Arda Cup Football 2013

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Elenrod: Good evening, and welcome to The Matchday, the show for discerning football fans. Normally we cover the Elvish Premier League, but it’s about time we have a go at the Arda Cup. I’m your host, Elenrod of TENT, and with me today is our resident tactics expert, Maikalomion.

Maikalomion: Mae govannen.

Elenrod: And ArdaCup.com’s columnist on disclaimers, Adam Smith.

Adam : Hi. Not the economist.

Elenrod: Not the economist. Blogger and hostage Felagundion is also here.

Felagundion: I’ve yet to decide if this is better than paying the damages.

Elenrod: It’s $60 million for hijacking our Group G matchday 2 broadcast last year, by the way.

Adam: Oof. I hope you have a Gondolin bank account.

Elenrod: Indeed. So, where do we start, then?

Adam: Gondolin-Tirion at Tumladen Park.

Gondolin 0-2 Tirion
on target 3-7
tot shots 12-15
GOALS:
*17, 0-1 Mahtan (Finwë)
*37, 0-2 Aredhel (Finwë)
YELLOW CARDS:
*GDN- Galdor, Salgant
*TIR- Caranthir

Elenrod: So, they held the game at Tumladen Park because the Song of Stone Stadium—

Felagundion: Stadium on the Rock.

Elenrod: Pardon?

Felagundion: Song of Stone Insurance is a Premier League sponsor, but not an Arda Cup one. So we should call it ‘Stadium on the Rock’.

Elenrod: Oh, okay. So, they held it at Tumladen Park because Stadium on the Rock will be used for most of Group B’s games.

Adam: Except one of the last group stage games, to comply with the Arda Cup rule on games on the last day being played simultaneously. That’s when they’ll use Tumladen Park again.

Elenrod: Right. So, Maika, what went wrong for Gondolin? Many have said that Gondolin lost because they sat back and preferred to play on the break instead of taking the game to Tirion. They do have the better midfielders, after all.

Maika : But it was the right tactic for Gondolin. Salgant and Duilin might be better passers, better at going forward, but they can’t shield their defenders well. And Gondolin’s back four aren’t really that good, and the only one who’s quality, Penlod, isn’t suited to playing a high line. He’s better off with his back to the goal where he can see the play before him, so his positional intelligence, his intercepting, and his aerial prowess can be brought to bear. But he’s not comfortable when he’s forced to turn and run after attackers.

Elenrod: So how did Tirion score twice against a Gondolin side that set out to defend?

Adam: I noticed how Aredhel pinned back Penlod, leaving Aranwë to deal with Finwë. And he just dominated the poor father of Voronwë in the air.

Maika: That’s the advantage of having two genuine centre forwards up top. You can dictate the match-up to the opposing centre-backs. A lot of two-forward formations last year had only one centre forward who’s paired with a second striker who usually started from the wings and roamed around looking for space. You had Glorfindel, Eöl, Bombadil, and Maeglin playing that way. Anyway, Finwë was clearly Tirion’s avenue of attack. Rúmil and Caranthir peppered the box with crosses for him.

Adam: And their strategy was successful—two of his knock-downs were converted by Mahtan and Aredhel.

Elenrod: And then during the second half, I saw Penlod and Aranwë switch marking duties, and Finwë was silenced. Is that right?

Felagundion: That’s right. Finwë couldn’t win in an aerial battle with Penlod the Tall—at least, not comfortably.

Elenrod: So Gondolin were able to blunt Tirion’s attack. But how come they couldn’t get back into the game? What was the problem with their offence?

Maika: The defenders and Rog were terrible in their distribution, and Mahtan and Rúmil marked Idril and Elemmakil well. Remember, counterattacking depends on getting the ball as quickly as possible to the forwards, usually via long balls from the defence or wingers who scamper quickly up the pitch. Often Tuor had to win long balls on the flanks, where he was then trapped by the full-back, the wide midfielder, and the centre-back on that side of the pitch. He’s not bad with the ball on the ground, but he can’t dribble past three markers; that’s Maeglin’s specialty. But Maeglin can’t win long balls like Tuor can.

Elenrod: I guess that’s it for Gondolin-Tirion. How about Dagor Bragollach? Anfauglith vs AC Beleriand at Mithrim’s Lakeside Arena.

