Relegation Day
Today Blackpool Football Club, along with four other teams, find out if they are going to be playing top flight football next season or plying their trade in the Championship. There are two places left to join West Ham in getting relegated and Blackpool’s fate is somewhat out of their own hands. A win could see them drop and a lose could see them survive. It is all about the other results today.
Blackpool have had a remarkable season. They have been a breathe of fresh air in the league by adopting one of the most entertaining brands of football. They have conceded more goals than any other club in the league up until this point but have scored more goals than all but the top four clubs. Manager Ian Holloway has moulded Blackpool to play to their strengths and almost ignore their weaknesses. Defenders Alex Baptiste and Ian Evatt have impressed a number of pundits this season, but they are probably not quite Premier League quality. They are no Scott Dann.
Will we see Bloomfield Road host Manchester United or Leeds United next season?
There is a small part of me that would not be sad if Blackpool don’t manage to stave off relegation as with the parachute payments and Karl Oyston‘s refusal to spend big money on player contracts then the club should be a in a fantastic situation to build a stronger squad, improve the stadium and facilities and make another push to become an established top tier team over the next ten years. This sane, sensible part of me is today being pushed to the back of my mind as the romantic, football supporting part of me really wants Blackpool to be the first team this season to win at Old Trafford and for other results to go our way so I can spend another year watching Match of the Day with Ian Holloway interviews!
