Middle Earth Fantasy Football World Cup

[arcticstorm]

Finally you must choose one of these goalkeepers so that your total number of players does not exceed 11--their current number of points appears next to their name

Varda - Valinor--3
Fingolfin - Tuna--4
Eriol – Tol Eressea—5
Tar-Palantir - Numenore--4
Beor - Nargothrond--0
Ulmo – Gondolin--0
Melian– Doriath--4
Glaurung – Angband--4
Brodda – Dor-Lomin--0
Niniel – Brethi—1
Lobelia Sackville-Baggins – Shire--4
Saradoc - Buckland--1
Old Man Willow – Bree--8
Trotter – Arnor--0
Elrond - Rivendell--0
Bolg – Misty Mountains--5
Spider – Mirkwood--0
Smaug – Erebor--0
Watcher in the Water – Moria--8
Galadriel –Lothlorien--4
Lugdush - Fangorn--0
Theoden – Rohan--1
Ecthelion – Gondor--0
Shelob – Mordor--0
Barrow-Wight – Barrowdowns--6
Werewolf – Tol-In-Gaurhoth--0
Chrysophylax Dives – Ham--0
Niggle – Niggle’s Parish-- -1
Smith – Wooten Major-- -1
Man in the Moon – Old Grey Hill--0
John Wain - Inklings--4
Tinker -Roverandom--5

[arcticstorm]

In order to get the ball rolling I will put my team up

GK--Glaurung(Angband)

DF--Ancalagon the Black (Angband)

DF--Firefoot (BD)

DF--Chief Warg(MM)

MFBellomarius (Ham)

MF--Arcticstorm(BD)

MF--WH Lewis (Inklings)

MF--Charles Williams (Inklings)

MF--Pallando (Valinor)

FW--Tom Bombadil(Bree)

FW--Saucepan Man (BD)

[Thenamir]

How will the stats be generated?

[Sleepy Ranger]

Stats of the players? Well, we've asigned each team a real-life counterpart which would be relevant to the strength of the area and team members of each part of Middle-Earth in the competition.

Now, we realize it'll be heard to estimate from this which is why we'll be holding a couple of friendly matches so you can get an idea of how the teams and players perform. Also, a look at the previous tournament will help give you an idea of the strength of a fair number of teams.

Hope that helps clear things out a bit.

[The Saucepan Man]

Ooh, I love fantasy football competitons, me. I used to run the fantasy league in my previous job. This one looks particularly promising by virtue of the fact that I can pick myself ...

A few questions about the rules for picking a team:

Are we able to pick the same players as other people participating?

Do trades simply consist of swapping one player for another? Do the players have to play in the same position, or can we change formations by making trades?

Originally Posted by Sleepy

Well, we've asigned each team a real-life counterpart which would be relevant to the strength of the area and team members of each part of Middle-Earth in the competition.

I would love to know which player is my real-life counterpart. Since the Barrow Downs are the World Champions, I'm thinking that it might be Ronaldo ...

[Sleepy Ranger]

Are we able to pick the same players as other people participating?

Yes, your team selection is completely independent of anybody else's.

Do trades simply consist of swapping one player for another? Do the players have to play in the same position, or can we change formations by making trades?

Yes, a trade is a simple player for player swap. No, the players need not play in the same position and the trade is valid as long as it keeps your team in one of the legal formations.

For example, say you've selected a 3-4-3 then you may swap a midfielder for a defender to change to a 4-3-3 or you may swap a forward for a midfielder to make it 3-5-2. However you may not swap a defender for any other position since that would decrease the total number of defenders to 2 and there is no legal formation with just 2 defenders.

Hope that helps clear it up.

For the sake of fair play we can't go about telling you which team is which though I reckon once the screenshots start coming up you'll figure it out anyway. On that note, no, you're not Ronaldo. Your counterparts name starts with 'A' actually. Not that I'm confirming a team or anything...

[Volo]

GK - Niggle (Niggle's Parish)



DF - First Voice (Niggle's Parish)

DF - Nogrod (Tje Narrow Downs)

DF - Oin (Moria)

DF - Gollum (Misty Mountains)



MF - Mr. Parish (Niggle's Parish)

MF - Seer (Tol-In-Gaurhoth)

MF - Mîm (Nargothrond)

MF - Thuringwethil (Angband)

FW - Nokes (Wootton Major)

FW - Eöl (Doriath)

[Nogrod]

Noggs' Ball

GK
Beor (Nargothrond) - traded for Smaug

DEFENCE
Nogrod (Barrow-Downs)
Maeglin (Gondolin)
Ancalagon the Black (Angband)
Firefoot (Barrow-Downs) - traded for Manwë

MIDDLEFIELD
Feanor of the Peredhil (Barrow-Downs)
Húrin (Gondolin) - traded for Beleg
Maedhros (Tuna)


FORWARDS
Finwë (Tuna) - traded for Tulkas
Gothmog (Angband)
Witch-King (Mordor)

I was especially sad to lose Elrohir and Rosie Cotton... but this team I think has better options to make it further... not only because of the teams they represent.