AC Beleriand 2-1 Anfauglith
on target 7-3
tot shots 17-10
GOALS:
*19, 0-1 Gothmog (Balrog #3)
*64, 1-1 Angrod (Eöl)
*78, 2-1 Aegnor (Fëanor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*ACB- Imlach, Ulrad
*ANF- Haldir, Balrog #2, Gelmir

Adam: The opener for that game was fantastic! Balrog #3 breaks up an AC Bel attack and sends a long ball forward. Then Gothmog and Ecthelion, both aerial experts, confuse Imlach and Rochallor by switching positions. Poor Rochallor ends up getting matched against the Lord of the Balrogs, who predictably wins the header. He turns on Fingolfin’s horse and slams a piledriver home. Poor Marach at the AC Bel goal never stood a chance.

Elenrod: But then AC Bel mounts a comeback in the second half.

Maika: Yes, and they also showed that they don’t miss Beren that much on offence. They fielded a 4-2-3-1, with Fëanor just behind Eöl up top, instead of the other way around as you’d expect. Anfauglith’s defence didn’t know what to do, especially with Eöl still running all over the pitch as usual. And Angrod and Aegnor were brilliant—they started out wide, as expected, but their runs were direct, goalward, like what Beleg and Lúthien did for Doriath last year. That front four just played their first real game—well, it’s a friendly, but at least it’s not a practise match—and they were already combining excellently. They’d be a handful for any defence in the tournament.

Elenrod: All right. Now, let’s indulge one of our guests here and move on to Nargothrond-Armenelos at the High Faroth Arena.

Armenelos 3-3 Nargothrond
on target 9-7
tot shots 21-17
GOALS:
*7, 0-1 Nienor (Gwindor)
*28, 1-1 Elros (Ar-Adûnakhôr)
*42, 1-2 Finduilas (Finrod)
*59, 2-2 Ar-Pharazôn (Tar-Míriel)
*72, 3-2 Ar-Pharazôn (Tar-Ancalimon)
*85, 3-3 Glaurung (Nienor)
YELLOW CARDS:
*ARM- Ar-Gimilzôr, Tar-Calmacil
*NGR- Arminas, Guilin

Felagundion: Finally!

Elenrod: So, Felagundion, tell me about what Nargothrond are doing just outside their gates.

Felagundion: Don’t mind if I do. They’re building a second stadium, Narog Bridge, in order to comply with Arda Cup’s new group stage hosting rules. They’re trying to win a hosting bid for the quarterfinals this year, but they want to host a group again sometime in the future.

Elenrod: Best of luck, then. So, the game. Six goals, thirty-eight shots—this was an open game.

Felagundion: A frantic one. Finrod said afterwards that they deliberately played that way—they wanted to test their attack-to-defence transition. It was still poor, but you can see some improvements—the previous Nargothrond back line would have conceded four or more to Armenelos.

Adam: And Armenelos look like a mess because they’re testing a back three, with Tar-Míriel and Tar-Ancalimon as wing-backs.
 
Maika: Wing-back is one of the most demanding positions in football. They’re listed as midfielders, but they have to help out both in attack and defence. That’s especially true in a 3-5-2, since the back three are all central defenders and the front two are both centre forwards. All of a team’s width, both at the front and the back, comes from the wing-backs.

Adam: That position requires a crazy amount of stamina to go up and down the pitch for ninety minutes, as well as crossing ability and positional sense to know when to go forward and when to stay back.

Maika: They’d probably try all their midfielders to see which pair works best. Except Elros; he’s their number ten, just behind Ar-Pharazôn and Ar-Adûnakhôr.

Elenrod: That’s enlightening stuff. But I hear Finrod also fielded an unusual shape.

Felagundion: Yes, he did. Finrod and Gwindor started as a front two, with Glaurung just behind them, so that the Father of Dragons could start in his preferred spot between the lines of opposition defence and midfield.

Maika: He’s their number ten, though he’s not much of a playmaker like a traditional number ten is. He’s playing more of a Bard role in last year’s Erebor, playing between the lines, then making sudden runs against overloaded defences.

Felagundion: And it worked, at least at first. Finrod went deep and Gwindor went right, to their preferred positions, dragging Tar-Palantir and Tar-Calmacil with them. Poor Tar-Telperiën was all alone dealing with runs from Glaurung, Nienor, and Finduilas.

