Arda Cup Soccer 2008- Phantasy- er, I Mean Fantasy Thread

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

G- Melian (Doriath) (Nothing gets past her. )

DF- Lúthien (Doriath)
DF- Cailín (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
DF- Aulë (Taniquetil)
DF- Yavanna (Taniquetil)

MF- Lhunardawen (Tol-in-Gaurhoth) ( )
MF- Tar-Míriel (Rómena)
MF- Elwë (Doriath)
MF- Finrod (Nargothrond)

FW- Gwindor (Nargothrond) (He can get past anything. )
FW- Túrin (Hithlum)

GROUP A: Michel Delving, Rivendell
**(Rivendell vs Rómena will be the closest fight in the group stages.)
GROUP B: Tol-in-Gaurhoth, Edoras
GROUP C: Doriath, Alqualondë
GROUP D: Nargothrond, Lothlórien
GROUP E: Gondolin, Erebor
GROUP F: Armenelos, Taniquetil (Ooh.)
GROUP G: Hithlum, Mordor
GROUP H: Angband, Valimar

Most goals: Túrin (Hithlum)
Most assists: Finrod (Nargothrond)
Most points: Beren (Nargothrond)

Overall winner: Nargothrond

[the phantom]

All right, the following have entered in the Fantasy Challenge-

Eomer
Cailin
Gwathagor
Elmo
Skip
Anguirel
Lhuna
Nilp

And Form- you can pick any players you want. It doesn't matter if they've been picked already.

As soon as I have predictions from both Form and Nogrod I shall begin the first round, so if you know anyone who wants to participate please tell them to get a move on.

[Formendacil]

Right then... late as I am getting to this, I'm still beating Nogrod out. I hope...

Anyway, I too think the redoubtable Melian is THE goalie to beat, so...

G- Melian

DF- Lúthien
DF- Gandalf
DF- Hookbill the Goomba
DF- Frodo

MF- Amrod
MF- Amras
MF- Aragorn II

FW- Sauron
FW- Isildur
FW- Glorfindel


For my predictions regarding the first round:

GROUP A
RIVENDELLl 1st, Fornost 2nd

GROUP B
TOL-IN-GAURHOTH 1st, Edoras 2nd

GROUP C
DORIATH 1st, Formenos 2nd

GROUP D
NARGOTHROND -1st, Lothlórien 2nd

GROUP E
GONDOLIN 1st, Erebor 2nd

GROUP F
ARMENELOS 1st, Taniquetil 2nd

GROUP G
MORDOR 1st, Hithlum 2nd

GROUP H
ANGBAND 1st, Valimar 2nd

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

It's cheating to have 12 players, Form.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Eomer of the Rohirrim

It's cheating to have 12 players, Form.

Wha...

Oh.

I miscounted.

This is what comes of posting too late... my arithmetic fails me. I shall fix that.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Formendacil

Right then... late as I am getting to this, I'm still beating Nogrod out.

You are indeed. But I'll have my squad ready tomorrow and it will hopefully beat yours in the game...

[Nogrod]

Here it comes then.

Goalkeeper:
Huan (Formenos)

Defence:
Saeros (Doriath)
Caranthir (Formenos)
Gelmir (Nargothrond)
Meneldil (Osgiliath)

Midfielders:
Idril (Gondolin)
Nienna (Taniquetil)
Nerdanel (Tuna)

Forwards:
Ancalagon (Angband)
Smaug (Erebor)
Nogrod (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)

That was such a hard one! It was indeed sad I was myself in the line-up for a forward for I couldn't help but choosing myself just for the tragedy of it... and just think of the alternatives!!!

My predictions for the first round then...

GROUP A
1. Rivendell
2. Michel Delving

GROUP B
1. Tol-in-gaurhoth
2. Edoras

GROUP C
1. Formenos
2. Doriath

GROUP D
1. Nargothrond
2. Osgiliath

GROUP E
1. Gondolin
2. Gondor

GROUP F
1. Taniquetil
2. Armenelos

GROUP G
1. Mordor
2. Minas Tirith

GROUP H
1. Angband
2. Valimar


I'll throw the last predictions after I have given them some thought...

But we're off now!

