Friday, May 27, 2011

Tangerine Nightmares

In case you've been encased under a rock for the past week, you would know the Premier League season climaxed in dramatic fashion, in a day dubbed "survival Sunday". Wolves, Blackburn, Birmingham, Wigan and Blackpool were all scrapping for points in a last ditch attempt to secure thier status in the top flight of domestic football.

Twists and turns were aplenty, with all teams (bar Blackburn) all found themselves beneath the dreaded line at some point between 4pm and 5.50. In the end, Brimingham found themselves relegated, to the surprise of many, after they lifted the Carling Cup no less than 3 months earlier. Blackpool, joined the "Bluenoses" in the Championship next year, to the disappointment of many, who had all found comfortable seats aboard the "Ian Holloway bandwagon". Now, for my unpopular opinion, which has already been castigated by those blinded by their feeling for 'Ollie.  "Ian Holloway is the primary responsibility for Blackpool getting relegated"

Before the angry mob start rallying to my door, let me explain. Several times this season, the "Tangerine Army" have lost points from positions, where it's almost unfathomable to lose them from. Here are some games this season they have blown, which could of won them crucial points.

Blackpool 2-3 Manchester United

With 'Pool 2-0 up, and dominating the league leaders the half time whistle was the beginning of a spiral towards the lower reaches of the table. Blackpool were astoundingly high in the table before christmas, and the second half meltdown to United showed the mental fragility on display here foreshadowed what was coming.

Backburn 2-2 Blackpool

Blackpool were 2-0 up at Ewood Park and were in cruise control, before two late goals had the police in Blackburn for the daylight robbery of 2 points. The game was won, and again, defensive lapses cost them precious points, which in the end haunted them.

Everton 5-3 Blackpool

Another away day in Lancashire which turned sour for Blackpool late on. 3-2 with just 14 minutes remaining, Everton just ran riot on the feable defence of Blackpool. Louis Saha with 4 goals, was the icing atop the metaphorical cake.

Manchester United 4-2 Blackpool

Now, with the whole season on the line, the "tangerine dream" were 2-1 up at the champions with over an hour gone. When Manchester United equalised through, the game was a foregone conclusion. Another away day hoodoo, and ultimately condemned them to away trips to Doncaster and Brighton rather than Arsenal and Chelsea.

One thing these games all have in common. Ian Holloway's cavalier tactics, regardless of score, time or situation cost them dearly. Alot of late goals were scored against them when they had the whole midfield tracking back from the oppositions half (8 players for Man Utd equaliser at Old Trafford were trackingback when the goal went in). Holloway cost Blackpool a minumum of 10 points with these cavalier tactics, and although he may have turned a few draws into wins, their is no logic to commiting dangerous amounts of men forward, when the games is comfortably under their control.

So, although Holloway did great to get them into the Premier League, and even better to keep them in contention to survive in it, i feel Holloway needed to realise, defensively, the team was far too weak, and with the amount of goals they scored (55 - most ever by a relegated team), the team needed numbers in defence to prevent all the late slip-ups.

Unfortunately, with talisman Charlie Adam leaving, and the media coverage inevitably dwindling, we will now see Blackpool sink back into mid table anonymity in the Championship.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.