Arda Cup Football 2013 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Boromir88 · 06-01-2013, 07:22 AM

The Iron Prison on Lockdown
-Boro88

After Angband's disapponting 2012 season, where they were knocked out of the first round playoffs by the stalwart underdogs Minas Tirith, Morgoth retreated into his iron fortress to design plans for next year. Everytime Morgoth shuts out the press, and forbids any soul from entering or leaving Angband chills your bones.

What new schemes is Morgoth hatching? What new evil to employ that will (hopefully) give Morgoth the trophy of trophies, the Arda Cup. The trophy Morgoth has greatly coveted, but has so far eluded his grasp.

It was evident in the playoff matchup Angband did not have the players who were capable of winning a shootout. Ancalagon is clutch in those tight spots, but the dragon is just one Morgoth could trust. I mean, would you trust a cat in a shootout situation? Angband did last year, and it cost them. So, many felt for 2013 Angband would have to get a better striker up-front to pair with Ancalagon.

Not that Telvildo is rubbish, because felines add a new dimension to Angband's play. Cats contribute a cunning and agile gameplay that is great in the possession and passing game. Their cunning agility mixed well with the brute trickery of Morgoth. But let's be honest, if Angband finds themselves in a shootout, they'll face the same problem that tripped them up last year.

No one really knows what Angband's team will be this year, so tight has the lid on Angband been during the off-season. However, we do know their full roster is assembled and Evil House will not be spending anymore money on this season. Morgoth, Carcaroth, and Ancalagon are definitely back since no one has seen them come out of Angband since last year. What the rest of the team will be is anyone's guess, but the loudest sounds echoing out of Angband in recent days has been...purrs?

Boromir88 · 06-02-2013, 12:52 PM

Gasping for some Offense
-Boro88

Next team up for TTN's previews takes us to the desert plains. And as much as I was gasping for water while visiting Angfauglith's practice facilities, the team ownership was gasping for some much needed offense. Angfauglith had been eliminated in group play last year, but it was based on fewer goals scored than Doriath. Angfauglith could only manage 3 goals in 3 games and that was the reason for the team's early exit, as Thuringwethil was often all alone with a sub-par midfield behind her.

The defense was one of the most fearsome ever put together on the pitch, with 3 Balrogs and the great Ungoliant tending the goal. However, desperately needing some offensive help, Angfauglith appears to be changing the gears ever so-slightly. They said audious to Thuringwethil and also lost one of the Balrog defenders, but still with Ungoliant and 2 Balrogs, the club doesn't expect to lose much when it comes to defense.

The major change was announced recently, and obviously spending 28 million total for two new strikers, owners are expecting much greater success in return. It is an interesting partnership, that much is for sure. Two historic rivals are paired up as the forwards for Angfauglith. To say they've had a confrontational past is putting it lightly! However, this isn't the first time Gothmog and Ecthelion have been signed to play on the same team. They've had good success on separate teams (and also much success when playing against eachother), but when they were partners for Gondolin in 2009, it was seen as a failure for the hidden city, since Gondolin did not make it into the playoffs. And then Gothmog left in a fuss in 2010, only to see Gondolin win the title that year! Will the tale be different in 2013 for the two star-strikers? Their fate seems bound together...in both glory...and death.

Nogrod · 06-02-2013, 02:16 PM

Before the rosters are revealed the rumours are at their hottest - and here are some the journalists of the AKM have heard lately...

~*~

The oddest rumour the AKM has heard of this pre-season is the one which claims that Arien is leaving Real Valinor! Now she has played a few seasons with Miriel and Nerdanel – and the last year especially was the three were performing just outstandingly. And as the winners of the last year’s tournament it shouldn’t be a matter of money either as it would seem Real Valinor could easily pay her salaries comparable to what players like Fëanor or Túrin make – and it would only be fair (says the AKM).

So they formed the most fearsome female trio in the attack last year and it’s not money… so what is it?

---

Some of the other wildest speculations before the new season have been centered around the last year’s surprising quarterfinalists Shire-Bree United. It is whispered that Strider is leaving the team to play as Aragorn somewhere just for the sake of it… or to play with Arwen for a specific reason for leaving the Breelanders. There has also been talk about the two Nazgûl’s being unhappy with the team and to top that: others argue that the Barrow-Wight has felt a bit dull lately and will be off to have more fun somewhere.

But what has taken everyone by surprise has been the announcement that Tom Bombadill will not be playing for Shire-Bree any more. And this is known as a fact as Tom himself announced it.

So are we going to see a totally new team this year and where are they going to get their finances from?

