Arda Cup Soccer 2008

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by Anguirel

GROUP C
ALQUALONDE
DORIATH (H)
FORMENOS
ISENGARD

I have little to add to my coverage above. Go get 'em boys! Your strategy can do with work to be honest - Cel Curu n' Caran should be on the midfield, while Maglor's better tested in defence - but your skill is The Best. Here's hoping the White Lady shows off her legs and scores too...

Doriath are the other respectable team; Isengard could try Maiarin tricks; Alqualonde will fare no better than Galdor's Mithlond side did last year. I swear:

WINNER: FOOOORRRRRRRRMENOS!!!
SECOND: Doriath
UPSET: Isengard
RELEGATE: Alqualonde

While you are to be commended for loyalty to your team colours, Anguirel, I think I'll up the stakes around here a little regarding the outcome of this grouping. After all, what's a sports competition without some friendly rivalry? As much as I'm a fan of Team Fëanáro, you have to take a look at the track record. Doriath has the most renowned defencive side in the league. Melian's record is spotless. The only time the Fëanorians have ever scored against Doriath, Melian was out on grief leave, and even with Melian, Lúthien, and Elwë all absent, Doriath still put up such a fight that, though Formenos could claim to have won, the Curu-Caran-Celeg power trio had been completely neutralized and they were still prevented from taking home the Nauglamír Cup. A draw is the best that Team Fëanor can claim from that series.

With Melian and Thingol back on the team, I don't think you can be so confidant about a victory from Team Fëanor. The strength of the Fëanorians is in their offencive; look at their rivalry with Angband: when they have Angband back in a corner, Team Fëanor plays masterfully, but as you can see in the Nirnaeth series, when the other side gets control of the offencive, the Fëanorians tend to fall apart. On the other hand, the strong point of Team Doriath is their unbeatable offence. If the Fëanorians cannot dent that defence, and with Melian back I don't see it as all that likely, they won't know what to do if Doriath manages to get control of the ball. All it takes is one goal...

So, let's make this a good, old-fashioned rivalry. I'm going to say that Doriath takes the grouping. I also wouldn't write off Isengard so quickly. Underestimating the Ents cost Saruman dearly in the past. My prediction? The Fëanorians will again be "dispossessed".

Group C:
Winner: Doriath
Second: Formenos
Upset: Isengard
Relegate: Alqualondë