Avoiding the Drop

The Newest Staggie- Marc Fitzpatrick

Ross County F.C. v. Raith Rovers F.C. (Saturday)

County’s recent form has been, at best, mediocre. They’ve taken only five points from their last five matches and are only one point above the relegation playoff spot in the First Division. The good news is that of the clubs above them only one, Dundee, has taken more than eight points from those same matches, and they are still working on making up their 25 point penalty for entering administration for the second time. What does it all mean? It means a win could move the Staggies up three places in the table and to the relative safety that would go along with it. Raith are in second place and only one point behind leaders Dunfermline Athletic. Fun Fact: County have signed Motherwell midfielder Marc Fitzpatrick by offering him more total money than Motherwell. Wait! What?!

Fort William F.C. v. Rothes F.C. (Saturday)

A few years ago a case was made that Highland League side Fort William F.C. was the worst football club in the world. The club had become so notorious for this distinction that a reality show was proposed in which this year’s club would be replaced- or at least supplemented- by American players as part of a reality show in which supporters would pick the line-up for each match. I can find no evidence that this actually happened (or if it would even have been allowed under EEC law), but the numbers speak for themselves: 14 matches played, 4 points, and a -54 goal differential. This weekend, however, brings hope. Their opponents, the Speysiders of Rothes F.C. have 5 points. A win for either club and they will have a chance to catch Strathspey Thistle- who have 6 points. Yikes.

Wigan Athletic F.C. v. Fulham F.C. (Saturday)

With only two points separating 14^th place Fulham and last place West Ham United, and with only Wigan (five losses in their last five matches) playing poorly among the bottom teams, the phrase “relegation battle” is going to get used a great deal in the second half of the season. As a result, both of these clubs have a great deal to play for this weekend. A win for Wigan and they will likely move out of relegation danger for a week, while a win for Fulham- combined with a draw in the Merseyside Derby- could see the Cottagers leapfrog both Liverpool clubs. I’m putting my money behind Fulham and my man Deuce. Fun Fact: The Latic’s back line often includes brothers Gary (club captain) and Steven Caldwell: both began their EPL careers with Newcastle and both are Scottish internationals.

Watford F.C. v. Derby County F.C. (Saturday)

There’s one club in all of league football that has won their last five league matches- Watford. The Hornets have actually won six matches in a row and that’s been enough to get them into the promotion playoff picture and within four points of automatic promotion to the Premier League. Watford also have at least a game in hand over all the clubs they are chasing. Derby County have already accomplished their first goal- they’re probably not going to be relegated- and in doing so, they have actually gotten themselves within five points of the playoff promotion places. Not bad for a club that looked like it was going to plummet to the bottom of the Football League when they left the Premiership a few years ago. Fun Fact: Starting in Watford’s midfield and maybe on his way to the EPL? Former Staggie Don Cowie!

Liverpool F.C. v. Everton F.C. (Sunday)

After a horrendous start to the season it looked like Liverpool were staring to turn things around…and then they didn’t. Roy Hodgson is gone, they’ve lost four of their last five Premier League matches, and they were bounced from the F.A. Cup by Manchester United and recently lost to a Blackpool team that was not only hungrier, but played better football. Worse still, a loss in the Merseyside Derby could plunge them into the relegation dogfight while pushing rivals Everton into the top half of the league. The Toffees, meanwhile, started poorly, but have clawed their way back to safety while showing that they have the ability to beat the best teams (Manchester City, Spurs) in the league. Fun Fact: What current Everton player has made the most appearances for the club? Tim Howard, of course!

Tottenham Hotspur F.C. v. Manchester United F.C. (Sunday)

Without a doubt this is the “match of the weekend” in the Premier League and beyond. Nobody seems to like it, but Manchester United have two points and two games in hand over second place Citeh. I get it though, United don’t often have the look of “Premier League Champions” about them. They also have lost a match yet. Spurs look like they are going to hold onto a European place this season and the question now is is there still enough time for them to mount a title challenge? Probably not, but the entertaining brand of football they play will make it fun to watch them try! Fun Fact: Is there a harder working player at both ends of the pitch than Tottenham’s Cameroonian international Benoit Assou-Ekotto? I swear it sometimes seems like there are two of him playing in each match.

Cagliari Calcio SpA v. U.S. Città di Palermo (Sunday)

There’s a lot at stake in the Derby delle Isole (Derby of the Islands) between Sicily’s Palermo and Sardinia’s Cagliari. Palermo have themselves in a Europa league spot, but a win and favorable results elsewhere could get them into one of Serie A‘s Champions League spots- something they’ve just missed out on several times in the past few years. Cagliari are in 11^th place, but only five points above the relegation zone, so while a win is not imperative, they need to take at least a point from this match if they don’t want to see themselves start to slide down the table. Fun Fact: Cagliari’s Radja Nainggolan may be the only player of Indonesian descent (on his father’s side) playing top flight football in Europe. Fun Fact 2: Notice a similarity between Cagliari’s crest and AC Ajaccio of France’s Ligue 2.

F.C. Augsburg 1907 v. F.C. Inglostadt 04 (Sunday)

I understand the desire of an American player to play in Europe, but is joining a club certain to be relegated to the third tier of German football better than playing in MLS? For former Revs defender Amaechi Igwe, I get it. He was playing sporadically, got waived, and will probably make more money in Germany. For Freddy Adu (on trial with Inglostadt) it’s sad, but I get it. He has to catch on and prove himself so that he can move to a better club…and not have to come back to MLS with his tail between his legs. But Edson Buddle?! He’s almost 30, he was part of one of marquee franchises in MLS, almost won the scoring title, recharged his USMNT career, made the World Cup team and now he’s signed with a club that will be one step above regional football next year? That I don’t get.