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Boromir88 · 06-25-2009, 04:18 PM

What time is it? It's quatre-finale time, for the 2009 Arda World Cup. After a sub-par 15-17 group play record, I've managed to turn it around with a 6-2 start, in the 1st round of the playoffs. I will guarantee my readers right now...I will call every quarter final game correctly. So, listen up phantasy players so you can make the best of your trades!

Can one of the surprise teams (Dor-Lomin, Minas Morgul, or Mirkwood) continue their run and make it all the way into the semis!? Or will the power-houses flex their muscles, sharpen their claws, and bite down?

Match 1: Angband v. Tol-in-Gaurhoth

This is probably the toughest match of the quater-finals to call. Both teams have great odds at winning third, and an outside shot of playing in the finals.

When will TIG toughen up? And I don't mean toughen up, as in commit more fouls, because these wolves foul as much as Moria. I'm pretty sure Borowolf's picked up a yellow in each game, and the 3 defenders haven't faired much better. Their defense has been exposed by the Tuna Trio, and when they get beat they pick up the cards. Their defense even played sloppy against a mediocre Gondor team. That might have been early in the tournament, but TIG has been showing about as much urgency as Taniquetil!

For Angband...let's see a dragon versus the 3 TIG defense-gaurs, edge goes to the dragon. And trust me if TIG thinks they can hit their way to victory, Angband will hit back harder. The wolves' bite is more like a playful nibble compared to Angband's. Angband plays for contact, and they have shown to play much better against a physical team, than against some panzy Elves like Alqualonde. TIG will need to come in with a different strategy if they want to win. Instead of fraternizing with fans, they will have to try and put some charm on the Angband team. It would certainly throw Angband into a confused state, and may throw them off their game. Alas, disappointment will hit the TIG fans, as Carcharoth has gotten better every match, and you really expect the wolves to want to sweet-talk the Angband players? Angband wins 3-2.

TIG's taken a significant step back from previous years and you know...maybe they will actually field their entire team before the Cup is one week away, next time?

Game MVPs:
-Angband: Carcharoth
-TIG: Nogwolf

Match 2: Dor-Lomin v. Hithlum

Dor-Lomin is possibly the only fluke team left in the tournament. I give props to Turin for his 2-goal performance against a super Eregion defense, but everyone knows the only reason they are here, is because Gandalf and Elrond managed to drink spoiled skim miruvor. It's dumb enough to drink spoiled miruvor, but that's not even as upsetting as drinking skim. Everyone knows you have to go whole (2% is forgivable), but anything else and you're asking for trouble. Dor-Lomin's luck is going to run out, as Hithlum has so far shown they are probably the 3rd best team in the tournament (behind Armenolos and Valimar) and are really starting to hit their stride, proving to themselves against the stuffy Valar from Taniquetil.

Feanor will have a field day slicing up the Dor-Lomin defense. Holding Eregion to 1-goal is not all that impressive, because we already knew Eregion would have trouble scoring. I'd like to see Dor-Lomin try to score on Huan, I swear I've seen him eat raw meat before, and Huan will be eating up every shot. Dor-Lomin's only chance might be the refs finally deciding to red card the hound for tearing apart 6-7 soccer balls each match. Hithlum wins 3-1.

Game MVPs:
-Dor-Lomin: Turin
-Hithlum: Feanor

Match 3: Armenolos v. Minas Morgul

It's been a superb run for Minas Morgul, I will even say the Wiki deserves Player-Coach of the Year honors, for his ability to rally his team all the way into the quarter finals. You know if Minas Morgul were up against Hithlum (who they tied in group play!) or Angband, they'd have a pretty fair shot...for the right odds I'd take them. But, does anyone else see a major problem here?...Umm, yes Sauron kind of plays for the other guys, and 75% of Minas Morgul's defense is comprised of Nazgul, plus the Mouth and Gothmog II are virtually Nazgul anyway. Not to mention all of the Wiki's power comes from Sauron.

