[Nogrod]

The Arda Kicker Magazine has analysed the different bettings by the betting-agencies and has combined them with the views of their staff to generate this pre-tournament analysis.




On group A most betting-agencies are putting their two cents for Angband rallying through the group. The pure master-evil of the team led by Ancalagon the Black, added with the outstanding characters like Maeglin, Hurin and Gwindor looks mighty threathening team indeed to go for it all the way – if they can pull a team-effort of it.

On the second place the views seem to differ. Some note Moria’s sturdy home-team with solid defence and amazing attack (Durin’s Bane especially). Others wonder how the home team can live up to the expectations and bring the Alqualonde team forwards as a possible runner up in this group. Surely forwards like Cirdan and Osse should not be ignored – and somehow the betting-agencies have left Idril with no star! Watch out for her performances!

The fate of Minas Tirith seems to be decided already before the games have begun. But if Boromir and Aragorn are up to the moment in the attack and Echtelion raises to the occasion in the goal, then the MT defence led by Nazgul #5 could just make life hard to the other teams wishing to score easy wins on them.

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On group B Nargothrond seems to be the clear favourites and the team looks solid even if it has no super-heroes in it. But players like Glaurung and Beren should guarantee their performance.

Interestingly enough the numenorian team from Arnor has been raised to be seriously contending for the second place. The defence of the team sure is solid and the team’s spirit should be good, but one wonders whether the pure genius, malice and wisdom; and the sheer power of the Mirkwood-team will not overrun them? It is possible the Mirkwood team just cleans the table and takes the pole position leaving the two others to fight for the second place. Or then they crumble down because of the possible inner tensions.

And Helm’s Deep might just shuffle a card or two there as well. There are no celebrities in the team but stiff defencive play with Helm able to score – and a great team spirit that Nargothrond and Mirkwood might be lacking...

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Group C seems to be the clearest beforehand. Every agency wagers heavily on Hithlum and Gondolin to go forwards from the group – in that order. The Minas Morgul-team and Isengard should bite the dust – if they can do even that. That is according to the pre-tournament bettings. But here the AKM dares to disagree, again.

Hithlum sure looks like a contender to go all the way to the finals. With one of the best goalies in the tournament (Huan) and a solid defence to help him it will be a tough time for any team to score against them. But Hithlum also boasts one of the strongest forward-pairs in Maedhros and Fëanor. Beating this team will be hard indeed!

Gondolin looks also solid, but clearly they are only the second favourites of the group. If someone wished to make risky bets then group C might be a place for one for it’s clear Gondolin’s team is not so strong it used to be and the contenders might arrange some surprises.

Namely, the cunning of players like Wormtongue and Saruman, the sturdiness of the ents and the sheer stamina of the orcs might surprise the visitors to the games organised by Isengard.

Also Minas Morgul -team is not a band of push-overs but a solid team led by the Witch-King making the scores added by his two ringwraith-mates and the Mouth of Sauron backing up the defence!

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On group D Eregion seem to be the favourites followed by Osgiliath although some agencies have given low turn-outs to bets on behalf of Mordor- and Erebor-teams as well indicating that there is no clear consensus of the matter.

AKM agrees with that Eregion is the team to go through to the next stage. Looking at the talent and experience both at the downstairs (Elrond, Gandalf) and on the attack (Eärendil, Gil-Galad, Glorfindel), this might be one of the teams that surprises the audiences by going really far in this tournament.

But after that things become murkier. Osgiliath has played solidly in the pre tournament matches and even if their players are not household names in every corner of the Middle-Earth they have a line-up equal to any good team in the tournament.

But when talking about a football tournament one should never under-estimate the power of Mordor – even if their master Sauron defected to another team and also the Witch-King chose another team this year. The defence of two Nazguls organized around Shelob is one of the firmest in the tournament and the cunningness of Gollum with the ruthless orc-commanders in the lead might bring forwards some surprises to teams who look at the Mordor-gang as an easy meal on their way to glory before them.

Erebor is the host, but it also boasts a dragon – and no lesser dragon than Smaug – in it’s line-up. Added with a solid dwarven defence and some individual finesse and power by players like Bard, Nazgul #7 and Beorn the team Erebor is everything else than an easy prey.

