PHANTASY FOOTBALL: Arda Cup 2013

[Gwathagor]

ACB beats TIG
FCV beats Hithlum

--Huan
++Marach

--Balrog #5
++*Eonwe (FCV)

GK: Marach (ACB)
DF: Maglor (FCV
DF: *Eonwe (FCV)
DF: Balrog #4 (ACB)
DF: Borowolf (TIG)
MF: Angrod (ACB)
MF: *Yavanna (FCV)
MF: *PhantomWolf (TIG)
FW: **Turin (Hithlum)
FW: *Curufin (FCV) C
FW: **Feanor (ACB)

[Nerwen]

Predictions:
AC Beleriand defeats Tol-in-Gaurhoth (though obviously I won’t shed too many tears if I’m wrong...)
FC Valinor defeats Hithlum

Eleven Pillars of Wisdom
GK *Huan (FCVal)
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)
DF BoroWolf (TIG)
DF Maglor (FCVal)
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)
MF Nessa (RealVal)
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG)
FW *InzilWolf (TIG)
FW **Feanor (AC Bel) C
FW *Curufin (FCVal)

—MF Nessa (RealVal)
—FW (Eol) (AC Bel)

++MF Argon (FC Val)
++**Feanor (AC Bel)

[Shastanis Althreduin]

Winners are T-I-G and FC Val. If I haven't gotten my changes in by tomorrow, I'll just roll with the team I'm using.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

GK *Huan (FC Val)
DF *Tilion (Real Val)
DF Balrog#4 (AC Bel)
DF Balrog#5 (Hithlum)
DF Estë (Valimar)
MF Tar-Míriel (Armenelos)
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)
MF *Glorfindel (Eriador)
FW *Curufin (FC Val)
FW **Fëanor (AC Bel) -> C
FW *InzilWolf (TIG)

--Tilion
--Tar-Míriel
--Glorfindel

++DF *Fingolfin (AC Bel)
++MF Aegnor (AC Bel)
++MF *Yavanna (FC Val)

Therefore, we get:

THOROUGHLY SALTED AND THOROUGHLY SMOKED
GK *Huan (FC Val)
DF *Fingolfin (AC Bel)
DF Balrog#4 (AC Bel)
DF Balrog#5 (Hithlum)
DF Estë (Valimar)
MF *Yavanna (FC Val)
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)
MF Aegnor (AC Bel)
FW *Curufin (FC Val)
FW **Fëanor (AC Bel) -> C
FW *InzilWolf (TIG)

Winner predictions:
Let's go with random hunch and bet on the unlikely one here: Hithlum over FC Val
and then the more rationally-based one
AC Bel over TIG

[satansaloser2005]

Originally Posted by Shastanis Althreduin

Winners are T-I-G and FC Val. If I haven't gotten my changes in by tomorrow, I'll just roll with the team I'm using.

What he said.

[Shastanis Althreduin]

I think I am going to trust in my team, actually. But make Phantom the captain if I haven't already.

[Nogrod]

Such cruel choices...

To beat Nilp's twenty-one point lead I'd need to predict the games differently (8 points to gain there). But can I?

Well, I think I have to... even if my brain says the results will be like Nilp says (or at least FC Valinor will win Hithlum - well, T-I-G might really win, but ehh...)


T-I-G beats AC Beleriand
FC Valinor takes a beating by Hithlum


But even if that would go full my way I would still be down thirteen points - and I have already six players in common with Nilp in my team - and there aren't too many choices for some positions to pick differently in a reasoned way, and I have one redundant player in my team, and my current goalkeeper is the worst of the remaining ones and will face a real rain of shots. Blah.

Decisions, decisions...

My bet on Thuringwethil didn't pay off last round and I do have an urge to change her into Curufin (or maybe Eöl to take a more genuine take on the choices). But well, let's bet on T-I-G then for sure and keep her - and keep her as the captain. Go Thuringwethil!

I'll change my goalie as well - but not to Shasta as Nilp has him.