Luckily, players are forbidden to wear jewelry, thus Sauron's control will be somewhat lessened. However, if any of the Nazgul hope to be employed during the offseason, they will stay out of their boss's way any how. Even if the Wiki decided to keep up his tradition of entering the field on a dark horse, sporting his mighty crown, Sauron will come with a larger crown and the crowd will be left clueless when the Wiki's horse instantaneously is engulfed in fire. Armenolos wins convincingly 2-0.

Game MVPs:
-Armenolos: Sauron
-Minas Morgul: Earnur

Match 4: Mirkwood v. Valimar

This might not be the blowout people assume. Obviously Mirkwood has about as good of a chance of beating Valimar as I have calling one of these matches incorrectly, but they exposed Tuna's defense. Although most of Tuna's 20 shot bombardment were misses, that was due to the Mirkwood defenders forcing the Tuna Trio into impossible angles, and afterall Oropher made the saves that he had to. Will their defense do it again? Haha, in their dreams.

I think the dragon vs. the 3 Balrogs from Valimar will be an interesting match-up to watch. It should put a bottom to the bottomless debate of who would win in a battle...dragon or a balrog? Scatha has to be aware though, that fire or no fire it makes no difference to Balrogs. But, in the longest pre-game conference ever, Treebeard stood up for his teammate: "Let's not be hasty! I would take Scatha as a soccer teammate over any Balrog, any day. Scatha is in much better shape. You may not remember, but I do, because my memory is long and deep...Balrogs have been chronic smokers since the beginning of time. Gothmog has been known to go through as many as 720 packs a day. Ever since he trademarked the name and became the spokesperson for Mogboro's, Balrogs everywhere started lighting up."

Despite Treebeard's deep knowledge about the conditioning habits of Dragons and Balrogs, Mirkwood will not have enough to defeat Valimar. Their defense can not absorb the amount of pressure, that will be placed upon them for two straight games. Valimar wins 4-2.

Game MVPs:
-Mirkwood: Scatha
-Valimar: Melkor

That's all I got for you today...remember my guarantee Phantasy managers 4-0! You will not find better analysis.

