PHANTASY FOOTBALL: Arda Cup 2013

[Nogrod]

Such cruel choices...

To beat Nilp's twenty-one point lead I'd need to predict the games differently (8 points to gain there). But can I?

Well, I think I have to... even if my brain says the results will be like Nilp says (or at least FC Valinor will win Hithlum - well, T-I-G might really win, but ehh...)


T-I-G beats AC Beleriand
FC Valinor takes a beating by Hithlum


But even if that would go full my way I would still be down thirteen points - and I have already six players in common with Nilp in my team - and there aren't too many choices for some positions to pick differently in a reasoned way, and I have one redundant player in my team, and my current goalkeeper is the worst of the remaining ones and will face a real rain of shots. Blah.

Decisions, decisions...

My bet on Thuringwethil didn't pay off last round and I do have an urge to change her into Curufin (or maybe Eöl to take a more genuine take on the choices). But well, let's bet on T-I-G then for sure and keep her - and keep her as the captain. Go Thuringwethil!

I'll change my goalie as well - but not to Shasta as Nilp has him.

As a back-up surprise plan I'm giving away Hador (with a heavy heart as I think it would have been his turn to shine) in the midfield and look for an Aegnor hat-trick to save me if my game-predictions go down the drain.

So basically I'm predicting other than Nilp but covering myself with a few choices in my team against my predictions of the games - and keeping my thumbs up it works...


That means:
-- GK Huor (Hithlum)
-- DF Aragorn (Eriador)
-- MF Hador (Hithlum)

++ GK Marach (AC Beleriand)
++ DF *Nilpwolf (T-I-G)
++ Aegnor (AC Beleriand)




Noggportunistics

GK – Marach (AC Beleriand)

DF BoroWolf (T-i-G)
DF *Nilpwolf (T-i-G)
DF *Fingolfin (AC Beleriand)
DF *Eönwe (FC Valinor)

MF Argon (FCValinor)
MF Aegnor (AC Beleriand)
MF *PhantomWolf (T-i-G)

FW **Feanor (AC Beleriand)
FW Thuringwethil (T-i-G) C
FW **Túrin (Hithlum)

[the phantom]

Here's the best possible alignment for the last round.

The Perfect Squad +8
GK *ShastaWolf (TIG)- 4
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF GaladriWight (TIG)- 2
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Indis (FCVal)- 2
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
MF *Yavanna (FCVal) C- 5
MF NerWight (TIG)- 3
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
FW Hurin (Hithlum)- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
TOTAL = 51

Here is how everyone fared in the quarterfinals. Let me know if you see an error.

Lynch Mob +4
GK Marach (ACBel)- 2
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
DF Balrog#4 (ACBel)- 0
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
MF Angrod (ACBel)- 0
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG)- 3
FW **Turin (Hithlum)- 0
FW *Curufin (FCVal) C- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
TOTAL = 35

Atashi no Negai +4
GK *ShastaWolf (TIG)- 4
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Balrog#4 (ACBel)- 0
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
MF Argon (FCVal)- 0
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG) C- 3
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
FW **Turin (Hithlum)- 0
TOTAL = 34

We Didn't Start the Fire +8
GK *Huan (FCVal)- 4
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF *NilpWolf (TIG)- 1
DF Balrog #5 (Hithlum)- 0
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
MF Argon (FCVal)- 0
MF NerWight (TIG)- 3
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
FW Celegorm (FCVal)- 3
FW **Turin (Hithlum)- 0
FW **Feanor (ACBel) C- 4
TOTAL = 34

The Mooncrazed Remixed +8
GK *Huan (FCVal)- 4
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
DF *NilpWolf (TIG)- 1
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
MF Hador (Hithlum)- 0
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG) C- 3
MF SallyWight (TIG)- -1
MF NerWight (TIG)- 3
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
TOTAL = 35

Noggportunistics +4
GK Marach (ACBel)- 2
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF *NilpWolf (TIG)- 1
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
MF Argon (FCVal)- 0
MF Aegnor (ACBel)- -1
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG)- 3
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
FW Thuringwethil (TIG) C- 4
FW **Turin (Hithlum)- 0
TOTAL = 25

Cupkicks +8
GK *ShastaWolf (TIG)- 4
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
MF Hador (Hithlum)- 0
MF NerWight (TIG)- 3
FW Thuringwethil (TIG)- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel) C- 4
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
TOTAL = 45

Eleven Pillars of Wisdom +4
GK *Huan (FCVal)- 4
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
MF Argon (FCVal)- 0
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG)- 3
FW *InzilWolf (TIG)- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel) C- 4
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
TOTAL = 39

Unnamed Horror +8
GK *Huan (FCVal)- 4
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF Balrog#4 (ACBel)- 0
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
MF NerWight (TIG)- 3
FW *Curufin (FC Val)- 4
FW **Turin (Hithlum) C- 0
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
TOTAL = 38

Salt and Smoke
GK *Huan (FCVal)- 4
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
DF Balrog#4 (ACBel)- 0
DF Balrog#5 (Hithlum)- 0
DF Este (Valimar)-
MF *Yavanna (FCVal)- 5
MF *Beleg (Hithlum)- 3
MF Aegnor (ACBel)- -1
FW *Curufin (FCVal)- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel) C- 4
FW *InzilWolf (TIG)- 4
TOTAL = 27

