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

[Nogrod]

How low can one get?

I trusted my team's players as they're my favourites and just look at the drop in my standings...

Uh-Oh.

The trust and love are now under trial I must say...

But love prevails! Or then not...

I need to think. Four dragons in a team added with a host of the most glorious females around just feels soo good. But if they don't perform?

I'll probably change myself to Miriel at least... but that's to be decided...


The Arda Kicker Magazine's stars for round two are coming a bit later!

[the phantom]

Yes, bad luck that round, Nog. You just have the wrong beauties playing for you. Don't trust those Taniquetil girls- they think they're too good for guys like us. You'll have better luck with the ones here in Middle Earth.

Galadriel and Melian have been good for points. And Aredhel, Idril, Nerdanel, and Miriel have been performing quite well.

A shame no one had The Barrow-Wight on their team. That last round was plain ridiculous.

[Nogrod]

You may be right with those western ladies... I'll think of that even if will not let go of Nienna, she will make her mark one day... I hope...



But a serious question then.

Have you tp ever told us the way the play-offs will go?

I asked that already a while ago but haven't noticed an answer... So will it go like the best of group A against the second of group H etc... or will there be a divide in the middle, like the best of group A against the second group D and the best of group E against the best of group H etc...?

That I think is a most valuable information right now as then we could predict which teams will face each other in the first round of the play-offs. And that might influence our choices...

[the phantom]

Ah, very sorry Nogrod. I meant to answer that question once before but for some reason I wasn't able to (had to leave for an activity or something). And since then I've forgotten.

The playoffs will match winners of groups with 2nd place finishers of groups in this fashion-

A-H
B-G
C-F
D-E
E-D
F-C
G-B
H-A

[Nogrod]

No problem. That's clear.

[McCaber]

Well, I am wholly satisfied with my team as is for the first round, but I'm getting worried about round II. While Boromir I is putting up good numbers for me, his team looks to be going nowhere. So I'm dropping him and adding in the phantom. A proven leader and scorer, he and Melkor should give me a solid midfield.

--Boromir I (Minas Tirith)
++the phantom (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)

Also, a pair of defenders are neither going anywhere or giving me any points. Aule and Gimli get the boot.

--Aule (Taniquetil)
++Tar Atanamir (Armenelos)

--Gimli (Lothlorien)
++ Belegund (Nargothrond)

New roster:

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

[Gwathagor]

--Erkenbrand

++Elrond (Rivendell)


--Ulmo

++Tar-Atanamir (Armenelos)


--Ar-Gimilzor

++Ar-Adunakhor (Armenelos)


--Grimbeorn

++Eol (Gondolin)


Updated team:

G- Elrond (Rivendell)
DF- Celebrimbor (Formenos)
DF- Tar-Atanamir (Armenelos)
DF- Gandalf (Rivendell)
MF- the phantom (TIG)
MF- Ar-Adunakhor (Armenelos)
MF- Melkor (Angband)
MF- Aredhel (Formenos)
MF- Eol (Gondolin)
MF- Eomer (TIG)
FW- Maeglin (Gondolin)

Prepare for further domination.

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

The playoffs will match winners of groups with 2nd place finishers of groups in this fashion-

A-H
B-G
C-F
D-E
E-D
F-C
G-B
H-A (le phantome)

Ooh, so the bracket I used for mapping my predicted winner was correct! Heehee.

Alas that my players aren't doing so well . . .

How low can one get? (Nogrod)

Don't feel too bad, at least there's someone below you in the overall standings.

Ah, well, time to be greedy and callous, methinks.

Two of the best defensive teams are Rivendell and Armenelos, therefore:

--Melian
++Elrond

--Lúthien
++Tar-Atanamir

--Cailín
++Celeborn

--Aulë
++Tar-Telperiën

**phantom, can we change formations, too???

If my actions are legal, then I'll change one of my defenders into a midfielder.

--Yavanna
++Beren

--Lhunardawen
++the phantom

--Tar-Míriel
++Glaurung

Then change one of my forwards for a midfielder (again, if it is legal).

--Gwindor
++Ar Adûnakhôr

So, the updated roster (if allowed):

Silmarillion Squad (Nilp)
GK - Elrond (Rivendell)
DF - Celeborn (Rivendell)
DF - Tar-Telperiën (Armenelos)
DF - Tar-Atanamir (Armenelos)
MF - Beren (Nargothrond)
MF - Finrod (Nargothrond)
MF - Glaurung (Nargothrond)
MF - Eomer (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
MF - the phantom (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
MF - Ar-Adûnakhôr (Armenelos)
FW - Túrin (Hithlum)

[skip spence]

++ Celeborn (Rivendell)
- - Gothmog II (Mordor)

Celeborn has impressed me so far. Without his wife Galadriel to rely on he has stepped up his game and started to take some real responsability.