I still have been idealistic enough, I think, having Smaug, Nogrod, Fea, Beleg, Tulkas and the Witch-King in my team instead of Sauce, Sleepy and the others who will score the points... and as it seems that every one here is having his person in the game how could I play without my character at the line-up?

[The Saucepan Man]

Formation: 4-3-3

GK:
Ulmo (Gondolin)

DF:
Maglor (Tuna) (replaced Manwe 19 July)
Goldberry (Bree)
Maeglin (Gondolin)
Chief Warg (Misty Mountains) (replaced Elros 21 July)

MF:
Beleg (Doriath)
Thuringwethil (Angband) (replaced Legolas 19 July)
the phantom (The Barrow Downs)

FW:
Mormegil (Nargothrond)
The Saucepan Man (The Barrow Downs)
Sauron (Mordor) (replaced Pippin Took 19 July)

I'm quite happy with this team. Valinor, Bree and Numenor had the best defensive records in last year's competition, and Gondolin (having reclaimed Maeglin from Angband) appear to have bulit a solid defence this time round.

Beleg, Legolas and the phantom are all good attacking midfielders who like to get forward and will hopefully provide goals as well as assists. I believe that Beleg was the top scoring midfielder last time round.

Mormegil is a no-brainer for me, having won the Yellow Boot Trophy (in the guise of Turin) last year. Logic tells me to pick Sleepy, as he takes the penalties for the Downs, but I have gone with my heart and picked myself. We both scored prolifically in the 2006 competition. Pippin Took is a bit of a gamble, however. He was the surprise package last year, and his pace and guile were breathtaking. But, with the transfer of Merry to Buckland, he has lost his regular strike partner and it remains to be seen how well he will combine with his renowned ancestor. Their performance in the recent friendly bodes well, though.

[Sleepy Ranger]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

But how do you people do these neat starting line-ups as whatever I try they end up being in a row...?

I haven't the slightest clue. Just thought I'd point out that to keep the thread from getting flooded whenever you make a trade, instead of reposting your team just edit your original team please. It'll make it easier for arcticstorm and I to tabulate points.

As for my team.

Formation: 4-3-3

GK:
Ulmo (Gondolin)

DF:
Glirdan (Barrow-Downs)
Ancalagon the Black (Angband)
Aule (Valinor)
Celeborn (Lothlorien)

MF:
The Phantom (Barrow-Downs)
Durin's Bane (Moria)
Sam (Shire)

FW:
Sleepy Ranger (Barrow-Downs)
Sauron (Mordor)
Melkor (Angband)

I picked Ulmo as my goalkeeper because he does seem to be a good talent as Saucepan Man too has spoted. I'm certain the the 'Downs defence will leak goals but Glirdan got an assist last season and I reckon he may be running forward a lot this season as well. I've picked Ancalagon and Aule because of their defensive prowess. I'm quite confident that they can bring home clean-sheet points.

As for forwards, well somebody *has* to pick *me*. I was in two minds about the other two first. I reckoned Sauron and Witch-King would pair up brilliantly and not only score but create as well. Eventually I decided to give Angband's front-man Melkor a look. I could always transfer out if there's any need for a change.

Also, I thought I'd take this oppurtunity to tell you how saves per match are calculated. Did you notice how in the friendlies under shots there were two numbers? The one in the bracket is assumed to be the number of shots saved. If there is any difference it will be noted. Just in case you wish to verify the scores.

[Elmo]

I'm always terrible at these things... Here it goes

Formation: 4-3-3
GK:
Ulmo (Gondolin)

DF:
Idril (Gondolin) Voronwe (Gondolin) Aule (Valinor) Manwe (Valinor)

MF:
Thuringethil (Angband) Orome (Valinor) Khamul (Mirkwood)

FW:
Sleepy Ranger (Barrowdowns) Saucepan Man (Barrowdowns) Rune Son of Bjarn (Barrowdowns)

I've swiped the whole Barrowdown forward line because I know they'll be banging them in, I can't see Gondolin and Valinor conceding many with their formation of death. I'm a bit over reliant on a few teams but meh.