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| Dundee United look doomed source: bbc.co.uk |
As it stands Dundee United are eleven points off Kilmarnock who occupy the relegation play off spot and thirteen points off Hamilton who are in safety in 10th, however both have yet to play this weekend. United haven't won since the halloween night success over Ross County and have only registered two victories all season. Every passing game seems to edge them closer to the trap door, a trap door they haven't fallen from since 1994-95 when they finished bottom of the, then 10 team premier division.
United's woes this season seem to trace back to last January. On new year's day 2015, Dundee United had just trashed their city rivals Dundee 6-2 to hold onto 3rd place just three points behind leaders Aberdeen. They were a young energetic side threatening to have a go at Celtic and Aberdeen for a title race. They were to secure their passage to the league cup final and then money talked. That January window was the turning point in United's season. Their two best performers Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay-Steven were both sold to Celtic for £2 million plus various add-ons. United's season fell apart after that. They ended up losing the league cup final to Celtic, they exited the Scottish cup to Celtic as well and in the league they fell to 5th and missed out on European football altogether.
They started this season abysmally with just eight points gained by the start of November. It is now a year on from that 6-2 win over Dundee and things couldn't be any more worse. With just ten points after twenty-two games they look doomed.
Other sides adrift at the bottom:
Dundee United aren't the only side in Europe adrift at the bottom of their league. The most high profile case this season is Aston Villa south of the border where they are eight points off safety after recording only their 2nd league win all season on Tuesday. Much has been written about them so let's have a look at some of the others.
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| Hellas Verona after a draw with Carpi source: forzaitalianfootball.com |
Hellas Verona are in dire straits in Serie A. Not only are they eleven points off safety they are yet to win a game this season. Eight draws so far this season have left them staring relegation in the face. A far cry from even last season where the Gialloblu stayed up with ease with forty-six points and eleven wins along the way. They had veteran striker Luca Toni to thank for much of last season when despite being 37 he was Serie A joint top scorer with twenty-two goals. This season Toni has been injured and only appeared in ten games scoring three goals, which is quiet something as the team itself have only scored twelve league goals so far.
Next up is Ligue 1 and another side who are yet to win a game this season. Troyes are bottom of the league with eight points just like Hellas Verona in Italy. They currently are twelve points off safety which in France is actually 18th this season due to the bizarre decision to reduce the number of relegation places at the start of this season. In any case it wouldn't matter if two or three sides went down, Troyes need a miracle. They are in the mire by having the leakiest defense in the league as well as the lowest scorers, never a good situation to be in. Their top scorers, Fabien Camus and Coretin Jean have two goals each with a few other players on one goal each. The newly promoted side look destined to return to Ligue 2 with a whimper unless something drastic happens in the next four months.
De Graafschap
A side at the bottom that actually have won a game but have fewer points than the two sides mentioned above. De Graafschap in Holland's Eredivisie have just five points so far (one win and two draws). De Graafschap are newly promoted this season having just about scrapped into the play-offs last season. We are talking about a side who finished 6th in the 2nd tier Eerste Divisie last season. At the time of this blog post, De Graafschap are eight points off the relegation play-offs and eleven off safety. With just one win so far this season, against the side directly above them SC Cambuur, they have their work cut out to avoid going back to the Eerste Divisie next season.
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| Tondela may be looking up source: Paulo Novais/Lusa |
Another newly promoted side find themselves in a spot of bother. Tondela were promoted to the Portuguese top flight this season for the first time ever and so far it's looking like it'll be for just the one season. A spirited draw tonight at leaders Sporting Club de Portugal however might give them the confidence to close the gap to safety which currently stands at seven points. However Tondela have played before everyone else this weekend so that gap will increase if Académica get any result with Paços de Ferreira tomorrow.
Ukraine is our next stop and well it's pretty grim reading. Metalurh find themselves winless this season and have only recorded three draws which leave them seven points off safety. Due to the winter break they haven't played since the start of December and on the form so far that's probably a good thing. While seven points isn't exactly an insurmountable gap, it is a bit harder when you haven't tasted victory since last May. Just before the winter break Metalurh were trashed 9-1 by 5th placed Volyn and they have by a distance the leakiest defense in the league.
Baník Ostrava
One win and one draw, that has been as good as it's been for the Czechs this season. Twelve points off the safety of 14th Baník look doomed. The Czech league has shut down for the winter break and gives them an opportunity to assess what has gone wrong and try and arrest the malaise that has been their season so far.
Other mentions
In Cyprus the holiday resort of Ayia Napa have their side struggling in the top division. They are winless and eight points off safety.
Maccabi Netanya in Israel are facing relegation. They find themselves eight points adrift at the bottom and nine away from safety.
Spare a thought for Velež Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Currently bottom with just eight points, they are fifteen points off safety. However with league structure changes for next season, this season sees the bottom six teams relegated. Mission impossible you could say.
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