SSL MacGuffin - S19

[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
S15
S16
S17
S18

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  - 77
2) Tokyo S.C.  - 55
3) Hollywood FC  - 29
4) CA Buenos Aires  - 28
5) CF Catalunya  - 26
6) Uniao Sao Paulo  - 20
T-7) Inter London  - 19
T-7) A.C. Romana  - 19
9) Cairo City  - 15
10)  Athenai F.C.  - 14
11)  Schwarzwalder FV  - 13
12) Seoul MFC  - 12
13) North Shore United  - 10
14) Montreal United  - 7
T-15) AS Paris  - 4
T-15) F.C. Kaapstad  - 4

Entering S19, the all time MacGuffin standings basically break down to Reykjavik United on top, then Tokyo S.C., then everybody else. Those two are so wildly isolated at the top of the standings (both from each other and from anyone else) that it would take a minimum of two seasons of total domination for anyone else to even close the gap. More to actually wrest those spots away in any meaningful way. The funny thing is that there is actually respectable parity between the rest of the teams. There's plenty of jockeying for position in the middle ranks, and even the lower ranks see semi-consistent movement (when the Minors manage to take the MacGuffin away, at least). But those two teams at the top have just blown everyone else out of the water. Will anyone be able to upset this league paradigm? Let's dive into S19 and find out!

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S19

Season Start: Schwarzwalder FV
Total Games Held: 6
Next Loss: 0-2 vs Uniao Sao Paulo

New Title Holder: Uniao Sao Paulo
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 2-4 vs Tokyo S.C.

New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 1-4 @ Uniao Sao Paulo

New Title Holder: Uniao Sao Paulo
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 1-2 @ Reykjavik United

New Title Holder: Reykjavik United
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 3-4 @ Uniao Sao Paulo

New Title Holder: Uniao Sao Paulo
Total Games Held: 4
Next Loss: 1-2 @ Tokyo S.C.

New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 1-3 vs CA Buenos Aires

New Title Holder: CA Buenos Aires
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 2-4 vs Reykjavik United

New Title Holder: Reykjavik United
Total Games Held: 0
Next Loss: N/A

End of Season

Season Standings:
Uniao Sao Paulo  - 7
Schwarzwalder FV  - 6
Tokyo S.C.  - 3
Reykjavik United  - 2
CA Buenos Aires  - 1

Well, at least this season was different? I'm not sure "parity" is the word I would use to describe it, but it certainly was interesting to watch the same three teams (Uniao Sao Paulo, Tokyo S.C., and Reykjavik United) pass the MacGuffin between them repeatedly. The only reason anyone else was involved at all was because Schwarzwalder FV started the season with the MacGuffin and CA Buenos Aires snuck in a single point toward the end. It is worth mentioning, however, that Schwarzwalder did post the single longest run of the season, which was enough for them to accumulate the second most points on the season. In the end, though, it is once again Reykjavik United who ends the season with the MacGuffin in hand, guaranteeing them at least one point next season.

All Time Standings:
1) Reykjavik United  - 79
2) Tokyo S.C.  - 58
3) Hollywood FC  - 29
T-3) CA Buenos Aires  - 29 +1
5) Uniao Sao Paulo  - 27 +1
6) CF Catalunya  - 26 -1
T-7) Inter London  - 19
T-7) A.C. Romana  - 19
T-7)  Schwarzwalder FV  - 19 +4
10) Cairo City  - 15 -1
11)  Athenai F.C.  - 14 -1
12) Seoul MFC  - 12
13) North Shore United  - 10
14) Montreal United  - 7
T-15) AS Paris  - 4
T-15) F.C. Kaapstad  - 4

Not a lot of movement this season, but the movement there is at least turned out to be big. Uniao Sao Paulo has officially made the leap into the runner-up pack, firmly embedding themselves among that group. Another strong season will vault them into third if they can keep up the momentum, though CA Buenos Aires is also pushing for sole possession of that spot. Just below them, Schwarzwalder made a huge four position leap on the back of their own strong season. Sure, that description is a little heavy handed given that they can only claim such a jump due to tie shenanigans, but it still counts! The leap does shunt a few Minors teams further down the list, further stratifying the Majors from the Minors. Will the Minors teams ever take the MacGuffin back? Will anyone ever catch Reykjavik and Tokyo? Will I actually spend some time doing much needed work instead of writing more sim league media? Tune in next time to find out!