Middle Earth Fantasy Football World Cup

[arcticstorm]

Welcome to the 2007 fantasy Middle Earth Cup. Sleepy or I will post the leaders after each round on this thread. THis thread will also be used for each person to post their teams.

Here are the rules:
Rules
1. Each manager may pick 11 players for his team

2. Unlimited trades will be allowed before the actual tournament starts

3. No more than three players from any given team may be on your team at one time.

4. Each manager will receive a total of ten trades to be used during the round robin rounds. These trades will officially take place after each individual round.

5. During the knock-out rounds each manager will receive two trades for each round.

6. A few friendlies will be played before the tournament so as to give potential managers a feel of how each player may or may not do during the actual tournament

7. the following formations are allowed:
4-4-2
3-5-2
4-3-3
4-5-1

8. point values are as follows

For each goal scored by your goalkeeper or defenders 6
For each goal scored by your midfielders 5
For each goal scored by your forwards 4
For each goal assist 3
For your goalkeeper / defender conceding 0 goals 4
For your midfielder conceding 0 goals (must also play at least 60 minutes) 1
For every 3 shot saves made by your goalkeeper 1
For every penalty save 5
For every penalty miss -2
Bonus points for the best players in a match 2
For every 2 goals conceded by your goalkeeper or defenders -1
For every yellow card -1
For every red card (includes any yellow card points) -3

[arcticstorm]

Here are the rosters by position
Forwards--you may choose 1-3 from this list so that your total may not exceed 11
current points are by the name

Tulkas – Valinor--0
Finwe - Tuna--4
Feanor - Tuna--0
Earwen – Tol Erresea--0
Frodo – Tol Eressea--4
Tar-Ancalime - Numenore--4
Tar-Telperien – Numenore--0
Felagund - Nargothrond--10
Mormegil – Nargothrond--14
Glorfindel – Gondolin--3
Eol - Doriath--0
Mablung – Doriath--6
Melkor - Angband--0
Gothmog – Angband--0
Galdor - Dor-Lomin--0
Turin - Dor-Lomin--2
Fingon - Dor-Lomin--0
Haldad – Brethil--0
Turambar – Brethil--0
Bullroarer Took – Shire-- 9
Pippin – Shire--0
Merry – Buckland--0
Tom Bombadil – Bree--4
Aragorn – Arnor--0
Arathorn – Arnor--0
Elendil – Arnor-- -1
Elrohir – Rivendell--0
Stone Giant – Misty Mountains--4
Beorn - Mirkwood--0
Necromancer – Mirkwood--0
Thorin III – Erebor--0
Bard – Erebor--0
Balin – Moria --0
Azog – Moria--0
Amdir - Lothlorien--0
Amroth – Lothlorien--0
Treebeard - Fangorn--3
Skinbark – Fangorn--6
Eomer - Rohan--0
Helm Hammerhand – Rohan--0
Anarion – Gondor--0
Faramir - Gondor--0
Boromir – Gondor--0
Witch-King - Mordor-- 0
Sauron – Mordor--0
Rune Son of Bjarne - Barrow-Downs--4
Saucepan Man - Barrow-Downs--0
Sleepy Ranger - Barrow-Downs--3
Sheriff - Tol-In-Gaurhoth--0
Lover - Tol-In-Gaurhoth--0
Tailbiter – Ham--4
Farmer Giles – Ham--8
Counselor Tompkins - Niggle’s Parish --0
Inspector – Niggle’s Parish--3
Faery Queen - Wooten Major--4
Nokes - Wooten Major--0
Horse of the Moon - Old Grey Hill--0
Guest - Old Grey Hill--4
Sun - Old Grey Hill--0
JRR Tolkien - Inklings--10
CS Lewis – Inklings--3
Roverandom - Roverandom--4
Man in the Moon – Roverandom--0

[arcticstorm]

Midfielders--you may choose 3 to 5 from this list so as your total does not exceed 11
current points are next to the names

