Blackpool FC-End of Term Report

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+

If any had lingering doubts as to whether Holloway is a joker rather than a football manager, they were expelled this season. A complete rebuild and change of system to the one that shocked so many in the Premiership, being forced to work on a shoestring budget having lost the three superstars from the trip to the big time, and to come within just 3 minutes of the top flight once again considering the turmoil and troubles that surrounded the club at the start of the season, Holloway has surprised us all. Having proved that 2 years ago was not a fluke, if Karl Oyston gives him a chance, there is no reason Holloway can’t lead the Seasiders back to the promised land.

Dominance Unrewarded

Blackpool took to the Sky cameras in the weekend's earliest kick off at Bloomfield Road, as the visit of Hull City followed the reverse fixture onto Friday nights. After Gary Taylor-Fletcher's wonderstrike at the KC Stadium settled the season's curtain raiser, Blackpool were hoping to complete the league double over possible playoff rivals.

Line-Ups

Despite Ian Evatt returning to fitness, Danny Wilson retained his place in the back four, possibly to combat the added pace of Fryatt, MacLean and Stewart, giving Crainey extra cover on the left side of the defence. Keith Southern started his first league game since November, while Roman Bednar returned up front. Brett Ormerod also started for the first time since the Burnley horror show.

The main surprise in the Hull starting eleven was the inclusion of Seyi Olofinjana. He made his first start for the Tigers in over 18 months alongside former Preston man Paul McKenna in midfield, while Nicky Barmby stuck with the back four that kept 6 clean sheets in succession before their visit to Lancashire. Matty Fryatt and Robert Koren looked set to form the central attacking threat, with Aaron MacLean and Cameron Stewart looking to cause problems with their pace out wide.

Key Battle:


Keith Southern Vs Robert Koren:


Making his first start in the league start since the away draw at Middlesbrough in November, Keith Southern showed exactly what he brings to the team. Tireless running, excellent anticipation and a man willing to put his body on the line whenever necessary. For seventy minutes, the creative and elusive Koren saw very little of the ball due to Southern and Barry Ferguson's constant control of the area in front of the back four. After Ferguson's injury, however, and as Southern's lack of football caught up with him, Koren found more space which allowed him to move the Hull full backs forward, allowing them to overload Crainey and Eardley in the Blackpool back four.

What went well...


There have not been many half times this season where Blackpool fans felt wholly satisfied with their team's performance, but this was certainly one of them. The home side kept the ball well, managed to take the difficult pitch out of the game, largely through moving forward at pace, using the strength of Roman Bednar well, while Kevin Phillips and Brett Ormerod used their experience to manipulate the Hull defence, allowing Tom Ince to wreak havoc whenever he was on the ball. The movement from the four of them brought about the Blackpool goal, with Ince's run sparking his fellow striker's movement, dragging defenders out of the way, while Phillips dropped off his centre back to play the one-two with Ince, allowing the former Liverpool winger the space to guide home his 5th goal of the season.

and what didn't.


The standard of the final ball from Blackpool needs to improve, or those who are trying to get on the end of it need to adjust their position. Countless times, when Blackpool managed to work the ball into wide areas, whether the ball was whipped in early by Eardley or Crainey up from the back, or taken further inside and drilled across by Ince, the man aimed for is standing at the back post, only for the cross to be cut out at the near post. Changing the angle of the run to attack the near post could result in far more dangerous positions being translated into goals.

Who impressed...


With questions being asked of whether or not the big wages of Roman Bednar are being spent wisely, some even saying he is this season's answer to James Beattie and Sergei Kornilenko, the big Czech striker put in his best Blackpool display by far. He held possession well, created chances for others and one or two for himself as well. Certainly Blackpool struggled when he was taken off, losing the out ball that takes pressure off the Tangerines' defenders.

Tom Ince continued his recent resurgence, his wonderful goal coming in an excellent performance which continues a run that is showing he is capable of covering for Matt Phillips in the pacy winger role. Kevin Phillips and Brett Ormerod worked tirelessly, while Barry Ferguson and Keith Southern were both outstanding in front of the back four.

and those who didn't...


