The New Saints of Oswestry Town & Llansantffraid Football Club v. Bangor City Football Club (Friday)
It’s first place Bangor against second place Saints and it doesn’t really matter. Bangor City started the season with 15(!) straight wins before drawing with Airbus UK FC last weekend and the result is that they already have a 13 point lead over the Saints with the middle of the Welsh Premier League season fast approaching. Bangor City, who also top the league’s Fair Play table, have a +34 goal differential, and are led by striker Jamie Reed who has followed up his 24 goals in 35 matches last year with 15 in his first 15 matches this year. The Saints are no slouches in front of goal either, with no less than four players who already have 5 or more goals. Fun Fact: The New Saints represent both Oswestery (in England) and Llansantffraid (in Wales).
Ross County Football Club v. Dunfermline Athletic Football Club (Saturday) CANCELED!!
After a very fortunate draw against Greenock Morton last weekend a match against first place Dunfermline is not what County need right now. If there is anything that the Staggies can look to it is that Dunfermline’s form is not as red hot as it has been- they are 2-2-1 in their last five matches. Also complicating matters is that the result of Dundee F.C.’s appeal of their 25 point deduction for going into administration will be announced on Friday. If the penalty is upheld (or increased!) County may gain a place regardless of the outcome of this match. However, if the penalty is upheld and County can find a way to win, they’ll could move up to 5th place. Fun Fact: Barry Wilson- currently a player/coach at Elgin City- is thought to be the front-runner to replace Craig Brewster as County’s assistant manager vacancy.
Associazione Calcio Milan v. Associazione Sportiva Roma (Saturday)
While Roma cling to sixth place in Serie A and the European place that comes with it, Milan have quietly opened a six point lead on second place Juventus. Roma aren’t likely to be able to catch up to Milan (they trail them by ten points), but a win would at least present the possibility of closing the gap on crosstown rivals Lazio to a single point. Milan, meanwhile, are thriving under new manager- and two time defending Serie A “Manager of the Year”- Massimiliano Allegri. I don’t think anyone at the San Siro is missing Carlo Ancelotti or Leonardo. Fun Fact: Oguchi Chijioke Onyewu still hasn’t played a Serie A minute for Milan since joining them in 2009. Fun Fact 2: Roma’s John Arne Riise, who made 300 appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, is still only 30 years old!
Sunderland Association Football Club v. Bolton Wanderers Football Club (Saturday)
Believe it or not these two clubs are fighting to stay in the picture for a European place next year- I bet you wouldn’t have put money on this scenario at the beginning of the season! As if that were not enough, should Spurs lose to Blackpool this weekend, either of these two teams could find themselves occupying one of the Premier League’s European places when Monday morning comes! However, even better than both of these things is that Bolton seem to have decided- or, perhaps, Owen Coyle has decided- to play football this year! This, combined with a Sunderland side that likes to move the ball about, augers well for this match. Plus, if you’re lucky enough to catch this match you’ll be able to see a bit more of Stuart Holden who, mark my words, will captain the USMNT before his career is over.
Paris Saint-Germain Football Club v. Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club (Saturday)
Monaco, who have won seven Ligue 1 titles, five Coupe de France trophies, and have twice been runners-up in major European competitions, are in danger of relegation after 33 consecutive seasons in the top flight. Only one team has been in France’s top league longer than that- PSG. The real danger for Monaco is that they are tied on 15 points with the first two teams in the relegation zone. So, while their goal differential is much better, a loss coupled with a draw in the match between Lens and Caen could see Monaco end the weekend second bottom in Ligue 1. They shouldn’t expect any favors from PSG, as they trail first place Lille by only a single point and will be hoping that a win will put them atop the table for at least a week. Fun Fact: Freddy Adu played in 9 matches for Monaco in 2008-2009.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club v. Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club (Saturday)
I’ll be the first to admit that when the SPL season kicked-off I never would have imagined how big of a match this would be. Hearts are winners of six matches in a row and that has allowed them to keep pace with the Old Firm. Both Glasgow sides have a game in hand over the Jam Tarts, but there is still a very good chance that the Edinburgh side could at least catch Celtic this season and finish in second place. Caley- who were in the First Division at this time last year- are only slightly less hot and could draw within three points of Hearts should they manage a win in this match. Fun Fact: Heart’s legend John Robertson’s first three managerial positions were: ICT, Hearts, and Ross County.
Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax v. Feyenoord Rotterdam (Sunday)
It’s the De Klassieker, the biggest derby in the Netherlands!! I may have overreacted a few weeks ago when I started throwing dirt on Feyenoord’s coffin- they have gotten their collective act together and improved their form from “absolute pants” to “middling” and that has been enough to raise them from the relegation zone to five points above it. They’re still broke, though, I was right about that. Ajax, meanwhile, are right in the mix for the Eredivisie title. Though currently in fourth place they only trail leaders PSV by three points. They will however have to watch the teams behind them as well- the top six teams in the league are only separated by six points. Fun Fact: Finland’s Teemu Tainio from Tornio (formerly of Spurs, Birmingham City, and Sunderland) is now with Ajax.
Chelsea F.C. v. Manchester United (Sunday)
Well, well, well, look who is suddenly in first place and with a match in hand over all of the teams chasing them? That’s right, it’s the team everyone loves to hate. All I’ll say about this is that I don’t think it speaks to well of the strength of the Premier League this year that what is by all accounts a “workmanlike” United are top of the table. True, they’ve yet to lose, but does “9 wins and 7 draws” really scream “CHAMPIONS!!” to you? Chelsea, meanwhile, may be past it. A slew of injuries and only one league win since the end of October (!) have them in fourth place and in danger of dropping out of the hunt for a European place if they can’t beat United this week or Arsenal next week. They have Bolton after that and if things continue as they have, Bolton may be ahead of them in the table when that match rolls around.
ICT has an awesome stadium right there on the water.
Why did you stop spelling out the entire team name with Chelsea?
Also, Fulham, in desparate need of three points, travel to Anfield. It’s live on FSC at 11:30 Central. I know where I’ll be.
Also, I hate the “Ll” in Welsh. There’s no equivalent sound in English, and years of Spanish classes have drilled that into my head as a “y” sound. I always called Llanelli Scarlets “Lan-elly” I just can’t say that word.
ICT’s stadium would be even better were it not stuck in the middle of a bleak industrial estate. County fans refer to it as “The Dump.”
If you ever make it to Dingwall check out Victoria Park- it’s just a few hundred yards from the city center and just as close to the water. Actually, an errant shot on several of the training pitches can end up in the water!
Looked up Victoria Park – that place looks pretty nice. I had no idea ICT’s park was in an industrial estate. Sort of like Bridgeview. I hate going there for Fire games.