Mandos - Valinor--1
Orome – Valinor--1
Pallando - Valinor--1
Eonwe - Valinor--1
Alatar – Valinor--1
Caranthir - Tuna--1
Ingwe - Tuna--1
Maedhros - Tuna--7
Finarfin – Tuna--1
Earendil – Tol Eressea--0
Elwing - Tol Eressea--0
Uinen - Tol Eressea--1
Indis – Tol Eressea--1
Ar-Pharazon - Numenore--1
Tar-Miriel - Numenore--0
Tar-Atanamir the Great – Numenore--1
Amandil – Numenore--6
Gundor - Nargothrond--3
Finduilas - Nargothrond--0
Arminas - Nargothrond--0
Mim – Nargothrond--0
Huor - Gondolin--0
Tuor - Gondolin--0
Turgon – Gondolin--5
Ecthelion - Gondolin--2
Hurin - Gondolin--5
Huan – Doriath--0
Daeron – Doriath--0
Saeros – Doriath--0
Dior - Doriath--1
Beleg – Doriath--1
Thuringwethel - Angband--6
Ungolient - Angband--1
Ulfast - Angband--1
Uldor – Angband--1
Rian - Dor-Lomin--0
Aeron - Dor-Lomin--0
Sador – Dor-Lomin--0
Handir - Brethil--0
Halmir - Brethil--0
Haldir - Brethil--0
Hareth – Brethil--0
Lotho Sackville-Baggins - Shire--1
Sam - Shire--1
Will Whitfoot - Shire--1
Hamfast Gamgee – Shire--1
Farmer Maggot - Buckland--0
Drogo - Buckland-- -1
Primula - Buckland--0
Gildor - Buckland--0
Estella Bolger – Buckland--0
Butterbur - Bree--1
Nob - Bree--0
Bob - Bree--1
Barrow-Wight - Bree--1
Harry – Bree--0
Isildur - Arnor-- -1
Earandur - Arnor--0
Arvedui - Arnor--0
Malvegil – Arnor--0
Celebrian - Rivendel--0
Tom - Rivendell--0
William - Rivendell--5
Bert - Rivendell-- -1
Gilraen – Rivendell--5
Dori – Misty Mountains--1
Bifur - Misty Mountains--1
Bofur - Misty Mountains--1
Gwaihir - Misty Mountains--4
Dwalin – Misty Mountains--8
Thranduil - Mirkwood--0
Grimbeorn - Mirkwood--0
Legolas - Mirkwood--0
Radagast - Mirkwood--0
Khamul – Mirkwood--0
Roac – Erebor--0
Thorin – Erebor--0
Fili - Erebor--0
Kili – Erebor--0
Narvi – Moria--1
Durin – Moria--1
Durin’s Bane - Moria--1
Thror – Moria--1
Gandalf - Lothlorien--1
Gimli - Lothlorien--3
Arwen – Lothlorien--1
Haldir – Lothlorien--1
Beechbone – Fangorn--0
Quickbeam – Fangorn--0
Leaflock - Fangorn--0
Saruman – Fangorn--0
Gamling - Rohan--0
Ghan-Buri-Ghan - Rohan--0
Wuflaf - Rohan--0
Theodred – Rohan--0
Forlong the Fat – Gondor--0
Hirgon – Gondor--0
Thengel – Gondor--0
Gothmog – Mordor--0
Nazgul – Mordor--0
Snaga - Mordor-- -1
Gorbag – Mordor--0
Arcticstorm – Barrow-downs--1
The Phantom – Barrow-downs--6
Feanor of the Peredhil – Barrow-downs--1
Seer – Tol-In-Gaurhoth--0
Hunter - Tol-In-Gaurhoth--0
Ranger - Tol-In-Gaurhoth--0
Mythomaniac – Tol-In-Gaurhoth--0
Miller – Ham--11
Parson – Ham--0
Bellomarius - Ham--0
Blacksmith Sunny Sam – Ham--0
Shepherd – Niggle’s Parish--0
Mr. Parish – Niggle’s Parish--0
Atkins - Niggle’s Parish--5
Perkins – Niggle’s Parish--0
Tim – Wooten Major--0
Tom - Wooten Major--0
Ned - Wooten Major--3
Nan – Wooten Major--0
Cow – Old Grey Hill--0
Saturday Dish - Old Grey Hill--0
Sunday Spoon – Old Grey Hill--0
Charles Williams - Inklings--4
Christopher Tolkien - Inklings--1
WH Lewis - Inklings--1
Owen Barfield - Inklings--1
Nevill Coghill – Inklings--1
Wizard Artaxerxez - Roverandom--6
Mrs. Artaxerxes - Roverandom--1
Psamtos - Roverandom--1
Mer-dog – Roverandom--1