FC Monkey Stink
GK Galadriel (DwUnt)-
DF Nienna (RealV)-
DF Balrog#5 (Hithlum)- 0
DF Arwen (Eriador)-
DF Alatar (BDur)-
MF *Elwe (Doriath)-
MF *Glorfindel (Eriador)-
MF Cirdan (Havens)-
MF Aegnor (ACBel) C- -1
FW *Arien (Valimar)-
FW *Miriel (RealV)-
TOTAL = -2

Wilwa's Winners
GK Marach (ACBel)- 2
DF Celeborn (Anduin)-
DF Uinen (Sea)-
DF BoroWolf (TIG)- 2
DF *Morgoth (Angband)-
MF Cirdan (Havens)-
MF *Yavanna (FCVal) C- 5
MF Idril (Gondolin)-
FW *Miriel (RealV)-
FW *Smaug (Erebor)-
FW Ar Pharazon (Armen)-
TOTAL = 14

The Uncloakables +4
GK Marach (ACBel)- 2
DF *Fingolfin (ACBel)- 0
DF *NilpWolf (TIG)- 1
DF Maglor (FCVal)- 5
DF *Eonwe (FCVal)- 2
MF *PhantomWolf (TIG)- 3
MF Hador (Hithlum)- 0
MF Argon (FCVal)- 0
FW **Turin (Hithlum) C- 0
FW *InzilWolf (TIG)- 4
FW **Feanor (ACBel)- 4
TOTAL = 25

Finals Points
Cupkicks- 45
Elven Pillars of Wisdom- 39
Unnamed Horror- 38
Mooncrazed Remixed- 35
Lynch Mob- 35
Atashi no Negai- 34
We Didn’t Start the Fire- 34
Salt and Smoke- 27
Noggportunistics- 25
The Uncloakables- 25
Wilwa’s Winners-14
FC Monkey Stink- -2

So, let's see where we stand...

Total Point Standings
Atashi no Negai- 352
Lynch Mob- 325
Mooncrazed Remixed- 324
We Didn’t Start the Fire- 323
Noggportunistics- 322
Cupkicks- 298
Elven Pillars of Wisdom- 292
Unnamed Horror- 279
The Uncloakables- 255
Salt and Smoke- 240
Wilwa’s Winners- 209
FC Monkey Stink- 160

Prediction Points

Inzil +5
Forward (Turin)- 5

Sally +10
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Goals (Feanor)- 5

Morm +10
Forward (Turin)- 5
Goals (Turin)- 5

Legate +10
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Assists (Eol)- 5

Nerwen +10
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Assists (Eol)- 5

Galadriel +10
Forward (Turin)- 5
Champion (TIG)- 5

Nilp +15
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Goals (Curufin)- 5
Assists (Eol)- 5

Shasta +15
Forward (Curufin)- 5
Goals (Curufin)- 5
Assists (Yavanna)- 5

Boro +15
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Defender (Fingolfin)- 5
Goals (Turin)- 5

Gwath +15
Forward (Curufin)- 5
Goals (Curufin)- 5
Assists (Yavanna)- 5

Wilwa +25
Forward (Feanor)- 5
Defender (Fingolfin)- 5
Goals (Turin)- 5
Assists (Yavanna)- 5
Champ (TIG)- 5

(The 10 point award for winning the 100 million team trophy is awaiting review from the total-checkers, but it's safe to say it is between Shasta and Boro. Those two ran away with it, 30 pts clear or more from their nearest competitors. Whoever takes the win will move into 2nd place overall.)

EDIT: The count and recount is in, and Boro has narrowly taken the ten bonus points and finishes second in the overall standings.

FINAL PHANTASY STANDINGS
Atashi no Negai- 367
We Didn't Start the Fire- 348
Lynch Mob- 340
Mooncrazed Remixed- 339
Noggportunistics- 322
Cupkicks- 308
Elven Pillars of Wisdom- 302
Unnamed Horror- 289
The Uncloakables- 260
Salt and Smoke- 250
Wilwa’s Winners- 234
FC Monkey Stink- 170

All hail Nilp, winner of this year's Phantasy Trophy! He took the lead in the very first round and never let it go, becoming (I believe) the first ever wire-to-wire champion. What a splendid performance!

[Galadriel55]

Way to go Nilp! What a game!

And whoa, wilwa! That's some pretty good predicting!

Last but not least, GO TIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[satansaloser2005]

The one year I doubt myself when I think to pick TiG....

But hey, a good year for me, I think! Congratulations to all, and especially my beloved champion.

[Inziladun]

Ah well, I'm slowly improving, I think.

Congrats to Nilp for the win, and thanks to all those who helped make this happen. I'm already looking to next year!

[the phantom]

As the winner Nilp is allowed to negotiate a free-agent contract with one of next year's squads, so probably no NilpWolf on next year's TIG squad.

But we do know that there will be a LegateWolf on next year's roster, as Legate has taken Inzil's consolation prize from last year. The only thing up for debate is whether Mr. Legate would rather play as a forward or as a defender. (Morm or Wilwa would have been awarded the prize, but they were missing too often to qualify.)

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

Originally Posted by the phantom

As the winner Nilp is allowed to negotiate a free-agent contract with one of next year's squads, so probably no NilpWolf on next year's TIG squad.

But we do know that there will be a LegateWolf on next year's roster, as Legate has taken Inzil's consolation prize from last year. The only thing up for debate is whether Mr. Legate would rather play as a forward or as a defender. (Morm or Wilwa would have been awarded the prize, but they were missing too often to qualify.)

By some coincidence, LegateWight and InzilWolf are both on my first and second team all-Arda (respectively). More on that later.

(NilpWolf as well. Tehe. (^_~)-\ )