Questions will have to be asked why Danny Wilson was chosen over Ian Evatt when the reliable Blackpool hero was available. Evatt was only given a place on the bench, while the inconsistent Wilson was chosen to start. Wilson regularly was caught out of position, causing the quicker Baptiste to sometimes have to do the work of two centre backs.

Matt Gilks is one of the best goalkeepers at this level, but he will be very disappointed with his efforts for the Hull goal in stoppage time. When the ball drops in the penalty area, the defenders need the goalkeeper to take charge of the situation, but poor communication between Gilks and Baptiste, two of Blackpool's more solid performers this season, led to Matty Fryatt poaching a goal that stole a possibly undeserved point.

The Managers:


Ian Holloway will have questions to answer on his substitutions in such an important game. With Blackpool looking comfortable in the system they were playing, he made the choice to revert to the classic 4-3-3 by replacing Bednar with a midfielder in John Fleck, who made no noticeable impact in stemming the flow of late Hull attacks. Lomana LuaLua coming on was probably the right decision due to a tiring Brett Ormerod, and Pool fans will have been reassured to see Ian Evatt ready on the touchline. The decision, however, to slot him into a back five instead of the expected move of Neal Eardley into midfield caused traffic and therefore panic in Blackpool's defensive third, which led to Blackpool failing to clear on a number of occasions.

Nicky Barmby went his players out in the second half with a changed system, with Aaron MacLean looking to push further forward to partner Matt Fryatt. Cameron Stewart was withdrawn early in the second half as Josh King came on to form a three man front line. They looked far more solid defensively in the second half, with Blackpool only creating two clear cut chances through Kevin Phillips and Bednar, although it took until the late goal before Hull really tested Gilks.

Next Up:


A trip to out-of-form Derby County on Tuesday night will give Blackpool a chance to continue their remarkable recent away form. The Seasiders' last three away games have all ended in 3-1 wins at Cardiff, Doncaster and Bristol City, and they will draw on fond memories of their last visit to Pride Park when a Brett Ormerod brace gave Blackpool a Boxing Day win in 2009.

Recently, Derby have slipped from a good position to make a charge on the playoffs back into the midtable obscurity expected at the start of the season.They were the first team to take any points from Bloomfield Road this season when Craig Bryson's rebound settled a dour Tuesday night affair. Blackpool will have to be wary of the pacy Nathan Tyson out wide, while striker Steven Davies scored in their impressive 2-2 draw at Birmingham.

Tough Night, Another Comeback

Portsmouth visited Bloomfield Road looking to complete the double over the Seasiders after Erik Huseklepp's last ditch wonder-strike at Fratton Park earned them three points back in September.

Line-ups:

Blackpool made five changes to the side that won at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek. Alex Baptiste returned to his more familiar right back slot due to Craig Cathcart coming back in, with Stephen Crainey completing the back four. Barry Ferguson and Chris Basham both came into the side in midfield, while Roman Bednar made his first start in place of Kevin Phillips. The formation that impressed so many at Hillsborough, with LuaLua playing just off the striker was retained, in the hope that some of the magnificent attacking football displayed in Sheffield could be replicated.

Due to several departures in the last two transfer windows, Portsmouth are down to the bare bones with regards to selection for Michael Appleton. Currently in possession of the smallest squad in the Championship, and the second smallest in the entire football league, it came as no surprise when Appleton named the same eleven that lost out late on against Birmingham. Boasting a remarkable bench, which included Benjani and Dave Kitson, there was plenty for Blackpool to be careful of in an experienced Portsmouth line-up.

Key Battles:


Matt Phillips Vs Tal Ben Haim


With the remarkable run of comeback victories that Blackpool were enjoying before the game came, perhaps unsurprisingly, Matt Phillips' best run of form in a Tangerine shirt. 10 goals in 10 games before the start of play suggested that Phillips could be a match winner, but he found a worthy opponent in experienced centre half turned full back Ben Haim. The former Chelsea and Manchester City defender, capped 62 times by his native Israel, kept Phillips quiet for long periods, and even ventured forwards to launch attacks for the visitors, putting Phillips on the back foot, this was certainly a head to head that went in the visitors favour.

