CanPL.ca’s power rankings must carry on – even if matches aren’t being played in the Canadian Premier League at the moment because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week’s Football Manager 20 simulation brought supporters from all eight clubs together on social media. The debate was ripe. Valour FC fans were happy with us for once.
So, for the good of continuing to bring folks together, we’re back to simulate another fictitious week of CPL action.
Using Edward Hon-Sing Wong’s Canadian Megapatch, which adds Atlético Ottawa into the mix and makes crucial roster additions to the game, we’ve simulated another matchweek.
Oh, FM20 does not feature real-life schedules, so we’re following a random set of matches up to May 25, 2020.
1. Cavalry FC
MOVEMENT: –
Last week: No. 2
Record: 5-1-2
Tommy Wheeldon Jr.’s team retains top spot in the power rankings after a convincing 2-0 home win over Atlético Ottawa. The Cavs managed seven shots on target with 63 per cent possession, with Richard Luca bagging a brace. It was Cavalry’s fourth-straight simulated win in 2020 – will they improve on 2019’s record seven-match streak?
Upcoming Matches: Atlético Ottawa (H), Valour FC (A)
2. York9 FC
MOVEMENT: –
Last week: No. 2
Record: 4-2-2
York9 FC’s 2-0 win over FC Edmonton means the top two teams in this ranking remain intact for anther week. Nathan Ingham’s five-save performance earned man of the match honours, while young Brazilians Jaco and Gabriel Vasconcelos scored in Y9’s third win in as many games.
Upcoming Matches: FC Edmonton (H), Forge FC (A)
3. Pacific FC
MOVEMENT: 
+1
Last week: No. 4
Record: 3-2-3
In a third and final 2-0 result from this past weekend, Pacific FC trounced a lowly Forge FC side at Westhills Stadium. League1 Ontario signees Mo Babouli and Jordan Prescod provided the goals, while PFC’s backline looked solid – though, a Lukas MacNaughton knee injury could cause issues going forward.
Upcoming Matches: Forge FC (H), Atlético Ottawa (A)
4. Atlético Ottawa
MOVEMENT: +1
Last week: No. 5
Record: 3-4-2
Back-to-back losses have soured Atlético Ottawa’s surprisingly-competitive first season, but not all is lost. Mista’s structured 4-2-3-1 proved hard to break down for league leaders Cavalry, and they were arguably the better team against Valour the previous week. A looming home date with Pacific FC could be a season turning point.
Upcoming Matches: Cavalry FC (A), Pacific FC (H)
5. Valour FC
MOVEMENT: 
-2
Last week: No. 3
Record: 3-4-2
Valour drops down after a spectacular 2-1 home collapse to HFX Wanderers FC. Valour was out-chanced, out-shot, and out-played against the league’s worst team at home… and it could get worse for Rob Gale’s simulated side, who will face Cavalry, Pacific, and York9 FC in the coming weeks.
Upcoming Matches: Cavalry FC (H), Pacific FC (A)
6. HFX Wanderers FC
MOVEMENT: +2
Last week: No. 8
Record: 3-6-0
Halifax is on the rise after a shock 2-1 upset over Valour FC. An Akeem Garcia brace sent him top of the golden boot race and gave hope to HFX’s lacklustre attacking core. It’s an impressive turnaround, snapping a four-match losing streak, but the 3-6-0 Wanderers are far from out of the weeds.
Upcoming Matches: FC Edmonton (H), Cavalry FC (A)
7. FC Edmonton
MOVEMENT: -1
Last week: No. 6
Record: 3-4-2
Losers of four straight, FC Edmonton is in a bit of a free fall. That said, last week’s loss to Y9 wasn’t a terrible performance as FCE’s attackers created more chances in the simulated affair. But, as mentioned last week, this Edmonton team has struggled to score, averaging at an arguably unrealistic goal-a-game rate.
Upcoming Matches: HFX Wanderers (A), Forge FC (H)
8. Forge FC
MOVEMENT: -1
Last week: No. 7
Record: 1-5-3
Where did Forge FC’s blistering attack go? The Hamilton-based club failed to record a shot on target in their 2-0 weekend loss to Pacific FC, a result that put Bobby Smyrniotis’s side bottom of the CPL standings. A testy 905 Derby awaits.
Upcoming Matches: York9 FC (H), FC Edmonton (A)