Sorry to have kept you waiting...

[Nogrod]

Btw.

How does the change into the round robins take place after the group-phase?

Is it like:

Game I : 1st group A - 2nd group H
Game II: 1st group B - 2nd group G
Game III: 1st group C - 2nd group F
Game IV: 1st group D - 2nd group E
Game V: 1st group E - 2nd group D
Game VI: 1st group F - 2nd group C
Game VII: 1st group G - 2nd group B
Game VIII: 1st group H - 2nd group A

Or like:

Game I : 1st group A - 2nd group D
Game II: 1st group B - 2nd group C
Game III: 1st group C - 2nd group B
Game IV: 1st group D - 2nd group A

Game V: 1st group E - 2nd group H
Game VI: 1st group F - 2nd group G
Game VII: 1st group G - 2nd group F
Game VIII: 1st group H - 2nd group E


Or some other way?

Just curious...

[Nogrod]

The rest of my predictions...

Top scorer:
Gothmog (Angband)

Most assists:
The Mouth (Mordor)

Most fantasy points:
Formendacil (Tol-in-gaurhoth)

The winning team... is:
Gondolin

[Formendacil]

Okay, let's do some remixing on this team of mine...
Both Elrond and Elros have been astounding in goal, whereas great-great-grandmother Melian has been only passable. Armenelos ahs the more impressive-looking record thus far (taking down Tanquetil of all teams), so:

--Melian, ++Elro

Thus far, Alqualondë has not been a particularly impressive team, and I don't give them good enough odds to survive the next match, so:

--Frodo, ++Balrog #2: even if Angband isn't first seed for its group, they're still contending.

We'll kick one of the Fëanorian twins off midfield and replace him with Ar-Adunakhor.

Isildur is out also, and we'll go with a forward off of Nargothrond:

--Isildur, ++Gwindor

Finally, given how well I seem to be doing, we'll switch up TiG forwards:

--Sauron, ++Formendacil

--Amras, ++Ar-Adunakhor

G- Elros
DF- Lúthien
DF- Gandalf
DF- Hookbill the Goomba
DF- Balrog #2
MF- Amrod
MF- Ar-Adunakhor
MF- Aragorn II
FW- Formendacil
FW- Gwindor
FW- Glorfindel

[skip spence]

Well, first I have to get rid of my deadweight.

- Mandos; Aule; Gollum; Tom Bombadil

Replacements:

Despite Nogrod's wise words to the contrary I will do the obvious and sign Formenos lynchpin Feanor. On his current form, no one can stop him but himself.

Huan the hound will replace Mandos. The latter is obviously better at keeping souls from getting out of his domain, than preventing balls from entering it.

Caranthir the Dark will also enter my team. As far as I'm aware no defender has scored yet in the Cup which is remarkable. Here's hoping aggressive Caranthir will be the first.

Finally Salgant of Gondolin will round out the team. I belive his corpulence might come in handy blocking shots to help his team keeping cleen sheets.

Updated team:

Shadwell Army
G- Huan (Formenos)
DF- Salgant (Gondolin)
DF- Ulmo (Valimar)
DF- Caranthir (Formenos)
DF - Celeborn (Rivendell)
MF- Melkor (Angband)
MF- Eärendil (Valimar)
MF- The Phantom (T-I-G)
FW - The Witch King (Mordor)
FW- Turin (Hithlum)
FW- Feanor (Formenos)


Predictions:

Valimar to defeat Rivendell (The divine skill of the Ainur will eventually prove too much for the strong Rivendell defence)

Tol-in-Gaurhoth to defeat Mordor. (Sauron playing for T-i-G instead of Mordor will tip the scale in favour of the home team)

Formenos to defeat Amon Rhud. (Amon Rhud have done extremely well to come this far. Formenos are too strong though.)

Nargothrond to defeat Tuna. (Orodreth is not dependable in goal and would probably rather have liked to play for the home team as well. Glaurung will roast him.)

Gondolin to defeat Umbar. (Gondolin will prevail despite the flair of Queen Beruthiel)

Doriath to defeat Armenelos (Armenelos have done extremly well thus far but I'm hoping the Girdle of Melian will hold, and Doriath to create un upset. It might go to penalties though).

