11-3 in the playoffs and 2 more matches to go. Angband v. Mirkwood for 3rd place, and Armenolos v. Hithlum for the Championship.
We can just forget about that mistake in reporting Bilbo's press conference. I was suffering under temporary dementia, but sadly Bilbo's dementia seems more permanent. That was a minor lapse, the bigger story being continuing this impressive string of calling matches correctly.
Let us start with the game for 3rd place:
Angband v. Mirkwood.
This will be an exciting one, and a good warm-up game for the championship. Mirkwood being the surprise team this Cup and Angband being pretty much in the position most experts expected. Because of that, Angband will be the favourite, but Mirkwood has room left for one more surprise.
We will see who will take the title the "Lord" of the Dragons. You might say it should be Ancalagon the Black, but his fire has been sputtering throughout the tournament. Scatha has fit much better into the Mirkwood team than Ancalagon has in Angband. You even had Treebeard singing praises for Scatha, and it's showing up in the phantasy points as well. I don't know how Mirkwood has managed with their conglomeration of races, but whatever they have been doing it's been working. The Arda Kicker Magazine would tell you they must have the favour of Eru...bogus I tell you.
Angband hasn't had any major internal blow-ups, but you can tell in their team play something has been off. Hurin was near the top in assists last year, and with his new team he just hasn't been doing it. You can tell he hasn't been feeling comfortable distributing the ball to Angband's forwards. He is far to honourable to cause a ruckus about not completely gelling in the Angband team, but supressing your dissatisfaction is sometimes more harmful to your team than simply spouting off your mind. It has been showing in Hurin's play, and it's not helping Angband. I told you weeks ago Hurin had to get evil if Angband wanted to get to the next level.
Angband's got the better talent, but Mirkwood's got enough talent to be competitive, and their teamwork will put them over the edge.
Mirkwood wins 3-2.
THE CHAMPIONSHIP!
Armenolos v. Hithlum
That Bilbo truly had to be nuts, because I can't think of two better teams to fight for the cup than these two, and I doubt the Arda Cup officials would have wanted any one, besides these two, representing honest, fair, and flat out great soccer skill. Theez boyz can play and they will show it in a Final that will not only be recorded for the soccer archives, but will forever be remembered by anyone lucky enough to experience it.
Feanor is the best player on the field, but the technique and team strategy of Armenolos has not been bested by anyone. I would argue that Tar-Atanamir has been the best goalie all tournament, however, because of his ridiculous save percentage he has made Armenolos' overall defense look better than it actually is. If you want to see the best overall team defense, look no further than Hithlum, who just does not allow their opponents many scoring opportunities, and when they do get opportunities they usually aren't good.
Armenolos has not faced any threat like Feanor, and their defense will finally give up 2 goals. Feanor continues to prove why he is the best, with his innate ability to recognize when he has to take control and when he has to distribute crisp passes to teammates. He will do it again in this match. As impressive as Sauron has been, stripping the ball from old senile hobbits like Bilbo is one thing, try doing that to anyone on Hithlum, and Sauron will be looking up from the flat of his back, wishing there was another Ring Frodo could destroy, because as painful as that might of been, it was quick and it will be nothing to the 90 minute beating he will take on the soccer field.
Hithlum wins 2-1.
By: Jim "Scoop" Johnstone
The Boro-Blog