Barcelona Moustaches Time - Group 1 Predictions

Hello everyone, welcome to part 2 of my preview of Barcelona Moustaches Time. Yesterday I gave you a brief review of what the different teams have accomplished in the past and what's so special about them. Today, I'll be looking at group 1 and writing my personal opinion on what the most important games will be, what teams might end on top, and what teams might be struggling. As I said before, in part 1, this is my opinion and I don't know all the qualities of every player/team. Let's get started!

Group 1 - Games

The group that I like to call, the group of death. Just like Group C at EQC, this group is full of top teams. Paris Phénix (EQC runner-ups), Deurne Dodo's (upcoming powerhouse), the Quercs (full of talented team UK players), Los Conquidstadors (just as the Quercs, full of talented UK players) and the Sparcs (the Spanish merc team). Some players might have faced off before, and some will experience the strength for the first time.

9:00 - Deurne Dodo's vs Los Conquidstadors

This group starts with a pretty good fixture. With Dodos and Los Conquidstadors starting, this will give a great inside on how both teams will do for the rest of the game. The last time the Dodos played an English team, was at EQC, where they lost versus Oxford Quidlings with 30-90*. The team was not ready for that game. In my opinion, if they would play again, the Dodos might win. No-one from the Conquidstadors has ever played the Dodos in their life before, so this is a really interesting fixture. This game will be important for this whole group. This will be a close game. Although, I think Los Conquidstadors will win. The Dodos are a driving-the-quaffle-to-hoops team and have not the best organised defense, and will be struggling with female chasers. UK teams are organised very well in defense and can make the tackles on the driving chasers. It'll still be hard for Los Conquidstadors to get through the amazing beater duo: Inke Gieghase and Louis Lermytte, but I think they can do it. But if the Dodos read this, they'll love to prove me wrong. Good luck to both teams.

9:40 - The Mighty and Amazing Quercs vs Sparcs

I don't have much to say about this game. In my opinion Quercs will win. Too many Sparcers lack experience, if they do have any at all. The Quercs will take this one away without any real problem. This will be the ideal Querc moment to figure out how they'll play for the rest of the day. If they do not find their "mojo" in the first game, it might be too late in the second one...

10:20 - Los Conquidstadors vs The Mighty and Amazing Quercs

The Battle of UK. When Portuguese/Spanish soldiers tried conquering South-America, they did not encounter a weird pink species. If they did, they would probably not have called that species "Querc". But now 6 centuries later, they have an encounter. Not in South-America, but on the homeground of the original conquistadors. But those conquerors have evolved to quidditch playing athletes, just like the the pink species. Maybe 6 centuries ago, they did encounter each other and a great rivalry was born. There have been some friendly threats back and forth, ready to settle it once and for all. But the firearms and spears are replaced by brooms, bludgers, a quaffle and a snitch. The brooms will be taken by all of them; the quaffle will go back and forth; the bludger will cause blood; and the snitch will be caught. Whole this game will be decided on the beaters. And because the Quercs will not have experienced beaters and L.C. will have really experienced (Team UK) chasers to get through those beaters. Although all players really know each other what makes it really complicated. If this was a football game, this would end in a draw. So everything might come down to a snitch catch. Looking at the gameplay schedule, an Eagle is going to be the snitch. No Eagle has any snitch certification, so the moment the snitch gets on pitch he/she might just get caught. So no real need for experienced seekers. Why is it so hard to say who's going to win? Because I don't know a lot of people from L.C. and T.M.A.A.Q. are playing on their least favoured positions. And purely because of that, I think Los Conquidstadors will win. I'm sorry Quercs, I believe in you and love you all, but just out of my personal thought now, you might just lose by a bit. Also, L.C. will have had some rest, you guys just come from a game against the Sparcs.

10:20 - Sparcs vs Paris Phénix

First performance from Paris Phénix on this tournament and the season. Phénix should not have any problems with the Sparcs. The Sparcs need to go into this game right after playing the Quercs. Phénix will not go all out in this, but will still win. Hands down.