Craig Cathcart Vs Marko Futacs


The Northern Irish centre back has a troubled past when it comes to powerful, old fashioned strikers. Certainly, forwards such as Charlie Austin, Jay Rodrigues, and Nikola Zigic have caused him problems this season, so when the 6 ft 3 Hungarian Futacs rocked up beside him, one could be forgiven for thinking he could be in for a long night. Quite the contrary, Cathcart put in a very impressive display, winning most of his aerial battles, covering well for Danny Wilson who was clearly struggling with the pace and invention of Huseklepp, and put in his fair share of crunching tackles. The one time Futacs did find some space, his 20 yard fizzing effort clipped the post.

Chris Basham Vs Liam Lawrence

In recent weeks, Chris Basham's inclusion has brought a drive and intent to the Blackpool midfield that is sorely lacking when it is packed with creative talent. His willingness to put his body on the line, and bust a gut to get involved at both ends at the pitch serve as a constant threat for the opposition and a momentum generator for the Seasiders. This time, however, Lawrence had a march on the former Bolton man. Clever in possession, and with good movement without the ball, the ex-Stoke man showed all of his Premiership experience to marshall the Portsmouth midfield. The fact that Basham was replaced with nearly half an hour to go was a testament to how well Lawrence had dealt with him.

Those who impressed...


Both full backs in Tangerine can take enormous heart in their performances, with both looking dangerous in attack and comfortable in defence against potentially dangerous Portsmouth wide men. Crainey in particular, who some believe has a problem with pacey wingers, gave Kelvin Etuhu very little to work with whenever in possession, and his glorious free kick to draw Blackpool level was just reward for a good night's work. Barry Ferguson in the heart of the midfield gave Blackpool impetus going forward with some smart runs, and kept the ball moving on a difficult playing surface as he put in a display that served as a timely reminder to those questioning whether he is worth his place in the side.

and those who didn't.


None of the front four can be too pleased with their performances on a difficult night for footballing purists at Bloomfield Road. The standard of the pitch can take part of the blame for the likes of LuaLua and Ince failing to make their mark on the game, as they struggled to cope with regular bobbles and inconsistent bounces. Roman Bednar looked ready to work with very little end product to show for it. Holloway was right to remove LuaLua and Ince with only ten second half minutes gone, with the former proving that, while he is capable of providing a moment of magic, he is also just as likely to frustrate.

The Gaffers:


After a display of such dominance on Tuesday night, it seemed only natural that the formation that worked so well be used again in the league. With hindsight, however, it may have been a mistake. The additional quality of Lawrence and Mullins with their Premiership experience quickly snuffed out the threat of the deeper LuaLua, before setting on Basham and Ferguson in their defensive roles to cause Blackpool problems. Ian Holloway's substitutions were spot on, and not for the first time in recent weeks. Gary Taylor-Fletcher provided the spark that LuaLua failed to muster, and Kevin Phillips' reputation alone caused the Portsmouth defence to drop deeper and deeper as the second half wore on.

Michael Appleton can return to the South Coast a relatively happy man. If offered a point at the start of play, he would surely have taken it, but there will be a tinge of disappointment that his side couldn't hold onto the points. Chances came and went for Huseklepp, who could have won the game by himself had he been more clinical, and it was only a moment of magic from an unlikely source that stopped the visitors returning home with all the points. With the threat of administration and the dreaded ten point deduction hanging over the club, the point will be gratefully added to the total.

Next Up:


The games come thick and fast for Blackpool, with a Valentine's Day trip to the Keepmoat Stadium one to cause the fans to wrap up warm. Doncaster Rovers will be keen to avenge the devastating late show they suffered at Bloomfield Road in October, when Tom Ince came off the bench to score two excellent goals, including a 25 yard thunderbolt deep into stoppage time, to claim the points after the now departed Billy Sharp continued his fine record against Blackpool with a first half strike.

A difficult game is in store, but if Blackpool can get the ball down and pass the ball as we all know they are capable of doing then the three points are definitely there for the taking against Dean Saunders' struggling Rovers team. Having had the weekend off when their clash with Crystal Palace fell foul of the weather, the divisions second bottom team will be fresh and keen to move closer to safety.

