ARDA CUP Football 2012

[Shastanis Althreduin]

One of the most friendly matches (oddly enough), the friendly game between Isengard and SBU played out more like a training exercise or scrimmage rather than an actual game. The captains were so cordial that they even managed to agree that one team would play full defense and one team full offense in the first half, switching in the second half. Isengard won the coin toss, so they elected to be on offense first. A Wulf/Saruman duo accounted for two Isengard goals, with another being put through by Quickbeam with some nice root-work after being fed by Wormtongue. In the second half, Bombadil (having been napping on the sidelines during the first half) roused himself to score two goals against Isengard, with a third being knocked in by Khamul thanks to Strider. There appeared to be a bit of a raincloud over Bombadil's head after the equalizing goal, but luckily Caradhras was warned off with a yellow card and no untoward hailstones fell.

Isengard 3-3 Shire-Bree United
tot shots 18-16
on target 8-7
GOALS:
*31, 1-0 Wulf (Saruman)
*36, 2-0 Quickbeam (Wormtongue)
*44, 3-0 Saruman (Wulf)
*57, 3-1 Bombadil (Khamul)
*62, 3-2 Khamul (Strider)
*75, 3-3 Bombadil (BWight)
YELLOW CARDS:
*Isengard- Caradhras, Lugdush
*SBUnt- Golfimbul, Butterbur, BWight


In this friendly we saw a repeat of Misty Mountains's friendly strategy, to go for the win when behind and ease off when the score was drawn. This was fine with Wilderland, who matched them stroke for stroke. The Lady of the Golden Wood, Galadriel, proved herself quite a force on the offense, feeding both Elwe and the great dragon Scatha one goal each, while on the other side both Narvi and Azog scored one goal and one assist. However, to put a bit of a damper on things, Misty Mountains seems to still be one of the more brutish, physical teams, coming away with a total of five yellow cards.

Misty Mts 3-3 Wilderland
tot shots 13-18
on target 7-9
GOALS:
*12, 1-0 Azog (Rumil)
*24, 1-1 Elwe (Galadriel)
*39, 1-2 Scatha (Galadriel)
*50, 2-2 Narvi (Azog)
*58, 2-3 Orome (Fimbrethil)
*72, 3-3 Durin’s Bane (Narvi)
YELLOW CARDS:
*MMts- Bert, Tom, Watcher, William, Rumil
*Wilder- Elwe, Skinbark


The match between DU and Imladris started off lazily. Both teams were content to merely kick the ball around the pitch - it seemed a lot like no one really wanted to be there. However, the audience got some excitement during the second half; it appeared that both teams had gotten a stern talking-to from someone, as both teams came out at blazing speed and decided that they did, in fact, want to play. A lucky breakaway let Elrohir arrive at the DU goal just before the ball did, thanks to a high-soaring punt from Varda. Her kick sent the ball speeding towards the goal so fast from down the pitch that it very nearly went in by itself - instead it bounced off the top bar and bounced again off Elrohir's knee, careening into the net at such an odd angle that the goalkeeper couldn't stop it. After that goal, Imladris locked down their defense entirely, making it impossible for DU to get a decent shot on goal.

Dwarves United 0-1 Imladris
tot shots 14-6
on target 6-3
GOALS:
*60, 0-1 Elrohir (Varda)
YELLOW CARDS:
*DwUnt- Durin, Gamil Zirak
*Imladris- Lindir

[Nogrod]

The AKM has compiled a bunch of statistics once again to guide our readers through this competition. This time we present you a combined ranking of three different sets of stats that were more or less unequivocal.

After all the friendlies are done we will present a more detailed and explicit stuff, but this is our take on the teams after three rounds of friendlies.

