A magnificent season ended in disappointment at Wembley, and
while it would be easy to become swallowed up in the devastation felt by all of
a tangerine persuasion at falling at the final hurdle, it must be remembered
that as a club, we have surpassed all expectations of any fan when the season
began last August.
Matt Gilks – A
“46 Away Games” Player of the Year goes to the Seasiders’
number one. Turned down the chance to stay in the Premiership after relegation
last season, but was convinced by Ian Holloway to stay on. You could count
Gilks’ mistakes this season on one hand. It is so vital to have a reliable
goalkeeper as your last line of defence, as shown in the Premiership title
race, where eventual winners Manchester City were able to stick with former
Pool stopper Joe Hart, while runners up Manchester Utd had troubles with new
signing David De Gea. Gilks has earned Pool many a point this season, coming up
with crucial saves at vital times, keeping Blackpool in the playoff hunt.
Stephen Crainey – A-
Another outstanding season from the Scot, but then again he
doesn’t know how to have a bad one in a Tangerine shirt. He leads Blackpool’s
assist table with a total of 12, showing that his year in the Premiership has
taught him just how important it is to use the ball effectively when, as a full
back, you are pushed so far forward. Crainey also quadrupled his total of
Blackpool goals with strikes against Birmingham City, Portsmouth and Burnley,
but more importantly showed just how good a defender he is when faced with
either quick or tricky wingers.
Keith Southern – B
The mark may seem harsh on the stalwart of the club, but
unfortunately Southern missed too much of the season to make the impact he
would have liked. Having missed over two months of the season after his
testicular cancer scare, Southern added steel and guts to the Blackpool
midfield upon his return that seemingly only he can do. Epitomises everything
that Blackpool FC, as a club, stand for, and we are lucky to have such an
honest and loyal servant.
Neal Eardley – B
Having been shown up a number of times in the top flight,
which is no shame, as many have been before, Eardley showed major signs of
improvement in his defensive ability throughout the season. His slight lack of
willingness to get forward as much as he did in his debut season in Tangerine,
perhaps a psychological scar of the Premiership, has dented the effect he can
have in the final third, but his wonder strike against Birmingham City at
Bloomfield Road was a wonderful reminder of what he possesses in his right
foot.
Ian Evatt – A-
Another stellar year for the Players’ Player of the Year
last season. Linked with moves away in the summer, Evatt signed a new deal and
proved why with a series of magnificent displays, forming a solid partnership
with Craig Cathcart, then returning to what he knows best with Alex Baptiste. His
reaction to the final whistle sums up
the big man. He will give his heart and soul for the club, and felt like we all
did when we didn’t quite make it.
Stephen Dobbie – B-
Considering he arrived on the March deadline day for loan
deals, Dobbie made a magnificent contribution, just as he did 2 years ago. In
his role behind Gary Taylor-Fletcher, he gave Blackpool a fresh momentum after
Lomana Tresor LuaLua’s form dipped in the same position. His arrival allowed
Ian Holloway to tweak his stagnating 4-3-3 system into a 4-2-3-1, giving the
widemen more opportunity to drop deeper, thereby making us a more solid
defensive unit, shown by keeping 7 clean sheets in Dobbie’s first 9 games.
Elliot Grandin – C+
One who went into the season with great expectations after a
solid year in the Premiership, Grandin suffered a foot injury in the third game
of the season against Derby, and by the time he had recovered, was preparing
for a move back to France. In the games that he played between the recovery and
the move, Grandin made a major contribution, scoring important late goals at
Ipswich and at home against Crystal Palace. We await news as to whether he will
return next season.
Kevin Phillips – A-
Handing a 37 year old a 2 year deal may be seen as a gamble
in some quarters, but Kevin Phillips showed all season that the spark is still
there. Finishing as Blackpool’s top scorer with 17 goals, and already tied down
to what he says is probably going to be his last year at Bloomfield Road next
season, it will be interesting to see how he is used next season.
Brett Ormerod – C
Watching Ormerod stroll around the Wembley turf at full
time, applauding the fans and shaking the hands of all his teammates, it looked
like it could be a final farewell for a man who has given a vast amount of his
career lifting Blackpool to new heights. His only goal coming in the 5-0
demolition of Bristol City, it has been a tough year for the veteran whose
knowledge of the system has been imperative since the arrival of Ian Holloway.
Gary Taylor-Fletcher – A-
He started the season with a wonder strike at Hull, followed
it up with another at Coventry, before going off the boil in the middle of the
season. His revival in the last 3 months of the season coincided with Blackpool’s
best form, as Taylor-Fletcher gave Pool a fresh impetus. Whether it is as the
main striker, holding the ball up and bringing others into play, or in behind
the striker, creating openings, he gave 110% throughout the season and is
hugely responsible for Blackpool’s charge.
