Middle-Earth Football World Cup 2007

[Sleepy Ranger]

Sorry for the Fantasy tournament not being updated. I'm kind of tied up and have no clue why Arctic was unable to do it. Anyway, the results will go up late tomorrow as well probably due to some unexpected band work that's popped up. I may still be able to get them up on time. I'll keep you updated.

Sorry for not being able to update the tables either, busy day!

Group C
Niggle's Parish vs. Nargothrond

Group E
Fangorn vs. Old Grey Hill

Group F
Gondolin vs. Wooton Major

Group H
Doriath vs. Arnor

[the phantom]

Moria 0 - 0 Valinor

I was pleased to see Valinor on the attack in this game. They didn't convert, but at least they have the right idea. They ought to advance if they continue playing like that.

Tuna 2 - 0 Brethil

No surprise here. Sure, Brethil is a solid team, but if Tuna plays up to potential they can shut out anyone.

Tol Eressea 1 - 0 Dor Lomin

As I said in my pretournament breakdown, this year's Dor Lomin team is not up to the standards of years past. It showed in this game. Turin was almost good enough by himself to make up for it, but Lindo saved the day for TE and secured the win. If Dor Lomin wants to advance, their midfield needs to shape up and get the ball forward to Fingon and Turin. Those two are very dangerous, but they can't do a lot of damage when they're getting shot opportunities only once or twice per game.

Barrow-Downs 2 - 0 Gondor

Don't let the score fool you- this game was a good contest. Gondor was able to apply decent pressure and generally played smart. Fortunately the Downs was focused and determined and for the most part had their "A" game going. Particularly outstanding was SPM and Sleepy's teamsmanship. They really seemed to be playing with their eyes open, looking to make the extra pass and moving well without the ball.

Go Barrow-Downs!

[The Saucepan Man]

Unfortunately, phantom, you appear to be basing your analysis (and misplaced accusations) on a fundamental misunderstanding of the beautiful game.

Unlike American 'football', the game of football is not based primarily on power. While strong, powerful players can be useful in certain positions (for example, central defence or as a 'target man' up front), there are many more skills which go towards making up a talented football player. Pace, agility, movement off the ball, positioning, accurate passing (both long and short), the ability to read the game are only some of the skills which, in varying degress, go towards making up a decent footballer. Hence, you will find that players do not need to be 7ft+ man-mountains to thrive in the game.

The particular qualities of Hobbits gives them great potential for becoming highly skilled players - accurate at passing, crossing and shooting, skillful in avoiding the tackle, surprisingly pacy, deceptive when moving off the ball, good positioning, difficult to 'man mark' etc.

There is no question of them having to rely on cheating to win their games. They have more than enough natural ability. Indeed, I would expect those teams with a generally far less moral approach to the world, such as Mordor and Angband, to be much more prone to cheating, and I fully expect this to be reflected in the disciplinary record by the end of the tournament.

In any event, your allegations, against Hobbit teams and Boromir88 and now seemingly extended to the Downs admin/mod team, are entirely without foundation. Unless you are able to come up with a single shred of supporting evidence, rather than pure speculation and rumour based upon a sloppy understanding of the game, I suggest you desist, lest you become subject to disciplinary scrutiny yourself.

[The Saucepan Man]

Interesting that the commentator picked up on Moria's lack of teamwork. This will be a problem throughout the tournament, I suspect. Still, Valinor are a good team with a strong defence, so it was a difficult game for Moria. They did well to keep Valinor from scoring, and they appear to have an exceptional goalkeeper in the Watcher. Not a great result for Valinor, though, as they will be hard pressed now to beat Angband to top spot in the Group.

The Tuna v Brethil result is no surprise. As I expected, Turambar looks good up front for Brethil, but he cannot carry the team on his own. Tuna are living up to expectation, and could well go far in this competition. It was, however, rather disapoointing that they did not press ahead and try to score more. For all they know, goal difference may become an issue. Typical Noldorin arrogance and complacency, in my view.

Frodo looks a good prospect up front for Tol Eressea, and they appear to have a reasonable defence. They disappointed in this game, as Dor Lomin are a fairly weak team in my view, but I think that there is more to Tol Eressea than we have seen thus far.