---

Third big news we hear concerns the Wilderland team. Now despite some of the murkier characters in the line-up it was clearly an elven-led and –financed team last year. But now it seems there has been a coup in there when the elves have backed off after the losses taken last year - and who else but Sauron seems to be steppin g forwards. Some whisper Sauron’s Amon Lanc Properties has bought a majority of the tam and filled it with his orcs and other creatures of the darkness while the elves have withdrawn completely.

Be that as it may… it will be hard to see Galadriel playing for a majority-owner Sauron – not to talk of Elwë or Oromë to that matter. So unless the news are a total hoax, there is something considerably big going on with Wilderland for this season.

---

One interesting issue is the situation with Erebor… they gained a nice profit last year with their nice results but it seems they are more likely to tighten their purse this year than opening it up for more glory. It seems the dwarves and Mr. Moneybags have reached an agreement on budget policy: pile the money, pile the money… The football fans will not like it.

Where they will cut their expenses will be crucial for the chances of their success this year.

---

It looks like the Hador House Holdings took quite a damage last year (26 million in total!) when Hithlum didn’t even qualify – not to talk of the rage Túrin vented after the group phase. Túrin swore he would never again play in a team that would not qualify… and the rumour has it he has invested quite heavily himself this year (through Hador House Holdings of course). It seems Hithlum is coming to this season with more bite and sting – and a budget from another planet.

The top news of course is the rumour of Beleg coming to the aid of his old friend. Others have it that there has been a considerably strong wind blowing in the team and that they have tried to get rid of all the mediocre or weaker players from last year. And it seems relatively certain Hador’s sons Galdor (father of Húrin and Huor) and Gundor will leave Anfaughlith and replace the elven escorts Grithnir and Gethron in the defence.

So Doriath seems to be losing Beleg, but the rumours have it that they are losing Lúthien as well. It looks grim for the last year’s qualifier this year – unless they are able to grab some real talent with decent prices to replace the rumoured losses. The fact that Thingol and Melian seem to be quite unwilling to open the team-ownership to any outsiders surely makes pressure to their budget.

---

We have heard relatively little of Eriador (except the signing of NogWight) but that both major owners of the team Elrond and Norbury Sport have been busy investing the money they made last year to other teams of their alignment. But the rumours have it that they are not intending to weaken their team this year either but aim for the top once again.

06-01-2013, 07:22 AM	#1
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,521	TTN's Team Reports The Iron Prison on Lockdown -Boro88 After Angband's disapponting 2012 season, where they were knocked out of the first round playoffs by the stalwart underdogs Minas Tirith, Morgoth retreated into his iron fortress to design plans for next year. Everytime Morgoth shuts out the press, and forbids any soul from entering or leaving Angband chills your bones. What new schemes is Morgoth hatching? What new evil to employ that will (hopefully) give Morgoth the trophy of trophies, the Arda Cup. The trophy Morgoth has greatly coveted, but has so far eluded his grasp. It was evident in the playoff matchup Angband did not have the players who were capable of winning a shootout. Ancalagon is clutch in those tight spots, but the dragon is just one Morgoth could trust. I mean, would you trust a cat in a shootout situation? Angband did last year, and it cost them. So, many felt for 2013 Angband would have to get a better striker up-front to pair with Ancalagon. Not that Telvildo is rubbish, because felines add a new dimension to Angband's play. Cats contribute a cunning and agile gameplay that is great in the possession and passing game. Their cunning agility mixed well with the brute trickery of Morgoth. But let's be honest, if Angband finds themselves in a shootout, they'll face the same problem that tripped them up last year. No one really knows what Angband's team will be this year, so tight has the lid on Angband been during the off-season. However, we do know their full roster is assembled and Evil House will not be spending anymore money on this season. Morgoth, Carcaroth, and Ancalagon are definitely back since no one has seen them come out of Angband since last year. What the rest of the team will be is anyone's guess, but the loudest sounds echoing out of Angband in recent days has been...purrs? __________________ Fenris Penguin Last edited by Boromir88; 06-01-2013 at 08:11 AM.

