[Nogrod]

The AKM newly appointed editor-in-chief Ugr Nogrendale managed to lure a few players from the ‘Downs to join him with some finedining and a glass of wine. The report is here, exclusively in the AKM!


~*~

We had made a rendez-vous at the “Steward’s Terrace”, one of the finest restaurants in uptown Minas Tirith. The afternoon sun still warmed the terrace but the cool southern breezes from river Anduin made it pleasant to sit outside looking over the downtown and lower circles of the mighty city.

An hour past the agreed meeting I was getting concerned whether they had just played fool with me. I ordered a third glass of classy Dorwinionian red wine and was honestly on my way planning a mighty mock-report of the arrogant wanna-be stars when they finally arrived apologising heartily.

“Sorry to let you wait, but we ended up playing some live werewolf in the lockers after the rehersals and you know how it easily takes time.” the phantom excused.

“Oh boy did I fool Nogrod big time!” Wilwa added smiling at Nogrod who just nodded returning the smile.

“But you didn’t fool me dear!” Fea snapped in a playful tone.

“Heh, that’s why we killed you on N2…” Nerwen said.

"I still wonder why some people play it online though..." Skip put in and others burst into laughter.

It seemed they could have discussed that game for ages but happily the waiters came with the menus and I had a chance to politely turn the conversation into football. And without further ado, here’s what we discussed.



AKM: “So it seems you guys have a good feeling in the locker room and the practise-field. How would you describe the mood of your team?”

Skip: “Oh we've been having a blast. Those of us who've been there anyway. The Phantom never shows up for practice. There's nothing to improve, he says. Already perfect.”

tp: “Ha- Skippy! But well, perhaps a bit too good actually! We get on very well, and sometimes we can get off track in practice. But I think as the tournament nears we will be able to put that aside.”

Wilwa: “Well of the 2 times we’ve practiced, the first was more a matter of getting to know each other, so we threw a little dinner party on the field, ya know, to get used to being there and being around each other. The second time we decided to get the ball out and after about 25 minutes it was obvious we were awesome, so there was no point in continuing.”

Nogrod: “There is a time for action and there is time for in-action. It’s all in the metaphysical balance of it. Action is mostly overrated.”

AKM: “Okay, so how do you look forwards to this year’s tournament?”

Skip: “Oh, I've been looking forwards to it, sure. Ever since last year's fiasco I've been locked up in my room, smoking the pipe-weed and painting the walls with layer after layer of black paint, then watching it dry. Now it's time for revenge.”

tp: “I've got a few Arda Cups under my belt already, so there's no jitters to worry about. I'm just anxious to get out there and start playing.”

Nogrod: “Yeah, we live in anticipation… we’re almost there already. Which is not to say we’re not here now, even if that can be doubted.”

AKM: “Well I was actually thinking about the prospects of your team. So let me phrase it this way: what do you think are the strengthts of your team, which are the weaknesses?”

Nerwen: “On the plus side is our sheer enthusiasm for the game, and our sense of, well, I can only call it fellowship, as Downers. On the other paw, I mean hand, some of us just aren't that used to taking human form– just a moment, I've got a flea.” *whimpers and scratches ear furiously*

tp: “I really think the best way to describe us is solid. We work together well, cover for each other, support each other, and know the basic habits of our mates. We don't have the sheer individual strength of your dragons and balrogs nor the speed and quickness of Feanor or Bombadil, but I think our overall quality, unity, and brains will make us equally as dangerous.”

Skip: “Hard to say, there are many new faces in this year's team. But a player like The Phantom deserves a mention. If he's only half as good as he thinks he is he's twice as good as any other player. However, with young ladies like Nerwen, Sally and Fea playing on the midfield, he must have a mind to keep his eyes on the ball and not on his pretty team-mates.“

AKM: “I see we have a strong representation of midfielders here, how would you say your midfield is up to the task?”

Fea: “I've always said that the best defense is a good offense, and as midfielder, I get a fair bit of both. It never gets boring, i can say that.”

tp: “If anything bites us in the midfield it will be inexperience. The girls are doing great in practice, but it's easy to lose your focus a bit out in front of a huge hostile crowd, or even an overly rooting crowd. But so long as there's nothing like that, I think we'll be great. They help pressure the goal when we're on offense and get back quickly to help on defense. Very flexible.”

Nerwen: “Well, midfield is simply crucial to the game, but it does take a lot out of you. You have to be able to sniff out your opponents' weaknesses, tackle them with your front legs (resisting the urge to nip their ankles, which is a foul), then, dribbling the ball with your nose, you– what am I saying?” *mutters* think like a human, think like a human...

AKM: ”How about you forwards?”

Wilwa: “What am I again? *checks* Oh yeah, forward. *thinks about what that is* The one in the net right? Oh, they’re quite important indeed.”

Nogrod: “The time has only one direction and that is forwards, that’s where everything gets resolved in the end… well that’s basically it.”

AKM: “Uhh… erm, well… on defence?”

Skip: “The key in defence will be to get our communication right. This is a new-look defence, and I think Gwath will have a big part to play here. He will have to show his leadership qualities and get the best out of young Steve and Mira. I'm really exited about Mira too, think she had a great tournament ahead of her. She will have to control her violent temper though, because physically assaulting opponents or team-mates will get her sent off.”

AKM: “Who will be the key-player to lead your team this year?”

Fea: “Me, of course.”

Wilwa: “Steve, clearly.”

tp: “I really think it's down to the veterans. Nog and I are here for the fourth straight time, and everyone else looks to us. We've both had a heroic moment or two in Cups past, and I think our team believes in our ability to pull off anything.”

Nogrod: “What he just said… And Wilwa will perform miracles as we do live in an enhanced reality.”

