ARDA CUP Football 2012

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

AC Beleriand vs Erebor at Amon Hen

There were still four teams in the competition, and two games yet to play, but if you ask all forty-four players, only two teams are playing in the game that matters. The other one is just a consolation game for those who were good, but not quite good enough.

One bad day, said Fëanor in his semi-final post-game interview. One bad day by his team was all it took to deny them the Cup. It wasn’t a matchup problem against Real Valinor: he knew that Fingolfin and Ecthelion were good enough to stop his mother and wife, and Rochallor and Imlach have muzzled centre forwards like Arien before. His midfield was sharper than theirs. And he knew that he was better than his sons, who had carved up Tulkas’s defence twice before.

He refused to listen to those who pointed out that Ulrad, the player at the tip of their diamond midfield, was exposed for his lack of offensive awareness. (Denethor, and even holding midfield Bregolas, had completed almost as many forward passes as the outlaw.) He denied those who told him that AC Beleriand had no plan B beyond sending the fullbacks forward, hardly a prudent course of action against teams with wingers as talented as Míriel and Nerdanel. Then again, he has never listened to any counsel other than his own, both to the good and ill of those around him.

Smaug would blame bad luck for their loss to Eriador, though many would say that they have already used up their luck against FC Valinor. Due to some bracket jinx, Erebor had to meet two teams with elite shot-stoppers in straight games. But after having overcome Huan in the quarterfinals, Smaug argued that that they could have similarly beaten Elrond. Yet the Peredhil overcame his dragon troubles (he was eliminated last year by an Ancalagon goal, and a Smaug goal proved to be the winner in Eriebor’s friendly match against Eriador) in dramatic fashion when he denied Smaug an equalising penalty in the dying minutes of extra time, sealing a narrow victory for Eriador.

The two centre forwards would not feature in the main event, true, but they understood the significance of their undercard match. If they cannot be the best, they can at least be better than another team. The spirit shown by the twenty-two players on the pitch and the chanting of their supporters in the stands combined to give the match an atmosphere approaching that of a championship tie. The stadium was evenly split between the two teams, with AC Beleriand’s more extensive fan base making up for Erebor’s proximity to the stadium. The dragon and the Noldo shook hands in the centre circle before moving to their respective positions, and, soon, the opening whistle was blown.

From their semi-final tie against Eriador’s 4-1-3-2, it was made apparent that Erebor’s midfield three could not hold the ball indefinitely against a four-man midfield. And it was exactly what AC Beleriand had, a diamond midfield that was the core of their having the highest possession rate among all teams. Nazgûl #7 tried dropping deeper to help control possession, as he once did against Eriador, but Ecthelion simply followed him there, enabling AC Beleriand to maintain their numerical superiority in the midfield. The ball stayed longer in Erebor’s side of the pitch, and after seven minutes Beorn had to bat away the first clear chance of the game after Eöl took Fëanor’s lay-off and fired a snapshot before Gwaihir could close in. Five minutes later Ecthelion sent a cross zipping across the face of the goal, but Bolg managed to deny Beren a run for a header and Fëanor was bodied well by Girion; the ball ended up getting cleared by Meneldor.

So far Erebor has only mustered a Smaug shot from range, but they didn’t have enough of the ball to create more chances. In the twenty-second minute Fëanor finally opened the scoring when he intercepted a passing error from Dain (meant for Girion), rounded Beorn, and tapped the ball into an empty net.

After the opener, Erebor pressed fiercely for an equaliser, but they were still being starved of the ball. Possession was AC Beleriand’s best defensive weapon as well as the sparkplug of their offence. If we have the ball, you can’t score against us. And we have a chance to score against you. Such was the philosophy of Fëanor’s squad, and they were unlikely to change it when it has brought them this far. Ulrad, despite his offensive shortcomings at his position, made his value clear as an advanced ball-winner. After stopping an AC Beleriand offensive effort, barely had Erebor recovered the ball when Ulrad tackled Girion, Meneldor, or Dain to regain possession, allowing his teammates to reset their attack. This repeated pounding on the Erebor box resulted in a second goal for the Beleriand side, and Fëanor had a hand in it once more, turning creator this time. Eöl sent a through ball into the penalty area for the Fiery Boot, but Landroval recovered to deny him a clear shot at goal. Instead of pressing the issue, he sent a back-heel pass to a charging Beren, who had his own clear shot. The One-handed powered the ball past Beorn’s outstretched hand and into the net to double AC Beleriand’s lead four minutes before the break.