Maika: Those two ladies are an excellent fit to Nargothrond’s system. They’re decent tacklers so they can help on the defence, and they have an instinct for making those sudden explosive runs at the right time.

Elenrod: But in the second half, Armenelos make their comeback with a Golden double.

Maika: Yes. Ar-Gimilzôr and Tar-Telemmaitë in the Armenelos midfield sat deeper to contain Nargothrond’s midfield runs. This defensive shift gave the wing-backs greater license to push forward, and they crossed for both of Ar-Pharazôn’s goals.

Elenrod: Then Glaurung’s equaliser happened.

Felagundion: Nienor sends a hasty cross right in the space between the triangle of Tar-Telperiën and the Armenelos midfielders. Tar-Telperiën moves forward to clear it, but on comes Glaurung, seemingly out of nowhere, to claim it. He flicks it upward a little, just beyond the Queen’s reach, turns on her, and then tails home a screamer. The stadium went wild.

Elenrod: I’m sure they did. Well, we’re almost out of time, so on to the last game: Inter Beleriand vs The Havens at Himring’s Ever-Cold Arena, another game of six goals.

Inter Beleriand 3-3 The Havens
on target 8-9
tot shots 17-18
GOALS:
*17, 1-0 Beren (Maedhros)
*31, 1-1 Eärendil (Eärwen)
*42, 1-2 Eärendil (Falastur)
*58, 2-2 Maedhros (Fingon)
*68, 2-3 Círdan (Olwë)
*79, 3-3 Fingon (Haleth)
YELLOW CARDS:
*INB- Forweg
*HAV- Mithrellas

Elenrod: If you squint hard enough you’ll see that it’s almost like the previous game we discussed. A striker scores a brace, but his team concedes a late equaliser.

Adam: Except the brace was completed in the first half. But yeah, Eärendil. He’s at the tip of the Haven’s 4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1- hybrid, with Círdan just behind him and Falastur and Eärwen taking the place of wide midfielders Angrod and Aegnor. And they’re almost as good as the ones they replaced, at least in this game. It was their crosses that Eärendil converted for his double.

Maika: And the combination between Inter’s front two and Beren was about as seamless as those of their rivals AC Bel. Well, the partnership between Maedhros and Fingon is almost telepathic by now—no surprise, as they’ve been playing for more than four years now.

Felagundion: The only time they weren’t teammates was the very first Arda Cup. That’s just… wow.

Elenrod: I agree. How’s that for commitment? I also saw that both teams’ supporting cast aren’t bad.

Adam: Yeah, Inter’s Haleth is a handful down the flanks; he’s just crazy fast in a straight-line dash. And Havens full-back Olwë times his forward surges well, so he doesn’t leave space behind him often and he with his daughter can overload the opposing right-back to get crosses in for Eärendil and Círdan.

Elenrod: Marvellous stuff. And with that we come to the end of our program. Tune in again next time for another Matchday analysis of the friendlies, as well as our team previews and tournament prediction. Many thanks to Maika, to Adam, and to Felagundion. From all of us here: namárië for now.

[the phantom]

With only two rounds of friendlies this year, and a promise of no rematches in groups, the practice games have seen excellent attendance and viewership- not to mention a slightly higher level of play. Checking in on the most recent round of games, first at Taniquetil...

The Sea 1-0 Valimar
on target 5-2
tot shots 13-9
GOALS:
*38, 1-0 Tar Minastir (Tar Meneldur)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Sea- Voronwe, Osse
*Valimar- Este

A low-scoring affair here, but not bad to watch. Both squads showed respectable offensive chops, but the defenses were generally more than a match for them, and there was no rhythm to be found. Arien seemed a bit frustrated, perpetually shadowed by Osse or Uinen, stuck to her like a wet shirt. And in fact she may have been right to gripe at the officials, as the sea-folk were continually dousing her flames by splashing water on her. In the end The Sea proved stingier, and Amarie and Este got crossed up on assignments leaving Tar Minastir an avenue to the net.

And at Bree...

Shire-Bree United 2-1 The Barrow-Downs
on target 6-4
tot shots 13-13
GOALS:
*39, 1-0 Gandalf (Ferny)
*60, 1-1 Bombadil (Saucepan Man)
*86, 2-1 Khamul (Gandalf)
YELLOW CARDS:
*SBUnt- Nazgul#4, Shadowfax, Bandobras, Ferny
*BDowns- GwathWight, Hookbill, LalwendeMP

Though most of the offense departed, it seems SBree can still score with Gandalf plugged in, and their defense did look more impressive than last season. But The Downs still gave them a game and made them work for the win, highlighted by a brilliant run by Bombadil (who else?).

