[Boromir88]

FRIENDLIES - ROUND 4 PREDICTIONS
BoroLXXXVIII Two Towers Network

Final round of friendlies before the tournament and I don't think I ever had as woeful of a round as last one's. My days of mediocrity are dead and buried, from this point on you will want to tune into TTN to get all the best Arda Cup reporting.

Anduin (0-2-1) vs Lothlorien (1-0-2)
Rumors are saying Feanor is angry in Lothlorien, but an angry Feanor usually doesn't bode well for the opponent. Even if it is just a friendly, if Lothlorien doesn't win confidentally they may not make it out of their group, and that would be a huge failure to all the new players Galadriel brought in.
Lothlorien wins 2-1

Angband (2-0-1) vs Beleriand (2-1-0)
Beleriand's performed well but Angband is miles better and if Angband shows half the effort they should win this one relatively easy.
Angband wins 2-0

Angfauglith (2-0-1) vs Mithrim (0-0-3)
Mithrim's in a tailspin having the worst goal differential so far (-8). Tuor is having a difficult time keeping his goal clean and his defenders are having trouble clearing the ball out of their box.
Angfauglith wins 3-0

Barad-dur (1-1-1) vs Gondor (2-1-0)
This should be an interesting and fairly competitive match. You would think it would be pretty tame with Isildur, Gil-Galad, and Cirdan on Barad-dur, but relations between Gondor and Isildur are pretty tense recently. It was one thing to forsake the realm of his father to play for Arnor a few years ago, but it's a completely different story to join and stay on a team with your bitter enemies. It looks like a slap in the face to all loyal Gondorians.
Draw 2-2

Doriath (3-0-0) vs Nargothrond (0-2-1)
Doriath is going to continue chugging along convincingly in the friendlies. Will they be worn out later on in the tournament? Only time will tell, but they will coast into the tournament undefeated and with the best goal differential. Despite Nargothrond's decline in previous years they're still a very hard team to embarass off the pitch. It'll be one of the tougher games Doriath will play.
Doriath wins 2-1

Dunharrow (0-1-2) vs Wilderland (2-1-0)
Dunharrow will likely approach the final friendly as all others, just having a fun practice kick-around. Sauron will undoubtedly match the same intensity and get a close, but convincing win, simply because Wilderland's talent is that much better.
Wilderland wins 2-1

Eregion (2-0-1) vs Eriador (1-1-1)
This is interesting as both will meet in Group D and I can see both of these teams just laying back playing a boring game. They're all friends, and it won't be the same story when they match up again, but for a 4th round friendly? Don't bother watching this one.
Draw 0-0

Esgaroth (0-1-2) vs Valinor (2-0-1)
Just when I complimented Esgaroth for playing better than last years pathetic Dale squad, they go and lay a stinking, ugly 0-3 loss to Misty Mts. Valinor is an even better team, but Esgaroth's luck is I can't see Valinor being as ramped up for this match. Still, Valinor is that talented...
Valinor wins 3-2

Gondolin (1-1-1) vs Himring (0-1-2)
One of the harder ones of round 4 to predict. Gondolin's played about as well as expected and Himring has been a bit of a disappointment. Himring will have to get the act together or they could easily finish in the cellar of Group A (which I would have given that dishonor to the hobbit conglomeration before the friendlies). While Gondolin will be in contention in Group G, but Group G is the group of death this year. It'll be close.
Draw 1-1

Hithlum (1-1-1) vs Tirion (1-1-1)
Both boast some of the stronger attacks and they're probably pretty even in this regard. The difference is Tirion is an improved defensive team from previous years, and Hithlum's defense on its best day, is still full of leaks.
Tirion wins 3-2

Minas Morgul (0-0-3) vs Minas Tirith (0-0-3)
Two of the winless squads square off and despite both teams being pretty garbage in the friendlies this will be one of the better ones to watch for a few reasons: 1. They hate eachother, always makes for the best games. 2. They're in the same group and what better way to build some momentum going into the tournament then not only getting a win but sending your most hated enemy away winless? Talk about a stabbing someone in the heart with a rusty knife, that's the chance before both these teams. Who wouldn't enjoy this deathmatch?
Minas Morgul wins 3-2

Misty Mts (1-1-1) vs The Forest (1-1-1)
Not sure what to expect with this one because it all depends on whether Bombadil wants to show up and put in the effort. Misty Mts could win in a snorefest, or it could be an entertaining treat with multiple goals.
Draw 2-2

Mordor (2-0-1) vs Westernesse (2-1-0)
Mordor's going to be in trouble in this one, Westernesse might have dealt shadily by secretly putting their team together and snubbing many of their fellow Numenoreans, but they're dangerous and even more so not being seen as one of the favorites.
Westernesse wins 2-0

Pelori (3-0-0) vs The Downer (1-2-0)
Manwe's going to be confused that's for sure. His teams tend to have added inspiration defeating the baddies, but are The Downer players qualified as baddies? They play the dirtiest football any team has seen before, but for some reason when in a discussion about "evil" you can't include them in the same breath with Morgoth and Angband...can you?
Draw 1-1

Shire-Bree United (0-2-1) vs Tol In Gaurhoth (1-2-0)
There isn't much love the TIG players have for hobbits and Breeland loafers, but there also isn't much respect. I can see TIG starting the game over confident and allowing SB United to get ahead early. Then realizing it would be completely embarassing to lose to the bums and putting them away easily.
TIG wins 4-2

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*Edit:* Due to an editting error in this report we have seemed to have left out the Numenor-Tol Eressea match. Our staff didn't realize the error until after all the results came in, therefor it would be improper and unfair to make any prediction on that match. I will say, however, that match probably would have been better to not have been played at all, so maybe TTN not having a prediction for it, was a subliminal message to tell fans don't waste their money on Numenor vs. Tol Eressea. We still apologize to all our fans and readers for any inconvenience. (Even if we've probably only offended the 3 combined people who root for those teams. We value everyone of our readers.)