11:40 - Paris Phénix vs Los Conquidstadors

Aaaah.... the great French team vs a British team. This is some actual history. The Anglo-French War, the Hundred Years' War, ... heck. They were even fighting in the American War of Indepence. We have seen Phénix vs Chimeras in quidditch before. We have seen France vs UK in quidditch before. We have seen tears and smiles. We have seen broken brooms and war cries. We have seen tackles and amazing battles. But it all comes down to this. If Los Conquidstadors win this game, they're pretty much the winner of this group. And why not. With 5 Team UK chasers vs just a few Team France chasers, I definitely think L.C. can take this one away. French teams are known for not the best beaters, and Paris would need them to defeat a UK team. *epic Tekken voice* "Los Conquidstadors win!"

11:40 - The Mighty and Amazing Quercs vs Deurne Dodos

This game will remind a lot of the Conquidstadors vs Dodos and Conquidstadors vs Quercs game. It'll be close. And just like I said earlier, I need to say a name. And you know what, Deurne Dodos will win. I don't know why. I just feel like it now. If there's one team who has the fighting spirit, it's the Dodos. "Extinction can't stop us" is their slogan, and that's exactly what they will do. They'll keep fighting. And. Take. It. Away. I said it now. Dodos surprised us at EQC, so why not again? They defeated Paris Frog before, again a surprise. Why not Quercs?

 13:00 - Deurne Dodos vs Paris Phénix

Phénix is losing some of it's reign. They have bean beaten by Paris Frog several times. As far as I know, they're not bringing their top chaser and seeker "Tarzan". Phénix will have a hard time against the Dodos. The Beakbirds swallowed the Frog before. So did the Firebirds. But at this moment, the Dodos are a little stronger. And will win this game. Dodos actually are remembered in history. A phoenix is just a mythological creature. If Dodos do win this game, they'll be remembered in history once again. And I think they will be remembered in history.

13:00 - Los Conquidstadors vs Sparcs

Again, Sparcs will not have a chance. Conquidstadors, you have just conquered my mind and the group. Congratulations.

14:20 - Sparcs vs Dodos

Is the reason why dodos don't exist anymore because they were hit by lightning? No-one knows. This spark of Sparcs will not threaten the rebirth of the race of Dodos. I would say the Dodos will fly over them, but dodos can't fly.... So.... they... bite them... to death? I don't know how dodos killed their enemies.... Not saying that they'll kill the Sparcs... they'll just defeat them.

14:20 - Paris Phénix vs The Mighty and Amazing Quercs

Final chance for both of the teams. But the Quercs are not going to let this one go. Phénix, I want to believe in you, but I'm just not feeling it. The Quercs will play way smarter. How? Don't ask me. That's just how I feel (*music starts to play*).


Final conclusion

1) Los Conquidstadors: 4 - 0
2) Deurne Dodos: 3 - 1
3) The Mighty and Amazing Quercs: 2 - 2
4) Paris Phénix: 1 - 3
5) Sparcs: 0 - 4


Join me tomorrow for my predictions on Group 2.


P.S.: I'm not a professional. This prediction is probably really horrible and I'll probably get an angry mob of people after me. I'm sorry if I have insulted anyone or any team. I love you all as a person. This is my personal feeling at THIS moment and can technically already change by tomorrow. (Really sorry if I offended anyone. I really really do and I really don't mean it). 

P.S.S.: Thanks to Lunatica Q.C. for the graphics.

Barcelona Moustaches Time - Team Introductions

It's been a while, no? With only 7 days to go before the start of the Barcelona Moustache Time tournament, it was time to write a preview. I never really done any public preview, so let's give it a try! This is my opinion, I respect any other opinion, as long as you respect mine. This is based on what I've seen and heard last season.

Introductions to the teams

Los Conquidstadors

To be honest, I don't know much about this merc team from the UK. With players from Southampton, Oxford, Reading, Keele, Leeds and more, this team is definitely not any team to take lightly. I personally have not seen a lot of players from this team playing, but with 5 (!) team UK chasers, that nearly did not take the bronze medal at Global games, they'll know for sure what they are doing. They want to take over Barcelona with their quidditch, and they sure will be trying.


