SSL MacGuffin - S20

[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
S19

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

You could really just copy and paste my blurb from last season in here again. As we enter the SSL's second decade of existence, the all time MacGuffin leaderboard is absolutely dominated by just two teams; Reykjavik United and Tokyo S.C. Reykjavik functionally has a two season lead at minimum over Tokyo. Meanwhile, Tokyo functionally has at least a three season lead over third place Hollywood FC. Everyone else is fighting for scraps. Mind you, there is fighting going on. Sure, there's a very limited number of teams with any real access to MacGuffin points (it's been a hot minute since the Minors managed to take the title away), but you've got teams like Uniao Sao Paulo and Schwarzwalder FV consistently moving up through the ranks over the last several seasons. That all being said, the real excitement going into S20 is the addition of four new teams to the league: CD Tenochtitlan, Shanghai Dragons FC, Rapid Magyar SC, and Krung Thep FC. How will these new teams fare against the established elite? Let's dive in and find out!

---

S20

Season Start: Reykjavik United
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-1 @ Tokyo S.C.

New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 3
Next Loss: 1-3 @ Uniao Sao Paulo

New Title Holder: Uniao Sao Paulo
Total Games Held: 7
Next Loss: 1-2 @ Schwarzwalder FV

New Title Holder: Schwarzwalder FV
Total Games Held: 4
Next Loss: 0-5 vs Reykjavik United

New Title Holder: Reykjavik United
Total Games Held: 8
Next Loss: 1-2 @ Uniao Sao Paulo

New Title Holder: Uniao Sao Paulo
Total Games Held: 0
Next Loss: N/A

End of Season

Season Standings:
1) Reykjavik United  - 10
2) Uniao Sao Paulo  - 7
3) Schwarzwalder FV  - 4
4) Tokyo S.C.  - 3

I believe this officially marks the fewest number of teams to possess the MacGuffin in a single season. Not only did our four newcomer teams fail to even sniff the prestigious title (though CD Tenochtitlan got close in MD17), but so did almost the entire rest of the league as well. Tokyo S.C. and Schwarzwalder FV each at least notched a few points, but this season belonged to the Cup Finals participants Reykjavik United and Uniao Sao Paulo. As a relative newcomer to the league, my understanding is that this will carry on through to present day, but I'm happy to experience it one season at a time via this media series.

All Time Standings:
1) Reykjavik United  - 89
2) Tokyo S.C.  - 61
3) Uniao Sao Paulo  - 34 +2
T-4) Hollywood FC  - 29 -1
T-4) CA Buenos Aires  - 29 -1
6) CF Catalunya  - 26
7)  Schwarzwalder FV  - 23
T-8) Inter London  - 19 -1
T-8) A.C. Romana  - 19 -1
10) Cairo City  - 15
11)  Athenai F.C.  - 14
12) Seoul MFC  - 12
13) North Shore United  - 10
14) Montreal United  - 7
T-15) AS Paris  - 4
T-15) F.C. Kaapstad  - 4
T-17) CD Tenochtitlan  - 0
T-17) Shanghai Dragons FC   - 0
T-17) Rapid Magyar SC  - 0
T-17) Krung Thep FC  - 0

I mentioned them at the top, and here they are again. Uniao Sao Paulo and Schwarzwalder FV may not be as dominant historically as Reykjavik United and Tokyo S.C., but they've got some momentum over the last few seasons and it clearly carried over into S20. Both of them continue to rise through the ranks as Schwarzwalder is now in sole possession of 7th while Uniao Sao Paulo leaps up into 3rd place. I'd say Uniao Sao Paulo is "putting pressure on Tokyo" and "closing the gap", but, uh... well, it's technically true, but they've got a long way to go before that actually becomes anything resembling a battle for 2nd. Meanwhile, Reykjavik extended their lead to a functionally three season lead over Tokyo S.C., making them virtually untouchable for the foreseeable future. How long will Reykjavik's reign last? Will the four new teams make an impact in their second season? Will I finally get to writing my second career point task now that my project from hell is finished at work? Tune in next time to find out!

[roquefort]

Finally getting into the good years of the league!s20 is where history truly begins