Norman Ralph

Following a hectic transfer deadline day with record fees being splashed around and panic buying of the highest order I thought I would take a look at how my club, Blackpool, faired in the market.

The headline for Tangerine fans was he fact that Charlie Adam is still a Blackpool player following a transfer request and bids from Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Apparently Liverpool’s best bid of £7.5million was rejected, but Spurs’ best bid, thought to be around £8-9million plus clauses was accepted but the paperwork could not be compelted in time. How much of this is ‘Arry Redknapp being his usual transfer deadline day self and how much is accurate is essentially a moot point now. The deal was not done and Blackpool’s midfield dynamo has another six months to add to his value. I am suere that Adam will leave in the summer for around £10million, but then a 2000% return on an investment is simply astonishing for a club like Blackpool. For that sort of money the team can buy in four or five players to sure up a midfield and defence that has looked shaky all season.

In terms of bringing players in, Holloway didn’t splash the cash, mainly concentrating on loan players and short term contracts. Of the five players brought in, all five are on short term deals until the end of the season.

The headline grabbers in the English press have been the loan signing of former Southampton and Stoke hitman James Beattie from Rangers and the permanent signing (albeit on a short term contract until the end of the season) of Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid, however I think that the loan capture of Zenit St Petersburg front man Sergei Kornilenko is the real coup.

Segei Kornilenko for Ruben Kazan

Kornilenko is a current Belarus international and has a pretty decent strike record throughout his career. Prior to moving to Zenit, he was scoring a goal every three games in domestic football and a goal every four games at international level. The Belarussian should provide fantastic cover for DJ Campbell and Marlon Harewood and provides some physicality up fron that should help Blackpool against some of the more aggressive defenders in the Premier League.

The other signings Holloway made during January was the loan capture of Jason Puncheon from Southampton and the short term deal offered to Morrocan left-back Salaheddine Sbai. Puncheon is a player that can play on both flanks and as a second striker playing off a target man and should provide some cover for Luke Varney and Gary Taylor-Fletcher during the run in. Sbai was signed on the eve of the epic game against Manchester United and began training the day after. He has been brough in to offer competition and cover at left-back.

In terms of departues from the club there were no surprises or shocks once the Adam story had died down. Mark Halstead joined Kettering on loan for the rest of the season, Ishmel Demontagnac will finish of 2010-2011 at Stockport before returning in the summer. Stephen Husband, Ashle Eastham and Louis Almon will also all be getting some 1st team exeprience for the rest of the season.

All in all I thought it was a positive transfer window for Blackpool and Holloway. It was vital that Holloway and Oysten managed to hold onto Charlie Adam whilst also bringing in some fresh legs to support the first team. With the exception of James Beattie, who’s best days are clearly behind him, I think the players brought in are of the right ilk and mindset to continue Blackpool’s impressive progress this season. Holloway will need to strengthen in the summer for the tricky second season, but me and everyone else are just happy that he has those tough decisions to make as we wrote off Blackpool’s chances right from the start!