If Erebor were to make a contest of this, something clearly needed to be done to AC Beleriand’s passing game. It had killed two matches before, with Anfauglith and Shire-Bree United unable to recover the ball while retaining a coherent back line against counterattacks; thus they never gained a chance to threaten Marach’s goal seriously. Fortunately, Erebor had a defence and a goalkeeper they could trust. So, during the restart, Girion advanced to the midfield, turning Erebor to a 3-4-3, matching three eagle defenders against two crafty forwards. The evening out of the midfield numbers allowed the Lonely Mountain a fighting chance at the possession, and they gained more chances in the first fifteen minutes of the second half than they had in the entire first half. But even with more of the ball, Smaug and company still had to deal with one of the best back four in the tournament, having once denied Glaurung, Thuringwethil, Gothmog, Maeglin, and Bombadil.

Twenty-five minutes have passed, and the score remained two-nil. Erebor was running out of time, and they were still unwilling to push everything forward; Fëanor gave them a scare and almost got his second goal of the match after Fingolfin booted a recovered ball downfield towards him. He sent Meneldor the wrong way and turned on Landroval, but he contrived to fire wide from fifteen metres. Fortunately for Erebor, AC Beleriand’s back line was slowly turning timid. Rochallor and holding midfielder Bregolas were already in the book for rash challenges on Smaug and Bard, respectively, and they were fearful of getting their second yellow card. Fifteen minutes from full time, Thranduil made a run down AC Beleriand’s right flank. After forcing the right back Ecthelion and centre back Imlach to commit, he then sent the ball cross field to Nazgûl #7, who had enough space to cross (Fingolfin had tracked back to help Rochallor cover Smaug after Imlach left the dragon to track Thranduil). Fingolfin tried to recover, but he ended up getting caught between two chairs, marking neither the Ringwraith nor the dragon, and Smaug outmuscled Fingolfin’s steed and smashed a tailer past Marach.

Surely, fifteen minutes was enough to get an equaliser, thought the Erebor faithful. They had already exposed AC Beleriand’s back line with their fluid ball movement, the same thing Real Valinor had done. But Fëanor had different plans; he ordered his midfield back to help in defending, assigning Beren to mark Erebor’s number ten Bard. Denethor guarded Thranduil, with Ecthelion moving to help on Smaug. The two forwards remained downfield to provided counterattack opportunities, giving Erebor second thoughts about an all-out attack. Their attack completely neutralised, Erebor were unable to create another clear chance, and after their one last push, with even the eagles helping on the attack, was denied soundly by Fingolfin’s back line, the final whistle was blown. AC Beleriand could now claim to be the third-best team in 2012. It was hardly good enough for Fëanor and company, but, as some of his teammates conceded, it was a good enough start for their team.

AC Beleriand 2-1 Erebor
GOALS:
22, 1-0 Fëanor
41, 2-0 Beren (Fëanor)
75, 2-1 Smaug (Nazgûl #7)

Total Shots
14-12
Shots On Target
6-4

YELLOW CARDS:
2-2
AC Bel: Rochallor, Bregolas
Erebor: Meneldor, Gwaihir

 

[the phantom]

The entire western bank of Nen Hithoel was absolutely crawling- Men, Elves, Dwarves, Ainur, Orcs, Hobbits, and everything else Middle-Earth had to offer was represented. Hotel courtyards and patios were littered with loungers, the pubs were overflowing, and the hiking trails were being trampled into small roads. Many folks were flocking to the beaches intent on gaining some color, and boats dotted the lake from side to side (but all steering well clear of mighty Rauros, of course).

The day was warm and sunny- a bit too warm for some, but the evening promised to be more comfortable. And the evening was what it was all about in the end. The Arda Cup championship match- Real Valinor versus Eriador!

Gamblers, fans, and the paid publication experts were very much split on predicting the outcome. Eriador hadn’t lost a match in the tournament, but five of its six victories had been by a single goal. Real Valinor on the other hand lost badly in their opener to FC Valinor but had a +5 goal margin in the playoffs. Would the hot team win, or would the consistent squad get it done again?

The rooting interest of the Elves was split. Rivendell natives were firmly behind Elrond and Glorfindel, the Elves of Lindon were behind Gil-galad, Tirion natives were solidly behind Real’s Noldor, and Beleriand Elves had to choose a side. A contingent of Gondolin Elves was there in support of Glorfindel, while quite a few residents of Himring and areas to the east and south were there to cheer for Caranthir.

Unaffiliated Elves and other peoples of Middle Earth tended to gravitate somewhat towards the flash of Real, and added to that number was a good number of Ainur and Elves of Valinor that turned up to cheer on Real, but this was balanced out by the nearby Gondorins (the largest group by a good bit) who were for the most part on the side of their northern Dunedain cousins. But in the end it was the Witch King that decided things- pretty well every dragon, orc, troll, etc. was supporting him, and thus supporting Eriador. They were expected to own a 60-40 advantage in the coliseum when the game kicked off.

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As the sun disappeared behind the Emyn Muil, excitement and anticipation reached a fever pitch. Throughout the late afternoon and early evening the gargantuan Amon Hen Coliseum had filled, and now there was not an empty seat left. Several thousand more spectators were seated on blankets higher up the slopes of Amon Hen, as they knew they’d be able to see just fine thanks to the magic of the Hill of Seeing.