Finally, a good win for the Barrow-Downs, since Gondor are no slouches. Not quite the team that they were last year, perhaps, without Aragorn, but the Downs nevertheless did well to achieve the 2 goal win. Muchy credit, of course, must go to the Barrow-Wight, who looked to have as many arms as the Watcher in the Water at times. Credit too to the phantom, Rune and Sleepy although I was rather disappointed with the Saucepan Man's performace. I hope to see more of him in future matches.

Update on the Yellow Boot Trophy competition:

JRR Tolkien and Farmer Giles of Ham are the class of the field so far:

JRR Tolkien (Inklings) – 2
Farmer Giles (Ham) – 2
Thuringwethil (Angband) – 1
Roverandum (Roverandum) – 1
Tar-Ancalime (Numenore) – 1
Stone Giant (Misty Mountains) – 1
Dwalin (Misty Mountains) – 1
Tom Bombadil (Bree) – 1
William (Rivendell) – 1
Gilraen (Rivendell) – 1
Tailbiter (Ham) – 1
Frodo (Tol Eressea) – 1
Rune Son of Bjarne (Barrow-Downs) – 1
The phantom (Barrow-Downs) – 1

[Thenamir]

Sports Opinion and Editorial, by Thenamir

It should come as no surprise that The Phantom, having screamed "cheat" far too many times, is finding no one paying attention any longer. After working himself into a corner with predictions of Hobbit losses, he seeks to save face as a football commentator with pernicious feats of legerdemain, bringing into question the integrity of Team Shire, the referees, the Tournament Administration, and finally, finding no traction for his spurious claims, the entire governmental system of the Barrow-Downs.

Perhaps The Phantom has fallen victim to the same prejudicial attitude that brought down the known corruption of the Mordorian regime, "who did not know them well and looked no further than their bellies and their well-fed faces." Could it be that the heretofore well-researched and reasonable analysis of The Phantom has, just for once, been mistaken? These accidental lapses are common to us all. We are none the worse for admitting our mistakes freely and moving on -- we can even earn a measure of respect for being honest and sincere about our shortcomings.

But The Phantom has chosen a different tack. Sloppy Pre-Cup analysis has resulted in bad forecasting -- Garbage In, Garbage Out -- and the usually reliable Phantom has been caught with his pants down. But rather than pull them back up and chuckle over the quality of his suspenders, he shuffles around with his trousers around his ankles insisting that his pasty white thighs are not really exposed, but rather that there is a conspiracy afoot to promote kilts over pants.

And all this without one shred of evidence. Though it is still early in the running, Frodo is only one goal off from taking the Yellow Boots trophy, Samwise and Lobelia are quitting themselves well, and the avid golfer Bullroarer Took headed one in against the might of Gondor. When all is said and done, the Phantom's accusations are just that -- phantoms, without form or substance, spectres which cannot be grasped, both elusive...and delusive.

Post Scriptum: One wonders how a phantom, himself an apparition or spectre without material substance manages to score a goal, as he has for the Downs team. If the hobbits cannot generate enough "kinetic energy" to drive a ball past a goalkeeper, then it is difficult indeed to understand how a ghost can do so.

[Sleepy Ranger]

In the first match we have Nargothrond take on Niggle's Parish in what should be a one sided game, with Nargothrond clear favorites. In the other match we'll see Fangorn face off against newcomers Old Grey Hill. Fangorn were crticized for their team selection but perhaps this is their chance to silence their critics.

***

Group C
Niggle's Parish 1 - 4 Nargothrond
(Atkins 27th) (Mormegil 31st, 53rd, 88th, Felagund 33rd)

Unbelivable... after a very quiet start that was mostly spent with Nargothrond attempting to piece together some attacks but often floundered due to some fault of their own. Then... around the 27th minute... the impossible happened. Niggle's Parish broke on the counter attack, Inspector found the ball at his feet and crossed in for an unmarked Atkins to score a frightfully easy goal.

Niggle's freak lead did not last too long as a few minutes later Felagund played in Mormegil who held off two defenders and equalized. Niggle's Parish would have been more than happy with just a point but apparently it was not to be as moments after Nargothrond equalized, they took the lead. A well built move that was built around Gundor was superbly finished off when Gundor crossed in for Felagund to head Nargothrond ahead.