Deurne Dodos

This name might be still unfamiliar for some, but this is the revamped Belgian Beerters from last season. With a squad mostly familiar to the last EQC, where they took the 6th place and qualified for the IQA World Cup VII, they'll sure be a squad not easy to beat. With winning a few games in the season versus the Brussels Qwaffles, Paris Frog and the Belgian Gryffins (the Belgian national team) late last season, it'll be looking forward to this team. Although, with some flaws in their defense and mostly driving the quaffle on hoops, this team might experience some problems in their group. There's also a rumour going around that one of their top chasers, Seppe de Wit, might not be coming because of an injury.

Barcelona Eagles

The home team. Barcelona Eagles is definitely a familiar name. The Eagles were nominated for the IQA swag award and are a strong force into the European community. With appearances at Brussels Muscles Invitational and EQC, teams definitely know how strong they can be. At Brussels Muscles, they took a 3th place after surprisingly defeating Paris Phénix in the Winners Bracket, but lost to Paris Frog and later again to Phénix in the losers bracket. I wrote in my last review that they were favourites for qualifying for World Cup, but failed to take a top 6 spot at EQC. With a new wind blowing under the Eagle wings, they sure can surprise even the best teams.

Lunatica Quidditch Club

Defending Italian champions and a 4th place at EQC. Their captain, Andrea Miglietta, was supposed to be the coach of the national Italian team. As many of you may know, the Italian national team could not attend Global Games because of financial reasons. But if they did, Andrea would have lead this team to maybe a 4th place. With just a 8-men squad, the Wolves (like I like to call them) almost took the bronze medal at European Regionals. They have the fighting spirit, they have the force, they have the experience. Do I have to say anything more?



Paris Phénix

EQC ('13-14) runner-ups, winners of Brussels Muscles Invitational, with plenty of players who took a 6th place at the 2014 Global Games with Team France. I'm not sure who's coming from Phénix, but we don't really have to know. We always know Paris Phénix is a strong force in Europe. If you need to play Phénix, you're not sure what to expect. Last season, I gave them the suggestion to not get pissed and down if they lost a game and read up on the rules. And it definitely has improved. There's no tournament where they have not finished outside the top 3. Can they do it again?

Brussels Qwaffles

Bronze medalists at the last EQC, with plenty of players who did play on the Belgian Gryfifns (the national team) at Global Games. With a full 21 player squad, they were unexpected to take the 3th place at EQC. But they did. But quidditch is growing in Belgium and a lot of players are leaving the Qwaffles to start their own team or play on a team closer where they live. Luckily they can count on their trusty beaters, Damien Leclair and Laura Mailleux, who made it hard for any chaser at EQC. They'll also get support from myself, Michele Clabassi (Milano Meneghins) and 2 Polish merc players.

The Mighty and Amazing Quercs

The most pink team you'll ever see, comprised of some top players from the UK. With plenty of players who played on Team UK. It's pretty much Team UK, but just not all of them, and added with some others. There's one catch... they'll play on their less favoured positions. Like this we'll see the Oxford/UK chaser duo, Twistolajczak, will be beating, while the mortal beating "Messiah", James "Jesus" Burnett, will be putting shots on hoops as chaser. Teams will have to look out for Alex Greenhalgh though. His least favoured position is seeker, but he sure knows how to catch them, like he proved at Global Games.

The (Spanish) Sparcs

This is probably the team we least know about. It's a merc team full of Spanish players that not play with Barcelona Eagles. And that's all I know. I don't know who will be playing or what their qualities are. They can be amazing or they can be not the best at all. We'll have to figure all this out in 7 days.





Toulouse Quidditch


The last time I've seen this team, was at Brussels Muscles Invitational. They sure will want to play some great games against some great European teams. With the French Cup and their own Tournament de Violette, they want to get some experience. They are one of the oldest teams in Europe, but were never a real name into Europe, and are still not completely up to date with the rules. Last season, they played friendlies (about 6) with Barcelona Eagles, and could only win one. I'm not sure what to expect from them, but anything can happen.



Join me tomorrow for my predictions on the group stages!