Both teams looked steady and competent in warm-ups, and they were sporting during the pregame midfield meeting and player introductions. But their lack of hostility did not predict a lackluster game, for their faces and body language showed forth focus and determination.

From the first touch Eriador showed they intended to dominate possession. The four Arnorian midfielders moved the ball accurately, occasionally giving the forwards a touch or sending it back to Malbeth or Gil-galad. But though they could not steal it away, the Real defense gave Eriador little opportunity to do actual damage, and when they tried to force the issue they were able to clear the crosses or force the speculations off target.

And when Real got the ball on their feet, Eriador found themselves in the same position- unable to interrupt the flow of their opponent. Real’s midfield with assistance from Caranthir and Tilion showcased speedy and effortless movement, little by little forcing the action closer to Elrond between his posts. But like Eriador, Real found their final steps to be tough going. Nerdanel and Miriel on the wings only got touches when dashing out to meet a pass from the midfield, as Eriador kept a marker by them and always sent help when a pass came in towards one of the playmakers. Arien hardly got a sniff of the ball forward in the middle, marked by the muscular Asfaloth, and with her wing feeders always forced to give up the ball.

As time neared the half-hour mark Real began pushing things, moving their defenders up tighter and tighter. At minute 31 Tilion made a great dash from center-field and Nessa found him on the move. He booted it forward and after one stride struck a high rocket from 25 yards. The ball was perfectly on-target just under the bar, but the foresighted Elrond was miraculously there, fisting it up and over.

On the ensuing corner Nerdanel bent in a beauty that was headed solidly by Nienna at the top of the box, but that space gave Elrond just enough time to make another save, this time snatching it out of the air. Real fans and players betrayed no signs of disappointment, however. Elrond was going to make some saves. The good news was that they were the ones getting the shots. One would go in eventually.

Just before halftime it looked like Real would finally have their breakthrough. Miriel received the ball towards the left sideline and showing her first real burst of the match she somehow split her defenders and kept the ball, and after freezing the defense with a fake pass she closed in on the goal and pulled the trigger for real. The ball slid between the outstretched feet of two defenders and curved away from the goal- it was a cross, not a shot! And Arien dove into it full speed, beating Asfaloth by mere inches, earning herself a point-blank header!

But Elrond was there again! His dive took him directly into her path and they collided heavily, and the end result was the ball going off her head and hitting his hands and falling to the near post. Both regained their feet immediately to continue the play, but Asfaloth was first to it and immediately cleared it far down the field.

The Real fans groaned and Eriador supporters sighed, but quite quickly their relief turned to happy screaming as Asfaloth’s clearance was masterfully touched down by Glorfindel right in front of Rumil and both Eriador forwards were off to the races with only Nienna between them and Tulkas in goal!

Nienna retreated at pace equal to the dashing forwards, and she swerved ever so slightly between the two- Glorfindel on the right and the Witch King on the left. She hoped to force a poor pass, but Glorfindel refused to pull the trigger and continued the run. Finally as they neared the box Nienna made the choice she knew she’d be forced to make eventually and wheeled towards Glorfindel swiftly, looking to block his path at goal while simultaneously leaning slightly towards the Witch King in order to force a wider pass.

Glorfindel faked a pass, Nienna veered a bit too far towards Witch King, and Glorfindel pulled the trigger without hesitation. It was a fine hard shot, but Tulkas had it played correctly near post and with a leap knocked the shot down- but it bounced directly towards the feet of the Witch King on the opposite side! The Witch King swung his mighty leg forward, but the ball went flying sideways and up into the stands! Caranthir had run down the play and slid from behind and toed the ball up and over so that the Witch King struck the ball with the inside of his shin! Tulkas sprinted over and lifted Caranthir off the ground and into a mighty embrace, and was soon joined by Nienna and the other defenders. Caranthir had spoiled a sure-fire goal!

In the remaining minutes of the half neither side was able to accomplish much, and soon the athletes were disappearing into the tunnels to regroup. The fans in the stands could be heard arguing over which tactics would be changed, but there was no obvious answer. Both had played well and both had gained an opportunity or two that was stuffed by a fine defensive play. Did it make sense to switch tactics when playing well? Would that be a sign of panic? Or perhaps the opposition could actually be caught off guard…

As the second half started, it looked to be more of the same- Eriador grabbed possession and passed intelligently. But Real fell back farther this time, allowing Eriador to push upfield without resistance, but leaving little room for their forwards to try and get open in. Eriador didn’t appear to be bothered, however, as they weren’t ones to force things unwisely. Real was giving them prime real estate, and an opening to make a play would emerge.

