Considering the fact that Blackpool were regarded as regular candidates for the drop in the Championship several years ago, it’s simply incredible to see how much progress the Seasiders have made over recent times.
However, having lost in the playoff final last term, there were some people who wondered just how the Bloomfield Road outfit would fare on the back of that disappointment.
Fortunately for them, they appear to have taken that setback in their stride and are once again challenging for top honours in the 2012/13 campaign.
The Results
Had this piece been written several weeks ago, it would have been very easy to highlight just how impressive the Seasiders looked. Many tipped them as definite candidates for promotion following their performances in the opening weeks, although since then their form has deteriorated somewhat.
Looking back at the start of the season, Holloway’s men looked unstoppable as they started proceedings with three straight victories over Millwall, Blackpool and Ipswich.
Moreover, after beating the Tractor Boys 6-0 and following that win up with a 4-1 thumping of Middlesbrough a couple of weeks later, it was clear that they still retained that attacking potency that made them so dangerous last term.
Unfortunately, they have become highly inconsistent through recent times. Since that victory over Boro, they have managed to collect just three points and have suffered defeats to Huddersfield, Cardiff and Charlton. Such events have led Holloway to turn on various sections of his supporters, who were criticising the team for their inconsistent ways.
The Summer Buys
Following their playoff final defeat last season, many people thought that Blackpool’s squad would fall apart. However, Holloway kept much of his team together and added several players to bolster the squad. Nevertheless, despite adding five new faces, only a couple have made a serious impact in the team. Tiago Gomes and Isaiah Osbourne have played in the majority of games for the club and many fans would agree that they have made a very positive impact at Bloomfield Road.
Some would suggest that Nathan Delfouneso has also made an impression following his two goals, but the fact that he has largely appeared as a substitute shows that he is well down the pecking order in Holloway’s plans. Elsewhere, the likes of Kirk Broadfoot and Nathan Eccleston have barely played and have made just one start between them.
Bearing this in mind, Blackpool’s business hasn’t been a resounding success and following their inconsistent nature, we think Holloway might be tempted to dip into the market during the next transfer window.
The Verdict
With Blackpool currently outside the top six in 8th, it’s no surprise to see some fans slightly concerned. However, they sit just three points away from 3rd place and considering the attacking prowess the club have showed, we don’t think their supporters should be worried too much.
They may be in a poor rut of form at the moment, but we fully expect them to return stronger after the international break and put in a strong push towards the promotion places.
Author Biography
Liam is an avid follower of Championship football and tries to publish lots of betting bonus offers in relation to the matter. He also covers horse racing, rugby and cricket through his blog.
Please like O-Posts on Facebook
You can follow O-Posts on Twitter @OPosts