FA Cup, Same league troubles

Blackpool welcomed Sheffield Wednesday to Bloomfield Road in the FA Cup 4th Round, looking to advance to the 5th Round for the first time since 1990. It was only a second late show in 7 days that kept Blackpool in the hat for the next round, and hopes of a trip to Goodison Park in the 5th round will hinge on a return game at Hillsborough next Tuesday. Kevin Phillips converted a debatable penalty in the 92nd minute after Gary Taylor-Fletcher was felled, cancelling out Clinton Morrison's deft chip after a mistake from Billy Clarke.

Line-ups:

Blackpool recalled Kevin Phillips to the side to try and combat the slightly deeper central midfield pair of Sheffield Wednesday. With Phillips likely to play off the back four, instead of dropping deeper to influence play like Gary Taylor-Fletcher, he was likely to find more space than Taylor-Fletcher. Danny Wilson returned to the back four in place of Ian Evatt, while Alex Baptiste and Stephen Crainey were also rested ahead of the visit of Coventry City on Tuesday night. Keith Southern also made his long awaited return after recovering from a cancerous tumour.

Player Ratings:

Gilks: 8-Made 2 top class saves in the first half, first to deny Lowe's volley before a Peter Schmeichel-esque stop to keep Clinton Morrison out after a mistake by Keith Southern. No chance with the goal, with the only possible complaint being that he failed to push the ball clear, instead only palming it straight to Morrison.

Eardley: 6-Eardley's main attribute is his added quality in delivery into the penalty from wide areas, but when he managed to get forward, his final ball was relatively poor. Sheffield Wednesday never really managed to maintain a spell of pressure, so his defensive frailties were not exposed too dramatically.

Cathcart: 7-At his best with a reliable partner so he can concentrate on his own game, with Wilson still adapting, Cathcart had to remain careful to cover him, something he has done regularly and well alongside Ian Evatt. Another good display, Ryan Lowe rarely found any space to maneuver. 

Wilson: 6-Clearly young and lacking in match practice, two clever strikers highlighted his shortage of experience. No doubt a talented player, he will have better days.

Harris: 7-The left back understudy proved once again that he is capable of stepping up to replace Stephen Crainey should disaster strike. If he were to add a bit more quality going forward, he could be a fantastic find by Ian Holloway.

Southern: 8-The way he was playing, had he lasted the ninety minutes he would have swept the Man of the Match awards, and not just sentimentally. As it is, he only scrapes it. His defensive knowledge is superb, with excellent positioning and anticipation. No surprise whatsoever that the struggles in midfield to generate any forward momentum started when Southern was forced to be withdrawn.

Basham: 7-Questions can be asked as to whether or not Basham and Southern can co-exist in the same 3 man midfield. Both similar players, Basham has done enough in recent weeks to hold Southern at bay for the time being. A classic Basham display. Tough tackling, comfortable in possession, not at his best, but still maintaining a high standard.

Ángel: 7-Looking more and more the part with every game he plays. Excellent passing ability, never afraid of a tackle, Ángel plays the David Vaughan role as well as anyone who could have been considered as a replacement. A similar player to Barry Ferguson, it is unlikely the midfield is big enough for both of them, but certainly capable of stepping in for the club captain.

Matt Phillips: 6-After a first half that promised plenty, in which he caused a fairly slow left back in Mark Beevers, Phillips failed to deliver in the second half, remaining fairly anonymous. His final delivery is cause for optimism, delivering dangerous crosses from the right, but due to Billy Clarke's unwillingness to leave the left wing, was unable to rotate across the front three to cause the threat he has in recent weeks.

Clarke: 5-In what is likely to be his last chance to impress, Clarke failed to perform. Hesitant, unwilling to experiment. A bright start faded swiftly, seemingly bereft of confidence after a magnificent save from Bywater denied him his first Blackpool goal in over 2 years. He definitely has the attributes to play at this level, but he shouldn't be getting anywhere near likes of Ince, Taylor-Fletcher and Matt Phillips for a place in the first eleven.

Kevin Phillips: 7-Games where teams put men behind the ball and try and grind out results, Kevin Phillips is going to struggle when he starts. In congested areas, he is unlikely to get the space he needs to create problems, though he showed his ability to generate room when in possession to get his shots away. An unstoppable penalty earned a replay.

