Blackpool rock the Premier League

I must apologise for my regular readers. I have written about Blackpool a lot in the last six months but I am just that impressed by the Tangerines and their boss that I have felt the need to express that admiration.

I watched the Seasider’s 2-2 draw against Everton yesterday and actually enjoyed the game, which is hard with some of the negative tactics employed by some teams nowadays.

Entertainment

I enjoyed the game because Blackpool are a team that supply entertainment in abundance. Football at the end of the day is entertainment. People go to watch football to see goals and players trying their hardest for the team.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is no longer the only thrilling thing about the North-West town. The football team have suddenly become a star attraction on the Fylde coast.

Loved

Blackpool have become a lot of peoples second team in the Premier League. I paid close attention to them last season, as I have close personal links to the town itself. I have fond memories of holidaying in the resort and their team have only increased my fondness of the town.

Underdogs

When the season started nobody gave them a chance of staying in the Premier League. They were favourites to last just one season and return to the Championship. A lot of critics were even saying that they could break records for the least points gained in a season.

When those people doubted I wasn’t so sure. From watching them a lot last season I knew that Ian Holloway’s side were no mugs and would give it everything they had to stay in the top flight this season. I wasn’t sure if it would be enough to survive in the Premier League but I knew they would be no pushovers.

Attacking

Blackpool have an almost gung-ho attitude to the game under Holloway which is really refreshing in these days of defensive tactics ruining our game. Holloway’s attitude of ‘we will score more than you’ will definitely win them a lot of points this season.

On Saturday I was really surprised by just how attacking they were. It was the first time I had seen Blackpool play live and it was a fantastic experience. The game felt like a cup tie. The ground is an antidote to the new stadiums with no atmosphere and no heart.

Fans

The Blackpool fans are enjoying their time in the top flight and they were superb yesterday. They never stopped singing and willing their team on. The ground is so compact that they will help their side win games. They could prove to be the 12^th man for the Tangerines.

Brilliant

I have always liked Ian Holloway. He is an honest guy with a superb sense of humour. He is one of the last characters in the game. He told the media after yesterday’s game: “It was a fantastic game.

“Everton are a really good side. They are a fantastic squad with great discipline but I felt that we gave them one heck of a good game.

“Spells in the first half after they got back from the goal they could have swamped us a bit but we came out second half and had a right good go.

“We deserved that result. I’m delighted – despite this miserable look. I just can’t help it with this face.”

He added: “It’s a little disappointing that we didn’t hold onto both leads for longer but that’s the way it has been going for us. We lost the lead too quickly twice but you have to give Everton credit.”

He also didn’t moan about a disallowed Marlon Harewood goal either he continued: “If I watch it later I imagine it might be a little nudge. Now if it’s a nudge it’s a free kick but who knows?

“The referee has given it but I didn’t think he had because I couldn’t hear the whistle.

“The crowd went crazy, Marlon certainly didn’t think he had and DJ [Campbell] didn’t think he had. But it’s obviously not a goal because the ref didn’t give it.”

A lot of Premier League bosses would have banged on about being denied two points by a questionable refereeing decision but not Holloway he would rather look at the positives he has taken from the game like his team’s performance.

Survival

Blackpool have won many more fans since being promoted to the Premier League and I’m sure most neutrals will want them to survive in the top flight.

I would love to see the Tangerines stay up. Their style of play is so different from the boring tactics employed by a lot of Premier League sides and they deserve to survive for their sheer bravery and spirit.

Will Blackpool stay in the Premier League?