At minute 49 a golden opportunity arrived- Arassuil wrong-footed his mark and went forward fast, played a nice one-two with Arahael and gained entry into Real’s box. The defense closed quickly and Arassuil displaying excellent touch lifted the ball sideways to the Witch King who headed it solidly to the opposite side where Gil-galad’s proud brow redirected it to the near post!

It was definitely a goal- but a desperate leap from Caranthir into the path of the ball sent it slightly off course and directly into the arms of Tulkas! Eriador was foiled again. The Real supporters shrieked in delight- particularly those Noldor who were loyal to the Sons of Feanor. The cameras particularly zoomed in on Maedhros, Amrod, and Amras who were seated together in one of the front rows, and definitely trying to shout themselves hoarse.

Real fans slowly took their seats again as Eriador gained possession once more, but they wouldn’t stay seated long. In minute 52 Valandil sent the ball across the box for the Witch King, but he was too bothered by Tilion to get a good jump at it, and it went straight through to Nienna who boomed it straight out of the air on a line about halfway between the center and the right side.

Real fans leaped to their feet as they realized Arien would be first to it ahead of Araphant! Miriel and Nerdanel were dashing down the center with Malbeth between and Asfaloth guarding their right flank. All three ladies turned the burners to the max and Araphant and Malbeth fell a stride behind, and Amon Hen Coliseum began rumbling and roaring like a giant-sized Rauros. As the forwards neared the box Asfaloth pulled up hard to close on Arien and send Miriel and Nerdanel offside past him, but Arien was expecting that exact tactic and immediately sent a laser to Miriel, who was running at the left post.

Had the pass been even a hair slower Malbeth would have caught up to it, but it crossed right in front of his face and an entirely open Miriel took in Elrond’s hopeless position with her peripheral vision and deflected the ball forward and right to an unmarked Nerdanel, and the dexterous right foot of Nerdanel easily slotted it home! Real Valinor was ahead!

The cameras swept the field and the stands, capturing the joy of the players and fans. The girls up front were piling on one another, and one camera managed to sneak a shot into one of the luxury boxes where Feanor and Finwe could be seen wearing grins and high fiving, obviously pleased with the skill displayed by their wives.

As the game restarted, Real shifted out of their defensive set and into a more balanced field-spreading alignment, and even showed a bit of pressure of the ball. Eriador played it smart, but the energized Real side was anticipating everything and seemed to be playing on a different speed setting. Suddenly Eriador couldn’t work the ball into favorable positions, and Real was controlling the ball and looking like they would add a second goal before Eriador would get an equalizer.

At minute 65 Arien came free off a perfect pass from Enerdhil, but Malbeth forced the shot off target. Just minutes later Tilion made a run deep into Eriador territory and forced Elrond to make a flying save, and the resulting rebound was sent just a bit high by Nessa.

As time approached the final 10 minutes Eriador flushed their regular building offense and tried to win longballs or straight up dribble through the defense, but Caranthir, Nienna, and Rumil would have none of it, and as time continued to flow through the fingers of Eriador Real tightened up their defense more and more, forcing Eriador to be more careful- which cost them precious time.

When there was but 3 minutes left there wasn’t a viewer left seated. Eriador supporters were begging for an equalizer and Real fans were nervously willing their team to hold off the attack for just a few more kicks. They cheered wildly with every clearance, and as the final seconds ticked away they let loose with every bit of noise they could still muster.

Before Eriador could manage a respectable effort at the net the referee signaled the end of the game, and from all sides of the field the Real Valinor players raced towards one another and collapsed together in a celebratory pile! The Ainur and Elves of Valinor went crowd-surfing in the stands and began singing, Feanor and Finwe climbed out of their box to join the party, and NogWolf went bounding onto the field to congratulate Real personally, shouting something or other about his “Phantasy predictions”.

Real lost their first game by three goals, but then they didn’t lose again! It’s all about the finish at Arda Cup, and Real Valinor was without a doubt the strongest at the end.

Eriador 0-1 Real Valinor
on target 3-6
tot shots 12-17
GOALS:
*52, 0-1 Nerdanel (Miriel)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Eriador- Araphant
*Real- Nienna

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Final Standings:

• (1) - champion
• (2) - runner-up
• (3) - third place
• (4) - fourth place
• (q) - quarterfinalist
• (o) - reached knockout stage
• (x) - failed to reach knockout stage

Bracket:



Power Rank:



The Power Ranking is based on the aggregate of offensive and defensive ranking, combined with the adjusted goal difference rank of each team. The listed offensive and defensive rankings are from the actual numbers by the teams, and not adjusted. Ties are broken by a) win-draw-loss record; and b) goal difference.

The offensive ranking is based on the goals scored per game throughout the matches. Ties are broken by a) greater number of shots made on target per game; and b) greater number of shots made per game.

The defensive ranking is based on the goals allowed per game throughout the matches. Ties are broken by a) least number of shots allowed on target per game; and b) least amount of shots allowed per game.