Subs:

Taylor-Fletcher: 8-In a game where a substitute was needed to change the game, Taylor-Fletcher was the man on this occasion who brought Pool back into the game. Tireless running, invention in difficult situations, and dropping into interesting spaces, it was a classic GTF run that earned the penalty, around the back of the full back, getting into a dangerous area, Beevers couldn't help himself and brought him down. An excellent display from a man close to returning to his best.

Dicko: 6-Seems to be pure pace, he needs to learn the dirty side of the game. Throwing himself on the floor at one stage was not approved by the Blackpool fans that he was so keen to impress, but his pace will definitely cause problems for teams and gives Pool another option in the run-in.

Ince: N/A-Given 10 minutes at the end of the game, looked like the Ince we have come to expect. Tricky in possession, never giving up on lost causes, but didn't make the impact to take Pool over the line. Was almost lost in the ruck of bodies that populated the final third late in the game.

Opposition:

For a team that is supposedly on such a good run of form and beating all before them in League 1, one could be forgiven for expecting Sheffield Wednesday to play a slightly more expansive style. Gary Megson made his tactics known early on, keeping a solid two banks of four behind the ball, leaving Lowe and Morrison to fend for themselves up front. Stephen Bywater is most likely the best keeper at that level, giving them a solid base to build from, and with four physical defenders, the inclusion of Clarke, a smaller, touch player, was probably the wrong decision. David Prutton rolled back the years to marshal the midfield, winning every second ball and putting in tackle after tackle to stop Blackpool settling.

Next Up:

Coventry City's visit to Bloomfield Road on Tuesday night is an opportunity to gain ground on those above us in the playoff chase. The division's bottom side has lost their main goal threat in Lukas Jutkiewicz who has completed his move to Middlesborough, but the recent home thrashing of the Teesiders shows Coventry are a dangerous prospect if taken lightly. Alex Nimely has arrived on loan to replace the departing Polish striker, while Gary Deegan has caused Blackpool problems in the past, and in Joe Murphy they have a consistent performer between the sticks.

Weight In Numbers

Blackpool laboured to a late show against a spirited, yet under strength Crystal Palace side at Bloomfield Road. The visitors clearly had their Carling Cup Semi-Final second leg on their minds with regards to team selection, as their noted good performers Nathaniel Clyne, Darren Ambrose, Wilfried Zaha and Julian Speroni all stayed at home, with Dougie Freedman putting his faith in youth. Blackpool were without the injured Lomano LuaLua to a hamstring injury, and made a total of 6 changes, with Gary Taylor-Fletcher returning to the front three, John Fleck earning a debut in midfield alongside captain Barry Ferguson, back after suspension. Ian Evatt and Craig Cathcart returned to the heart of the defence, with Matt Gilks replacing Mark Howard in goal.

Defence:

In general, a more familiar back four from last season performed well, with a few scares in the second half. Throughout the game, the Palace threat was on the break, with a front three loaded with pace in the shape of Andrew, Cadogan and Sekajja. In Blackpool's desire to gain some forward momentum, Ian Evatt regularly carried the ball out of defence, leaving huge gaps in the back line, and better finishing would have put Palace out of sight, with Calvin Andrew guilty of poor control on a number of occasions when well placed, and wasteful finishing eventually costing the visitors.

Gilks was rarely troubled due to Palace looking to sit on their lead almost as soon as the Owen Garvan penalty was converted, rarely committing more than their front three beyond the half way line, which allowed Baptiste and Crainey to get involved going forward, but despite the increase in numbers going forward, Blackpool didn't take advantage until late in the day. Aerially Ian Evatt had Calvin Andrew in his back pocket as one might expect, but along the ground his lack of pace was seriously exposed, as the striker's tricky interplay with his wide men opened Blackpool up on more than one occasion in the second half.

