Unlike last year's first ArdaCup.com Stats Report, we won't be resorting to consulting astrologers and coin-flippers and biased sportswriters. Instead we're presenting the results of a phone interview of various team owners and general managers. That's the power of having an actual budget, instead of living a hand-to-pen existence. Wow!
Anyway, we asked these GMs and owners the following question: Given a free hand, which player they would choose to build a team around? The only restriction given them is that they couldn't choose players from their own teams. The results are:
- Túrin (26.6%) - The Master of Doom and multiple Golden Boot winner has led even incomplete teams past the group stage and into the quarterfinals, where the strength of the team's defence determines how far it goes. One owner said: 'He's finally shaken off questions about his game on the big stage, winning that title last year against tough opponents, and this year there's a lot more that will be expected of him, if that's possible.'
- Huan (23.4%) - The Hound of Valinor is Arda Cup's winningest player, but other GMs and owners think that he's just well-connected to strong footballing cliques (Beren/Lúthien last year, Celegorm/Curufin in the years before that) and wouldn't have been as successful had he been in weaker teams.
- Fëanor (21.9%) - The fiery son of Finwë draws a lot of comparison with Túrin: their multiple Golden Boots and ability to lead teams deep into the tournament being most noted. But many have noticed that, despite his teams usually having more talent than Túrin's (last year was an exception), it doesn't always translate to Arda Cup success. His charisma to draw more talent (as well as his deep pockets) is an x-factor any team would love to have.
- Morgoth (14.1%) - Morgoth's an all-around talent and a natural leader, who can turn even violent Úvanimor into fleet-footed footballers, while letting them retain their evil cunning and crushing strength. His team has reached the semifinals for two straight years, and some expect that he'll finally play in that last game this year.
- Sauron (10.9%) - The Lord of the Rings is an offensive maestro willing to play with anyone, from Werewolves to Dúnedain to Dragons. He usually runs a prolific offence, and he also has some of the leadership skills his master possesses. He and Melian are the only Ainu to win a championship so far.
- Elrond (3.1%) - The Peredhil's definitely not as successful as Huan, but he's probably a better GK, especially during the last couple of years. And a few of those we've interviewed think that that's enough to build a team around. One GM remarked: 'You can skimp on defence with him at goal, allowing you spend more on a strong striker or a solid midfield. He's that good at what he does. It's hard to find someone else that dependable, except perhaps Túrin's scoring.'