Top Individual Performers:

GOALS

6
Curufin (FC Valinor)
Arien (Real Valinor)
Fëanor (AC Beleriand)


5
Smaug (Erebor)
Beren (AC Beleriand)
Ancalagon (Angband)

4
Gothmog (Gondolin)
Anarion (Gondor)
Glorfindel (Eriador)
Witch-king (Eriador)

ASSISTS

4
Míriel (Real Valinor)
Eöl (AC Beleriand)


3
Sauron (Barad-dûr)
Beleg (Doriath)
Tevildo (Angband)
Eärendil (The Havens)
Anarion (Gondor)
Glorfindel (Eriador)
Thranduil (Erebor)
Fëanor (AC Beleriand)
Nazgûl #7 (Erebor)
Nerdanel (Real Valinor)


GOALKEEPING

1. Théoden (Rohan) - 17/20 (85.00%)
2. Elrond (Eriador) - 33/39 (84.62%)
3. Beorn (Erebor) - 32/40 (80.00%)
4. Manwë (Valimar) - 12/15 (80.00%)
5. Tulkas (Real Valinor) – 26/33 (78.79%)

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Four defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards. No limits on players per team. Here is our best XI of Arda Cup 2012:

Elrond of Eriador
The best goalkeeper in the tournament for two years in a row. The last time he had conceded twice was during the second group stage game of the 2010 Arda Cup, when Tilion of Utumno scored a brace to beat Rivendell 2-0. That’s thirteen straight games of allowing teams to score at most one goal against him.

Fingolfin of AC Beleriand
The leader and the work-horse of the AC Beleriand back line. His pushes down the left flank resulted in two goals and an assist, and, more importantly, gave attacking width to a team with no natural wingers. He also helped organised one of the best defences in the tournament.

Imlach of AC Beleriand
The second outstanding defender from AC Beleriand. His partnership with Rochallor conceded only an average of 11.14 shots per game, the stingiest in the tournament. (In comparison, Eriador conceded 14.86 shots per game.) Although Rochallor did get one assist, we chose Imlach over Fingolfin’s steed due to his better positional awareness and having one less booking.

Tilion of Real Valinor
After conceding three to FC Valinor (the only team Real Valinor lost to), they conceded just four more goals in six games. And Tilion had been largely responsible for this improvement. As he got accustomed to his role as sweeper, he used his intelligence and energy to plug holes his team needed him to. Aggressive centre forwards (vs Tirion, Armenelos)? Teams sitting deep (The Sea, Rohan)? Disadvantage in the midfield (AC Beleriand, Eriador)? Tilion did what he had to do, wherever it was, so his teammates can focus on what they had to do.

Maglor of FC Valinor
FC Valinor conceded five goals in the tournament, but none came from Maglor’s right wing. He also provided some runs from deep, creating two goals in the process.

Arveleg of Eriador
After AC Beleriand and their diamond midfield, the team with the next best possession rate was Eriador. Like AC Beleriand, they also field four central midfielders, the best of whom was Arveleg. He didn’t have the ridiculous passing statistics of his teammate Valandil or AC Beleriand’s Bregolas, but he was excellent at what he did—keeping possession by completing passes and providing additional goalscoring opportunities by making late runs to the penalty area. His two goals and two assists are a testament to his movement, finishing, and passing accuracy.

Anarion of Gondor
Perhaps the best individual performer of the tournament. By the time his team was eliminated on penalty kicks, four games into the tournament, he already had four goals (behind only Curufin and Ancalagon), as well as three assists (joint leader). Gondor scored a total of nine goals in the tournament; Anarion had a hand in all but two of them. His player-of-the-match performance against group rivals Barad-dûr will be something to remember for the people of Gondor.

Beren of AC Beleriand
One of the best midfields in the tournaments obviously deserves a representative in this list, and who better than Beren to be that man. He had five goals and an assists in seven games, forming dangerous passing triangles in the opposition right flank with Eöl and Fingolfin. A tireless midfield runner, a goalscoring threat, he was also excellent on defence, nullifying the influence of attacking midfielder Orodreth (Nargothrond) and deep-lying playmaker Meleth (Gondolin) on the game.

Míriel of Real Valinor
After a bad start against rivals FC Valinor, Míriel had turned in a consistent performance game after game, scoring or creating a goal in all six games after. Her excellent interplay with second-year teammates Arien and Nerdanel helped break down two of the most formidable defences in the tournament on their way to a long-overdue Cup victory.

Fëanor of AC Beleriand
It was either him or Arien in this slot, and the Fiery Boot was two assists better. As one of the best ball-handlers ever, there were times when he created chances out of nothing. His rapport with fellow crafts-Elf Eöl, half-brother Fingolfin, and Silmaril-purloiner Beren was key to AC Beleriand’s impressive record of seventeen goals in seven games.

