://forum.simulationsoccer.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=5) +--- Forum: Capped Point Tasks (https://forum.simulationsoccer.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=23) +---- Forum: Articles (https://forum.simulationsoccer.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=46) +---- Thread: Season 18 in Review (/showthread.php?tid=6082)

Season 18 in Review - donut - 2025-01-11 Season 18 is now in the books, and what a season it’s been. Packed with thrilling matches, dramatic comebacks, and amazing performances, this season kept fans on the edge of their seats from the first kickoff to the final whistle. From title contenders battling it out at the top to mid-table teams carving out moments of brilliance, every organization brought its own unique story to the league. Let’s take a closer look at how each team fared throughout this season. 1st - Schwarzwälder Fußballverein  - 9 Wins, 5 Draws, 0 Losses - 32 Points - A Championship Season Going into the season the debate on who would win the league title was always between Schwarzwälder and Reykjavik. While on paper Schwarzwälder has the better team Reykjavik’s dominance can not be understated. Safe to say that Schwarzwälder had a chip on their shoulder, and came out of the gate swinging. Throughout the first half of the season no team had more points than Schwarzwälder. In their first 7 matches Schwarzwälder finished with 19 points, dropping just 2 points in a draw to Reykjavik. However this dominance seemed to fade in the second half of the season as Schwarzwälder struggled to score enough decisive goals. In these last 7 games Schwarzwälder had 7 draws, one of which was to União São Paulo, the previous season’s last place finisher (who we’ll get to later). Despite the slow end to the season, Schwarzwälder had done just enough to clinch the title on the final matchday to list the season 18 trophy. Congratulations to Schwarzwälder on such a successful season. 2nd - Reykjavik United  - 9 Wins, 4 Draws, 1 Loss - 31 Points - What Could’ve Been The reigning champions came close to retaining their title but fell just short. Reykjavik's season took the opposite path of Schwarzwälder's, starting slowly but picking up momentum towards the end. The key difference between the two teams' seasons was Reykjavik's single loss—a 1-2 defeat to Hollywood FC. Although they came up just short, this season is far from one to scoff at. Reykjavik boasted three of the top players in average ratings and led the league in goals scored by a significant margin, netting an impressive 47 goals. To top it all off, they lifted the SSL Cup for the first time ever after enduring seven previous losses. All things considered, it was a successful season that had the potential to be even better. Undoubtedly, Reykjavik will aim to reclaim the title in the upcoming season and take down Schwarzwälder. 3rd - Club Atlético Buenos Aires  - 5 Wins, 4 Draws, 5 Losses - 19 Points - Surprisingly Unsurprising You wouldn’t normally expect a team that picked 3rd in the previous draft to finish 3rd the following season, making this an impressive and somewhat surprising outcome. However, at União São Paulo, we actually predicted this result at the start of the season—so hats off to us (and extra TPE for those who followed our predictions)! We believed their well-thought-out tactics, combined with efficient TPE usage, would lead to significant improvement, and they delivered. CABA lost only to the league’s top two teams (as well as a stray loss to União São Paulo) while ensuring victories against those around them in the table. This consistency helped them secure 3rd place, a clear step up from last season. Looking ahead, I expect CABA to build on this success, maintain their strong performance, and soon break into the top three to challenge for the league title. 4th - Tokyo Sports Club  - 5 Wins, 4 Draws, 5 Losses - 19 Points - A Midfield Battle Tokyo’s season is fascinating to analyze. On one hand, you could argue they performed worse than last season, as their points total dropped from 23 to 19. On the other hand, they showed improvement with a higher goal differential, which is often a better measure of performance. Personally, I lean toward the latter perspective, especially given the increased competitiveness of the midfield this season. However, there’s still work to be done if Tokyo hopes to contend for a league title. This past season, they managed just a single point against the top two teams—a draw with Reykjavik—which highlights the gap they still need to close. But with their aggressive style of play and young stars, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them competing for a title in a few seasons. 