The second half began much like the first with Nargothrond building up small attacks. This time though, they found the cutting edge. Mormegil managed to snatch the ball from Perkins at the halfway line and made a fantastic run to the area where he slotted in with ease putting the result beyond doubt. Nargothrond played around Niggle's Parish now, upstaging them at every possible moment. However when Mormegil had a chance to complete his hat trick after fleuent passing with Felagund put him clear, he blasted it in. Making him the first player to score a hat trick in this tournament.

Shots: 1(1) - 12(8)
Posession: 37 - 63

Group E
Fangorn 1 - 1 Old Grey Hill
(Skinbark 60th) (Guest 74th)

There really isn't much to say about this match. It was fairly straightforward. Neither team really commit much to attack and it seemed they both weren't really trying here. Apart from the goal each there isn't anything really worth noting. Treebeard provided the pass that led to Skinbark's headed goal. Old Grey Hill equalized when Guest nabbed the ball from a defender and drove in the eqalizer.

Shots: 2(1) - 1(1)
Posession: 55 - 45

***

Nargothrond certainly showed some of the big guns how to avoid an upset. Once they score, you pop in a bunch and then just stare blankly at them while they cower behind the corner flag... or something to that effect. Fangorn should be sorely disappointed with the draw. Perhaps their lack of firepower up front is to be blamed for this.

[Sleepy Ranger]

Next up we have Gondolin taking on Wooton Major, much like Nargothrond vs. Niggle's Parish, Gondolin will be considered firm favorites to win this. However so far, the favorites haven't done too well. Let's see how this one goes. The next game, Doriath vs. Arnor should be an exciting game as both teams have very attacking line ups and very skilled players. Then again, The Shire vs. Lothlorien should have been a good match too...

***

Group F
Gondolin 2 - 1 Wooton Major
(Turgon 55th, Hurin 90+1) (Fairy Queen 4th)

Gondolin got off to a horrible start with Ulmo being forced to conede a corner almost immediatly. Fairy Queen converted after Ned sent in a brilliant outswinging corner. Surprisingly, despite Gondolin's attempts to equalize, Wooton Major went in ahead at half time.

Luckily for Gondolin, in the second half their attacks actually began to look threatening. They finally managed to get a goal in after a poor clearnace by Wooton Major landed at Turgon's feet. The midfielder turned past a defender and burst into the area, neatly tucking the ball away before anybody had any time to realize what was going on.

After scoring Gondolin began to increase the tempo, trying to undo the Wooton defence and score again. Unfortunately for them their aim was horrible and they wound up shooting all around the goal. Gondolin were saved blushes right at the death when Glorfindel's aimless cross blitzed through a crowd in the box and found it's way to Hurin at the edge of the area who volleyed in an excellent goal.

Shots: 11(4) - 3(1)
Posession: 57 - 43

Group H
Doriath 1 - 0 Arnor
(Mablung 43rd)

This match started off in quite a boring fashion. Both teams started off cautiously, expecting an oppurtunity to be given to them rather than try and make one themselves. This did work out for Doriath eventually. When careless marking by Arnor let Eol sneak past and blast in a shot that bounced off the crossbar. Mablung was ready and waiting though and pounced on the rebound to give Doriath the lead. Unfortunately for them, moments after the goal Huan was shown a yellow card for a rather dogged tackle.

The second half was a disaster! Arnor began to play rough and muscle about their opponents who in turn began to hit back. Harsh tackles flew about as did the cards. The second half barely had any actual football played. It seemed to be a game of the American version instead. It was rather disgusting. Daeron and Saros from Doriath were booked while Halbard, Elendil, Argeleb and Isildur were all shown yellow cards in a very poor second half.

Shots: 9(1) - 1(0)
Posession: 52 - 48
Bookings: Huan, Daeron, Saros - Halbard, Elendil, Argeleb, Isildur

***

Gondolin just barely edged out Niggle's Parish who put on a decent performance for their first game. I am very, very disgusted by the way Doriath and Arnor played and strongly feel both teams should be punished. I would not expect such kind of play from orcs or goblins even.