[arcticstorm]

Defenders--you may choose 3 or 4 players from this list so that your total does not exceed 11
current points are by the names

Manwe - Valinor--4
Aule - Valinor--4
Yavanna - Valinor--4
Lorien - Valinor--4
Miriel - Tuna--4
Maglor - Tuna--4
Amrod - Tuna--4
Amras – Tuna--4
Vaire - Tol Erresea--4
Lindo - Tol Erresea--4
Osse - Tol Erresea--4
Olwe – Tol Erresea--4
Elros - Numenore--4
Aldarion - Numenore--4
Erendis – Numenore--4
Tar-Minastir – Numenore--4
Gelmir - Nargothrond--0
Curufin - Nargothrond--0
Orodreth - Nargothrond--0
Celegorm – Nargothrond--0
Idril – Gondolin--0
Voronwe - Gondolin--0
Maeglin - Gondolin--0
Aradhel – Gondolin--0
Beren – Doriath--4
Thingol - Doriath--4
Luthien – Doriath--4
Ancalagon the Black – Angband--6
Charcoroth – Angband--4
Ulfang - Angband--4
Draugluin – Angband--4
Morwen – Dor-Lomin--0
Nienor - Dor-Lomin--0
Hador - Dor-Lomin--0
Gundor – Dor-Lomin--0
Haleth - Brethil-- -1
Brandir - Brethil-- -1
Dorlas - Brethil-- -2
Hunthor – Brethil-- -1
The Old Took – Shire--4
Tom Cotton - Shire--4
Rosie Cotton – Shire--4
Ted Sandyman – Shire--4
Gormidoc Deepdelver – Buckland--0
Hob Hayward - Buckland--0
Fatty - Buckland--0
Gorhendad Oldbuck – Buckland--0
Goldberry - Bree--4
Bill Ferney – Bree--4
River Woman - Bree--4
Badger – Bree--4
Arvelag – Arnor-- 0
Argeleb – Arnor-- -1
Halbarad – Arnor-- -1
Bilbo – Rivendell-- -1
Elladan – Rivendell-- -1
Glorfindel – Rivendell-- 2
Erestor – Rivendell--2
Chief Warg – Misty Mountains--4
Gollum - Misty Mountains--4
Great Goblin - Misty Mountains--4
Nori - Misty Mountains--4
Wine Steward - Mirkwood--0
Guard - Mirkwood--0
Thrain – Mirkwood--0
Dain – Erebor--0
Brand – Erebor--0
Gloin – Erebor--0
Bombur – Erebor--0
Oin – Moria--4
Ori – Moria--4
Nar – Moria--4
Celebrimbor – Moria--4
Celeborn – Lothlorien--4
Nimrodel – Lothlorien--4
Rumil – Lothlorien--3
Orophin – Lothlorien--4
Ugluk – Fangorn--0
Wormtongue - Fangorn--0
Grishnakh - Fangorn--0
Fimbrethil – Fangorn--0
Erkenbrand - Rohan-- -1
Eorl the Young - Rohan-- -1
Hama - Rohan-- -1
Eowyn – Rohan-- -1
Damrod – Gondor -1
Denethor – Gondor -1
Beregond - Gondor -1
Imrahil – Gondor -1
Shagrat – Mordor--0
Mouth of Sauron – Mordor--0
Ufthak – Mordor--0
Lagduf - Mordor--0
Firefoot – Barrow-downs--4
Formendacil - Barrow-downs--4
Glirdan - Barrow-downs--4
Nogrod – Barrow-downs--4
Black Beorning – Tol-In-Gaurhoth-- -1
Cobbler - Tol-In-Gaurhoth-- -1
Ordinary Villager - Tol-In-Gaurhoth-- -1
Cursed Villager – Tol-In-Gaurhoth-- -4
Garm – Ham-- -1
Giant – Ham-- -1
Agatha - Ham-- -1
King Augustus Bonifacius – Ham-- -1
Mrs. Parish – Niggle’s Parish-- -2
First Voice – Niggle’s Parish-- -2
Second Voice – Niggle’s Parish-- -2
Porter – Niggle’s Parish-- -2
Chief Cook – Wooten Major-- -1
Art - Wooten Major-- -1
Harper - Wooten Major-- -1
Nell - Wooten Major-- -1
Ostler – Old Grey Hill--0
Tipsy Cat - Old Grey Hill--0
Landlord – Old Grey Hill--0
Dog - Old Grey Hill--0
Adam Fox - Inklings--4
Lord David Cecil - Inklings--4
Gervase Matthew – Inklings--4
Moon dog - Roverandom--4
Boy 2 - Roverandom--4
Great White Dragon - Roverandom--4
Sea Serpent – Roverandom--4