By: Jim "Scoop" Johnstone

06-25-2009, 04:18 PM	#103
Boromir88 Laconic Loreman Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: USA Posts: 7,521	What time is it? It's quatre-finale time, for the 2009 Arda World Cup. After a sub-par 15-17 group play record, I've managed to turn it around with a 6-2 start, in the 1st round of the playoffs. I will guarantee my readers right now...I will call every quarter final game correctly. So, listen up phantasy players so you can make the best of your trades! Can one of the surprise teams (Dor-Lomin, Minas Morgul, or Mirkwood) continue their run and make it all the way into the semis!? Or will the power-houses flex their muscles, sharpen their claws, and bite down? Match 1: Angband v. Tol-in-Gaurhoth This is probably the toughest match of the quater-finals to call. Both teams have great odds at winning third, and an outside shot of playing in the finals. When will TIG toughen up? And I don't mean toughen up, as in commit more fouls, because these wolves foul as much as Moria. I'm pretty sure Borowolf's picked up a yellow in each game, and the 3 defenders haven't faired much better. Their defense has been exposed by the Tuna Trio, and when they get beat they pick up the cards. Their defense even played sloppy against a mediocre Gondor team. That might have been early in the tournament, but TIG has been showing about as much urgency as Taniquetil! For Angband...let's see a dragon versus the 3 TIG defense-gaurs, edge goes to the dragon. And trust me if TIG thinks they can hit their way to victory, Angband will hit back harder. The wolves' bite is more like a playful nibble compared to Angband's. Angband plays for contact, and they have shown to play much better against a physical team, than against some panzy Elves like Alqualonde. TIG will need to come in with a different strategy if they want to win. Instead of fraternizing with fans, they will have to try and put some charm on the Angband team. It would certainly throw Angband into a confused state, and may throw them off their game. Alas, disappointment will hit the TIG fans, as Carcharoth has gotten better every match, and you really expect the wolves to want to sweet-talk the Angband players? Angband wins 3-2. TIG's taken a significant step back from previous years and you know...maybe they will actually field their entire team before the Cup is one week away, next time? Game MVPs: -Angband: Carcharoth -TIG: Nogwolf Match 2: Dor-Lomin v. Hithlum Dor-Lomin is possibly the only fluke team left in the tournament. I give props to Turin for his 2-goal performance against a super Eregion defense, but everyone knows the only reason they are here, is because Gandalf and Elrond managed to drink spoiled skim miruvor. It's dumb enough to drink spoiled miruvor, but that's not even as upsetting as drinking skim. Everyone knows you have to go whole (2% is forgivable), but anything else and you're asking for trouble. Dor-Lomin's luck is going to run out, as Hithlum has so far shown they are probably the 3rd best team in the tournament (behind Armenolos and Valimar) and are really starting to hit their stride, proving to themselves against the stuffy Valar from Taniquetil. Feanor will have a field day slicing up the Dor-Lomin defense. Holding Eregion to 1-goal is not all that impressive, because we already knew Eregion would have trouble scoring. I'd like to see Dor-Lomin try to score on Huan, I swear I've seen him eat raw meat before, and Huan will be eating up every shot. Dor-Lomin's only chance might be the refs finally deciding to red card the hound for tearing apart 6-7 soccer balls each match. Hithlum wins 3-1. Game MVPs: -Dor-Lomin: Turin -Hithlum: Feanor Match 3: Armenolos v. Minas Morgul It's been a superb run for Minas Morgul, I will even say the Wiki deserves Player-Coach of the Year honors, for his ability to rally his team all the way into the quarter finals. You know if Minas Morgul were up against Hithlum (who they tied in group play!) or Angband, they'd have a pretty fair shot...for the right odds I'd take them. But, does anyone else see a major problem here?...Umm, yes Sauron kind of plays for the other guys, and 75% of Minas Morgul's defense is comprised of Nazgul, plus the Mouth and Gothmog II are virtually Nazgul anyway. Not to mention all of the Wiki's power comes from Sauron. Luckily, players are forbidden to wear jewelry, thus Sauron's control will be somewhat lessened. However, if any of the Nazgul hope to be employed during the offseason, they will stay out of their boss's way any how. Even if the Wiki decided to keep up his tradition of entering the field on a dark horse, sporting his mighty crown, Sauron will come with a larger crown and the crowd will be left clueless when the Wiki's horse instantaneously is engulfed in fire. Armenolos wins convincingly 2-0. Game MVPs: -Armenolos: Sauron -Minas Morgul: Earnur Match 4: Mirkwood v. Valimar This might not be the blowout people assume. Obviously Mirkwood has about as good of a chance of beating Valimar as I have calling one of these matches incorrectly, but they exposed Tuna's defense. Although most of Tuna's 20 shot bombardment were misses, that was due to the Mirkwood defenders forcing the Tuna Trio into impossible angles, and afterall Oropher made the saves that he had to. Will their defense do it again? Haha, in their dreams. I think the dragon vs. the 3 Balrogs from Valimar will be an interesting match-up to watch. It should put a bottom to the bottomless debate of who would win in a battle...dragon or a balrog? Scatha has to be aware though, that fire or no fire it makes no difference to Balrogs. But, in the longest pre-game conference ever, Treebeard stood up for his teammate: "Let's not be hasty! I would take Scatha as a soccer teammate over any Balrog, any day. Scatha is in much better shape. You may not remember, but I do, because my memory is long and deep...Balrogs have been chronic smokers since the beginning of time. Gothmog has been known to go through as many as 720 packs a day. Ever since he trademarked the name and became the spokesperson for Mogboro's, Balrogs everywhere started lighting up." Despite Treebeard's deep knowledge about the conditioning habits of Dragons and Balrogs, Mirkwood will not have enough to defeat Valimar. Their defense can not absorb the amount of pressure, that will be placed upon them for two straight games. Valimar wins 4-2. Game MVPs: -Mirkwood: Scatha -Valimar: Melkor That's all I got for you today...remember my guarantee Phantasy managers 4-0! You will not find better analysis. By: Jim "Scoop" Johnstone __________________ Fenris Penguin Last edited by Boromir88; 06-29-2009 at 08:44 PM.