Skip: “I think Wilwa might surprise a lot of people. She's untested at this level but I believe she has the capacity to score many goal with people like The Phantom there to supply her with top quality passes.”

tp: “I hate to put extra pressure on anyone, but I'd have to agree on Wilwa. When SPM retired after last season we knew it'd be tough to fill the void. Nogrod and I are known commodities up front- you figure we're going to do our thing. What we don't know is if Wilwa is ready to step up. She's shown promise in practice, and we're hoping that she comes through.”

AKM: “Let’s go to some realities then, enhanced or not, you face Barad-Dûr, Breeland and Gorgoroth in the group play. What are your predictions? Who will challenge you, who will be an easy pray?”

Wilwa: “I think Breeland will be fairly easy to beat; lots of the players just have silly names. I don’t like spiders so I’m not really looking forward to playing Gorgoroth, but I hope to overcome it, perhaps by playing with my eyes closed. Barad-Dur is a tougher call, but I think Nog and I should be able to get around those Nazgul fairly easily.”

Nerwen: “Breeland will be a walkover. To put it bluntly: at least a couple of them are seriously out of shape, Bombadil can't keep his mind on the game, the Barrow-Wight's not what I'd call solid, and they're simply wasting the goal-kicking potential of their equine members by making them play in defence. Oh, and their goalie's a tree. A tree. I ask you.

Gorgoroth is harder to call. It's going to be pretty tricky to get past Shelob, I can tell you that. Still, word is she's not popular with the rest of the team– something about her appetite.

As for Barad-Dûr– I'll be honest with you– we've a strong team and an optimistic one, but we're really going to have our work cut out for us here. Morale may be a problem too, though I'd hope those of us from Tol-in-Gaurhoth will have the sense not to roll over for their one-time alpha wolf, Sauron."

Skip: “It's a very tough group for sure. Barad-Dur has a strong squad but it remains to see if Sauron can play together with Isildur and Gil-Galad. Breeland has been all about Tom Bombadil in the past, but with Strider and the Barrow-Wright by his side, he's got some quality support. It's easy to overlook Gorgoroth, but they've got some quality players and are capable of an upset.”

tp: “I wouldn't say "easy" for any of them. This year's field is the strongest top to bottom I've ever seen, and one cannot afford to take any team lightly. Now, Barad-Dur certainly will get more attention, and rightfully so- their talent is at least a match for ours, and they have Sauron. A couple seasons back a few of us actually played with him on Tol-In-Gaurhoth, so we know not only how talented he is, but how well he prepares himself and his team for matches.

Breeland you worry about getting hot and putting up goals with those forwards they have. We can't allow for Strider to get free-kick chances or even too many corners- they're quite deadly when given chances like that. I imagine our strategy will be to hold possession against them and deny them the offensive zone for the most part.

Gorgoroth is the most difficult for me to predict, as it may partly depend upon how the match is being called. They have very crafty defenders, whose tactics border on the illegal. But being the clever sort they often get away with it, and of course they have good talent up front to counter-attack with.”

Nogrod: “We should avoid the situations where the hunter turns into the hunted… easy to be hard, hard to be easy.”

AKM: “Well overall then, if not you, name your favourites to win Arda Cup this year.”

Wilwa: “If not us, I think Bywater has a pretty good chance.”

Skip: “Gondolin will be dangerous this year, no doubt. Ar-Pharazon's Numenor always play for world domination too. And never count out Melkor and his Utumno. He may not be as good as he once was, but he is still mighty among footballers.”

tp: “Well now, that's a toughie. As I said previously, this tournament field is very deep this year. It's difficult to pick one favorite. You've got a few who could ride their offenses, and a few who could ride their defense to the title. If I had to pick I suppose I'd go with Utumno.”

AKM: “Is there any team team you particularly love?”

Wilwa: “Big fan of Utumno, you can never have too many Balrogs.”

tp: “I will be following Gondolin with great interest this year. Maeglin was just absolutely clutch in last season's playoff run, and now helping him out is Aredhel, who was great with Maedhros and Feanor the past couple years. She's constantly under-rated in my opinion, and therefore one of my favorites. And then there's Fingolfin- no questioning his talent. And daddy Eol has done well lately too, and Glorfindel and Ecthelion will be supporting also from the midfield. That's quite an assembly of scoring talent there!”

AKM: ”Do you hate any team?”

Wilwa: “Numenor, too many Tars.”

tp: “I don't particularly like Lorien, primarily because of the way Galadriel runs the team. She could put together a better side if she didn't demand so much control over everything. Like this year, if you read the report from Boro- they could've signed Feanor! And Celeborn, poor chap- I think he's got some great ideas for the offense, but she has to do everything her way. I really do wish huge failure upon them, in hopes that it will shake things up enough to get some changes there.”

Nogrod: “I hate hating and love loving.”

AKM: “Fair point… but disregarding it I just have to ask this. Is there a player you’d especially love to humble?”

tp: “Ha ha! Well, hmmm... Perhaps I shouldn't name anyone very good, because I don't want them motivated when they play us! I suppose if I had to choose- Bombadil perhaps? He's such a loon, and when he's out there it's like he's not taking things seriously half the time. He's off chasing butterflies about the pitch- literally sometimes! And then suddenly after you've stopped paying attention to him he makes a surprisingly quick dash in at the goal and scores easily, laughing the whole time. Kind of gets on my nerves a bit.”

Fea: ”Morgoth. I don't care how good of a footballer he is, he still owes me some jewelry.”

AKM: “Thanks for your time. Anything you’d like to add?”

Fea: “Oh god, don't you just love Becks? And that Tony guy. He plays football, right?”

tp: “Go Barrow-Downs!”