[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.

[Volo]

One can pick players that an other person has already picked?

EDIT: Yes.

[The Saucepan Man]

Originally Posted by Sleepy

Formation: 3-4-3

But Sleepy, that's not a permissible formation ...

[Nogrod]

I didn't follow the last year's tournament but am I right when I'm beginning to wonder whether everyone wishing to win this should pick up Sleepy as he will make himself the top scorer of the games?

[Thenamir]

I know next-to-nothing about this brand of football, but here's my picks based on sheer guesswork:

GK--Watcher in the Water (Moria)

DF--Beren (Doriath)

DF--Glorfindel (Rivendell)

DF--Luthien(Doriath)

MF--Gwaihir (Misty Mountains)

Maedhros (Tuna)

The Phantom (Barrow-Downs)

MF--Dwalin (Misty Mountains)

Miller (Ham)

FW--Mormegil (Nargothrond)

FW--Saucepan Man (Barrow-Downs)

EDIT: This team reflects changes made before the matches played on July 18th

The Watcher in the Water is a natural goalkeeper -- between size, strength, and all those arms, he should prove a worthy adversary.

For defenders I chose the husband-wife team of Beren and Luthien for their skill in stealing the prize from even the strongest of adversaries, and Glorfindel of Rivendell for his ability to get through tough situations against multiple opponents.

At midfield, the Gandalf-Gwaihir pairing seemed like a good combination of speed and experience. Balance that out with Quickbeam as the steady power-player, Legolas for dexterity, and Sam for gritty stick-to-it-iveness, I believe I have a formidable center.

Finally, a pair of unusual picks at forward. Tulkas seems more like a defender-type, but I am casting against type here because I believe that Tulkas will be able to dominate his way around (and through!) most defenders. Frodo is the exact opposite of Tulkas -- small, relatively weak, and with a demonstrated tendency to slip and make mistakes right at the scoring opportunity. However, with faithful Sam at midfield, he should be able to obtain the goal.

Let the games begin!

[Sleepy Ranger]

Originally Posted by The Saucepan Man

But Sleepy, that's not a permissible formation ...

It's not? Ouch... thanks for pointing that out. How stupid of me...

Originally Posted by Nogrod

I didn't follow the last year's tournament but am I right when I'm beginning to wonder whether everyone wishing to win this should pick up Sleepy as he will make himself the top scorer of the games?

Of course not. All matches are simulated...

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

I shall play an atractive 4-3-3 like the one Laudrup will no doubt introduce in Getafe.

GK:
Fingolfin - Tuna

DF:
Glorfindel – Rivendell
Ancalagon the Black – Angband
Ulfang - Angband
Thingol - Doriath

MF:
Tuor - Gondolin
Feanor of the Peredhil – Barrow-downs
Gandalf - Lothlorien

FW:
Witch-King - Mordor
Rune Son of Bjarne - Barrow-Downs
Stone Giant – Misty Mountains

As you can see there has been no strategy involved in my selection of players.

Chant:
We love you team Rune we do!
We love you team Rune we do!
We love you team Rune we do!
oooooh team Rune we love you!

