Avoiding the Drop

Never capped for England- really?

Molde F.K. v. Sarpsborg 08 Fotballforening (Friday)

Norway’s Tippeligaen- or Eliteserien, if you prefer- is finally back from its winter break, so let’s take a look at a match that involves two American expats. The Americans are Joshua Gatt and Sean Cunningham, both of whom play for Molde. Gatt, a 19 year old striker, joined the club this year after a successful half season (5 goals in 14 matches) in the Austrian second division. Cunningham, and 18 year old defender, signed with the club only a few weeks ago. Fun Fact: Sarpsborg was formed in 2000 when over a dozen smaller clubs merged together with the intention of creating a club that could play in the Norwegian top flight. They were promoted to the second division after five years, and this year to the top division. Fun Fact 2: Molde’s manager is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer- remember him?

Ross County F.C. v. Dunfermline Athletic F.C. (Saturday)

Here is the only thing I can guarantee you about this match: no matter what happens the Staggies will not be in last place when it’s over, just second-to-last place. I say that because they are facing second place (by a point!) Dunfermline Athletic and a win may not be in the cards. Then again, the Staggies have a new boss, Jimmy Calderwood, and he used to be in charge of the Pars- maybe that will help? If it does it’s possible that County could move up to the relative safety of seventh place. Either way, I’ll be interested to see what changes Calderwood will make in his first two days. Will he go with the team selection that McStay had favored, or knowing that that group didn’t produce anything, maybe he’ll shake things up. Either way, things are sure to be interesting between now and May!

Nottingham Forest F.C. v. Cardiff City F.C. (Saturday)

I’d be perfectly happy to see any of the six teams currently atop the nPower Championship in the Premier League next year, but especially Leeds…and Nottingham Forest. Not only does Forest have a fine pedigree- three different major European trophies- but they were also the club where Stuart Pearce made his name. But I digress… Forest have a match in hand over the three teams above them in the table- including Cardiff- and a win in this match could vault them into second place and within striking distance league leaders Q.P.R.. Cardiff, currently in second place, are not only pushing for promotion, but also competing with Swansea to become the first Welsh team to play in the Premiership. Fun Fact: Is Cardiff’s Michael Chopra still the only player of Indian descent to play in the Premiership?

Chelsea F.C. v. Everton F.C. (Saturday)

If the Premier League has belonged to Manchester United over the last twenty years, the F.A. Cup has belonged to Chelsea- they’ve won it five times (including three of the last four) and have been runners-up twice as well. Getting to the Cup Final this season would go a long way toward making up for the fact that there is still a chance- albeit a slim one- that Chelsea will not qualify for a place in Europe next year. An appearance in the Cup Final would also be a welcome boost to an Everton club who have, by any account, taken a step back in the league this season. Fun Fact: The last time Everton won the F.A. Cup- in 1992 over Manchester United- the winning (and only) goal was scored by Paul Rideout. Rideout later spent the 1998 and 1999 seasons in MLS with the Kansas City Wizards.

Manchester City F.C. v. Notts County F.C. (Sunday)

It’s hard for me to get behind either of the clubs in this F.A. Cup fourth round replay. On one side of the pitch we have Manchester City, a club that has decided that it can spend its way to domestic and European success- and still find themselves looking for their first piece of top tier silverware in over thirty years. Notts County, meanwhile, have also tried to turn massive foreign investment and big name signings- of both players and managers- into a return to the top flight of English football for the first time in twenty years. They’ve succeeded in rising to League One, but they don’t look to be moving up any further in the near future. I suppose, though, if I have to back anyone I’ll back the underdog magpies of Notts County. Fun Fact: County striker John Hughes served three years in prison.

West Bromwich Albion F.C. v. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. (Sunday)

This match is a relegation battle- emphasis on battle. Three points could potential push the Baggies up three places in the table and into safety for the foreseeable future. Wolves, who are dead last in the Premiership at present, need a win just to put themselves in position to move out of the relegation zone next week. The position both clubs find themselves in is somewhat surprising given that West Brom lost only one match in the opening two months of the season and that Wolves have shown the ability to beat some of the best teams in the league- Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United. Fun Fact: West Bromwich striker Peter Odemwingie was born in…wait for it…Tashkent, in the Soviet Union! While Odemwingie’s father is Nigerian, his mother is a Russian Tatar.

Celtic F.C. v. Rangers F.C. (Sunday)

The only outcome of this iteration of the Old Firm Derby that will have any meaning will be a win by Rangers. Should this happen the gap between the two clubs will be only two points and Rangers will still have a match in hand over Celtic. Less significantly, should Rangers lose they will maintain their five point lead over third place Hearts, but they will only have one match in hand over the Edinburgh side. Fun Fact: In this match I will once again be supporting…”Meteor F.C.” Fun Fact: Coming to a Premier League team near you in the near future will be Celtic’s Irish international forward Anthony Stokes. Since moving from Hibernian he has continued to score at a rate of a goal in every other match and that is sure to get the attention of clubs in the lower half of the English top flight.

Sporting Clube de Portugal v. Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Monday)

It’s derby day in sunny Portugal as second place Benfica and third place Sporting face each other in the Derby de Lisboa. This is normally a big match, but it takes on even greater importance this time as neither club is likely to catch Porto for the league title. Benefica may have a game in hand over the league leaders, may be the defending champions, and have won thirteen matches in a row in all competitions, but they are still eleven points behind. Despite being in third place, Sporting are in even worse shape. They are twelve points behind Benfica, they are not playing as well as their rivals, and they are only four points ahead of fourth place Vitoria de Guimaraes. Fun Fact: Benfica’s multimillionaire chairman, Luis Filipe Vieira has only a fourth grade education.