Curufin of FC Valinor
An all-family affair in the front line proves just how much talent flows through the veins of football’s regal house. What else can one say about six goals and an assist in five games? Only two season removed from his switch from defender to forward, he pulled off one of the only three hat-tricks in tournament play, as well as shared a tournament-record six goals, but accomplishing it in two less games than his father or Arien.



The Second Team:

Beorn of Erebor
The two best goalkeepers in the tournament met in a semifinal tie in Amon Hen; unfortunately, someone had to lose, and it was Beorn. His performance against FC Valinor won't soon be forgotten.

Ecthelion of AC Beleriand
In the seven goals scored against AC Beleriand, none came from Ecthelion's right wing. He also provided attacking width with his runs from deep, assisting on one occasion and creating scoring chances on many others.

Melian of Doriath
Far and away the best defender of Doriath, whose only goal conceded from a centre forward in open play was Glaurung's. Times have fallen hard on the Hidden Realm, only a year removed from a championship year, but Melian remains a quality defender.

Nazgûl #6 of Shire-Bree United
He had a blinder of a game against Angband. His performance against Tol-in-Gaurhoth and Gondor weren't bad, either.

Celebrimbor of Dwarves United
The offence and defence of Dwarves United. He was the reason they made it past the group stage.

Bard of Erebor
When Smaug wasn't his usual self when the tournament began, the Grim Sniper took it upon himself to score for Erebor.

Yavanna of FC Valinor
In a team with a Fëanorëan front line, the fleet-footed Vala was the extra punch that broke defences down.

Beleg of Doriath
In terms of talent, there was little to separate Doriath's wingers Beleg and Lúthien. They were both pacey, excellent finishers, willing defenders, and great passers. In the end, though, Beleg has two goals and three assists to Tinúviel's 1+1.

Sauron of Barad-dûr
This was a down year for the first Ainu to win the Cup, with his team not having progressed past the group stage (a first for him; coincidentally, his 2009 Arda Cup winning team Armenelos also failed to advance for the first time). Still, Annatar averaged a goal and an assist per game, cementing his reputation as an offensive maestro.

Glorfindel of Eriador
Two years after leaving Gondolin, having just won the Cup, Glorfindel seems to have flourished as an individual within Elrond's system, coming within a whisker of his second championship. Seven goals and six assists in twelve games is impressive, no matter how you cut it.

Arien of Real Valinor
The attacking trio of Valinor/Real Valinor seem to have finally got how to play together. With Míriel and Nerdanel on the wings to provide killer passes, Arien has thrived in her role as a number nine, a target man in the box. She has not lost the ability to win games almost single-handedly, as shown by her performance against AC Beleriand.

[the phantom]

MESPN POST-TOURNAMENT SPECIAL: TEAM REVIEWS

Fans from Valinor to Mordor are already talking about next year's Arda Cup, but let's pause for a moment and reflect on the performances of each of the 32 teams this year.

Following each squad we will say whether the stage they reached and their results accurately reflected their talent or if they underperformed (or overperformed).

ANDUIN- Underperformed. They outshot Dwarves United solidly but conceded a late goal and thus earned 1 point rather than 3. Had that not happened they would have advanced to the playoffs. Against Erebor they played well, once again outshooting the competition in a draw. Only Wilderland outshot them, but the on-target number was equal. With Fram and Celeborn at the back and Grimbeorn, Boromir, and Haldir at the front and solid pieces surrounding them, they could have made a run, and with a couple minor upgrades in the off-season it'll be expected of them.

ANGBAND- Underperformed. When you've got Carcharoth, Morgoth, and a Balrog at the back and Telvildo and Ancalagon up front the minimum expectation is quarterfinals. In their first-round playoff against Minas Tirith they simply did not impose their will and really let Minas Tirith play their game and send it to PKs where anything can happen. To separate themselves they really need to add another skill player at the front or back to build off of.

ANGFAUGLITH- Underperformed. They had the same record and differential as the advancing Doriath, but Doriath's wealth of goals was the tie-breaker. With their defensive focus and majority of strong players at the back, it was expected that they would play low-scoring contests, but the strategy perhaps wasn't the best fit for Group G, which was laden with offensive fire-power. They certainly could have made the playoffs in another group. Next year they need to decide if they're going to gain scoring ability or if they're going to focus in more on defense.

ARMENELOS- Underperformed. The reason here is quite obvious- Group D (D for Death). The eventual champion Real Valinor nipped them by a goal and they lost to the streaking FC Valinor as well. The close Real loss along with beating a quality Tirion side they proved they likely would have advanced in pretty well any other circumstance, and once in the playoffs- who knows how far they go? They don't feel great pressure to improve their roster for next season, but certainly their results must improve.

ARNOR- Expected. Arnor was in a sense the light version of Eriador, so they could hardly be expected to beat them. They outplayed Inter Beleriand (even outshooting them by eight!) but simply didn't finish as efficiently. But even had they won that one, Gondolin obviously wasn't a good match-up for them in a 4-0 drubbing. They're smart and don't really have weaknesses, but they're going to have to add another talented piece to build around if they wish to improve their fortunes.