Rune is our hero and showed us how to play
The mighty Reds of Middle-Earth is out to win today
He made a team of champions where every man is king
And every game we love to win and this is what we sing:

We love you team Rune we do!
We love you team Rune we do!
We love you team Rune we do!
oooooh team Rune we love you!

We won league we won the cup we are masters of the game
And just to prove how good we are we'll do it once again
We got another team to beat and so we got to try
Cause we are the best in all the land and that's the reason why:

We love you team Rune we do!
We love you team Rune we do!
We love you team Rune we do!
oooooh team Rune we love you!

Fingolfin is our goallie the best there is around
And Tuor is the greates that Rune ever found
Gandalf is our favourit the wizard of the game
and here is that mighty Stone Giant to do it once again!

We love you team Rune we do!
We love you team Rune we do!
We love you team Rune we do!
oooooh team Rune we love you!

(that was the best I could come up with in 10 min. as you can see it does not fit intirely as it is a Liverpool song. . .that is also the reason to why my team goes under the name "the reds")

[Thenamir]

Can we set up more than one team? My current team is all "Good Guys" (save the Watcher, who I think is motivated merely by self-interest rather than picking a side) I'd like to pick a "Dark Side" team to see how one fares against the other.

[Sleepy Ranger]

Sorry Thenamir I'm afraid it's one team per person. If you'd like you still have unlimited trades till the tournament starts. A few friendlies have been posted in the other thread which may help in picking your final team.

Also, I think you're a bit off on your idea of what's actually going on. Your team won't really be playing, instead each player will be given individual points depending on how they perform in the matches they play for their teams in the actual World Cup.

[Thenamir]

Right. I understand the basic concept of fantasy leagues, though I've never participated heretofore. I just wanted to see how the good guys would stack up against the bad guys. Thanks!

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Sleepy Ranger

Of course not. All matches are simulated...

Just out of curiosity though... How are you making this? Are you just picking some already existing teams from the game and assigning them to these fantasy teams - like Nottingham Forest will be the Barrow-Downs and Dundee united will be Fangorn; Peter Crouch is Rune, Steven Gerrard is Spm and Dirk Kuyt is Sleepy - or are you actually creating new teams with something like a team-editor to play against each other?

In the first case it might be nice to know which teams you are making to play as which fantasy team. Knowing there is Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard hiding behind Elendil and Isildur might make a difference with the choosing...

In the second case, are you making all the teams as good and players in different positions as good compared to each other in other teams?

[Sleepy Ranger]

All the teams have a real-life counterpart behind them. The reason they've not been given away is to maintain the aura of the contest. Though I reckon when screen-shots start going up you'll probably start figuring it out yourself. As for now all we can reveal is that the teams have been assigned based on strength of the area and to an extent, their fan support. The more central characters will be given to priority for the best players on their respective teams.

Just as an example,
Were Angband to be Argentina. Melkor would be Crespo.

Think along those lines and it'll clear it up for you.

[Nogrod]

Like I thought it would be...

I'm not competitive in this. Indeed I think this is just pure fun for an occasional football fan like me. But just as a matter of principle, isn't there a minor problem with you and Arcticstorm taking part in this as you will know exactly which team is which and who will be who?

To be sure, I'm not wishing you to reveal the teams or the players as that would mean that we all players here would have the tools to start working with our choises to make educated guesses about the relative chances of certain players' success - and that's the last thing I want as I think this should be fun played with the left hand and not something I'd need to study and work with.

But you should try these "team-editor" -things one day. It's a bit of work but it's fun also. We used to have something like 20+ teams with my Fifa 03 (04?) together with Lommy and her sis. There were the teams of the ancient Greek philosophers and the German philosophers of the 19th and 20th century (following the lead from Monty Python), there was the cartoon team Comix (characters from Asterix, Tintin etc.), the sci-fi team (characters from Iain M. Banks, Star Wars, Star Trek etc.), Tolkien goodies team and a baddies team (that's why I will cling to the Witch King as he was the top-scorer in that team of ours ), a team of RL dictators (Mussolini, Hitler, Mao, Stalin... their playing suits were green with tints of red and gold like military style), a team Enlightenment (from Franklin to Robespierre), Corpus Christi for medieval theologians and a team for 15th-16th century humanists (Montaigne, Ficino... funnily including Savonarola!), there were Hollywood stars and Finnish national cultural heroes, there was a team of Lommy's an her sis' roleplay characters and a team of our shared fantasy-characters with whom we make Olympic-games (in things like archery, drinking, writing poems, Ms./Mr. competition, card-playing, composing, drawing/painting, favourite song judgement, the weakest link etc...) and whatever...

