[the phantom]

The Phantom, MESPN News

Every Arda Cup we see changes in the rosters, but this year may top them all. In some cases teams are looking to make improvements. In other cases it is individual players leaving for greener pastures, either monetary or competition based. And then of course there is pressure from new rules and regulations this season handed down from the Arda Cup higher ups. Whether or not these rules are being enforced evenly and fairly and whether certain owners have been given too much rope is a topic for another time. Right now I would just like to address some of the rumors that have been swirling around.

Rumor 1) Team Armenelos got "blown up"-
This is false. The team was renamed "Numenor" and the majority of last year's championship team is back for another run- it is only the forwards who have, for one reason or another, gone elsewhere. It was a lethal trio to be sure (Ar Pharazon, Sauron, Tar Minastir), but my sources tell me that some quality talent has filled their slots, including King Elros.

Rumor 2) The Feanor-Maedhros-Aredhel scoring team has separated-
This one is true. Despite having great success together the past two seasons, these three will certainly not be playing together again as Aredhel has agreed to sign with Gondolin, while Maedhros is co-captaining the Eithel Sirion team with his good friend Fingon. Feanor is the big question mark here. With his reputation for consistently coming through in the playoffs, every contender would like to get their hands on him, but of course he demands a high price, and also is tempermental and unlikely to work with certain individuals. Which leads to-

Rumor 3) Feanor is going to sign with (fill in blank)-
I have read on message boards rumors of Feanor signing with Aman, Beleriand, Eithel Sirion, Mithrim, Thangorodrim, Tirion, and Valimar, and I've even heard some crack-pot stories about him signing with some team that he has zero association with.

Thangorodrim has been floated as a possibility since Melkor left to start his Utumno squad, but I can't imagine Feanor has much more love for Melkor's house than he does for Melkor himself. As far as Beleriand, there's just no one there that he is familiar with. It's an exclusively mortal team (at least to this point). Aman and Valimar are unlikely because he would be subjecting himself to the Valar leadership. I can't see that. Mithrim already has half a dozen high price players, not to mention there would be possible battling over which scorer would receive top billing and be featured more, Turin or Feanor. Yes, yes, two of his sons are playing for them (Curufin and Celegorm) but I still highly doubt he goes there.

Eithel Sirion has slightly more cap room than Mithrim at this point, but if Feanor goes there it would upset the balance of power, as currently the official headman is Maedhros, and I don't doubt he would hand things over to daddy if he came to play with them. But despite that I think Feanor is so difficult for anyone to sign that he may well end up with Eithel Sirion by default.

And the hottest rumor of course is the Feanor to Tirion talk. The thing is, Tirion (aka Tuna in the past) has made their living on offense, and the potent trio of Miriel, Nerdanel, and Finwe have all signed to be back for this Arda Cup. Why in the world would they bring in Feanor at this point? The offense is already clicking- it's defensive help that they need. Unless of course they think that adding Feanor will make up for it? But that's a big risk! But with Aule managing this team, I suppose it's impossible to rule it out. He's always been a risk taker and we know he loves Feanor. It shouldn't be likely from a logical perspective, but the way things are Tirion is as likely as anyplace other than Eithel Sirion in my opinion.

Rumor 4) Several "Goodies" have signed to play with Sauron-
Absolutely true. It has been confirmed that Elendil, Isildur, Anarion, Ohtar, and Gil-Galad will all be joining Sauron at Barad-Dur. The rest of the team is not completely set, but it appears that at least a couple Nazgul will land there, and Mouth also looks to be on board.

Rumor 5) Thingol has allowed "baseborn mortals" onto his team-
Also true. With Mablung staying with Nargothrond and Beleg continuing to stick with Turin in Mithrim, Thingol simply needed an influx of talent from outside his woods, so he extended an invitation to the people of Haleth living next door, and word is that the call has already been answered.

Rumor 6) Minas Tirith will not have a team this year-
False. Very false! Minas Tirith will essentially have two teams this year- it's just that neither of them is named "Minas Tirith". One squad is playing as "Minas Anor" and the other as "Pelennor". Not surprisingly, the Pelennor team is made up primarily of those who made a name for themselves in the famous Battle of the Pelennor Fields, including Legolas, Eowyn, and Theoden.