Midfield:

Chris Basham must be the unluckiest man at the football club with regards to consistent selection. After his excellent performance at Southampton he was unceremoniously dropped for the next game against Watford, which coincided with a frustrating draw. A similar story looked to be unfolding, as Basham was demoted to the bench in favour of John Fleck, and Blackpool lacked the necessary energy and drive in midfield that Basham brings. Fleck starting was most likely the correct decision, but in my opinion, Ludovic Sylvestre should have been the man to make way. After an impressive start in the Blackpool midfield, Sylvestre has been some way short of his best in recent weeks, looking sluggish and unwilling to pick a creative pass.

Fleck was unfortunate to be withdrawn for Basham with half an hour remaining, his lack of football this season a likely reason. When in possession he looked composed, ready to drive forward, and was unlucky not to see his first half strike find the top corner. His final ball was superb, as he laid on two chances for Tom Ince early on that the winger couldn't convert, and he looks an excellent addition for the rest of the season.

Ferguson put in the kind of display expected from him. Gritty, playing the safest pass possible, looking to distribute. His passing ability is sadly wasted by his slightly more defensive outlook, and when he does try to move forward, he has the ability to unlock defences. Basham's introduction breathed new life into a stuttering midfield, as did Elliot Grandin, who may have played for the last time in Tangerine, and if so, gave a fantastic goodbye with a brilliantly taken goal.

Attack:

The return of Taylor-Fletcher added an air of physicality to the front line. LuaLua's pace and invention was missed in the centre, but there was a clear improvement from Taylor-Fletcher in comparison to his performances before being demoted to the bench. The work rate and desire returned, he linked up well with the wide men, but he is still well short of his best. The quality he showed to create the equaliser for Grandin showed that the player who terrorised Premiership defences last season is still there, and that he is well on the way back to form.

For their good form recently, Matt Phillips and Tom Ince were relatively quiet. Neither Palace full back was loaded with pace, so it was a surprise that the two wingers did not try to isolate them and run at them more often. It came as no shock when the goals both came from wide positions.

Opposition:

Crystal Palace have good cause to be optimistic. The likes of Parsons, Cadogan, O'Keefe and Sekajja all look like excellent prospects when given the change to flourish, and the fact that a team missing so many of their key players took Blackpool, albeit a misfiring one, all the way will no doubt please Dougie Freedman. They defended stoutly for most of the game, only making two mistakes. One was to allow Elliot Grandin time and space to finish from 6 yards to level the game, and the other giving Kevin Phillips room to head towards goal after doubling up on the full back with Taylor-Fletcher at the back post that led to Chris Basham's winner.

Man of the Match:

A tough decision considering what was, in all honesty, a very frustrating and overall poor performance until the last few minutes, but Craig Cathcart proved once again that he is becoming one of the best central defenders outside the Premiership. Composed in possession, with excellent distribution either through the middle or to the wide men, he is one who Blackpool will do well to hold on to should they fail to return to the top flight. Calvin Andrew certainly targetted Ian Evatt when he received no change from Cathcart, and the Northern Irishman covered impeccably when Evatt was out of position.

A Great Start To 2012

The point made on Radio Lancashire after they went through Burnley’s disastrous late show at Leeds was that they need to be capable of bouncing back from disappointments. If they need an example of how to do this, they need only look to the other side of Lancashire, where Blackpool have now twice come back from a big defeat and poor performance. After the humiliation at Turf Moor, Blackpool came back and put 5 past Leeds at Elland Road, and a similar response was needed against Middlesbrough, and they didn’t disappoint.

One look at the teams and it was plain to see that Middlesbrough had set up to stop Blackpool playing their natural game. A crucial part of Blackpool's success this season, particularly due to the departure of Charlie Adam, has been the intricate passing between the midfield three. The loss of Nicky Bailey with injury will have severely harmed Middlesbrough's hopes of stifling the threat from the trio of Angel, Sylvestre and Basham with the ball at their feet, and while Robson is undoubtedly a fantastic player going forward, one can certainly doubt his credentials as a ball winner.

