Bold Predictions of the Season

[xyan]

WARNING TO GAMBLERS: DO NOT PUT MONEY ON THESE THINGS (assuming there is a place to, lol)

I am coming here today to share with you predictions of the season, but the important stuff, not those silly win predictions or standings predictions. Let's dive right in.

Leading goal scorers:
Maj D1 - Joga Bonito . Tied for 1st at 2 goals through MD2, Bonito appears to be a focal point of Catalunya's attacking phase
Maj D2 - Thomas Jimotheus   . One of several players with 2 goals so far, Jimotheus sets himself apart from the rest in this prediction due to volume of chances; they lead with 10 shots taken and 5 on target.
Min D1 - Arsène N'Goussou   . Currently, this is not a competition. Leads in goals by 1 and shots on target. You may argue the difficulty of the first 2 matches being why, but I say its a long season and there is plenty more clinical scoring to happen from this player.
Min D2 - Scat Cat   . Leads D2 in both goals (4) and shots (14 with 8 on target), but there is a potential problem; they are 2nd so far in offsides. Can't score the most goals if you keep getting them called back.

Best Goalkeeper: 
Maj D1 - James Asprey   . Asprey has conceded 3 goals, which added to CDT's 1 loss so far, but he is currently 2nd in successful save %, and leads the Division in total saves with 15 through 2 matches.
Maj D2 - Brad Woof . Woof has a huge lead amongst their competition in player rating, despite a 5 goals conceded match. They are 2nd in save%, with the most saves made, and are the only goalkeeper in D2 with a clean sheet so far.
Min D1 - Benecio Aguilera III . Aguilera has only conceded 1 goal in 2 matches. Besides that setting them apart from the rest, they have the highest save% with 88.89. The only argument against them is the lower volume of saves, which is valid due to how strong the team is, part of the goalkeeper's success could be less shots taken against them.
Min D2 - Umaq Yupanqui . The only SSL goalkeeper (other than the academy) to have 2 clean sheets through 2 matches. They have the highest player rating of D2 goalkeepers for a good reason. You can't even argue their save volume is low, because it isn't.

Most Successful Passer (assists, volume, and %): 
Maj D1 - Chicken McTendie   . Liffeyside has 2 players with the exact same passing volume and success%. Since McTendie has 1 key pass so far, while the other big passer on the team has more shots taken, this goes to the more supporting focused player of the two.
Maj D2 - Trick Johnson   . While Trick doesn't have a large passing volume or high successful pass%, they are a passing superstar. 3 assists leads the division through 2 matches, but they are also leading key passes with 12, and are 3rd in crossing success% amongst players with decent crossing volume (and has a much larger volume than those ahead of them).
Min D1 - Bob Berendsen . Berendsen is tied for 1st with 12 key passes, is 1st with 5 chances created, is 1st is completed passes with 106, and has a decent pass completion % for their volume with 84.13, but that needs improved.
Min D2 - Jay Cue Jr.   . Not the most passing volume, but leads many other key areas. Tied for 1st in assists with 2, leads in key passes with 12 and successful crosses with 10 (highest success% of anyone near his volume with 43.48%), and has a strong pass completion% with 91%. His team should increase his passing volume, because its an obvious performer who seems to be a supporting star of the future.

Brick Wall Defender:
Maj D1 - Tonto Tut   . Tut is 2nd in interceptions, tied for 2nd in blocks, and tied for 1st in shots blocked. If he brings up his tackle volume and success% this is his category to win.
Maj D2 - Vivi Nefertari . This category is very competitive in D2, but my bet is on Vivi. They have a good amount of tackling, near the top group in interceptions with 7, have the most clearances at 8, tied for first in blocks with 5 (the other has 0 shots blocked, while Vivi is tied for 3rd with 2).
Min D1 - Martin Krpan . Leader in blocks and shots blocked with 4, tied for 1st in clearances with 13, and tied for 4th in tackles. Despite being low in interceptions, Krpan is proving to be the backbone of NSU's defense.
Min D2 - Vumion Stitcherson  . The most well rounded defender in D2, by my analysis. They are tied 2nd for blocks with 4, tied for 4th in interceptions with 7, and have 8 tackles won (compared to 10 for the tied leaders there).

Least Valuable Player:
Maj D1 - Ilya Prusikin   . Tied for lowest match rating at the moment with 6.35, the only bright side of Prusikin's play at the moment is decent passing volume with 93.88% completed. However, they have attempted no tackles and have only 3 interceptions and 1 block. That is quite lacking for a player important to the defending phase for their team.
Maj D2 - Denis Mobek   . The lowest rated goalkeeper of the group, and for a good reason. They have conceded 4 goals, leading to a 0-1-1 record so far for the team. The big issue is being the lowest saves number and save% of D2.
Min D1 - Maurjiro Rivers   . This is the lowest player rating I've seen so far, at a 6.05. Instead of a "mistakes made" reasoning for the rating, this one is deserved for basically being nonexistent. No goals on 4 shots, 2 of them on target, is the most active statistic they have. Their low success% on things like passing, crossing, and headers hurt them, too.
Min D2 - Lencho Ash   . There are other goalkeepers who have had issues, but I am giving this category to Ash for their performance against a low shot volume; once their team starts to no longer perform as top of D2, it will be because of more shots made against them. Ash only has 2 saves against 7 shots, making them the lowest save% by quite a bit.

Wildest Goal Made or Allowed:
Maj D1 - Roquefort Cotswold   . A player with a focus on making key passes and wandering the entire pitch, Roquefort only has 2 shots and 1 goal. However, this player seems to always be a threat, even when not trying to score. Watch for a screamer from an impossible angle.
Maj D2 - Sterling Scott . They are underperforming at the moment; they get chances (leading with 11 shots and 6 on target), but have only 1 goal so far and have the worse xG vs performance at -1.42. Their time will come, volume of chances leads to more goals eventually.
Min D1 - Owen Goal . They have only played 1 of the 2 matches so far, but this minors rookie is getting a mention. If anyone gets an own goal as a major highlight, it will be Owen Goal.
Min D2 - Ekon Ayo . Ayo might not get many chances, but has made the most of them. On 2 shots, they have 2 shots on target and 2 goals. This is also with an xG of 0.18, making them lead xG over-performance in D2 with 1.82. There will be a wild "goal of the season" from Ayo, and it might be the best highlight in all of the SSL.

Time for my daughter to strike again

Cursed Players:
THRAXXii La’Mort 
Duncan Walrusson 
Brad Woof 
Julian Rubio 

Blessed Players: 
Jay Cue Jr. 
Tim Quackareedoo 
Capybara Chevalier 
Roquefort Cotswold 

[roquefort]

I appreciate the blessing :D