A form table can be misleading, but it can also breathe truth into the right argument at the right time. If anything, looking to those oddly-satisfying combinations of red, green, and grey-coloured results can add context to a season or quick run of games, and give you a better idea of how a team performed. Looking at the end of the 2019 Canadian Premier League season, the form table paints quite an accurate picture: Cavalry FC and Forge FC dominating for long stretches, HFX Wanderers FC and Valour FC couldn’t keep the momentum going, and FC Edmonton went a long, long time without a win. Here’s a detailed look at what the form table taught us in 2019. RELATED READING: CPL off-season roster tracker: Who’s in and who’s out for 2020?
Longest winning streak: 7 - Cavalry FC
Ah, remember that? Cavalry FC’s seven straight victories to kick off the season stood as the longest winning streak of 2019. Starting with a 2-1 decision over York9 FC on May 4, Cavalry ran the table to kick off their inaugural campaign. Wins over Valour FC, Forge FC, FC Edmonton and HFX Wanderers FC followed, making the Cavs the team to beat. The streak ended with a 1-0 loss to Forge at home on June 22 – a dethroning of the CPL’s frontrunner that hinted at things to come.
Shortest winning streaks: 1 - HFX Wanderers and Valour FC
In a disappointing display of failed momentum, neither HFX Wanderers FC or Valour FC were able to string together multiple wins in 2019. Valour had some of the worst luck in terms of form, despite having a comparable record to Pacific FC and the Wanderers. Rob Gale’s group managed a measly unbeaten streak of just two matches, only able to grab a single draw on the shoulders of rare victories. HFX had similar luck. However, they did manage to put together a good number of results in the Fall season ...
Longest draw streak: 6 - HFX Wanderers
In a series of results that’d make you think you were living in a specific '90s movie, the Wanderers managed an agonizing half-dozen draws in a row in the middle of the Fall campaign. Four came at home, starting with the first on Labour Day (perhaps this movie should be called "Labour Day") against FC Edmonton, before the streak ended in Calgary on Oct. 5. It was a particularly cruel run for supporters at Wanderers Grounds, who also saw six straight draws at home to close out the season. It’s the kind of run that makes you ask "why, why this is happening," just as Stephen Hart did.
Longest winless run: 10 - HFX Wanderers & FC Edmonton
HFX Wanderers and FC Edmonton are tied for this unfortunate distinction after a pair of late-summer slumps. It started in early August. FC Edmonton’s win over Pacific FC and HFX’s nil-nil draw (of course) to Cavalry at Wanderers Grounds would be their last taste of glory for well over two months. The Eddies emerged from the wilderness on Oct. 16 thanks to a goal and an assist from 18-year-old Prince Amanda. HFX would end their run at the last possible opportunity – and earn their first and only away win on the season – with a 2-0 victory in York Region on the last day of the season.
Longest unbeaten run: 14 - Forge FC
The 2019 Canadian Premier League Champions set up their Finals 2019 triumph with a near-perfect summer. Rebounding from a Fall-opening defeat to FC Edmonton on July 6th, Bobby Smyrniotis' side went on to post 10 wins and four draws in the league before finally falling to Cavalry on Oct. 9. It was an unrivalled stretch of dominance as Forge found their footing. No team came close to Forge’s unbeaten stretch, with the Cavs going as far as eight matches before suffering defeat.
Shortest losing skid: 1 - Cavalry FC
Call Cavalry FC "the Comeback Kings" of 2019 – their ability to rebound after defeats was astounding. It helps they only had four losses in the regular season, but these answer-back results (three of which were wins) can’t be understated. There is a caveat – and you may have already caught it – from this regular season sample. Ahem, Finals 2019 saw Tommy Wheeldon Jr. lose twice in a row. 2019 Form Records Longest win streak: Cavalry - 7 (May 4 to June 19) Shortest win streak: HFX & Valour - 1 Longest unbeaten streak: Forge - 14 (July 13 to Oct. 6) Shortest unbeaten streak: Valour - 2 (Multiple) Longest Draw Streak: HFX - 6 (Sept. 2 to Oct. 2) Shortest Draw Streak: Multiple clubs - 2 Longest Winless Streak: HFX (August 10 to Oct. 9) & FC Edmonton (August 10 to Oct. 5) - 10 Shortest Winless Streak: Forge - 2 (Oct. 9 to Oct. 12) Longest Losing Streak: HFX - 5 (July 13 to July 31) Shortest Losing Streak: Cavalry - 1 (Multiple)
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Longest winning streak: 7 - Cavalry FC
Ah, remember that? Cavalry FC’s seven straight victories to kick off the season stood as the longest winning streak of 2019. Starting with a 2-1 decision over York9 FC on May 4, Cavalry ran the table to kick off their inaugural campaign. Wins over Valour FC, Forge FC, FC Edmonton and HFX Wanderers FC followed, making the Cavs the team to beat. The streak ended with a 1-0 loss to Forge at home on June 22 – a dethroning of the CPL’s frontrunner that hinted at things to come.