The addition of Tom Ince to the front three was a very aggressive and bold move by Holloway. Ince is undoubtedly a special talent, but he and Matt Phillips are very similar players, and while Ince has done nothing wrong in a Blackpool shirt, at the moment, Phillips is the first name on the teamsheet. Callum McManaman, however, was the unlucky man, and paid for being one of many anonymous figures at Birmingham, as did Gary Taylor-Fletcher. By bringing in LuaLua and Ince, it guaranteed express pace across the front line, which was obviously not expected by Tony Mowbray, as the two wingbacks were caught out regularly in the first half hour, which forced Mowbray to return to a 4-4-2, with McMahon moved to an orthodox right back position, with Hoyte on the right of midfield, and Robson on the left.

The change in Middlesbrough formation then allowed for the part of Blackpool's play that they were trying to prevent to flourish. Against a physically inferior duo of Smallwood and Haroun, Chris Basham had a field day as the enforcer of the midfield trio. His strength in the tackle, excellent reading of the game, and eye for a pass make him the natural successor to Keith Southern in the middle for Blackpool, although do not write off the Blackpool legend just yet. Basham put in what was probably his best display in Blackpool colours so far, even finding the time and energy to play as a central striker when the ball was worked wide, coming close to converting a number of crosses throughout the 90 minutes.

Ángel Martinez certainly started to prove his worth, playing in the centre of the three, and dropping back between the central defenders when Mark Howard was in possession. This allowed him far more room to distribute the ball around the pitch, as he filled a role not too dissimilar to the one played by David Vaughan. Defensively his positioning was superb, whether in front of the back four when Middlesbrough attacked through the middle, and when they moved the ball wide, he placed himself on the edge of the penalty area, ready to receive possession and start a counter attack. The only member of the midfield three that relatively struggled was Sylvestre.

Sylvestre is a fantastic football player. His main problem, however, is that he remains very square to the ball when he receives possession. This stops Sylvestre from rotating or pivoting with his first touch, to allow him the momentum to move forward. His first touch always goes in the direction he is facing, whereas last season, the speed that Blackpool moved forward was down to the fact that when either Adam or Vaughan received possession, they were able to immediately face the goal, and start an attacking move. With so many teams operating a high pressing game to stop Blackpool moving the ball with comfort, Sylvestre's first touch needs to be inch perfect so that he has time to turn with his second touch and pick out a pass, and with the Bloomfield Road pitch not currently conducive to passing football, more often than not, Sylvestre lost possession.

In the back four, Ian Evatt returned to form in spectacular fashion, in part due to Middlesbrough not attempting to run in behind him, and also possibly down to the fact that his place is now under threat with the addition of Danny Wilson. Cathcart was once again brilliant, as he kept Scott McDonald in his back pocket, and dealt with the physical threat of Ogbeche and later Emnes comfortably and efficiently. Baptiste and Crainey were never threatened due to the lack of a natural wide man in the Middlesbrough side, and were able to cause problems going forward, and Mark Howard only had one save of note to make, making a fantastic reflex save to touch Robson's shot onto the post with the score still at 0-0.

Overall, a fantastic start to the new year, and with the likely additions to the squad to come over the next 4 weeks, Blackpool are very well placed to mount a serious charge on the playoffs.

A bad day at the office

Those with knowledge of Blackpool’s recent record at St Andrews will have rocked up in Birmingham without too much optimism. The Seasiders’ win under Simon Grayson thanks to Gary Taylor-Fletcher’s goal in September 2008 was their first win since 1969, when they won 3-2 on Boxing Day. Since then, Blackpool have been on the end of some serious beatings, none more so than the 7-1 drubbing received, ironically, on New Year’s Eve in 1994. On the last occasion we made the trip to the Blues, we were sent home having been taught a lesson about the Premier League, as Alex McLeish completely outsmarted Holloway, with a certain Barry Ferguson orchestrating a comfortable win for the hosts.

There was, however, genuine good feeling about the possibilities of getting a result. Blackpool had visited one of their other bogey grounds just days previously, with Matt Phillips earning a second win in 3 visits to Oakwell after so long without ever troubling the points tally. Elliot Grandin was back in the starting eleven, finally having the chance to play in midfield with his friend Ludo Sylvestre from the start, with LuaLua mysteriously missing from the whole 16. Such an omission suggests either injury or a fallout with the management, with both an equal possibility given LuaLua’s track record.