Meanwhile, at Goblin Town...

Imladris 2-2 Misty Mts
on target 7-6
tot shots 16-16
GOALS:
*16, 1-0 Elladan (Arahael)
*37, 1-1 Orophin (Narvi)
*65, 2-1 Elrohir (Lindir)
*84, 2-2 Azog (Orophin)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Imlad- Galdor, Elladan, Erestor, Celebrian, Arahael, Elrohir
*MMts- Azog, GreatGoblin, William, Rumil, Caradhras, DBane
RED CARDS:
*Imlad- Elladan (29, second yellow)
*MMts- Great Goblin (48, second yellow)

A lot of cards were handed out here, and honestly a couple others should've been booted off if only the refs had spotted what they were doing. Evidently the sons of Elrond haven't forgiven the captivity and torture of their mother, nor have the goblins forgotten the piles of goblins they slew in revenge. Goals were generally scored on account of one player or another getting thrown down or injured (or epically failing to do so to another) leaving an opening for the offense. At the start the game went more the way of Imaldris, but the open field that resulted from the send-offs seemed to favor Misty, and at the finish they were looking less ragged.

And finally at Helm's Deep...

Isengard 1-2 Rohan
on target 5-6
tot shots 13-14
GOALS:
*32, 0-1 Eowyn (Faramir)
*36, 1-1 Saruman (Lugdush)
*63, 1-2 Helm (Faramir)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Isen- Mauhur, Wormtongue, Wulf
*Rohan- Erkenbrand, Brytta, Snowmane

Many were expected similar violence in this clash, but with a couple Ents on the Isengard side and Saruman exerting great control over his bunch, it was a rather ordinary match. The Rohan defense did a fine job denying Saruman touches, and in the end Helm himself made the difference, as Faramir and Eowyn sucked in the Ent defenders with some nice ball work then hung it up for Helm and he beat Mauhur and Lugdush for it.

[Nogrod]

We see some of our competitors have moved into a kind of “Sport Studio” –set up and have hired “analysts” (read: entertainers) to push up their ratings. Here in the AKM we do believe in the old virtues of journalistic excellence and deep understanding of the game. Therefore it will be, once again, Ugr Nogrendale who delivers to you our readers the spot-on analyses and stats for all the games the AKM will cover this season. Just remember that last year’s Phantasy Game winner Nogrod made all his decisions mostly relying on the AKM’s analysis and suggestions.

So the first round of friendly games – before the Arda Cup finally kicks off – has been underway for the last few days here and there around Arda. The AKM has been following four games more closely. Here’s what Mr. Nogrendale thinks you should learn from them.


~*~


FC Valinor vs. Real Valinor

FC Valinor beat Real Valinor last year two times (2-1 and 3-0) and left nothing to question about the power-balance between the two teams. Yet in the end Real Valinor went on to claim the championship. So it was an interesting match-up to see the two teams meeting once again in the pre-season friendlies.

For this year both teams have cut down their spending – especially FC Valinor has done it, even though more by cutting the salaries of its players than plainly hiring cheaper ones. Boosting up their defence has led to the scaling down of their midfield and that could be seen in the game. So unlike last season when FC Valinor had a sovereign control of the ball around the field, this time Real Valinor had an even possession. And the game was much more equal on every level.

Argon and Yavanna looked more than solid behind the brothers Celegorm and Curufin and were always dangerous coming towards Real’s goal. And with the energy of the brothers FC Valinor was indeed shooting more than Real did.

On Real’s side especially lifting Nessa into a more forward role while moving Enerdhil into a bit more backing-up position was clearly a good idea making Real’s attacks roll more fluently – and if Oromë didn’t exactly shine with his new company of ladies he did well by their side. Tilion on the other hand clearly showed some new energy. Could it then really be that Tilion only shines when Arien is not around?

Buying Eonwë and Thorondor to defend their goal has clearly upgraded FC Valinor’s core-defence but as they have needed to cut the costs somewhat at the same time (they still spend a hefty 107 mil.) their weakness looks to be found now on the midfield where Elemmirë and Indis (4 mil. each) are no substitution for Irmö and Idril (10 mil each). Huan’s saving percentage of just 66% might make some worried, but Huan has been consistently one of the best goalies throughout the history of the Arda Cup and so the AKM wouldn’t worry about that at this point of the season.