As a back-up surprise plan I'm giving away Hador (with a heavy heart as I think it would have been his turn to shine) in the midfield and look for an Aegnor hat-trick to save me if my game-predictions go down the drain.

So basically I'm predicting other than Nilp but covering myself with a few choices in my team against my predictions of the games - and keeping my thumbs up it works...


That means:
-- GK Huor (Hithlum)
-- DF Aragorn (Eriador)
-- MF Hador (Hithlum)

++ GK Marach (AC Beleriand)
++ DF *Nilpwolf (T-I-G)
++ Aegnor (AC Beleriand)




Noggportunistics

GK – Marach (AC Beleriand)

DF BoroWolf (T-i-G)
DF *Nilpwolf (T-i-G)
DF *Fingolfin (AC Beleriand)
DF *Eönwe (FC Valinor)

MF Argon (FCValinor)
MF Aegnor (AC Beleriand)
MF *PhantomWolf (T-i-G)

FW **Feanor (AC Beleriand)
FW Thuringwethil (T-i-G) C
FW **Túrin (Hithlum)

[the phantom]

Here's the best possible alignment for the last round.

The Perfect Squad +8
GK *ShastaWolf (TIG)- 4
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF GaladriWight (TIG)- 2
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Indis (FCVal)- 2
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
MF *Yavanna (FCVal) C- 5
MF NerWight (TIG)- 3
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
FW Hurin (Hithlum)- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
TOTAL = 51

Here is how everyone fared in the quarterfinals. Let me know if you see an error.

Lynch Mob +4
GK Marach (ACBel)- 2
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
DF Balrog#4 (ACBel)- 0
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
MF Angrod (ACBel)- 0
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG)- 3
FW **Turin (Hithlum)- 0
FW *Curufin (FCVal) C- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
TOTAL = 35

Atashi no Negai +4
GK *ShastaWolf (TIG)- 4
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Balrog#4 (ACBel)- 0
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
MF Argon (FCVal)- 0
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG) C- 3
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
FW **Turin (Hithlum)- 0
TOTAL = 34

We Didn't Start the Fire +8
GK *Huan (FCVal)- 4
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF *NilpWolf (TIG)- 1
DF Balrog #5 (Hithlum)- 0
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
MF Argon (FCVal)- 0
MF NerWight (TIG)- 3
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
FW Celegorm (FCVal)- 3
FW **Turin (Hithlum)- 0
FW **Feanor (ACBel) C- 4
TOTAL = 34

The Mooncrazed Remixed +8
GK *Huan (FCVal)- 4
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
DF *NilpWolf (TIG)- 1
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
MF Hador (Hithlum)- 0
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG) C- 3
MF SallyWight (TIG)- -1
MF NerWight (TIG)- 3
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
TOTAL = 35

Noggportunistics +4
GK Marach (ACBel)- 2
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF *NilpWolf (TIG)- 1
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
MF Argon (FCVal)- 0
MF Aegnor (ACBel)- -1
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG)- 3
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
FW Thuringwethil (TIG) C- 4
FW **Turin (Hithlum)- 0
TOTAL = 25

Cupkicks +8
GK *ShastaWolf (TIG)- 4
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
MF Hador (Hithlum)- 0
MF NerWight (TIG)- 3
FW Thuringwethil (TIG)- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel) C- 4
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
TOTAL = 45

Eleven Pillars of Wisdom +4
GK *Huan (FCVal)- 4
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
MF Argon (FCVal)- 0
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG)- 3
FW *InzilWolf (TIG)- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel) C- 4
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
TOTAL = 39

Unnamed Horror +8
GK *Huan (FCVal)- 4
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF Balrog#4 (ACBel)- 0
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
MF NerWight (TIG)- 3
FW *Curufin (FC Val)- 4
FW **Turin (Hithlum) C- 0
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
TOTAL = 38

Salt and Smoke
GK *Huan (FCVal)- 4
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
DF Balrog#4 (ACBel)- 0
DF Balrog#5 (Hithlum)- 0
DF Este (Valimar)-
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
MF Aegnor (ACBel)- -1
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel) C- 4
FW *InzilWolf (TIG)- 4
TOTAL = 27