And we actually built those teams from scratch making every player with the looks and the stats from nothing just trying to balance the overall level of all teams to be relatively competent with each other. That was a lot of fun - and playing threesome with these teams was just great.

Sadly we lost them all when I had to upgrade my computer as the earlier one broke off...

[Volo]

Originally Posted by Sleepy Ranger

...their fan support.

You mean Niggle's Parish will be the strongest team around?

[Sleepy Ranger]

As nice as it would be to make all the teams that would bring about two problems. The first in the game I'm using it costs game money to make players, I wouldn't have near enough for the required number of players. Second, there's only enough room for about 15 teams. So again, it wouldn't really permit a World Cup.

Mind you, we have selected only the stronges of the teams in the game. So everyone should have a decent shout at doing something.

[the phantom]

Can we please run 3-4-3 since Arnor is doing it in the tournament? I was trying to put together a team and my 3-4-3 team is the only one I really like.

[Sleepy Ranger]

After talking it over with Arciticstorm we've decided to make 3-4-3 a legal formation. To give you time for any changes we'll postpone the tournaments beginning to the 10th, so you have ONE day more to make any changes before the trade system kicks in.

[Glirdan]

Okay, I think I've finally picked my team.....

GK:
THEODEN (Rohan)

DF:
GLIRDAN (Barrow-Downs)
GLORFINDEL (Rivendell)
CELEBORN (Lothlorien)
EOWYN (Rohan)

MF:
TURGON (Gondolin)
SAM (Shire)
DAERON (Doriath)

FW:
SLEEPY RANGER (Barrow-Downs)
THE SAUCEPAN-MAN (Barrow-Downs)
TREEBEARD (Fangorn)

[The Saucepan Man]

Hmm, I'm not so sure that it is a good idea to allow the 3-4-3 formation in a fantasy football competition.

As far as I am aware, it is a very rare formation in real life as it can leave teams very vulnerable at the back. It is an option available only to very skilfull teams, and is uncommon even then. Yet, in the fantasy game, it is the only sensible option, as it minimises the prospects of gaining negative points (from defenders), while maximising the prospects of gaining positive points (From midfielders and forwards). Also, the 3-4-3 formation requires defensive midfielders in reality, whereas defensive midfielders are rarely selected in fantasy football games.

Making the 3-4-3 formation available in the fantasy football competition means that everyone (if they have any sense) will have the same formation, reduces the impact of defenders on the competition (thus lessening the skill involved in selecting them) and does not really reflect 'real life' (as it is the only sensible choice for fantasy football, but rare in the real world).

Accordingly, I would recommend retaining the prohibition on the 3-4-3 formation.

If, however, it is to be allowed, then my team will (obviously) change to that formation, and be reconfigured as follows:

[DELETED, as no longer required]

[Elmo]

Hmmm... Rune I didn't realise you could have a song I think the rather depressing Del Amitri number which was Scotland's song in the World Cup 1998 which was the last world cup they qualified, fits my team exactly

So long, go on and do your best,
Let all friends have whiskey on express,
The world may not be shaking yet
but you might prove them wrong,
Even long shots make it

So go then, out into history,
And show them how easy it can be,
You might not believe it yet
but pretty soon you'll see,
Even long shots make it,

Just don't come home too soon,
Just don't come home too soon,

And I don't care what people say,
We can laugh it all away,
But if I have a dream at all
for once you won't be on that stupid plane

And the world may not be shaking yet,
But you might prove them wrong,
Even long shots make it

Just don't come home too soon,
Just don't come home too soon,
I don't care what people say
(just don't come home too soon)
We're gonna laugh it all the way
(just don't come home too soon)

As you can tell expectations weren't high for that tournament and those expectations were met (as least we qualified for that one)

[Sleepy Ranger]

Hmm... makes sense. Well, I have to agree with the Panman on this one I guess. The 3-4-3 still remains prohibited. Sorry Phantom. Well, Panman stick with your original team and Phantom you need to go with a permitted formation. Sorry!