Shortest winning streaks: 1 - HFX Wanderers and Valour FC
In a disappointing display of failed momentum, neither HFX Wanderers FC or Valour FC were able to string together multiple wins in 2019. Valour had some of the worst luck in terms of form, despite having a comparable record to Pacific FC and the Wanderers. Rob Gale’s group managed a measly unbeaten streak of just two matches, only able to grab a single draw on the shoulders of rare victories. HFX had similar luck. However, they did manage to put together a good number of results in the Fall season ...
Longest draw streak: 6 - HFX Wanderers
In a series of results that’d make you think you were living in a specific '90s movie, the Wanderers managed an agonizing half-dozen draws in a row in the middle of the Fall campaign. Four came at home, starting with the first on Labour Day (perhaps this movie should be called "Labour Day") against FC Edmonton, before the streak ended in Calgary on Oct. 5. It was a particularly cruel run for supporters at Wanderers Grounds, who also saw six straight draws at home to close out the season. It’s the kind of run that makes you ask "why, why this is happening," just as Stephen Hart did.
Longest winless run: 10 - HFX Wanderers & FC Edmonton
HFX Wanderers and FC Edmonton are tied for this unfortunate distinction after a pair of late-summer slumps. It started in early August. FC Edmonton’s win over Pacific FC and HFX’s nil-nil draw (of course) to Cavalry at Wanderers Grounds would be their last taste of glory for well over two months. The Eddies emerged from the wilderness on Oct. 16 thanks to a goal and an assist from 18-year-old Prince Amanda. HFX would end their run at the last possible opportunity – and earn their first and only away win on the season – with a 2-0 victory in York Region on the last day of the season.
Longest unbeaten run: 14 - Forge FC
The 2019 Canadian Premier League Champions set up their Finals 2019 triumph with a near-perfect summer. Rebounding from a Fall-opening defeat to FC Edmonton on July 6th, Bobby Smyrniotis' side went on to post 10 wins and four draws in the league before finally falling to Cavalry on Oct. 9. It was an unrivalled stretch of dominance as Forge found their footing. No team came close to Forge’s unbeaten stretch, with the Cavs going as far as eight matches before suffering defeat.
Shortest losing skid: 1 - Cavalry FC
Call Cavalry FC "the Comeback Kings" of 2019 – their ability to rebound after defeats was astounding. It helps they only had four losses in the regular season, but these answer-back results (three of which were wins) can’t be understated. There is a caveat – and you may have already caught it – from this regular season sample. Ahem, Finals 2019 saw Tommy Wheeldon Jr. lose twice in a row. 2019 Form Records Longest win streak: Cavalry - 7 (May 4 to June 19) Shortest win streak: HFX & Valour - 1 Longest unbeaten streak: Forge - 14 (July 13 to Oct. 6) Shortest unbeaten streak: Valour - 2 (Multiple) Longest Draw Streak: HFX - 6 (Sept. 2 to Oct. 2) Shortest Draw Streak: Multiple clubs - 2 Longest Winless Streak: HFX (August 10 to Oct. 9) & FC Edmonton (August 10 to Oct. 5) - 10 Shortest Winless Streak: Forge - 2 (Oct. 9 to Oct. 12) Longest Losing Streak: HFX - 5 (July 13 to July 31) Shortest Losing Streak: Cavalry - 1 (Multiple)
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