Avoiding the Drop

BA!!

Liverpool F.C. v. Newcastle United F.C. (Friday)

The title race is down to two clubs and these are not the two clubs. A place in Europe, however, is still very much up for grabs and these two clubs are in the thick of the race for it. Separated by only a single point, Liverpool and Newcastle probably don’t need to worry about Stoke City or anyone else catching up to them, but they will need to catch Arsenal to sneak into the Europa League. Thus, a draw will not suit either club. Even if Arsenal lose to Q.P.R. on Saturday Liverpool would need a win to pass them and Newcastle would need a win just to match them on points. Given this scenario, this match could be a pretty dramatic affair and one in which the key may be whether or not Liverpool can find a way to contain Demba Ba (how good of a signing was he?!) and his 14 goals in 17 matches.

Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. v. Bolton Wanderers F.C. (Saturday)

I like Owen Coyle- not just because he once played for Ross County!- but I have a feeling that if he comes out on the wrong end of this relegation battle he’ll be out of a job. Mick McCarthy, conversely, seems to have a knack for surviving just this kind of situation personally and Wolves have done just the same as a club in recent years. One reason Wolves will probably avoid the drop this year is midfielder Matt Jarvis. If there’s a player in the Premier League whose form has been better in the last few months I’d like to know who it is. In recent weeks Jarvis has been rampaging up and down his wing no matter the opponent that’s been matched against him. He’ll be adding to his single England cap very soon. Fun Fact: Wolves won the NASL International Cup in 1967 playing as the “Kansas City Spurs.”

Manchester United F.C. v. Blackburn Rovers F.C. (Saturday)

Much has been made in recently about the support that Blackburn manager Steve Kean has received from Sir Alex Ferguson and I’m sure that, one Scot to another, Sir Alex has meant every word of it. However, his support of his countryman and coaching colleague will not prevent him from putting the sword to both Steven Kean personally and Blackburn Rovers as a club. Thus this battle of “potentially first” to “potentially worst” may resemble more of a coup d’grace than a football match. Nobody expects Rovers to win or Steve Kean to survive the season, but that won’t prevent the fine folks at Venky’s London Limited from showing him the door anyway. Fun Fact: Is it just me or did Mark Bunn- he of only three previous Premier League appearances- look very good for Rovers last week?

Watford F.C. v. Doncaster Rovers F.C. (Saturday)

I have no reason to preview this match other than my amazement that Neil Sullivan, Doncaster’s goalkeeper, is still an active player! For a start, Sullivan made his professional debut for Wimbledon in 1988, where his teammates included Vinnie Jones, John Fashanu, and Dennis Wise. Sullivan is also a former Scottish international, even though he retired from international duty almost a decade ago. And here he is, trying to keep Doncaster from getting relegated to League One. Watford, meanwhile, probably aren’t in danger of relegation, but if they were to lose this match and their next one against Portsmouth that may well change. Fun Fact: Take a look at Doncaster’s club crest and tell me it wouldn’t look right at home on the front of and old time fireman’s helmet? Too abstract?

Ross County F.C. v. Partick Thistle F.C. (Monday)

By more or less treading water for the past two weeks (and having the clubs chasing them do the same) the Staggies still have a chance to close out 2011 with no less than a three point lead and as much as a nine point lead over Falkirk and/or Dundee. Either way, they’ll have a match in hand. Better still, ownership has let manager Derek Adams know that if he feels he needs to strengthen the squad come the January transfer window, funds will be made available for him to do so. The next few weeks, it appears, could be interesting both on and off the pitch. In theory Partick are still in the title hunt (they’re ten points behind the Staggies), but a loss here could drop them back to fifth place and four places and thirteen points are probably just to big of an ask for a club whose form has been, at best, spotty. Fun Fact: I’ll be seeing County play twice in March- at home to Falkirk and away at Hamilton.

Hibernian F.C. v. Heart of Midlothian F.C. (Monday)

You’d have to go a long way back to find an Edinburgh derby where both clubs were in the midst of such dire crises. While it may appear that Hibernian are worse off, as they are one of the clubs facing relegation from the Premier League, it is actually fifth place Hearts who have the biggest problems. The spendthrift ways of Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov have finally come home to roost and he cannot afford to pay all of the players that he brought into the club. The players’ wages have already been late twice, and if their December wages are not paid by January 14^th all of their contracts will be considered null and void and they will be free to leave the club. What happens after that is anybody’s guess- they field the reserve side? They are punished with relegation? The club ceases to exist?