1. (D) FC Valinor
2. (D) Real Valinor
3. (G) AC Beleriand

4. (D) Armenelos
5. (B) Eriador
6. (E) Valimar

7. (D) Tirion
8. (F) Rohan
9. (C) Erebor

10. (C) Wilderland
11. (E) The Sea
12. (F) Imladris

13. (A) Angband
14. (E) Hithlum
15. (G) Anfaughlith

16. (G) Doriath
17. (B) Gondolin
18. (A) Tol In Gaurhoth

19. (A) Shire-Bree Utd.
20. (C) Anduin
21. (G) Nargothrond

22. (H) Gondor
23. (F) Misty Mts.
24. (B) Arnor

25. (E) The Havens
26. (H) Minas Tirith
27. (F) Isengard

28. (C) Dwarves Utd.
29. (H) Mordor
30. (B) Inter Beleriand

31. (H) Barad Dûr
32. (A) The Downer


~*~

And as no network has yet given the readers these stats, let us publish them then...


Top-scorers.


1. Finwë (Tirion) 5+2=7
Gwindor (Nargothrond)

3. Bombadill (Shire-Bree) 5+1=6

4. Curufin (FC Valinor) 4+2=6
Húrin (Hithlum)

6. Aredhel (Tirion) 3+3=6

7. Arien (Real Valinor) 5+0=5
Glaurung (Nargothrond)

9. Oromë (Wilderland) 4+1=5
Túrin (Hithlum)

11. Strider (Shire-Bree) 3+2=5

12. Miriel (Real Valimar) 2+3=5

13. The Barrow-Wight (Shire-Bree) 0+5=5



Top-Goalies.

1. Elros (Imladris) 94,1%

2. Ungoliant (Anfaughlith) 90,1%

3. Elrond (Eriador) 90%
Manwë (Valimar)
Marach (AC Beleriand)

6. Beorn (Erebor) 81,8%
Carcaroth (Angband)
Theoden ( Rohan)

[Nilpaurion Felagund]

The second friendly round issue of the ArdaCup.com Stats Report brings little change to the top ten teams (just one new face), but with lots of activity bubbling underneath.

Power Rank:

Legend:

Team name (win-draw-loss)
Offence (goals per game) [rank]
Defence (goals allowed per game) [rank]
Goalkeeping (save percentage) [rank]
Adjusted Goal Differential [rank]

1. Real Valinor (2-0-1)
   3 [5]
   1.67 [18]
   72.22% [16]
   +2.00 [1]
   

   They manage to hold on to their top spot due to their previous impressive performances despite their loss to the other Valinor team (it took that win for FC Valinor to equal Real’s offensive and defensive stats), but certainly the gap between Real and the others have narrowed appreciably.

2. FC Valinor (3-0-0)
   3 [6]
   1.67 [19]
   72.22% [17]
   +1.83 [2]
   

   FC Valinor is the only team with three friendly wins. Their last win over Real Valinor pole-vaults them over the other teams and into an extremely tight race with their brethren for the top spot. The way the two are going, they would probably meet two more times in the Arda Cup.

3. AC Beleriand (1-2-0)
   1 [26]
   0.33 [2]
   90% [4]
   +1.58 [3]
   

   Despite a scoreless draw with group rival Anfauglith, AC Bel doesn’t budge from its spot.

4. Rohan (1-2-0)
   1.33 [20]
   0.67 [9]
   81.82% [6]
   +1.08 [4]
   

   A lazy draw one-all with Minas Tirith moves Rohan down two spots. They could have won the game, though, had they shown a little more aggression, so there’s still some separation between them and surging group rivals Imladris.

5. Eriador (2-0-1)
   0.67 [29]
   0.33 [1]
   90% [5]
   +1.0 [7]
   

   A one-goal loss against the Lonely Mt squad drops Eriador, but since Erebor is also a high-ranked team, they fall just a spot. Elrond should really address his dragon problems, though—last year his Eregion squad dropped out of the tournament due to an Ancalagon goal, and this time a Smaug goal breaks his save streak.

