SSL MacGuffin - S15

[TubaDeus]

For those who missed the premise of this series, you can find the full background here.

The short version is that the winner of the first ever SSL game is awarded the initial MacGuffin trophy, which is then passed on whenever the current title holder loses in competition play (Friendlies don't count). I will track how many games each team starts with the MacGuffin in order to determine the true best team in SSL history (because everyone knows the MacGuffin points are the true measure of greatness).

You can see previous entries in this series here:
S1-2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
S10
S11
S12
S13
S14

With the introductions out of the way, let's take a look at where we left off last time!

All Time Standings:
1) Reykjavik United  - 54
2) Tokyo S.C.  - 50
3) Hollywood FC  - 27
4) CA Buenos Aires  - 24
5) CF Catalunya  - 20
T-6) Uniao Sao Paulo  - 16
T-6) Inter London  - 16
T-8) Cairo City  - 12
T-8) Seoul MFC  - 12
T-8) A.C. Romana  - 12
11) Athenai F.C.  - 11
12) Montreal United  - 7
T-13) AS Paris  - 4
T-13) Schwarzwalder FV  - 4
T-15) North Shore United - 3
T-15) F.C. Kaapstad  - 3

It's a new day for the SSL. Tokyo's long time dominance has finally been ended by Reykjavik United, but Reykjavik's new perch is anything but solid. Tokyo S.C. is still right on their heels, and Tokyo has the benefit of holding the MacGuffin at the end of S14. Granted, there's quite the massive gulf between those top two teams and literally anyone else. Seriously, there's only a 4 point gap between first and second but a 23 point gap between second and third. Third place Hollywood FC could snatch the MacGuffin away week 1, hold it for the entire season, and still have to hold it for most of next season as well before they'd even be in the conversation for the all time lead. The middle ranks, however, are much more tightly packed including multiple ties. If there's any movement in the rankings this season, that's likely where it'll come from. Will any of the middle ranks rise above the pack? Will Tokyo take their title back? Let's jump into the season and find out!

---

S15
Season Start: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-1 @ Schwarzwalder FV

New Title Holder: Schwarzwalder FV
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-1 @ Reykjavik United

New Title Holder: Reykjavik United
Total Games Held: 4
Next Loss: 1-2 @ A.C. Romana

New Title Holder: A.C. Romana  
Total Games Held: 3
Next Loss: 1-2 @ CF Catalunya

New Title Holder: CF Catalunya
Total Games Held: 4
Next Loss: 1-7 @ Hollywood FC

New Title Holder: Hollywood FC
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 2-3 @ CA Buenos Aires

New Title Holder: CA Buenos Aires
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 1-3 vs Schwarzwalder FV

New Title Holder: Schwarzwalder FV
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: N/A

End of Season

Season Standings:
T-1) Reykjavik United  - 4
T-1) CF Catalunya  - 4
T-3) Schwarzwalder FV  - 3
T-3) A.C. Romana  - 3
T-5) Tokyo S.C.  - 2
T-5) Hollywood FC  - 2
T-5) CA Buenos Aires  - 2

Talk about parity. Seven of the eight Majors teams (sorry Uniao Sao Paulo) scored at least two points this season, and no one scored more than four. Some of these teams make their return after lengthy hiatuses (CF Catalunya and Hollywood FC), but otherwise there just isn't much to note here. I suppose it's interesting that there was only one team to lose at home? That and CF Catalunya somehow notched four points while finishing the season with just three wins and two ties. They were absurdly lucky to hit their one streak just in time to maximize their MacGuffin window, but hey, being clutch is a skill. That kind of X-factor will be very useful for them next season... in the Minors... after they're relegated for finishing seventh...

All Time Standings:
1) Reykjavik United  - 58
2) Tokyo S.C.  - 52
3) Hollywood FC  - 29
4) CA Buenos Aires  - 25
5) CF Catalunya  - 24
T-6) Uniao Sao Paulo  - 16
T-6) Inter London  - 16
8) A.C. Romana  - 15
T-9) Cairo City  - 12 -1
T-9) Seoul MFC  - 12 -1
11) Athenai F.C.  - 11
T-12) Montreal United  - 7
T-12) Schwarzwalder FV  - 7 +1
14) AS Paris  - 4 -1
T-15) North Shore United - 3
T-15) F.C. Kaapstad  - 3

With small moves in the season comes small moves in the all time standings. A.C. Romana managed to break a tie with Cairo City and Seoul MFC, but all that did to the rankings was move Cairo City and Seoul down one rank. Lower down, Schwarzwalder FV managed to break a tie with AS Paris only to catch up to and tie Montreal United instead. At the very top, Reykjavik United marginally extended their all time lead over Tokyo S.C., but only marginally as the entire top five kinda moved together as a single group. This did increase the space between the leaders and middle pack, but that's about the only notable thing to happen there. All in all, S15 was pretty quiet for the all time standings. Will S16 bring some more excitement to the MacGuffin chase? Will Reykjavik United hold onto their tenuous all time lead? Will I overcome my jet lag from Vegas in time to actually be a functioning engineer this week at work? Tune in next week to find out!