[EaglesPhan36]

Alright boys. With the next round of this competition in sight, I wanted to present some ideas I had for it and get everyone's input - whether you are still alive in the contest or not, please give some input so I can set this up to make everyone have some fun!

From what I have gathered, most of our major leagues have two weeks to go before they break for the end of the year. That would take us to our Final Four at the break. Here's what I propose for the format, remember this is strictly head-2-head against one person each week with 16 players starting the KO stages.


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Remember, the top 2 players from each Group (A-H) advance to the Knockout Stages. The pairings for the KO stages will be the #1 player who advanced from one Group vs. the #2 player who advanced from another.

1. Continue to use Champions League, Europa League, England, France, Germany, Italy & Spain as the primary leagues for the competition.

2. Each player will be allowed a MAXIMUM once again of 21 plays. This round however, I think strategy should have something do with it, so no MINIMUM number of picks. If you want to play 5 matches and your opponent plays 15, that is your choice. ALL PICKS WILL ONCE AGAIN GOES AS FOLLOW, WHEN BETTING FAVORITES (-110, -120, etc) ... YOU WAGER "TO WIN" ONE UNIT, MEANING YOU ARE BETTING 1.10 TO WIN 1 UNIT OR 1.20 TO WIN ONE UNIT. WHEN BETTING UNDERDOGS, YOU ARE "RISKING ONE UNIT" AS IN WHEN A PRICE IS +145, YOU ARE RISKING ONE UNIT TO WIN 1.45.

3. Each round, each player will be given two SQUASHES to use. What's this? Once your opponent has selected a pick, you have the opportunity to use a SQUASH as an opportunity to make one of their picks a play for 3 times the normal one unit betting size. In other words, you can make 2 of your opponent's picks - "best bets" for them. The opportunity here is that if you look at one of their picks and believe it to be a loser, then you put the SQUASH on it as a chance to SQUASH your opponent and saddle them with a three unit loss. It is your choice whether or not to use these SQUASHES as it can help you or hurt you, much like the best bets of the Group Stages.

4. To give the KO stages a "two leg feel" like a home/away sort of vibe, here's what I think with most of the action on the weekends ...

*In the Round of 16, the #1 seeded player in each match-up calls their shot on Saturdays. What does this mean? This player gets to pick the two leagues he feels he has an advantage in or likes the lines better, whatever & that will be the ONLY leagues allowed for picks in that match-up for SATURDAY. On SUNDAY, the #2 seed gets the same opportunity to pick two leagues that they want and all picks that day must come ONLY from those two leagues. As the rounds dwindle down to the Quarterfinals, Semis and Championship match, the "seedings" between players or how one will be determined as the higher seed will be based on TOTAL UNITS earned during the entire tournament.

The "shot" or leagues a participant wants to play on those days MUST BE selected on FRIDAY by 11pm ET to allow their opponent time to make his selections. If a shot is not called by a participant for their day, then plays may be made in any league.

5. All lines will again be from Pinnacle Sports. These rounds I propose no limit on prices. As in, if there are +1000 underdogs, you'll have that available to you. If there is a -800 favorite, you can also take that. I think by having the SQUASHES available, this will make this okay to have. I also believe we should continue to allow players to play any match they want that is listed. If you want to play some of the same things as your opponent, that is your choice as part of your strategy.

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That's what I have to start the discussion. I have read requests for adding different Cups, etc. to the lines to be used ... I will leave that up to you guys, if the majority want to add another league or league cup, I'll do it. You tell me. KO Stages will be slated to start on MONDAY, DECEMBER 7th.

[jw]

I quite like the "squash" not sure i'd use it - but I like the thought behind it .. not sure I like the "shot" idea ... overall seems to be over-complicating something that should be pretty straightforward.

If the "shot" thing was in place it gives the possibility of you having to get leagues from players before the weekend .. then add all the lines for up to 16 or even 32 additional leagues if everyone choses something different .... for both Saturday and Sunday - seems like you are making work for yourself.

By all means "add" a league or two or even a cup competition or two at the request of the majority .. or even take a vote each weekend for which leagues people would like to add for the following week and take the top two suggestions to add them to the rotation ... that way you just stick to what you are doing right now with the addition of just one or two extra leagues.

Other than that - all looks good .... a lot of thought gone into this .. thanks

[TWEETS]

Think we need to look at schedule and figure out what leagues will be available the next 5 weeks and maybe add a couple.

Don't really like the shot idea.

the squash idea is ok, but I assume the player then can't void a play if the opponent has squashed it?

[demize21]

question since i have been ignored in pinned thread since brazil A is endind i think argentina A should be added also recopasudamerica same as UEFA cup copa libertadores sames as champions league & copa sudamericans same as europa league should be added just cause not in europe doesnt mean thier not main leagues cups

also every week brazil a lines were the same this week you used diffrent source that chose not to have draws which should stick to same standars those draws are a major part of tomorrow for some and there will be atleast 3 i know of

[mihaita666]

please, don't add championship league, from england....it'd be unfair to some of us.

