[Boromir88]

QUARTER-FINALS PREVIEW
BoroLXXXVIII Two Towers Network

We shall see if the Felagundian has the staying power to consistently put out those types of predictions. I know I already do. As far as AKM, that used to be one of the best football magazines, but it is so full of kick-backs and payoffs the biases of the sports-writers is clearly revealed.

Previous years the AKM had a love child with the Tirion trio, and seeing as the Tirion trio has split up, apparently they found a new one with the Westernesse team. They so desperately want Westernesse to win this year, they are starting to arbitrarily twist stats. Accuse me of ignoring stats, like Huor's save percentage? Ok, fair enough, but I was trying to weigh in the chances of Huor having a monster play off performance as he consistenly showed in the past. But the AKM is doing something far more dangerous by manipulating stats.

The stats tell the story and to try to factor in who's had the tougher competition to either downplay or boost a team's stats is just impossible. Has TIG played as tough of an opponent as Anfauglith yet? No. But you play the games you're given and all you can do is win them. TIG has been sharp and effective in all their games. While Westernesse has shown vulnerability, especially at the back.

Is it true I was favoring Anfauglith over Westernesse, because Anfauglith was my predicted champion at the beginning of the year? A bit. But keep in mind I was not way off in believing the possibility. They drew with Angband and Westernesse had to storm back with a 1-man advantage to get that win. But now, with my champion team gone, there is no more favoritism factor in these predictions, no more biases. That is not the case for AKM or the Felagundian.

Doriath vs Valinor

This is looking like one of the easier games of the quarter-finals to predict, but I think it's still going to be an exciting, tight game. Valinor's downfall is really their defense and they don't have the power to get into a scoring match with Doriath. And that's the big difference, Doriath is a balanced team that can play you either way you want. They can keep a low scoring defensive battle, or run up the score board. Doriath's talent is inferior to none and can win however way the other team wants to play it. Huan has shown he's not beyond making mistakes and has gotten beat when under pressure. But how much pressure can he be under with Melian's defense in front of him?
Doriath wins 3-2

Angband vs Eregion

This could very easily be another 1-0 win for Angband as this will be a defensive and goal keeping clinic for everyone watching. There is enough scoring talent to each score 1, but the question is who will get to 2 goals first then? Because it's probably going to take over time to get there. Here we favor Angband because Eregion's defense is pretty mediocre, but just looks better because of Elrond's divine goal keeping skill. Angband has to win it in OT, because if it goes to a shoot out we'd favor Eregion's strikers over Angband's. However, if anyone can grind out 2 goals against Elrond, it'll be Melkor.
Angband wins 2-1 in OT.

Tol in Gaurhoth vs Westernesse

Die, Westernesse, die! Oops, can't have any biases here. Ok, we imagine AKM has a love affair with this team because it looks similar to the 2009 champions, Armenolos. Similar, yes, but a few key differences. There is no lynchpin and architect in Sauron as there was in 2009. And instead of having a complete sturdy Numenorean team, they've filled some of the spots with men of a lesser age. Even if these men were some of the greater of their age, they are still lesser men from a lesser age. When up against an actual capable attack, Westernesse's defense does not look at impenetrable and that's what you get when you try to mix Numenoreans with others.

We know TIG can score, we know Westernesse can't keep their goal clean when playing against a team that can score. We also know the wolves have been a stronger and more athletic match up problem for the Numenoreans in the past. The problem has been TIG's aggressive wolvy personality, relying solely on athleticism. This looks like a different wolf pack this year though. They're playing far better as a unit and it's a proven fact that wolves will do anything for survival, even gnaw off their own paws.
TIG wins 3-2. This is another game that goes to OT

Lothlorien vs Pelori

Manwe's team actually shows some life and for the first time has made it into the quarter-finals. And the same goes for Galadriel's team. With a spot to the semi's, this will be interesting. We favor Lothlorien, simply by the past experiences of Feanor and Gandalf who can bring a championship mindset that settles the nerves of Lothlorien. Who on Pelori has made it this far, and what have the Valar ever won? I rest my case.

Not yet though. In all seriousness, this comes down to the talents of Feanor and Gandalf. There will be no question about inspiration for Feanor in this game. And Gandalf knows the mind of his Maiar and Valar very well. He will no doubt have the defense prepared for all the tricks Manwe wants to try to throw at the defense.
Lothlorien wins 2-1