Last week you may have noticed Six Picks was missing. This was due to your designated author falling asleep at his monitor as he sat down to write it. This week we’re force-feeding Gary Andrews pro plus until he’s scoured and picked out six of the best footballing fixtures from around the world this weekend. He could have gone anywhere, but predictably, his favourite match this week takes place on the South Coast of England.
Estudiantes La Plata v Newell’s Old Boys
Argentinan Clasura, 10pm, Friday 11th February
The Argentinian Closing championship kicks off with Apertura winners Estudiantes first to play. The Rat Stabbers have been the closest thing Argentinian football has had to a consistent big club of late but preparations for this championship have been far from ideal - coach Alejandro Sabella walked out of Estudiantes left suddenly after a row with the board.
Eduardo Berizzo has been tasked with picking up the pieces and will no doubt lean heavily on Juan Sebastian Veron to provide the inspiration on the pitch, but the 37-year-old isn’t getting any younger and the team look vulnerable. Newell’s will probably be solidly mid-table but could kick off the Clasura with an upset if they can pull off an away victory.
Poole Town v Spennymoor Town
FA Vase 5th Round, 3pm, Saturday 12th February
The Vase is a great competition and, aside from perennial holders Whitley Bay’s game, this is probably the tie of the round with two very strong sides at this level. Poole Town, where Charlie Austin was plying his trade before Swindon came calling, are going for a third straight Wessex Premier League title and have game in hand over current leaders Winchester City.
If the Dolphins are one of the strongest Step 5 teams then Northern League Division One side Spennymoor Town will provide a big test for the south coast side. Two Hundred Per Cent has already noted the relative strength of the division and the Moors are one of the biggest names and strongest sides. This has all the makings of a cup classic.
Crawley Town v Wrexham
Blue Square Bet Premier, 3pm, Saturday 12th February
It’s huge weekend in the Conference where all four teams currently occupying the play-offs take on each other. Crawley’s game against Wrexham promises to be a cracker, as these are the two form teams in the division, with Wrexham putting their off-the-pitch troubles behind them to record their seventh straight win last weekend and are now truly in the promotion mix.
Crawley, meanwhile, have five games in hand over top-of-the-table Wimbledon and are just four points behind, but with an upcoming trip to Manchester United and fixture congestion at the end of the season, they’ll be wanting to keep the pressure on Terry Brown’s team. Not that their FA Cup run has distracted the Red Devils - they’re unbeaten in nine games in all competitions.
Luton Town v Fleetwood Town
Blue Square Bet Premier, 3pm, Saturday 12th February
Alternatively is this equally fascinating clash between second and fifth in the Conference. Luton are also in excellent form and you have to go back to November 11th since they last lost a league game, although there have been a few less-than-impressive draws inbetween. Still, three games in hand and four points behind leaders AFC Wimbledon isn’t a bad place to be, even if they did lose star man Andy Drury to Ipswich during the transfer window.
That their visitors, Fleetwood, are challenging at the top is not a surprise given the amount of cash chairman Andy Pilley has spent assembling a very solid Conference team. However, the Cod Army have stuttered of late, losing to both Wimbledon and Histon and were it not for Kidderminster’s points deduction, would be outside the playoff places. A visit to Kenilworth Road will really challenge the promotion credentials of Micky Mellon’s men.
St Etienne v Olympique Lyon
Ligue 1 (France), 8pm, Saturday 12th February
In recent years, this bitter derby was only going to head one way - into the arms of the richer neighbours of Lyon, the biggest team in France. But since failing to land the title since, Les Gones have struggled for the consistency they used to take for granted while St Etienne, who’ve won more titles than any other French club, have finally picked up after years in the doldrums.
As it stands, both sides have amassed 35 points and sit fifth and sixth in Ligue Un respectively. Les Verts have just recorded back-to-back victories and having sneaked a 1-0 win over Lyon in their backyard, will be keen to do the double over their rivals.
Queen’s Park Rangers v Nottingham Forest
nPower Championship, 1.15pm, Sunday 13th February
A corker of a fixture for a Sunday lunchtime, although don’t be surprised if this one finishes 1-0. Since hammering Swansea 4-0 on Boxing Day, QPR haven’t exactly been free-scoring and have been involved in several tight games. Meanwhile, Forest’s last seven victories have all been by just one goal.
Nonetheless, the stage is set for a fascinating first versus second encounter. The Hoops, seven points clear of Forest, should canter over the line to promotion but a victory for Billy Davies’ team here would certainly add pressure onto the league leaders. Given both teams can play some wonderful sweeping football but aren’t afraid to get stuck in, this could get spicy. We can’t wait.
Tags: Crawley Town, Estudiantes la Plata, Fleetwood Town, Luton Town, Lyon, Newell's Old Boys, Nottingham Forest, Poole Town, QPR, Queen's Park Rangers, Spennymoor Town, St Etienne, Wrexham