Unfortunately however, this visit to St. Andrews was much more of the same. From the early moments of the game, Blackpool were second to every ball, out muscled whenever they tried to go forward, and outthought when put on the back foot. The addition of Danny Wilson on loan from Liverpool is a vital and excellent move by Holloway. Wilson will add the pace and strength to the back four that is desperately needed, with Ian Evatt very much out of form. Once again, Craig Cathcart stood tall as the solitary beacon in a struggling back four, with both Crainey and Baptiste caused no end of problems by their respective wingers, and their full backs on the overlap.

The main point where the game was won and lost was through the middle of the pitch, however. Grandin and Sylvestre, for all of their pretty build-up play which will have led to a superb pass completion success rate, created very little of note, with only Grandin’s tricky feet and cross-cum-shot forcing Myhill into action in the first half as he needed to palm the ball away from the onrushing Taylor-Fletcher, and Birmingham’s powerful unit in the game to hold them up, Guirane N’Daw, putting in a performance that earned him the Man of the Match from the sponsors. For Grandin and Sylvestre to flourish in this formation, it is likely they need to have added steel in there with them, a Basham or Southern type player who will get his feet dirty to make sure they have enough possession and time on the ball to unlock a defence.

It was exactly the type of game that the aforementioned Southern has performed magnificently in for Blackpool in the last 10 years. Birmingham’s high pressing game caused problems for Blackpool, who continually tried to pass their way out of trouble, and on a pitch that wasn’t necessarily conducive to keeping the ball on the deck at all times, that then led to mistakes either with the receiving player’s first touch, or misplacement of the original pass. This is what Southern adds to Blackpool. His critics will say he runs aimlessly, offering very little, when in fact, he has a fantastic football brain, which, while it does not add a great deal to the technical side of his game, he has developed a great anticipation of ensuing play, which allows him to be in the right position to close down or intercept, before starting an attacking move. Despite Blackpool’s recent form, they have missed Southern greatly, with only Chris Basham coming close to offering what he does, and he is likely to be given a chance to impress in the coming games.

The reason for Basham’s likely involvement is that Barry Ferguson will no doubt be missing for the Middlesbrough home game, as well as the visits to Fleetwood and Ipswich. Ian Holloway has said he plans to appeal, but I’m afraid he doesn’t have a leg to stand on. As soon as the incident in question occurred, Ferguson’s 3 match ban was penned in. All through the game, both sides had a target in their ranks who the opposition were trying to wind up. For the Blues, Marlon King for his troubles with the law, and Ferguson was the man in Tangerine as he had swapped St Andrews for Bloomfield Road in the summer. Ferguson was the one who snapped. After an earlier confrontation with Zigic, he proceeded to swing his right arm into the face of N’Daw, leaving the referee with no choice but to dismiss the Blackpool captain.

King, however, was not exactly innocent throughout the game, and if the referee applied the letter of the law to the game, King should have been given his marching orders in the first half for a deliberate elbow on Ian Evatt. A long ball played forward, there was no earthly way that King would beat Evatt to the ball, and he will have known that, as he led with the elbow and connected squarely with Evatt, who still managed to clear. Only a booking was administered, and that is the gripe that the led the Blackpool arguments.

The main positive to come out of the game for Blackpool was another fantastic performance from Mark Howard in goal. He kept Blackpool in the game by himself in the first half, making one incredible double save from a set piece, before palming round a low effort just before half time. Sadly, it was from the following corner that he was beaten, as Blackpool switched off, allowing a free header for Curtis Davies. Howard was powerless with both that and King’s goal in the second half, as once again Evatt made the same mistake he made at Bloomfield Road, trying to step up to pressure the midfield, allowing King to walk through and place the killer second goal beyond Howard.

The only black spot on Howard’s excellent performance, which continued into the second half, was the third goal. The golden rule of goalkeeping is not to be beaten at your near post, and Nathan Redmond’s strike, while powerful, should have been stopped. Before that, however, Howard was superb, and Matt Gilks certainly won’t be an automatic pick when he recovers from injury.

Considering we started the year in 8^th place in the Premiership, to finish it in 9^th in the Championship is a bit disappointing, but anyone who expected another year like 2010 was very misguided. Here is to a great year supporting Blackpool FC, and hopefully a return to the big time.