++ Tom Bombadill (Breeland)
- - Noggrod (T-I-G)

Although it is doubtful Breeland will make it into the knock-out stage of the tournament I can't resist pairing up the yellow boots of Bombadill with the back boots of Turin up front. From Nogrod I expected more sisu to be honest.

++ The Phantom (T-I-G)
- - Ancalagon (Angband)

Previously unknown in ME footballing circles, The Phantom is proving himself at the top level with some inventive play.

++ The Witch King (Mordor)
- - Durin's Bane (Moria)

Although Durin's Bane has performed well so far I don't think he will feature in the second round. To replace him is The Witch King who I believe is an asset for any team. His black breath makes him almost impossible to man-mark and his great compoure in the penalty area means he can set up teammates as well as finishing the moves off himself.

Although my defence let me and themselves down in the last round I will keep faith in them. I chalk down Taniquetil's debacle as underestimation of the opposition. The Pelóri will not crumble a second time!

Updated rooster:

Shadwell Army
G- Mandos (Taniquetil)
DF- Ulmo (Valimar)
DF- Aule (Taniquetil)
DF- Gollum (Lothlorien)
DF - Celeborn (Rivendell)
MF- Melkor (Angband)
MF- Eärendil (Valimar)
MF- The Phantom (T-I-G)
FW - The Witch King (Mordor)
FW- Turin (Hithlum)
FW- Tom Bombadill (Breeland)

[the phantom]

Yes Nilp, you may change formations (so long as the new one is legal, of course).

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Replacing Nargothrond players. ( )

--Finrod
++Melkor

--Beren
++Eöl

--Glaurung
++Húrin

Updated:

Silmarillion Squad (Nilp)
GK - Elrond (Rivendell)
DF - Celeborn (Rivendell)
DF - Tar-Telperiën (Armenelos)
DF - Tar-Atanamir (Armenelos)
MF - Eöl (Gondolin)
MF - Melkor (Angband)
MF - Húrin (Hithlum)
MF - Eomer (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
MF - the phantom (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
MF - Ar-Adûnakhôr (Armenelos)
FW - Túrin (Hithlum)

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Hithlum I believe!

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

--Elrond
++Elros

--Celeborn
++Hador

--Eöl
++Lhunardawen

(I believe that my sister will do something in this tournament other than collect yellow cards. )

Updated:

Silmarillion Squad (Nilp)
GK - Elros (Armenelos)
DF - Hador (Hithlum)
DF - Tar-Telperiën (Armenelos)
DF - Tar-Atanamir (Armenelos)
MF - Lhunardawen (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
MF - Melkor (Angband)
MF - Húrin (Hithlum)
MF - Eomer (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
MF - the phantom (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
MF - Ar-Adûnakhôr (Armenelos)
FW - Túrin (Hithlum)

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by the phantom

The playoffs will match winners of groups with 2nd place finishers of groups in this fashion-

A-H
B-G
C-F
D-E
E-D
F-C
G-B
H-A

How about the next round? Are the matches divided then so that the teams from the same initial group can not meet? I mean going with the same logic - first game vs. last game might bring teams against each other who have already played each other. If fex. the best teams of group H both beat their opponents from group A then they would play against each other on the next round again...

An option would be to cut the list in two in the middle.

Then it would follow that
A1-H2 - D1-E2
B1-G2 - C1-F2
and
E1-D2 - F1-C2
G1-B2 - H1-E2

etc...

[the phantom]

How about the next round? Are the matches divided then so that the teams from the same initial group can not meet?

I assumed we would go basic bracket format. Following the given format (A vs H, B vs G, etc), the winners and losers of groups are already in opposite sides of the draw, therefore they cannot meet until the final.

Match 1: A1-H2
--------------------Match 9: 1 Winner vs 2 Winner
Match 2: B1-G2
------------------------------------------------------------Match 13: 9 Winner vs 10 Winner
Match 3: C1-F2
--------------------Match 10: 3 Winner vs 4 Winner
Match 4: D1-E2
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Finals
Match 5: E1-D2
--------------------Match 11: 5 Winner vs 6 Winner
Match 6: F1-C2
-------------------------------------------------------------Match 14: 11 Winner vs 12 Winner
Match 7: G1-B2
--------------------Match 12: 7 Winner vs 8 Winner
Match 8: H1-A2

[Nogrod]

That looks perfectly fine!