The AKM was worried about Real’s defence as soon as the news of them selling Caranthir away was heard. How would they succeed without the “bad cop” in their defence, especially against some of the tougher offences? Well they managed perfectly fine: Nahar and Ingwion kept both Curufin and Celegorm at bay at least as well as Caranthir and Rumil had done. If they keep up the good work, then Nienna nad Tilion have a trusted pair to clear their defences – even giving Tilion leeway to take paet in the offence every once in a while.

There’s one more interesting detail to be mentioned. Elemmírë changed from Real Valinor to FC Valinor for this season, but s/he had to be compensated one million more in salary to make the move. So in the middle of all this cost-cutting it seems Elemmírë is one of the few who got their salaries raised.


The game: a synopsis

FC Valinor came into the game with full force and many thought it would go like the last season. That feeling seemed to be justified with Celegorm scoring from a corner given by Argon at about the half an hour mark. But Real Valinor pulled their act together and started pressing back – and it actually took them only ten minutes to even the score from Tilion’s superb back-door run into the box.

FC Valinor was the more active team again in the beginning of the second half but Real soon got them bogged down and started making some pretty neat counterplay – slowly taking ownership of the midfield led by Nessa’s masterful touch on the ball and eye for distributing it to the right places.

In the middle of a game that looked like it was turning into Real’s favour Yavanna got away from the Real defenders and chipped Curufin’s off target shot in. FC was not going to let Real draw the scores another time, but even their strengthened defence couldn’t stop Nessa this day. From Oromë’s nice pass she finalised the score into 2-2 with a beautiful bicycle-kick from the corner of the box.

In the end both teams seemed content to the draw. But it is clear the draw was a great boost to Real Valinor who now for the first time managed to leave the field from a game against FC Valinor not as losers. FC Valinor on the other hand has some concerns – even if one could say that drawing a game against last year’s champions is not a bad result indeed.

General notion:
Be that as it may, both teams will again be among the top teams this season.

FC Valinor 2-2 Real Valinor
on target 7-6
tot shots 19-14
GOALS:
*29, 1-0 Celegorm (Argon)
*41, 1-1 Tilion (Miriel)
*70, 2-1 Yavanna (Curufin)
*77, 2-2 Nessa (Orome)
YELLOW CARDS:
*FCVal- Indis, Maglor
*RealV- Tilion, Nahar


~*~

Erebor vs. Minas Tirith

Minas Tirith got all the way to the quarterfinals last year and Erebor made it to the semis. So an action-packed game of two great teams to see here? Sadly no. And the reason for it is clear. Erebor has lost two of their key players and Minas Tirith hasn’t exactly gotten definitively stronger either.

And the original cause of that previous remark about Minas Tirith is of course that they are not – and never were – a good team; at least not a team worth a place in the quarterfinals. Although they might seem a bit more decent bunch this year thanks to the firing of the pathetic Faramir from offence and hiring much more energetic looking Eomer to his place. Although one has to say that after a nice start in the friendlies last year (2+2 in four games) Eomer totally froze when the actual tournament began (1+0 in four games – Faramir actually managed 1+2 in five games).

To put it in no uncertain terms, Minas Tirith was one of the poorest teams to qualify – and did it only because their group was the most pathetic of all – and their adversary in the first round of qualifiers was from the second worse group overall. And they made their way to the quarters via a penalty shoot-out aka. basically only by lady Fortuna.

There is one thing to say on behalf of Minas Tirith though and it is the team spirit and companionship they seem to have around. Everyone is, basically (not Eomer this year), paid the same salary – and facing needs to cut down the expenses they have all cut their wages by one million in the name of their brotherhood. And that must be the reason why their only top-quality player Mardil still plays for the team – for surely there would have been takers for a talent like him.

Erebor would have beaten Minas Tirith last year 3-0 or more. Well, on a bad day only 2-0, but you get what I mean. Comparing to last season Erebor is lacking solidity in their attack and stamina in their defence. No, they have clearly enough of both to beat teams like Minas Tirith, but when it comes to some real games against real quality teams one couldn’t be so sure any more.