[EaglesPhan36]

I quite like the "squash" not sure i'd use it - but I like the thought behind it .. not sure I like the "shot" idea ... overall seems to be over-complicating something that should be pretty straightforward. If the "shot" thing was in place it gives the possibility of you having to get leagues from players before the weekend .. then add all the lines for up to 16 or even 32 additional leagues if everyone choses something different .... for both Saturday and Sunday - seems like you are making work for yourself. By all means "add" a league or two or even a cup competition or two at the request of the majority .. or even take a vote each weekend for which leagues people would like to add for the following week and take the top two suggestions to add them to the rotation ... that way you just stick to what you are doing right now with the addition of just one or two extra leagues. Other than that - all looks good .... a lot of thought gone into this .. thanks

The "shot" idea would pertain to just the normal leagues, not adding extra. So Germany, France, England, etc.

[mihaita666]

maybe if we make another contest, we'll include romania, also :X.
Still, i think the whole contest ideea was a great succes, and sbr will give us such an opportunity

[EaglesPhan36]

demize, I used Pinnacle every time. When I posted lines, there were no draw lines available for Brazil Serie A. I will add them now that they are up.

[demize21]

k cool thx

[jw]

I like Romania and Argentina too ... also Japan might be good.

[mihaita666]

ep, how will the knock-out stages be determined ? will you use a system similar to the one used in world cup ? A1-B2, A2-B1, C1-D2, and so on ?

[demize21]

please, don't add championship league, from england....it'd be unfair to some of us.

no one suggested that thats really unfair the leagues i recommended were same as europa=copasudamericana and champions league europe=copa libertadores
rscopasudamericana =uefa cup there are the same jusr the one we have been playing are in wueope and theones abouyt to start in jan are in central&southamerica

so if those arent included than its biased

[WillC]

If you want to play some of the same things as your opponent, that is your choice as part of your strategy.

If someone plays the exact same plays as their opp. on the last day to protect the lead, is that fine?
not strategy imo, this is basically disadvantaging the people who live in earlier timezones. e.g. UK games start at 4-5am where I live, we can't see what our opponents plays are yet we run the risk of being 'copied' since we have to pick earlier?
Don't like this rule at all but I think Im on my own here

Oh well, still have to get past the group stages first

[Smogs]

i am fine with adding more 'americas' leagues for those that specialise there.

*Loving the 'squash' idea

[EaglesPhan36]

If someone plays the exact same plays as their opp. on the last day to protect the lead, is that fine? not strategy imo, this is basically disadvantaging the people who live in earlier timezones. e.g. UK games start at 4-5am where I live, we can't see what our opponents plays are yet we run the risk of being 'copied' since we have to pick earlier? Don't like this rule at all but I think Im on my own here Oh well, still have to get past the group stages first

Well if you look at my match-up for advantage this past week, my opponent played a lot of the same plays as me forcing me to either let that strategy go or employ what I did, picked a couple I liked and posted them just prior to the match starting to try and prevent it. I think it makes it interesting if someone wants to copy picks because it doesn't necessarily mean they are going to match you and with the SQUASH idea, I think that evens it out even more.

Please provide more input here fellas. We've got an open day on Monday before Champions League Tuesday, so I will have rules squared and outlined by tomorrow night for the KO Stages - but I want to make it as enjoyable as possible for all, so keep chatting up!

[mihaita666]

yes ep, i was 1 unit in front of you, so that's why i played the same picks as you :P

[bigdog3580]

I like the "SQUASH". It will probably keep opponents from picking a +600 possible winner.
You could squash it for a -300. Not worth the risk, I would think.
I sorta like the home and home(shot). I could go either way.
I would like to see a minimum # of wagers. If someone goes 4-0 right away and up 5+ units might be hard to catch.
I dont care if other leagues are added. It still takes some homework. We all have one or two leagues we follow regularly I am sure.
I would like to see a rule that you need at least one pick from each leagues we are using.This way one can't be comfortable with their league they know the best, they MUST do homework.

[WillC]

Well if you look at my match-up for advantage this past week, my opponent played a lot of the same plays as me forcing me to either let that strategy go or employ what I did, picked a couple I liked and posted them just prior to the match starting to try and prevent it. I think it makes it interesting if someone wants to copy picks because it doesn't necessarily mean they are going to match you and with the SQUASH idea, I think that evens it out even more.

yea, but my point was that European matches start at around 3-5am where I live ... making that tactic impossible for me.
It's cool though, just have to ensure I have a lead going into the final day or I'm stuffed

Best of luck to the final 16. It's been very enjoyable thus far

[EaglesPhan36]

Gotcha on that Will. Any more thoughts fellas? I'm tweaking what I outlined here. The Cup play in the Americas probably isn't going to come into play much at this point in the tournament if they are in January. The KO stages start this week and we should be able to do the Round of 16 & Quarterfinals without any problems. At that point, we'll be at December 21st and will probably take a "winter break." I believe the England Premier League is the only one of the majors that plays through the Christmas-time, most others from what I have seen break until early January. So the Americas idea may be revisited then but we'll be to the Final Four at that point and changes may not make sense. As for now, I think we should stay in line with these:

England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Europa League, Champions League.

May add an additional one. Turkey, Argentina, Romania, Portugal being the most likely.

[tbill11]

I'd be down to add Portugal, but I can see demize's point that there is no major South American league represented, so Argentina might be the right choice.

Otherwise, great setup EP!

[JamesBrown]

Great job EP...I like the set up...digging the Squash play!

[mihaita666]

argentina is a top league, just like brasil, i also think it should be included.

[Phillth]

im down with anything you guys come up with. i will destroy my opponent either way.

[mihaita666]

you're lucky i didn't qualify, man :P

[pavyracer]

Fukk this shit. If someone can't calculate their units correctly they should be disqualified.