Middle Earth Fantasy Football World Cup

[Sleepy Ranger]

After talking it over with Arciticstorm we've decided to make 3-4-3 a legal formation. To give you time for any changes we'll postpone the tournaments beginning to the 10th, so you have ONE day more to make any changes before the trade system kicks in.

[Glirdan]

Okay, I think I've finally picked my team.....

GK:
THEODEN (Rohan)

DF:
GLIRDAN (Barrow-Downs)
GLORFINDEL (Rivendell)
CELEBORN (Lothlorien)
EOWYN (Rohan)

MF:
TURGON (Gondolin)
SAM (Shire)
DAERON (Doriath)

FW:
SLEEPY RANGER (Barrow-Downs)
THE SAUCEPAN-MAN (Barrow-Downs)
TREEBEARD (Fangorn)

[The Saucepan Man]

Hmm, I'm not so sure that it is a good idea to allow the 3-4-3 formation in a fantasy football competition.

As far as I am aware, it is a very rare formation in real life as it can leave teams very vulnerable at the back. It is an option available only to very skilfull teams, and is uncommon even then. Yet, in the fantasy game, it is the only sensible option, as it minimises the prospects of gaining negative points (from defenders), while maximising the prospects of gaining positive points (From midfielders and forwards). Also, the 3-4-3 formation requires defensive midfielders in reality, whereas defensive midfielders are rarely selected in fantasy football games.

Making the 3-4-3 formation available in the fantasy football competition means that everyone (if they have any sense) will have the same formation, reduces the impact of defenders on the competition (thus lessening the skill involved in selecting them) and does not really reflect 'real life' (as it is the only sensible choice for fantasy football, but rare in the real world).

Accordingly, I would recommend retaining the prohibition on the 3-4-3 formation.

If, however, it is to be allowed, then my team will (obviously) change to that formation, and be reconfigured as follows:

[DELETED, as no longer required]

[Elmo]

Hmmm... Rune I didn't realise you could have a song I think the rather depressing Del Amitri number which was Scotland's song in the World Cup 1998 which was the last world cup they qualified, fits my team exactly

So long, go on and do your best,
Let all friends have whiskey on express,
The world may not be shaking yet
but you might prove them wrong,
Even long shots make it

So go then, out into history,
And show them how easy it can be,
You might not believe it yet
but pretty soon you'll see,
Even long shots make it,

Just don't come home too soon,
Just don't come home too soon,

And I don't care what people say,
We can laugh it all away,
But if I have a dream at all
for once you won't be on that stupid plane

And the world may not be shaking yet,
But you might prove them wrong,
Even long shots make it

Just don't come home too soon,
Just don't come home too soon,
I don't care what people say
(just don't come home too soon)
We're gonna laugh it all the way
(just don't come home too soon)

As you can tell expectations weren't high for that tournament and those expectations were met (as least we qualified for that one)

[Sleepy Ranger]

Hmm... makes sense. Well, I have to agree with the Panman on this one I guess. The 3-4-3 still remains prohibited. Sorry Phantom. Well, Panman stick with your original team and Phantom you need to go with a permitted formation. Sorry!

[the phantom]

Originally Posted by SPM

Yet, in the fantasy game, it is the only sensible option, as it minimises the prospects of gaining negative points (from defenders), while maximising the prospects of gaining positive points (From midfielders and forwards).

Yes, that's why my 3-4-3 team was the only one I was particularly comfortable with.

Hmph, now I must remake my team. One thing's for sure.... SPM is getting the boot for ruining my team!

edit: Well, you're back on the team, Sauce.

Current team....

NAME: PHANTASY

FW
THE SAUCEPAN MAN (BDs) (replaced Feanor, Tuna)
MORMEGIL (Nargothrond)

MF
MAEDHROS (Tuna)
HURIN (Gondolin)
THE PHANTOM (BDs)
EONWE (Valinor)
THURINGWETHIL (Angband)

DF
ANCALAGON (Angband) (replaced Maglor, Tuna)
CURUFIN (Nargothrond)
MAEGLIN (Gondolin)

GK
ULMO (Gondolin)

Woo hoo!! Go Phantasy!!

[Sleepy Ranger]

Saucey and Phantom, could you delete the teams that you won't be using so as to avoid confusion? Also, to everyone, when making a trade post to notify and then edit your original post with the necessary changes so as to avoid confusion and clogging.

Thanks!

[THE Ka]

Formation: 4-3-3

GK:

Ulmo (Gondolin)

DF:

Ulwe (Tol Eressea)
Glorfindel (Rivendell)
Fimbrethil (Fangorn)
Tipsy Cat (Old Grey Hill)

MF:

Hunter (Tol-In-Gauroth)
Radagast (Mirkwood)
Gandalf (Lothlorien)

FW:

Sleepy Ranger (Barrow-Downs)
Finwe (Tuna)
Melkor (Angband)

Sorry for being a bit late in adding up my team, this should be fun to watch. Well, I'm off to make a new Graham Pott interview.

~ Ka

[Nogrod]

Okay.

I've reshuffled my team a bit in post #12 (Noggs' Ball). So there's my current line-up.

But just a few questions.

Why do you Sleepy say that we should consider the first fixtures according to our choices? Aren't every team going to play exactly the same amount of matches? When indeed is the time when we may change our line-ups for those ten changes we have - are there some restrictions?

Is there any additional "charge" if many players (coaches?) will like to sign the same player later? Or any advantage if someone has picked the "hot-player" already in the round robin -phase?

Can the managers trade players between themselves if both agree and are these counted to the general trade-numbers (how many players one can change on each step of the tournament)?