6. The Sea (0-3-0)
   1.33 [18]
   1.33 [12]
   73.33% [15]
   +1.08 [6]
   

   Another draw against a top-tier team moves Ulmo’s squad up a notch. Take note, though, that it was them who scored first in their match with Armenelos, who still had Tar-Atanamir and Tar-Telperiën. This team looks ready for the main event.

7. Wilderland (1-2-0)
   2.33 [8]
   2.00 [23]
   68.42% [21]
   +0.65 [10]
   

   A draw where Wilderland conceded too much goals to middling Misty Mts drops Oromë’s squad a notch.

8. Erebor (2-0-1)
   1 [24]
   0.67 [8]
   81.82% [7]
   +0.83 [8]
   

   A win against top-tier Eriador bumps Erebor up two spots. Group C looks more and more like a battle between the Lonely Mt and Wilderland for first place.

9. Imladris (2-0-1)
   1 [27]
   0.33 [5]
   94.12% [1]
   +0.58 [11]
   

   The squad from Rivendell enters the top ten less due to their steady win over cellar-dwelling Dwarves United, and more due to an Arnor win this round (which made Imladris’s win over Arnor in the first round look good.)

10. Armenelos (1-2-0)
    1.33 [21]
    1 [10]
    78.75% [10]
    +0.5 [12]
    

    Gondor’s loss to Arnor this round makes the Kings’s first round draw with them look bad.

Dropped out: Valimar.



Greatest gain:

• +13 Imladris
• +11 Doriath
• +8 Arnor

Greatest loss:

• -16 Gondor
• -7 Hithlum, Inter Beleriand
• -5 Mordor

The Power Ranking is based on the aggregate of offensive and defensive ranking, combined with the adjusted goal differential rank of each team. The listed offensive and defensive rankings are from the actual numbers by the teams, and not adjusted. Ties are broken by the win-draw-loss record.

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 three rounds of friendly matches played by the teams, and does not reflect actual tournament performance.

Top individual performers:

GOALS + ASSISTS

5+2
Finwë (Tirion)
Gwindor (Nargothrond)

5+1
Bombadil (Shire-Bree United)

5+0
Arien (Real Valinor)
Glaurung (Nargothrond)

4+2
Curufin (FC Valinor)
Húrin (Hithlum)

4+1
Túrin (Hithlum)

4+0
Sauron (Barad-dûr)

3+3
Aredhel (Tirion)

3+2
Strider (Shire-Bree United)
Oromë (Wilderland)

3+1
Gothmog (Gondolin)
Eärendil (The Havens)
Aegnor (The Havens)

3+0
Maedhros (Inter Beleriand)
Eönwë (Tirion)
Argon (FC Valinor)
Durin's Bane (Misty Mts)
Lúthien (Doriath)

2+3
Míriel (Real Valinor)

2+2
Hookbill (The Downer)
Tar-Ancalimon (The Sea)

1+3
Elwë (Wilderland)
Nienor (Hithlum)

0+5
Barrow-Wight (Shire-Bree United)

0+4
Daeron (Doriath)

GOALKEEPING

1. Elros (Imladris) - 16/17 (94.12%)
2. Manwe (Valimar) - 10/11 (90.91%)
3. Ungoliant (Anfauglith) - 10/11 (90.91%)
4. Marach (AC Beleriand) - 9/10 (90%)
5. Elrond (Eriador) - 9/10 (90%)

[Boromir88]

TWO TOWERS NETWORK
Boromir the 88th

Two Towers Network had already gone into today, planning on not previewing the Round 4 friendlies. Feeling like most teams will dramatically reel the intensity back so they can go into group play with fresh legs.

Having said that, we were still going to add our opinion, and defense of where teams were ranked after Round 3. Yet, as we were writing in commentary for 27th rank Havens, a wrong key was hit, wiping out all previous information. We had only saved the new Power Ranking list, and not any of the analysis. Needless to say, TTN is frustrated with it staff, because our readers deserve and expect better, than to get no analysis because of getting it wiped out by one swift stroke (yes, apparently there is a Death Star button on computers, blowing up an entire planetary analysis).

