Arda Cup Football 2011

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

The friendly matches preliminary to the Arda Cup tournament proper are three-fourths done, and the ArdaCup.com Stats report is here to bring you the numbers and the analysis of the first three rounds of the friendlies.

The Undefeated:

Doriath and Pelóri are the only teams to have won three of their friendly matches thus far, and they are doing it in slightly different ways.

• Doriath has won its first two games against The Forest and Hithlum by being stingy, allowing only 1 goal in 7 attempts on target [14.3%], well below the opposing teams's shooting percentages (25.0% for The Forest and 35.0% for Hithlum). But their offence has not been slacking, making 7 goals in 18 attempts on target [38.9%]. In their third match against fellow powerhouse Anfauglith it was this balance that won them that close game--both teams got off 8 attempts on target, but Doriath was able to convert 3 of them, compared to Anfauglith's 2.
  
  Huan boasts a 80% save rate, 9th among goalkeepers so far, saving 12 shots out of the 15 sent his way.
  
  Doriath's balance in offence, not relying on any one player to score, is proven by the stats: Hûrin has 3 goals and 1 assist, his son Tûrin has 2 goals and 3 assists, and Mablung has 2 goals and 1 assist. Their potent attack has sent 26 shots on target, the highest so far, giving the opposing goalkeeper a lot to worry about.
  
  
• Pelóri has won all its three games against Tirion, Misty Mts, and powerhouse Angband through its niggardly defence: 1 goal allowed in 16 attempts on target could be no fluke. Manwë is ranked first in save percentage, a staggering 93.7% against teams that usually convert over a fourth of their attempts on goal into a score.
  
  Their offence is not bad--4 goals (split between Varda and Eönwë) in 15 attempts on target is not the worst offensive percentage we've seen--, but clearly it's their defence, anchored by Manwë between the goalposts, that would take them far in the Arda Cup.

Power Ranking:



The Power Ranking is based on the aggregate of offensive and defensive ranking--the lower the aggregate, the higher the rank. Ties are broken by a) win-draw-loss-record; b) goal differential; and c) goals scored.

The offensive ranking is based on the goals scored throughout the friendly matches. Ties are broken by a) greater number of shots made on target; and b) greater number of shots made.

The defensive ranking is based on the goals allowed throughout the friendly matches. Ties are broken by a) least number of shots allowed on target; and b) least amount of shots allowed.

Please note that the above ranking is based on the four rounds of friendly matches played by the teams, and does not reflect actual tournament performance.

Phantasy Numbers:

GOALS + ASSISTS
4+1
Eldacar (Gondor)

4+0
Saucepan Man (The Downer)

3+1
Hûrin (Doriath)

3+0
Ancalagon (Angband)
Bandobras (Shire-Bree Utd)
Bombadil (The Forest)
Celegorm (Hithlum)
Mouth (Barad-dûr)
Scatha (Wilderland)
Smaug (Wilderland)

2+4
Curufin (Hithlum)

2+3
Tûrin (Doriath)

2+2
Finwë (Tirion)
Girion (Esgaroth)
GwathWolf (Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
Nazgûl #7 (Mordor)
Saruman (Misty Mts)

2+1
Barrow-Wight (Eriador)
Dáin (Esgaroth)
Eorl (Gondor)
Gil-galad (Barad-dûr)
Gothmog (Anfauglith)
Gwindor (Anfauglith)
Mablung (Doriath)
Maeglin (Anfauglith)

1+3
Frodo (Shire-Bree Utd)

1+2
Aegnor (Beleriand)
Araphor (Eriador)
Ar-Pharazôn (Westernesse)
Arwen (Gondor)
Beleg (Doriath)
Finrod (Tirion)
Hookbill (The Downer)
Khamûl (Wilderland)
Míriel (Valinor)

0+3
Sauron (Wilderland)
Tevildo (Angband)

GOALKEEPER - SAVES
18 saves
Rog (Gondolin) 18/22 – 81.8%

17 saves
Ohtar (Barad-dûr) 17/23 – 73.9%

15 saves
Manwë (Pelóri) 15/16 – 93.7%
Imlach (Hithlum) 15/23 – 65.2%
Tuor (Mithrim) 15/26 – 57.7%

GOALKEEPER - SAVE %

1. Manwë (Pelóri) 15/16 – 93.7%
2. Ungoliant (Angband) 11/12 – 91.7%
3. Ingwë (Valinor) 8/9 – 88.9%
4. Tar-Atanamir (Westernesse) 13/15 – 86.7%
5. Halmir (Beleriand) 12/14 – 85.7%

YELLOW CARDS
4 yellow cards
Bert (Eriador)

3 yellow cards
Attercop (Esgaroth)
Éowyn (Minas Tirith)
Fellbeast #1 (Barad-dûr)
Gothmog II (Barad-dûr)
Lorgan (Hithlum)
Shadowfax (Lothlórien)