Hithlum to defeat Mirkwood. (Turin, Hurin and co are too good for the unorganized Mirkwood defence)

Angband to defeat Fornost. (The might of Melkor and the Balrogs is too much for the rangers without their captain Aragorn)

[Nogrod]

Okay. Here's my predictions for the first play-off round.



Rivendell beats Valimar

Rivendell has been one of the most consistent teams in the tournament and their defence is solid as a rock. Valimar's game has not convinced me and they will lose the game.

Tol-in-Gaurhoth beats Mordor (in extra time or in a penalty shoot-out)

This will be a tough one and the Mordor team will finally test the skills of T-I-G. T-I-G has had an easy tournamet this far and they will have hard times with Mordor's brilliant and tough offence. But as it is the T-I-G it will finally go through...

Formenos beats Amon Rhud

Amon Rhûd just doesn't stand a chance here. Formenos is far superior team in every field of the game and takes an easy win if they don't come to the game too self-assuredly.

Nargothrond will be beaten by Tuna

A wise predicter would not put all his eggs to a same basket and as I have chosen a Tuna player to my squad I'd be sensible to go here for a Nargothrond victory. But I'm going for the jackpot. So it's time for the next giants to drop out of the games. Nerdanel, Miriel and Finwë will outscore Gwindor and Finrod. Plain and simple.

Gondolin beats Umbar

Umbarians have already exceeded the limits of their capabilities and have no chance against one of my favourites to win the whole tournament. Gondolin is just too tough a team for Umbar to beat.

Armenelos loses to Doriath

Another risky prediction. But Melian's girdle will hold against the waves of Numenorian attacks and Mablung & Beleg rise to the occasion. It will be tight game though and may go to extra-time or even penalties. Actually I believe it to be otherwise but who cares...

Hithlum is beaten by Mirkwood

It will not happen but I'm being consistent here and going for the surprise and the jackpot once again. Thranduil, Legolas and Scatha will outscore Turin, Hurin and Fingon. Lots of goals in this game - might go to overtime...

Angband beats Fornost

One of the easy ones here. Fornost has done well to come this far but now they meet some real teams that actually play football and their time is out.

[McCaber]

Trades:
-- Ulmo (Valimar)
++ Celebrimbor (Formenos)

-- Belegund (Nargothrond)
++ Eol (Gondolin)

G- Melian (Doriath)
DF- Tar Atanamri (Armenelos)
DF- Gandalf (Rivendell)
DF- Celebrimbor (Formenos)
MF- Melkor (Angband)
MF- the phantom (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
MF- Hurin (Hithlum)
MF- Eol (Gondolin)
FW- Gothmog (Angband)
FW- Ecthelion (Gondolin)
FW- Maedhros (Formenos)

Picks:
Rivendell over Valimar
T-I-G over Morder
Formenos over Amon Rudh
Nargothrond over Tuna
Gondolin over Umbar
Armenelos over Doriath
Hithlum over Mirkwood
Angband over Fornost

[Formendacil]

First things first... which players have to be culled...

Hmm... Unless I'm missing something, I can't find any. My team remains as was.

G- Elros
DF- Lúthien
DF- Gandalf
DF- Hookbill the Goomba
DF- Balrog #2
MF- Amrod
MF- Ar-Adunakhor
MF- Aragorn II
FW- Formendacil
FW- Gwindor
FW- Glorfindel

Now, then, to predictions...

Rivendell will defeat Valimar
Tol-in-Gaurhoth will defeat Mordor
Formenos will defeat Amon Rudh
Nargothrond will defeat Túna
Gondolin will tie Umbar
Armenelos will defeat Doriath
Mirkwood will defeat Hithlum
Angband will defeat Fornost

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Gondolin will tie Umbar (Formendaga)

In the playoffs, a game never ends in a tie. There will be extra times uncountless, and, if the tie persists, there shall be a penalty shoot-out. One of them has to advance, after all.

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Nilpaurion Felagund

In the playoffs, a game never ends in a tie. There will be extra times uncountless, and, if the tie persists, there shall be a penalty shoot-out. One of them has to advance, after all.

Then I append to that that Umbar will break the tie. But they will tie.