BARAD-DUR- Underperformed. They owned most of the game against Minas Tirith but only managed a draw, and they played an extremely uninspired half against Mordor and only managed a draw there as well. BUT- in other groups we would've rated them "expected", as such a cheap team can hardly expect to compete properly, Sauron or not. If they hope to make it out of groups next season he's got to up the team salary at least a bit- to either give himself another helper at the front, but more likely to shore up the defense.

AC BELERIAND- Expected. They were in the semis with a chance at the title, and that's where this team belonged. They played even with the champs in the semis (putting 2 more shots on-target in fact), but lost by one. Most teams would be content to field a squad with a similar chance of making the semis, but Feanor is likely to try and improve his squad in some manner- even if it means a bit more money.

INTER BELERIAND- Expected. When you've got Turgon and a Balrog in back and Fingon and Maedhros in front one expects to be in the playoffs. But Eriador and Gondolin took advantage of the edge their non-big-name performers had over Inter's regulars. If Inter wishes to give themselves a better shot they need yet another big name or they need to do a couple minor upgrades in the midfield or back line.

DORIATH- Expected. They had quality attackers up front and were fairly solid through the middle and back with Melian holding things together. In the playoffs they played the runner-up Eriador very tough, and things could have gone different. If they can nab a small upgrade in the back midfield or defense they could definitely make a run.

DWARVES UNITED- Overperformed. With Celebrimbor, Aule, Durin, and Azaghal defending they obviously have something to build on, but they didn’t have enough offensive firepower or ball control to run with the big dogs consistently. They upset Wilderland to make the playoffs, but if they don’t want to depend on upsets to advance they need to gain some scoring ability next year.

EREBOR- Expected. Though there were other teams that critics will argue were better on paper, Erebor certainly had enough talent that their semifinal run was not unexpected. The midfield and forwards behind Smaug were solid in support and in creating opportunities, and the eagle-laden defense in front of Beorn was quality. It’s going to be expensive to keep the team together next year with other squads looking to poach players though.

ERIADOR- Expected. Again, some critics might say that they weren’t one of the top two teams, but they were certainly good enough to make a deep run with quality diverse defense in front of super-Elrond and a solid midfield supporting Witch King and Glorfindel. And like Erebor, they might have trouble keeping the bill down next season, so there may be a financially imposed roster shake-up in a couple spots.

GONDOLIN- Expected. They were good enough to get in the playoffs and they did, but then ran into a tough matchup in AC Beleriand. They could’ve made the quarters with a friendlier draw, but if they want to give themselves a better chance next year they need a minor upgrade or two in their back half.

GONDOR- Expected. They didn’t have any super-stars, but they had definite quality all over without weak links. They were PKs away from the quarters, so they were right there. If they want to improve their likely longevity they need to try for another one-star type talent or add some sort of skill diversity.

HITHLUM- Underperformed. When you have Turin, Hurin, and Hador you expect to be in the playoffs, and in other groups perhaps they would’ve been rather than missing out on tie-breaking PKs. To ensure their success Hithlum needs to beef up their defense, but that might prove too expensive unless they get a financial partner or two.

IMLADRIS- Expected. This was a playoff squad with talents like Elrond’s children, Varda, and Elros, but they appeared to have too many weak links to be a sure-fire contender to make a deep run. A couple minor upgrades would go a long ways here.

ISENGARD- Expected. Saruman and the Ents can be a tough matchup, but with a budget that low Saruman couldn’t fill the holes well enough around them. If Isengard wants to be in the playoffs they need to open up the checkbook and nab another talent.

MINAS TIRITH- Overperformed. A similar squad to Gondor, they were solid all over and earned a spot in the playoffs, and then played an excellent match to upset Angband. Though their run was not entirely unbelievably, they’re probably not ranked in anyone’s top 8 despite the quarterfinal appearance. If they wish to return regularly they need to diversify or make a couple small upgrades.

MISTY MTS- Underperformed. With diversity and skill at all levels they wanted to be in the playoffs. Durin’s Bane is a great finisher with a solid Azog to compliment and three good feeders in the midfield. At the back the trolls, Watcher, and Chief Wolf are good at handling most types. With one or two minor upgrades they could definitely improve their finish.

MORDOR- Underperformed. With Nazgul all over the field complimented by Shelob and other baddies they were not hoping to be relegated, despite their cheap budget. If Sauron and his partners are prepared to up the spending they could give Mordor a better shot, but it remains to be seen what his strategy is.

NARGOTHROND- Underperformed. Nargothrond boasted an extremely dangerous front six, but they didn’t do a good enough job at keeping the squads in their group off the scoreboard. Finrod will be looking to upgrade at the back for certain.

