Results
Dortmund 5 – 1 Freiburg [M]
One of my favorite things about writing recaps of blow out games is that I don’t have to be professional so…I don’t have to do it.
Moving on.
Guingamp 0 – 0 Grenoble [M]
Guingamp had the better showing for much of this match as Grenoble continued to struggle in the offensive third. The back line remained stout (Nestor, Monfry and Gaspar–Les Avocats Alpines…The Alpine Lawfirm) and Brice Mableu’s best outing since October.
LePuy v. Grenoble [F]
Hey a cancellation…but for NON-COVID REASONS!! I’m actually pleased! I mean, I hope that whatever is going on at Le Puy’s pitch that made it not passable last weekend is sorted out, but please let there be more of these and fewer Omicron cases in weeks ahead.
Legon Cities FC 0 – 0 Bechem United
Legon was lucky to get out of town with a draw against a more dynamic Bechem United. Wait….they were at home?!? Ooh boy. Home field advantage doesn’t mean much does it?
Ross County 3 – 1 Motherwell
I’ll admit. I did not feel good about this. I didn’t feel good about it when the early goal the Stags got came from a Motherwell miscue. I didn’t feel good when Motherwell equalized, and even worse when a red card reduced County to 10 men. More the fool I…
The come back came almost entirely from the bolt in blue: Regan Charles Cook. Whose cross was deflected in for the first goal, scored the second, and both won and converted a penalty for the third. It was a heckuva showing by the winger, and it boosts County much closer to safety.
News & Notes
Comings and Goings
The transfer sagas continue, though a little bit more quietly in this bleak midwinter.
The Loons welcomed back Abu Danladi, a striker who had been a vaunted draft pick and is now insurance for other strikers. Meanwhile, Ross County brought in another loan player with Right Back Kayne Ramsay coming north from Premier League team Southampton.
African Cup of Nations/Corrections
As AFCON carried on this week, I realized that I was very, very wrong about Grenoble’s role in the competition. It wasn’t three players from the Alps in the contest, it’s just one. Still, Mamadou Diallo played for one half against Zimbabwe and secured a spot in the next round for Guinea.
Player of the Week
Defenders might have gone two for two this year had Regan Charles Cook not had a tremendous showing to bring County back from trouble to a a hard fought win. For that, we have to name him player of the week.
Standings Update
The Staggies big win vaults them to the top of our standings while Grenoble finally gets some points in 2021
| Team | W | D | L | PPG | GFA | GAA |
| Ross County | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 |
| Alebrijes de Oaxaca | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 |
| Legon Cities | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 |
| Freiburg | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 3.5 |
| Grenoble | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 1.3 |
| University of Montana–b | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rosenborg BK–b | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Minnesota United–b | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| FK Vozdovac | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Emelec–b | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Punjab FC–b | — | — | — | — | — | — |
b–Team is between seasons
What’s Next
Wednesday, January 19th
Hoffenheim v Freiburg [M]
Alebrijes de Oaxaca v. UDG
Thursday, January 20th
Friday, January 21st
Saturday, January 22nd
Freiburg v. VfB Stuttgart
Livingston v. Ross County
Grenoble v. Niort [M]
Sunday, January 23rd
Bibiani Gold Stars v. Legon Cities FC
Grenoble v. Yzeure Allier
MacKenzie's Boot Room 