[the phantom]

Originally Posted by SPM

Yet, in the fantasy game, it is the only sensible option, as it minimises the prospects of gaining negative points (from defenders), while maximising the prospects of gaining positive points (From midfielders and forwards).

Yes, that's why my 3-4-3 team was the only one I was particularly comfortable with.

Hmph, now I must remake my team. One thing's for sure.... SPM is getting the boot for ruining my team!

edit: Well, you're back on the team, Sauce.

Current team....

NAME: PHANTASY

FW
THE SAUCEPAN MAN (BDs) (replaced Feanor, Tuna)
MORMEGIL (Nargothrond)

MF
MAEDHROS (Tuna)
HURIN (Gondolin)
THE PHANTOM (BDs)
EONWE (Valinor)
THURINGWETHIL (Angband)

DF
ANCALAGON (Angband) (replaced Maglor, Tuna)
CURUFIN (Nargothrond)
MAEGLIN (Gondolin)

GK
ULMO (Gondolin)

Woo hoo!! Go Phantasy!!

[Sleepy Ranger]

Saucey and Phantom, could you delete the teams that you won't be using so as to avoid confusion? Also, to everyone, when making a trade post to notify and then edit your original post with the necessary changes so as to avoid confusion and clogging.

Thanks!

[THE Ka]

Formation: 4-3-3

GK:

Ulmo (Gondolin)

DF:

Ulwe (Tol Eressea)
Glorfindel (Rivendell)
Fimbrethil (Fangorn)
Tipsy Cat (Old Grey Hill)

MF:

Hunter (Tol-In-Gauroth)
Radagast (Mirkwood)
Gandalf (Lothlorien)

FW:

Sleepy Ranger (Barrow-Downs)
Finwe (Tuna)
Melkor (Angband)

Sorry for being a bit late in adding up my team, this should be fun to watch. Well, I'm off to make a new Graham Pott interview.

~ Ka

[Nogrod]

Okay.

I've reshuffled my team a bit in post #12 (Noggs' Ball). So there's my current line-up.

But just a few questions.

Why do you Sleepy say that we should consider the first fixtures according to our choices? Aren't every team going to play exactly the same amount of matches? When indeed is the time when we may change our line-ups for those ten changes we have - are there some restrictions?

Is there any additional "charge" if many players (coaches?) will like to sign the same player later? Or any advantage if someone has picked the "hot-player" already in the round robin -phase?

Can the managers trade players between themselves if both agree and are these counted to the general trade-numbers (how many players one can change on each step of the tournament)?

[Sleepy Ranger]

Why do you Sleepy say that we should consider the first fixtures according to our choices?

It's always good to get in a fair number of points in the first round. It's just a suggestion, nothing more.

Aren't every team going to play exactly the same amount of matches?

Yes, only in the first stage of the tournament. Since the second is a knockout round, it would be rather unpredicatble.

When indeed is the time when we may change our line-ups for those ten changes we have - are there some restrictions?

The ten trades are now in effect. Any change made now will be considered a trade.

Is there any additional "charge" if many players (coaches?) will like to sign the same player later?

I don't quite understand your question. If you're asking whether if you have a player but trade him out and then want to trade him back in will there be a charge, then yes. Once a player is traded out to trade him back in you will have to use up a trade so yeah, use your trades wisely.

Or any advantage if someone has picked the "hot-player" already in the round robin -phase?

It's always an advantage to have the player on a streak in your team. You won't get any bonuses for the player being the best though.

Can the managers trade players between themselves if both agree and are these counted to the general trade-numbers (how many players one can change on each step of the tournament)?

No, all teams are independant of the other and therefore inter-team trades are not allowed. Managers may have the same player, in fact, they may have completely identical teams since neither team would be affected by the other. All trades are only possible in regards to the main roster.

Hopefully that clears it up!