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Group E looks to be the hairiest and most difficult to predict. Different agencies give very different predictions and it all looks like a wide open field for any bounty-hunter to score some very important points to top their competitors in betting. Looking at the star-players it looks like Armenelos, Doriath and Lothlorien are quite evenly matched but then again Dor-Lomin has the dynamic duo of Beleg and Turin leading their attack.

Armenelos surely can boast of high-value players like Tar-Atanamir, Tar-Telperion, Sauron and Ar Pharazon. That team rarely fails. The question though is, how will the presence of Sauron affect the general mood of the team?

Lothlorien will have a solid defence led by Galadriel but will their offence (Celeborn, Haldir) score enough to beat the adversaries?

Doriath will have Maglor, Eöl and Elwë in the front so they should really do some heavy scoring but how is their defence? Melian is one of the best goalies around but will the downstairs support her enough to win the games?

Or will the outlaw-spirit just embrace the team Dor-Lomin to the victory with the dashing forwards? A tough group to call indeed!

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On group F the Taniquetil-team looks like the favourites of the group but then the situation becomes muddled. All the other teams have been ranked high on some betting-agencies, which makes it hard for the common-guy to read the results easily.

Looking at the stars of Taniquetil and the sheer experience of the team it looks like here we have a team that should be there in the finals. But then again Taniquetil failed massively in the last tournament and it remains to be seen if they have been able to recollect themselves. These players should arose awe and wonder in the opponents but they have the aura of failure on them as well. So how will it be this time?

Edoras might be the next contender. They have the horses in their squad, which might be hard to play against with the adversaries. They also have some quality players even if the betting-rankers haven’t notified them accordingly – like Theoden in the goal and Eowyn and Eomer on the front.

Dorthonion has been called high in the predictions as well. The question just remains if these guys can come up with the stamina and virtue of the old. Can Beor, or Barahir take the lead in a team with great players of the second-fiddle?

The hosts, Shire, might also prove themselves a team ready to surprise in front of their fanatic crowds. Even if their line-up doesn’t look too packed with celebrities, players like Bullroarer Took, Samwise Gamgee, the old Maggot – and the dwarves – might prove to be the ones to beat!

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There is only one favourite in group G and that is – to the point – the Tol-In-Gaurhoth –team. That team just has it. The stamina, the wickedness, the strength, the cunning, the joy, the techniques, the bravado, the mastery… AKM totally agrees with the betting-agencies with this.

From the other place to the next round there will be some competition though.

The hosts Tuna are a worthwhile contender. Their frontline bursts with heroes of the game like Miriel, Finwë, Nerdanel and Finarfin and having Aulë to tend the goal is no weakness to the team.

But Gondor might make it as well. Their trio in front; Imrahil, Faramir and Boromir is almost as good or better any other team can put forwards. But their downstairs is a bit unknown and prone to give up with pressure – just think has Gondor ever succeeded without outside help – and with this tournament none is forthcoming.

Even if one agency has put Brethil to go forwards the AKM-board thinks that highly unlikely. They may not be easy adversaries to anyone but the team just lacks talent and stamina to win a game. One of the probable “no-winners” in this tournament.

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Even if not all agencies put Valimar through it’s clear they’re the favourites of the group H. Just looking at the line-up should send shivers to the opposing sides: Ungoliant, wizards, balrogs, Melkor himself, Tulkas… That’s just super! If these guys lose, they will lose to the inner discrepancies and fights more than to the team playing against them.

But who will go forwards as the other team?

Many agencies give low turn-outs for Bree meaning that Bree might be a real contender here. And the team looks tough enough – and they’re hosting the tournament. With Old Man Willow at goal, Tom Bombadill making the goals with the Barrow-Wight and aided all around by the quick hobbit-feet, the team looks like able to generate a few surprises.

But Romenna is a solid squad. Their defence is one of the best in the tournament and having Tar Miriel and Tar Palantir in the front doesn’t exactly make them a handicap-team in this tournament.

Amon Sûl should be counted as the black horse of the group. No one believes in it’s success but maybe that’s just where they will strike? Accepted, they have one of the weakest line-ups in the tournament but you should also be not too confident with a team that has Elendil in it…



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