[Nogrod]

On 2012 the Arda Kicker Magazine (AKM) will continue to be the most reliable source of overall information to the Arda Cup with its renowned statistics and analysis – whatever TTN says. After a short dispute, the AKM has also renewed its contract with the legendary gonzo-journalist Hunter U. Nogson (formerly known also as Ugr Nogrendale) giving him free hands to do what he wishes for an astonishing amount of cash. So we’re looking forwards to him ego-tripping once more with the greatest stars of the Arda Cup and providing first class off-the-mark journalism for our readers.

But this year the AKM has also assigned some of its top reporters to follow certain investment groups and the teams they finance to give the readers some insight into what happens behind the public arena. Yes, the Arda Cup Committee has declared it is ready to receive team proposals from “potential ownership groups” beginning tomorrow, but it is no secret to the journalists on top of things that different investment groups have been actively forming and working out their plans from September last year. The AKM will bet that some contracts have already been made behind the curtains. So when after some detective-work the AKM found out about three interesting groups of investors, it decided to concentrate on those this season, having already some early insight into their workings. The AKM will thus follow closely the bussiness, the politics and the passions involved in Meneltarma Capital (Númenor Investment Group), Evil House (Angband Investment Group) and Oath & Blood Alliance (Sons of Fëanor Investment Group).

Stay on the channel – or purchase the latest issue of the AKM – because you’re worth the news, gossip and analysis!


Enter the Investment Groups, what to look for?
The AKM Editorial by the Editor in Chief, John Bull

It is clear that something had to be done to the dominance of a few superstar teams during recent years. Praise Eru, he came up with a balanced-sounding idea of introducing a salary cap – and a minimum wage-total – to ensure no team can pick all the cream and that no team with a totally lousy roster can enter the competition. That should be good for the competition. Although the AKM thinks that setting a higher minimum total for teams to spend, even if it meant fewer teams in the tournament, would have been even wiser. But a lot will depend on how this year’s tournament turns out. If the differences in quality are still too great, some kind of levelling could be in place as also the best teams gain from a competitive league.

But will the emergence of the investment groups affect the game itself and how? According to the AKM’s knowledge, there are different kinds of investment groups from individual millionaires and wealthy circles of friends or kin to wide bands of small investors forming more like a fan- or identity-based groups. It is clear the motives behind different investment groups will affect their decisions on buying players, offering individual players different salaries and so on – and in the end to the sporting success or failure of a team.

It is easy to see a few different ways an investment group might go about its business. If the group is only in the game for financial interests it would try to find the best input – output ratio, thus not necessarily looking first and foremost to the best possible team or winning the competition: with a cheap but decent team with let’s say one or two interesting enough players (or nice headlines) the team could make better profit even if it drops out from the tournament earlyish compared to an expensive team that goes farther in the tournament. Or if a player-investor has enough say in the group, he or she might talk an expensive deal to him or herself making the group pay her or him well above the decent price – thus affecting other possible sign-ins and thus the quality of the team.

The enthusiastic small investors might be playing it badly as well fex. spending recklessly to hire their heroes and ending up losing it big time with not enough level players – or stubbornly relying on “local boys” and not having their eyes open to more talented players, possibly overpaying their local players at the same time thus adding to their problems, financially and gamewise.

Also, with money comes influence. How will different investment groups react to big money offered if the offerer has in mind influencing the team to his or her ends? So how much will money dictate the choices, how much pride and glory of one’s kin, race, city or alignment, how much pure sporting excellence and drive to win – or plain hating to lose?

It is hard to say as yet, but there sure will be answers this spring. With the AKM you will be with the exclusive crowd able to peak into the forces moving under the surface. So we’re inviting you to join the AKM with the Arda Cup 2012!


The AKM: the game – and the game behind the game!