On a positive note for Erebor one could mention that Smaug seems to be in top condition and even without Gwaihir their defence hasn’t totally collapsed – and Beorn with his 83% saving-rate seems to be showing for real that he is no one-season-wonder at the goal.


The game: a synopsis

It all started pretty slowly as both teams were trying to test each other out while playing it safe (surely Erebor’s insecurity with their weekened downstairs played a role here), but the game gathered some speed little by little. And when Mardil headed a nice chip by Eomer into the goal on 31st minute the electricity was on!

Erebor started pressing forwards but found no easy routes behind “the bus” Minas Tirith parked in front of their box. Meanwhile Minas Tirith kept the Erebor team on its toes with their sharp counter-attacks.

On the second half the crowds saw an infuriated team Erebor. They came on with a force reminding one of their team last year. Nazgul #7 and Smaug were constant threats making the central defence of Minas Tirith very uneasy indeed – but they were backed by none other than Bard and Bolg with their sudden runs and imaginative passes, and toughness to match any king of old they had to field.

It took Erebor some ten minutes to even the score. Smaug was in flames!
After the goal the intensivity of the game went a bit down even if of the two teams it was Erebor which seemed not too happy to draw the game. And they got their winning goal in the end when Smaug scored again, this time from a great freeing pass from Nazgul #7 and tailing it to the back of the net giving Denethor in the goal no say on it.

For the last ten minutes Minas Tirith gave all they had to even the game and were actually able to produce a few good chances, but they were in the end denied by Beorn. When the final whistle was blown neither team looked happy: Minas Tirith had looked for a draw and Erebor for a definitive victory.

General notion:
The game proved that Erebor has a lot to improve for the tougher matches and Minas Tirith needs some support from the heavens if they wish to qualify this year from their group.

Erebor 2-1 Minas Tirith
on target 6-6
tot shots 14-14
GOALS:
*31, 0-1 Mardil (Eomer)
*57, 1-1 Smaug (Bolg)
*79, 2-1 Smaug (Nazgul#7)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Erebor- Bolg, Brand
*MTirith- Tarandor, Firefoot


~*~

Dwarves United vs. Wilderland

Dwarves United dropped Wilderland from the qualification last season in the last round of the group-phase by beating them 2-1. And that happened after Wilderland had beaten them 4-1 in the friendlies – and even beaten the afterwards honoured Erebor 2-1 (losing them with the same numbers in the actual group-game).

In popular memories Wilderland seem to be the real heroes of the last season who just failed miserably or ununderstandably as they should have gone far in the tournament. But looking behind the numbers – and especially to the ones played in the real tournament itself and not just in the friendlies – shows that there is a lot of beating around the bush with team Wilderland.

They were a good team (unlike fex. Minas Tirith) and they played some really entertaining as well as effective football the last season, but in a tight place they were just not able to deliver – and to be fair, there was no way they would have earned their place in the top eight anyway. The question then becomes, how could they deliver this year when they have lost lost something like 60% of their scoring-power? Now Thranduil is a nice steal and a Nazgul is always helpful in offence, but really: losing players like Elwë (2+4/2+1), Galadriel (1+2/2+3) and Oromë (0+1/4+2) is hard to make good, especially when you are cutting your budget down by some 10 million.

Today’s numbers kind of underline the aforementioned fact: while Smaug scores twice with a familiar support for Erebor Scatha scores none for Wilderland.

Now Dwarves United played eight games last year and scored a total of four goals – of which Celebrimbor scored three – from defensive position! What they have done since last season is replacing the sadly performed Thorin and Thror who only picked yellow cards from their midfield with the more or less insignificant Fili and Kili whose only merit is that they will play for the team with half the price.

But like last year, it seems they are counting only on defence. Otherwise it would have been simple they’d hired a scorer for their team – like we heard from NogWolf’s/Wight's negotiations earlier; he could have been just the key to trigger their scoring-problem (although there is also some discussion about the racism of the dwarves – that even with a name they would otherwise cope with, him being a creature of the Barrow-Downs would have been just too much for the fans, and some players, to stomach).

And along those lines they have made one reasonably big trade and bought Galadriel (w*f!) to keep their goal clean. That must be one of the major news of this seasons’ trades indeed! For a lock of her hair she made Gimli her fan forever… now was there something in Gimli that made her a fan of his or dwarves in general as well? She’s payed decently to be sure, but still.

