Dwarves United
(
Expected formation)
Last year
Dwarves United surprisingly advanced to the knockout stages ahead of an offensively stacked Wilderland squad and a solid Anduin team. They did it in the way of most footballing underdogs, by being very difficult to break down and nicking a few goals on the break.
Legolas seemed to be the perfect forward for their team—he passed their strict squad selection qualification (being a Dwarf-friend) and he is a speedy forward who excels in rushing at disorganised defences. However, all they got from their lone forward is a goal in four games, a poor rate of return considering he offers little else to the Dwarven offence: he’s poor at holding the ball up and his crossing ability is useless when the targets are often less than four feet tall.
Changes
Which is why it’s surprising that their major acquisition during the preseason transfer window, former Wilderland attacking midfielder Galadriel, is being fielded as a goalkeeper. This is especially bewildering considering their former keeper Bombur boasted a save rate that was tied for seventh best last year. That they would choose an incremental increase in defensive solidity over a two- or even threefold increase in offensive ability is perhaps deeply rooted in Dwarven philosophy. It is certainly a decision many football analysts struggle to understand.
Defence
Ahead of Galadriel is a solid back four: Azaghâl and Aulë are the centre-backs, with the Dwarf from Belegost doing the tackling and interceptions while the Vala stayed behind to make clearances and win headers. On the flanks are the attacking left-back Celebrimbor and the more defensive-minded right-back Durin.
Midfield
In front of them are Dwarves United’s other preseason signings, midfielders Fíli and Kíli. We disagree with AKM when they said that their ‘only merit is that they will play for the team with half the price.’ The sons of Dís are an improvement over Thror and Thorin; while the elder two are more combative tacklers (unfortunately leading to yellow cards), the latter are quicker and more capable of occupying space and cutting off passing options for opposing attackers. They are also excellent in short one-touch passing, as they demonstrated in their friendly vs Rohan—their quick switch of play from one flank to the other led to Celebrimbor setting up Gimli to create Telchar’s winner.
Attack
Just behind Legolas are the more attacking trio of midfielders. Gamil Zirak and Telchar start out wide and dribble past opponents, while Gimli drifts into space to create overloads on either wing. One of the trio will receive a short pass from Fíli and Kíli while the others dash forward to support Legolas. Last year, Celebrimbor often arrived late in the box when defences have paid them too much attention to the four attackers, and his Fëanorean ball skills were enough to give him space to shoot. But, during the friendlies, teams have begun to man-mark him, even double-marking him when he crosses the halfway line (as in the game against Rohan). His decision-making must be spot on so he can exploit potential openings, as he did vs the Rohirrim when, as Háma and Snowmane double-teamed him, he passed to the open Gimli who immediately assisted a cutting Telchar.
Quick Guide
CAPTAIN: Aulë
FORMATION: 4-5-1
PLAYING STYLE: defensive, counterattacking
STRENGTH: Defensively solid.
WEAKNESS: Lack of goalscoring.
KEY PLAYER: Celebrimbor
QUESTION: Can they get goals out of Legolas?
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Gondolin
(
Expected formation)
Last year
Gondolin scored seven goals in four tournament games, with forwards Gothmog and Maeglin accounting for all but one goal. Their offence was ranked ninth in the tournament, putting up 16.5 shots per game (better than even AC Beleriand’s 16.14). More than half of the goals they scored, however, came against Arnor. They scored only once against some of the tournament’s top defences (one vs second-ranked Eriador and none vs third-ranked AC Beleriand).
Changes
In the offseason Gothmog transferred to Anfauglith; in his place as Gondolin’s line leader was Tuor from the Havens. Pengolodh was released and Penlod from FC Valinor was brought in to strengthen the defence. Also from FC Valinor was wide midfielder Idril, brought in to replace a retiring Meleth. Having two legitimate wide players means that Gondolin would field a normal 4-4-2 instead of their asymmetrical 4-2-2-2.
Midfield
There is a problem, though: Salgant and Duilin, Gondolin’s two central midfielders, are incompatible with the Hidden Kingdom’s defensive style. In fact, they just don’t fit well together. A traditional central midfield duo consists of one disciplined player with a more forward-thinking one (either a passer or a runner). But Salgant drifts around the pitch too much to play the more disciplined role. Duilin isn’t suited for it, either; he is an energetic box-to-box player, excellent at moving forward to link midfield and attack, supplying passes to the forwards, and making late runs to the penalty box against distracted defenders, but he is poor at tackling and even poorer at defensive positioning. As a result, Gondolin, even with their two banks of four, look surprisingly open to attacks through the middle. During their friendly against Hithlum, Hador found a surprising amount of space to run in and finish Túrin’s chipped ball past the defence—Salgant had been chasing Túrin around whenever the forward dropped deep, while Duilin was dragged away by Morwen’s movement to the flanks.
Attack
Out wide beside Duilin and Salgant are Idril on the right and Elemmakil on the left. They are both better on attack than defence, which compounds the problem of protecting their defence. Elemmakil is a traditional winger, hugging the touchline before delivering crosses to the forwards, while Idril drifted inside to act as a third central midfielder when she played for FC Valinor; however, in Gondolin’s more direct counterattacking system, she’s been asked to replicate Elemmakil’s movements.
The game against Tirion highlighted Meleth’s underrated importance to Gondolin’s attack—she was their ‘quarterback’, playing accurate balls out of the defence directly to the attackers in dangerous positions, something Rog or the defenders could not do. Creating too few chances against Tirion’s second-worst defence (whose personnel, however, were completely revamped during the offseason trade window) illustrated the difficulty Gondolin had connecting defence and attack when their wingers are marked tightly. (During their second friendly against Hithlum Idril and Elemmakil were given more space, and they had more influence in the game.)
Up front, Tuor is the target man, able to lead the line with force as well as score goals. Maeglin plays just behind him, linking midfield and attack as well as drifting laterally into channels.
Defence
Penlod is a step above Pengolodh as a defender, adding toughness and positional discipline to their backline. The rest of the back four are vulnerable to crafty forwards and midfield runners. Their full-backs offer little going forward, but with Idril and Elemmakil already providing the attacking width, there is little need for them to do so. And goalkeeper Rog has yet to regain his 2010 form, although his save rate during friendlies (73%) is a step above his 2012 rate (68%). (Iorithil of
QN Sport wrote an article surmising that his performance with Vinyamar might be credited more to the Ulmo-organised defence than his own talent.)
Quick Guide
CAPTAIN: Maeglin
FORMATION: 4-4-1-1/4-4-2
PLAYING STYLE: counterattacking
STRENGTH: Attackers, pace down the flanks.
WEAKNESS: Defence and central midfield.
KEY PLAYER: Maeglin
QUESTION: Who will link the defence and attack when their wingers are marked out of the game? (All the teams in their group have defensively solid wide players)
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Group B’s expected finish:
- AC Beleriand
- Inter Beleriand
- Gondolin
- Dwarves United