[the phantom]

My take on the results thus far...

Group A
Moria is playing well, but Mordor is still the strong favorite. Their starting line of Sauron+Nazgul+The Mouth cannot be matched by anyone in their group- or possibly even the entire tournament. Their talent is enough to beat most people, but then when you add the way they move together as a team they are pretty much unstoppable.

Also, I don't see any of them getting suspended. The Nazgul have no personality and so none of them will lose his temper and do something dumb. And Sauron, though he is known to be quite "evil", is extremely goal oriented. His old master, Melkor, was the crazy nihilistic one. Sauron, on the other hand, will not get himself disqualified. He is too dedicated to winning to mess up like that.

Group B
Despite Gandalf's move to the Shire team, Rivendell is still my pick. Gandalf will make the headlines for a few days, but he isn't enough to get the job done.

Every single member of the hobbit team (besides Gandalf) is smaller, slower, and weaker than Rivendell's players. I truly cannot understand how Rivendell lost.

Now, don't go spreading this around because I'm not certain yet, but I think Rivendell may have been poisoned before the tournament. I mean- one of the sons of Elrond "tripping"?! The team did a good job of playing it off, but I could tell that Elrond was suspicious.

Elrond and his sons are descended from the King of the Noldor, the King of the Teleri and Sindar, the King of Men, and an angelic being (Melian). All three of them are ridiculously gifted genetically and far above things like tripping. There is definitely something fishy going on. You can bet that Elrond is looking into it and will cure it soon, and when he does- look out! Rivendell will be back with a vengeance!

Look for Elrond to move back from offense and take the goalie position. I'm not sure why he hasn't been there all along. I predict he will bar the entrance to the goal as effectively as he bars the Bruinen ford. During the remaining games in Group B, Elrond will not allow a single goal. You can bet on it.

Group C
Yesterday I said that The Barrow-Downs would win this group, and they haven't given me a reason to say otherwise.

Group D
Though the race is tight right now, I still think Nargothrond will come through. None of the other teams have an answer for Turin, not to mention that Finrod, Orodreth, Gelmir, and Gwindor are also excellent players.

Group E
Umm, is anyone in this group going to score a goal?

Well, I still think Numenor is the strongest team in this group, but really it doesn't matter who comes out of this group because they aren't going to advance any further.

Group F
Doriath and Gauroth have both played well, as I expected. It will come down to those two teams. I personally believe Sauron and his wolves to have the edge, but only time will tell.

Group G
I don't care about this group much at all. Whoever wins it will not get any further anyway. Fangorn is playing decent so far.

Group H
This group has been weird. First, Gondor upsets Angband in a close match, then Gondolin looks strong and blows away Grey Havens, but then Gondor kills Gondolin! Angband will certainly win their next match against Grey Havens.

Angband is still the team to beat. Even without Melkor, Ancalagon's aerial scoring abilities, Glaurung's goal-keeping, and exceptional all-around play by the Balrogs should be enough to win. And when Melkor is back, they should be head and shoulders above the rest.