So don’t look forwards for Dwarves United to score heavily – but do anticipate rough times for anyone facing them to score against them.


The game: a synopsis

There is little to tell your grandchildren about this game. Dwarves United was defending as well one could imagine, keeping Wilderland attacks at bay for most of the time and forcing them to shoot from afar and from bad positions the rest of it. Add to that the problems of Wildrerland offence and you get the picture of the first half of the game.

From the start of the second half Wilderland really went for a pressure-mode and Scatha had a few decent chances of scoring but was never getting the backing-up needed or was denied by either the Aulë-led defence or Galadriel at the goal.

Celebrimbor got one boomig shot towards the goal at the latter part of the second half but the Great Warg was a warg in his place and glued the ball into his paws. After the final whistle the Wilderland players looked somewhat disappointed but no one could read the faces of the dwarves covered by the beards.

General notion:
Dwarves United looks dangerously tight team on defence once again, but facing the kind of offencive powerhouses they do this year it would be madness to bet on behalf of their qualification. Wilderland in turn doesn’t seem to have any more rosier future ahead of them than last year.


Dwarves United 0-0 Wilderland
on target 3-3
tot shots 8-12
GOALS:
*
YELLOW CARDS:
*DwUnt- Fili, Azaghal
*Wilder- Oropher, Imin


~*~

Anduin vs. Eriador

Anduin was probably one of the best teams to have lost their group last season (Tirion and Valimar being the obvious ones to precede them in quality) and for this year they have actually been strengthened thanks to the willingness of different investment houses to keep their money, and even add something to it, with team Anduin – and it seems quite clear they have what it takes to qualify from their group this year – but will they be able to keep on after that?

Eriador on the other hand has also being able to put in more money – but have they strengthened by that as a team remains to be seen. On paper the team looks tougher than ever, but there is a big questionmark there, both on offence and defence.

Now Anduin has made two great purchases for this year: Felarof for defence and Eorl for offence. Looking at that one could say that it was a great deed to not let the last year’s silver medalists to score but one goal – and that they didn’t score against one of the toughest defences and arguably the best goalkeeper aronud is basically not a fault of them either.

But somehow – and this is the writer’s gut feeling only – the result looks more like telling about the possible problems on the Eriador-side. Somehow putting Arwen and Aragorn into defence with big salaries doesn’t convince – especially when they break the tried and well-worked defence-quartet from last year. The new defence costs eight million more but is it that much better – or is it even as good?

Another issue is changing the always sure to score Witch King in offence into Isildur who has basically flopped in every team he has played thus far. Eriador didn’t go that far in the tournament last year just outscoring their opponents either, but they had the players to score when it was needed. This year they still have Arveleg and Glorfindel, but will it be enough?

Which brings us to the third issue: NogWight. No one denies he’s a strong player, an intelligent passer and a good scorer – as a werewolf. In this game we got the other side of him. As a Wight he’s being just too slow, too soft, too late and then too frustrated to only pick a card for his efforts. It may be Eriador will be missing Arahael as the season progresses.


The game: a synopsis

Both teams approach the game from defence on and it could be seen in the game. In the early minutes of the game both teams did try to make some shots every once in a while but the defences were pretty efficient in forcing them wide or plain denying them.

Neither team seemed to put their full effort into the game in the beginning of the first half, but before the half-time the game started to be at least somewhat entertaining when especially Grimbeorn and Glorfindel showed off some of their talent supported by Eorl and Arveleg respectively.

Eriador came to the second half a lot more sharply and it was actually no surprise Glorfindel scored just two minutes into the half with a great personal performance, from a nice pass by the newbie Arador though. After the goal the game got something of a live kick and the rest was more or less good football – even if it produced only a few scoring chances and no more goals. Both teams had one decent chace to score during the last half an hour. Grimbeorn hit the crossbar with a volley from the edge of the box twenty minutes before the end, whilst Arveleg slided the ball just inches away from the post in the end of a fast break initiated by Araphant.

Neither team celebrated the result but seemed generally happy about it.

General notion:
Neither team shone but showed some of their qualities. Counting on this game only one coul bet they will be hard to beat for most teams in the actual tournament.


Anduin 0-1 Eriador
on target 2-4
tot shots 9-12
GOALS:
*47, 0-1 Glorfindel (Arador)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Anduin- Lenwe
*Eriador- Aragorn, NogWight