ROHAN- Expected. They had a nice blend of athleticism and prudence, and with a different draw perhaps they could’ve gotten into the semis. If they want to up their chances for next season they need to look at getting another skill player up front to free up Gandalf and Eorl.

SHIRE-BREE UNT- Expected. Though they might’ve been a surprise to some in the quarters, they had the talent to make a run- particularly at the front. With their relatively low salary, they have a real chance at buying improvements at the back and making themselves an expected repeat performer.

THE HAVENS- Underperformed. Though some think them lucky just to make it out of their tough group, Cirdan and Olwe on one side and Earendil, Tuor, and Finrod’s twin brothers on the other make Havens a legit threat to make a run. With a minor upgrade or two critics will definitely count on seeing them in the playoffs again.

THE SEA- Underperformed. They had a big budget and a fine mix of Numenorian and Ainu talent around the pitch, and they weren’t happy to be out after four games. Real outplayed them and provided a tough match for them. They’re good enough, but if they want to up their odds of seeing a final they ought to diversify slightly.

TIRION- Underperformed. With the names on this squad you expect to see the playoffs, but of course they were in the group of death. Simply by switching groups they can change their fortunes next season, but doubtless they’ll be looking to add new faces, as doubtless the other Valinor squads will be looking to steal members of their roster. An upgrade at the back would be in order.

VALIMAR- Underperformed. Manwe and company should not be missing the playoffs, though their group did them no favors. In the end it was lack of goals that did them in, so without a doubt they’ll want to upgrade their next season. They’ll need to cut payroll though, so it’s a tricky situation.

FC VALINOR- Underperformed. After streaking through friendlies, groups, and the first round they ran into upset-minded Erebor and couldn’t close the deal. It’s tough to say where they need to upgrade after such solid performances, but they’ll be scrambling on account of needing to get payroll down.

REAL VALINOR- Expected. Though it seems ridiculous to say a title is “expected”, they certainly felt they were a heavy contender and they proved it. Their payroll is probably about where they want it, but after their performances some players undoubtedly will want raises. Which players they can afford to keep will determine where they try and make switches for similar but lesser-paid talents.

WILDERLAND- Underperformed. As high as some publications had them ranked they have to be hugely disappointed. Their front four were about as good as any, so they likely place the blame on the defense (letting the Dwarves score twice, for instance), though frankly the offense didn’t live up getting held to 1 twice. A minor upgrade or two at the back ought to have them at serious contender status.

THE DOWNER- Expected. When you’re the cheapest squad by a large margin there isn’t much in the way of expectations. They showed promise with a close loss to Shire-Bree and a tie with TIG (thanks to a timely red card), but if they wish to truly be a threat they need to take Eru’s “Tolkien Mandate” to heart and add some decent Middle-Earth talent.

TOL-IN-GAURHOTH- Underperformed. After being in the finals last year being relegated doesn’t sit well. Even with the restrictions on their Werewolf forms five powerful athletic Werewolves supported by six solid conniving Wights should’ve been enough to make a run. They outplayed Shire-Bree but couldn’t overcome their slow start to gain 3 points instead of 1, and then they got out of control against The Downer and only took 1 point there. Their tie against Angband was their best outing. To improve their fortunes they’ll need to smartly comply with the Tolkien Mandate- perhaps upgrade one of their Wight positions and trade the others evenly.

[the phantom]

MESPN All-Tournament Teams

As always there were many excellent performers and it's tough to whittle the field down to 11 players, but we do our best. We consider a player's production, timing of production, and just generally what they and their team accomplished and whether they propelled their squad to the best of their abilities.

FIRST TEAM

GK Elrond of Eriador

DF Celebrimbor of Dwarves United
DF Radagast of Rohan
DF Maglor of FC Valinor
DF Fingolfin of AC Beleriand

MF Beleg of Doriath
MF Anarion of Gondor
MF Beren of AC Beleriand

FW Curufin of FC Valinor
FW Feanor of AC Beleriand
FW Arien of Real Valinor

SECOND TEAM

GK Tulkas of Real Valinor

DF Namo of Valimar
DF Morgoth of Angband
DF Caranthir of Real Valinor
DF Tilion of Real Valinor

MF Mardil of Minas Tirith
MF Bard of Erebor
MF Yavanna of FC Valinor

FW Sauron of Barad-Dur
FW Smaug of Erebor
FW Miriel of Real Valinor

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Honorable Mention
GK Beorn of Erebor
GK Huan of FC Valinor

DF Ulmo of The Sea
DF Ecthelion of AC Beleriand
DF Girion of Erebor
DF Gil-galad of Eriador
DF Nahar of FC Valinor

MF Galadriel of Wilderland
MF Tar Aldarion of The Sea

FW Bombadil of Shire-Bree United
FW Gothmog of Gondolin
FW Maeglin of Gondolin
FW Glorfindel of Eriador
FW Nerdanel of Real Valinor