FC Monkey Stink
GK Galadriel (DwUnt)-
DF Nienna (RealV)-
DF Balrog#5 (Hithlum)- 0
DF Arwen (Eriador)-
DF Alatar (BDur)-
MF *Elwe (Doriath)-
MF *Glorfindel (Eriador)-
MF Cirdan (Havens)-
MF Aegnor (ACBel) C- -1
FW *Arien (Valimar)-
FW *Miriel (RealV)-
TOTAL = -2

Wilwa's Winners
GK Marach (ACBel)- 2
DF Celeborn (Anduin)-
DF Uinen (Sea)-
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF *Morgoth (Angband)-
MF Cirdan (Havens)-
MF *Yavanna (FCVal) C- 5
MF Idril (Gondolin)-
FW *Miriel (RealV)-
FW *Smaug (Erebor)-
FW Ar Pharazon (Armen)-
TOTAL = 14

The Uncloakables +4
GK Marach (ACBel)- 2
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
DF *NilpWolf (TIG)- 1
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG)- 3
MF Hador (Hithlum)- 0
MF Argon (FCVal)- 0
FW **Turin (Hithlum) C- 0
FW *InzilWolf (TIG)- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
TOTAL = 25

Finals Points
Cupkicks- 45
Elven Pillars of Wisdom- 39
Unnamed Horror- 38
Mooncrazed Remixed- 35
Lynch Mob- 35
Atashi no Negai- 34
We Didn’t Start the Fire- 34
Salt and Smoke- 27
Noggportunistics- 25
The Uncloakables- 25
Wilwa’s Winners-14
FC Monkey Stink- -2

So, let's see where we stand...

Total Point Standings
Atashi no Negai- 352
Lynch Mob- 325
Mooncrazed Remixed- 324
We Didn’t Start the Fire- 323
Noggportunistics- 322
Cupkicks- 298
Elven Pillars of Wisdom- 292
Unnamed Horror- 279
The Uncloakables- 255
Salt and Smoke- 240
Wilwa’s Winners- 209
FC Monkey Stink- 160

Prediction Points

Inzil +5
Forward (Turin)- 5

Sally +10
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Goals (Feanor)- 5

Morm +10
Forward (Turin)- 5
Goals (Turin)- 5

Legate +10
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Assists (Eol)- 5

Nerwen +10
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Assists (Eol)- 5

Galadriel +10
Forward (Turin)- 5
Champion (TIG)- 5

Nilp +15
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Goals (Curufin)- 5
Assists (Eol)- 5

Shasta +15
Forward (Curufin)- 5
Goals (Curufin)- 5
Assists (Yavanna)- 5

Boro +15
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Defender (Fingolfin)- 5
Goals (Turin)- 5

Gwath +15
Forward (Curufin)- 5
Goals (Curufin)- 5
Assists (Yavanna)- 5

Wilwa +25
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Defender (Fingolfin)- 5
Goals (Turin)- 5
Assists (Yavanna)- 5
Champ (TIG)- 5

(The 10 point award for winning the 100 million team trophy is awaiting review from the total-checkers, but it's safe to say it is between Shasta and Boro. Those two ran away with it, 30 pts clear or more from their nearest competitors. Whoever takes the win will move into 2nd place overall.)

EDIT: The count and recount is in, and Boro has narrowly taken the ten bonus points and finishes second in the overall standings.

FINAL PHANTASY STANDINGS
Atashi no Negai- 367
We Didn't Start the Fire- 348
Lynch Mob- 340
Mooncrazed Remixed- 339
Noggportunistics- 322
Cupkicks- 308
Elven Pillars of Wisdom- 302
Unnamed Horror- 289
The Uncloakables- 260
Salt and Smoke- 250
Wilwa’s Winners- 234
FC Monkey Stink- 170

All hail Nilp, winner of this year's Phantasy Trophy! He took the lead in the very first round and never let it go, becoming (I believe) the first ever wire-to-wire champion. What a splendid performance!