06-02-2013, 12:52 PM	#2
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,521	TTN's Team Reports Gasping for some Offense -Boro88 Next team up for TTN's previews takes us to the desert plains. And as much as I was gasping for water while visiting Angfauglith's practice facilities, the team ownership was gasping for some much needed offense. Angfauglith had been eliminated in group play last year, but it was based on fewer goals scored than Doriath. Angfauglith could only manage 3 goals in 3 games and that was the reason for the team's early exit, as Thuringwethil was often all alone with a sub-par midfield behind her. The defense was one of the most fearsome ever put together on the pitch, with 3 Balrogs and the great Ungoliant tending the goal. However, desperately needing some offensive help, Angfauglith appears to be changing the gears ever so-slightly. They said audious to Thuringwethil and also lost one of the Balrog defenders, but still with Ungoliant and 2 Balrogs, the club doesn't expect to lose much when it comes to defense. The major change was announced recently, and obviously spending 28 million total for two new strikers, owners are expecting much greater success in return. It is an interesting partnership, that much is for sure. Two historic rivals are paired up as the forwards for Angfauglith. To say they've had a confrontational past is putting it lightly! However, this isn't the first time Gothmog and Ecthelion have been signed to play on the same team. They've had good success on separate teams (and also much success when playing against eachother), but when they were partners for Gondolin in 2009, it was seen as a failure for the hidden city, since Gondolin did not make it into the playoffs. And then Gothmog left in a fuss in 2010, only to see Gondolin win the title that year! Will the tale be different in 2013 for the two star-strikers? Their fate seems bound together...in both glory...and death. __________________ Fenris Penguin

06-02-2013, 02:16 PM	#3
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	The AKM Rumour-Corner Before the rosters are revealed the rumours are at their hottest - and here are some the journalists of the AKM have heard lately... ~~ The oddest rumour the AKM has heard of this pre-season is the one which claims that Arien is leaving Real Valinor! Now she has played a few seasons with Miriel and Nerdanel – and the last year especially was the three were performing just outstandingly. And as the winners of the last year’s tournament it shouldn’t be a matter of money either as it would seem Real Valinor could easily pay her salaries comparable to what players like Fëanor or Túrin make – and it would only be fair (says the AKM). So they formed the most fearsome female trio in the attack last year and it’s not money… so what is it? --- Some of the other wildest speculations before the new season have been centered around the last year’s surprising quarterfinalists Shire-Bree United. It is whispered that Strider is leaving the team to play as Aragorn somewhere just for the sake of it… or to play with Arwen for a specific reason for leaving the Breelanders. There has also been talk about the two Nazgûl’s being unhappy with the team and to top that: others argue that the Barrow-Wight has felt a bit dull lately and will be off to have more fun somewhere. But what has taken everyone by surprise has been the announcement that Tom Bombadill will not be playing for Shire-Bree any more. And this is known as a fact as Tom himself announced it. So are we going to see a totally new team this year and where are they going to get their finances from? --- Third big news we hear concerns the Wilderland* team. Now despite some of the murkier characters in the line-up it was clearly an elven-led and –financed team last year. But now it seems there has been a coup in there when the elves have backed off after the losses taken last year - and who else but Sauron seems to be steppin g forwards. Some whisper Sauron’s Amon Lanc Properties has bought a majority of the tam and filled it with his orcs and other creatures of the darkness while the elves have withdrawn completely. Be that as it may… it will be hard to see Galadriel playing for a majority-owner Sauron – not to talk of Elwë or Oromë to that matter. So unless the news are a total hoax, there is something considerably big going on with Wilderland for this season. --- One interesting issue is the situation with Erebor… they gained a nice profit last year with their nice results but it seems they are more likely to tighten their purse this year than opening it up for more glory. It seems the dwarves and Mr. Moneybags have reached an agreement on budget policy: pile the money, pile the money… The football fans will not like it. Where they will cut their expenses will be crucial for the chances of their success this year. --- It looks like the Hador House Holdings took quite a damage last year (26 million in total!) when Hithlum didn’t even qualify – not to talk of the rage Túrin vented after the group phase. Túrin swore he would never again play in a team that would not qualify… and the rumour has it he has invested quite heavily himself this year (through Hador House Holdings of course). It seems Hithlum is coming to this season with more bite and sting – and a budget from another planet. The top news of course is the rumour of Beleg coming to the aid of his old friend. Others have it that there has been a considerably strong wind blowing in the team and that they have tried to get rid of all the mediocre or weaker players from last year. And it seems relatively certain Hador’s sons Galdor (father of Húrin and Huor) and Gundor will leave Anfaughlith and replace the elven escorts Grithnir and Gethron in the defence. So Doriath seems to be losing Beleg, but the rumours have it that they are losing Lúthien as well. It looks grim for the last year’s qualifier this year – unless they are able to grab some real talent with decent prices to replace the rumoured losses. The fact that Thingol and Melian seem to be quite unwilling to open the team-ownership to any outsiders surely makes pressure to their budget. --- We have heard relatively little of Eriador (except the signing of NogWight) but that both major owners of the team Elrond and Norbury Sport have been busy investing the money they made last year to other teams of their alignment. But the rumours have it that they are not intending to weaken their team this year either but aim for the top once again. __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...