If the return of this blog carried with it no great fanfare, the return of Blackpool to the Championship was hardly front-page news either. Despite becoming the darling side of many a neutral a year ago with their free-flowing, attacking and attractive style of play, few expected Blackpool to make much of an impact on the top end of a fiercely competitive Championship this season.
With the spending power of West Ham and Leicester, alongside perennial contenders such as Nottingham Forest, Reading and Cardiff, Blackpool have hardly dropped down to a level where they can be assured of being one of the ‘big dogs’ in the league. Indeed, the short list of teams above does not include the sides that many people expect to make a run from the middle of the pack – Ipswich (whom I believe can make the playoffs), Brighton, Southampton, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Burnley and their Friday night opponents Hull City to name just a few.
However, after watching Ian Holloway’s men on Friday, my mind at least has been changed on the potential of this Blackpool team to mount a serious assault on the Championship playoffs. Yes, losing Charlie Adam to Liverpool would hurt any side, not to mention the late sale of D.J. Campbell during the pre-season, but the Blackpool skill and thirst for goals was as evident as ever at the KC Stadium. Some of the football in the second half was nothing short of magnificent, as the Blackpool midfield seemed to have a magnetic control of the football going forward. The overall ability to turn the sublime skill into killer passes and, ultimately, game-changing goals is still something that we have to wait more than 90 minutes to judge, but the signs are positive for Holloway’s men. In the goal scored by Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Blackpool showed that a pretty flick pass can set up a chance and that Taylor-Fletcher has the ability to do something that a host of Hull players cannot – smash the ball into the back of the net. This is not an Arsenal style of toothless, if pretty, passing – Blackpool genuinely mean it when they come forward.
Winning promotion may be a long way off for Blackpool even with this impressive start to the season, but worries that their stint in the top-flight, and their spiral out of it, may have dampened the mood around the club were dispelled with the gritty and, at times, thrilling display of football. Nearly all eleven players punched the air as the full-time whistle went – there is a fire that still remains within this team, and whether or not they ultimately fall short of a top six place (defensive frailties would have been exposed had Hull not continued last season’s lacklustre play in front of goal) Blackpool must still be respected as a side that present an interesting betting proposition as the season goes on.
90 minutes into the new season, and already I have learned something new from a fascinating night of football. Bring on Saturday.
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