5th - Hollywood Football Club    - 5 Wins, 3 Draws, 6 Losses - 18 Points - Quietly Disappointing If any team was poised to challenge the top two for the title, it was always Hollywood. With the league’s third-highest TPE total, they are well within striking distance of the top. However, their overall performance this season left something to be desired. That said, there were moments of brilliance that showcased their potential. Their 2-1 victory over Reykjavik was a statement win, and their second-half surge, where they ranked as the league’s third-best team, demonstrated they have the talent to compete with the elite. The key for Hollywood will be to maintain its growth and achieve greater consistency. If they can do that, they’ll emerge as a legitimate threat to both Reykjavik and Schwarzwälder. With their strong foundation, Hollywood has a real chance to rekindle their former dominance over the league. 6th - União São Paulo  - 4 Wins, 3 Draws, 7 Losses - 15 Points - Could’ve Been Even Better Let me start by saying (though you probably already knew) that I’m a member of São Paulo, so some bias might come through here. That said, São Paulo’s turnaround this season has been nothing short of remarkable. They’ve gone from a team that allowed 100 goals last season to one capable of holding champions Schwarzwälder to a draw, a match where São Paulo even led in xG. It’s hard to overstate how much progress they’ve made. Still, this season could arguably have been even better. In terms of expected points, São Paulo finished 3rd among all teams, a stat that truly highlights their tremendous growth. While they are still a ways off from contending for a title, the potential is undeniable. If they stay on this trajectory, São Paulo could very well evolve into a league-winning team in the near future. All this to say, São Paulo should unanimously win Manager of the Season. 7th - Athletice Clava Romana  - 1 Wins, 7 Draws, 6 Losses - 10 Points - A Fall from Grace If any team has reason to feel conflicted about their season, it’s Romana. After finishing as the 3rd best team last season, they’ve dropped to 7th in the standings, a disappointing decline. However, there are some positives to take away, according to the expected wins table, they ranked 4th in the league, suggesting they were unlucky this season. That said, the writing on the wall is clear. With an aging roster, this performance should signal the need for a rebuild. While the potential for improvement exists, relying on their current core may no longer be enough to compete at the highest level. A roster shakeup could pave the way for Romana to return to contention and recapture their past success. This season should serve as a wake-up call and an opportunity to plan for the future. 8th - Club de Futbol Catalunya  - 1 Wins, 4 Draws, 9 Losses - 7 Points - A Rebuilding Season Finally, we reach the team in last place, Catalunya. Given that they rank 7th in TPE, their position at the bottom of the standings isn’t surprising. However, it’s important to note that this is a team clearly in the midst of a rebuild. With the first overall pick in the upcoming draft, Catalunya has the perfect opportunity to make a selection that can lead their future growth. While this season may have been a struggle, their focus on rebuilding means brighter days are ahead. By making the right choices in the draft and continuing to develop, Catalunya has the potential to turn things around and eventually become a competitive force once again. The future looks promising if they can stay on the right path. Award Predictions Managers of the Season: União São Paulo  As I’ve already mentioned, São Paulo’s growth this season has been remarkable, and much of that success is thanks to the exceptional work of their management team. The leadership has been key in driving the team’s improvement and for me, it’s a slam dunk award. Rookie of the Season: Julian Rubio  Come on, was there really any other choice? Rubio finished the season in the top 3 for goals with 10 and ranked 1st in Non-Penalty xG with an impressive 10.91. With a 7.11 average rating and 3 Player of the Match awards, the young Andorran striker is undoubtedly my rookie of the season. MVP: Henry Andrews  Reykjavik’s key creator earns back-to-back MVP honors after another outstanding season. Although a step down from last year, Andrews still finished 3rd in the league with 8 assists, along with 4 goals and a 7.39 average rating. While this wasn’t as clear-cut as some of the other awards, Andrews is still my MVP. Overall, what a fantastic season it’s been. With so many ups and downs, it’s been a rollercoaster of excitement and anticipation. The growth, the surprises, and the challenges have all made this season memorable, but now, all I can do is look forward to the next one. The future is full of possibilities, and I’m excited to witness the next chapter unfold. Bring on Season 19.