Daniel Bogdanovic – C-
2 goals against Bristol City were as good as it got for
Blackpool’s summer deadline day signing. Any chances he got, he failed to take,
and was farmed out on loan to League 1, where it is likely that he will stay.
Ludovic Sylvestre – B
A solid season for the Frenchman, after failing to make much
of an impact in the Premiership. Through the difficult winter months, Sylvestre
supplied a touch of class to the three man Blackpool midfield, scoring a key
goal in the draw at Middlesbrough. Used intermittently from the bench towards
the end of the season, his introduction to the game gave an extra dimension in
the midfield, one capable of driving at defences, or sitting and spraying key
passes.
Alex Baptiste – A
It would not be a surprise to see Baptiste playing in the
Premiership next season, despite being on the losing side yesterday. A
technically fantastic centre half, equally capable at right back, he has
matured greatly in the last 12 months, becoming one of the best defenders in
the Championship. Constantly sweeping up whenever his partner stepped forward,
without him, Blackpool most definitely would not have been where they were at
the end of the season.
Barry Ferguson – B+
Blackpool’s most expensive summer signing from Birmingham,
Ferguson took the armband and the spot left by Charlie Adam in the Blackpool
midfield. Possibly the victim of unfair expectations from Blackpool fans who
wanted Adam replaced by Charlie Adam, he led the side well throughout the
season, playing a key role in the new system of shorter passing at a quicker
tempo.
Chris Basham – B
After a hugely frustrating first year which was ended in
November with a broken leg, Basham finally broke into the side in December and
impressed with his tireless running and impressive distribution. Scoring key
goals at Southampton and the winner against Crystal Palace, Basham is one who
will have an eye on progressing further next season.
Craig Cathcart – B+
Was having an excellent season until suffering an injury in
March, Cathcart couldn’t force his way back in during the run in due to the
impressive form of Baptiste and Evatt. Showed he is capable of sweeping up or
playing the enforcer, Cathcart has a very bright future.
Matt Phillips – A-
The man many expect to move on after Blackpool failed to
reach the top flight, since the turn of the year Phillips has been Blackpool’s
jewel in the crown. He opened his Blackpool account on Boxing Day with his
first goals since his debut in the Premiership, he went on to score 10 goals in
10 games after Christmas, including a hatrick against Fleetwood in the FA Cup.
A place in the Championship Team of the Year was Phillips reward for a magical
few months. Blackpool will do well to keep hold of him.
John Fleck – C
There were high hopes for Fleck when he arrived on loan in
January, but he failed to live up to the hype. Never really given a run in the
team, down to both his own struggles to earn a place and the good performances
of others in midfield, it seems unlikely that Holloway will look into his
return.
Angel Martinez – B+
Signed from Espanyol to bring the Spanish style to the
Blackpool midfield, it look as though it was a failed experiment during the
first half of the season. Martinez, however, burst into the team after the
January window, putting in a string of excellent performances and making
himself almost untouchable in the Blackpool midfield. Scoring a late winner
against Leeds , along with his ramblings on Twitter, has earned himself a place
as a fan favourite.
Nouha Dicko – B
Brought in to replace Callum McManaman after he was recalled
by Wigan, the Frenchman also added from the Latics impressed in the run in. After
a spell out of the side, he returned in the run-in, adding pace and power to
the front line, and playing a key role in wins against Leeds and Burnley.
Bob Harris – B-
Proved after his free transfer from Queen of the South that
he can be the natural replacement to Stephen Crainey. A number of impressive
performances during his spell in the side, including a brilliant display on his
league debut against Southampton, he got the fans on his side after some
full-blooded displays in the cup.
Roman Bednar – C+
A signing that surprised a few fans, with a man of his
calibre signing for Blackpool a sign of the progress made under Ian Holloway.
Injury stopped him from building on his goal against Leicester, only allowing
him to come back in the dying moments of the playoff final. A pre-season to
regain fitness would do him the world of good, but whether it is with Blackpool
is another matter.
Thomas Ince – A
Known only as “Paul’s lad” when he arrived from Liverpool,
Ince took a couple of months to force his way in, making his debut at
Portsmouth late in September. Ince went from strength to strength, improving
with every game, and his return of eight goals and being linked with a move
back to the Premiership is just reward for a magnificent season, where he has
moved out from under his father’s shadow.
Lomana Tresor LuaLua – B
Excitement was palpable when LuaLua arrived in October, with
Blackpool fans hoping to see the Congo international’s famous back-flip
celebration in action. It took until the drubbing of Leeds at Elland Road, but
LuaLua didn’t disappoint. 6 goals, including a goal of the season contender at
Reading, but overall his lack of consistency meant he couldn’t make the impact
needed on a regular basis.
Ian Holloway – A+
No comments:
Post a Comment