We will only be publishing the rankings (and how many spots gained, or lost from the previous ranking. We will make up for this next week, as well as adding offense, defense, and goal-keeping stats into our point-system formula. This way, teams are measured by their results, strength of schedule in the friendles, but also overal statistics.

Again, we are extremely disappointed with ourselves at this happening, and can already see the AKM and TENT vultures circling above on our amatuer error. But, our methods will be proven to be more accurate, in the end.

Key: (Rank. Team. (w-d-l) - Points).

Power Rankings

01. FC Valinor (3-0-0) - 43.6
(Last Week: #2)

02. Real Valinor (2-0-1) - 39.1
(Last Week: #1)

03. Tirion (2-1-0) - 26.9
We will still make note here, look at how tightly bunched #3-7 are...wow, very very close to call. Almost impossible, even for a computer (No. You can never have too many SW references )
(Last Week: #8)

04. AC Beleriand (1-2-0) - 26.6
(Last Week: #4)

05. Eriador (2-0-1) - 26.5
(Last Week: #3)

06. Valimar (1-2-0) - 26.4
(Last Week: #5)

07. Erebor (2-0-1) - 26.3
(Last Week: #12)

08. Wilderland (1-2-0) - 24.4
We will note here, Wilderland might be a bit too high (yes even though this is TTN's formula, that does not mean we have to agree with the numbers ). Conceding 3 goals to Misty Mountains is concerning, and they're really benefitting from Erebor's continually winning.
(Last Week: #11)

09. The Sea (0-3-0) - 22.5
(Last Week: #10)

10. Imladris (2-0-1) - 22.1
(Last Week: #13)

11. Armenolos (1-2-0) - 22.0
(Last Week: #6)

12. Angband (0-3-0) - 21.2
(Last Week: #9)

13. Rohan (1-2-0) - 19.6
Concerned they seem to want to play like Valimar, when you pull back entirely for defense you're just asking for trouble, and inviting "bad luck" to beat you.
(Last Week: #7)

14. Anfauglith (0-3-0) - 18.4
(Last Week: #14)

15. Gondolin (1-1-1) - 18.1
(Last Week: #17)

16. Hithlum (1-1-1) - 15.7
(Last Week: #15)

17. Doriath (1-1-1) - 15.2
(Last Week: #18)

18. Nargothrond (0-2-1) - 13.9
Conceding 4 goals in every match so far? Where is the careful and "tough as nails" strategy wise-Finrod is known for?
(Last Week: #16)

19. Arnor (1-1-1) - 13.2
Shot up the most this week, but it's deserved. Gondolin and Eriador can not underestimate this Arnorian team.
(Last Week: #31)

20. Shire-Bree (0-3-0) - 13.1
(Last Week: #21)

21. Anduin (1-1-1) - 12.7
(Last Week: #22)

22. Gondor (0-2-1) - 11.9
(Last Week: #19)

23. Tol-in-Gaurhoth (0-3-0) - 11.3
(Last Week: #23)

24. Misty Mountains (0-3-0) - 11.1
(Last Week: #28)

25. Minas Tirith (0-2-1) - 9.1
(Last Week: #25)

26. Isengard (0-2-1) - 7.9
(Last Week: #27)

27. The Havens (1-0-2) - 6.8
Despite beating Barad-dur, how did the Havens still lose spots? This is what we mean by winning consistently will be the most beneficial to teams. Havens were hurt by their previous losses, and only beats #31 ranked Barad-dur, 3-2. Hence, they still fell a few places.
(Last Week: #24)

28. Inter Beleriand (1-0-2) - 5.1
(Last Week: #26)

29. Mordor (0-2-1) - 5.1
(Last Week: #29)

30. Dwarves Utd (0-1-2) - 4.1
(Last Week: #20)

31. Barad-dur (0-1-2) - 3.5
(Last Week: #30)

32. The Downer (0-0-3) - .5
(Last Week: #32)