Blackpool v Ipswich Town
Saturday 1st November2014
Bloomfield Road - 15:00
Opening Thought - Jamma
We came in to October wondering whether we would have to guard against the notorious ‘Manager of the Month curse’, following a fine set of results in September. But, in the month that has seen the publication of Roy Keane’s latest controversial autobiography, we continue to be afflicted by conceding late equalisers, bringing back memories of the early stages of Keano’s tenure, when we couldn’t buy a win. It’s hard to put your finger on the cause of this dip. Maybe it’s the result of the inevitable increase in pressure and media attention on the back of our successful run. Or maybe we subconsciously sit back as we approach the final whistle, wary of what has gone before. Whatever the contributing factors, one thing is for sure: Mick McCarthy will not be taking a leaf out of Keane’s book (no pun intended) by requesting a change of shirt colour in an attempt to reverse our fortunes!
That makes 9 points that Town have dropped from winning positions in the last 4 matches, a tally which would now see us 4 points clear at the top of an incredibly tight league. The difference on Saturday was that the lead we held was not an accurate reflection of the passage of play, with Huddersfield threatening at least as much. Having said that, at 2-0 up with 20 minutes to go, there should have been only one destination those 3 points were heading. Mick said as much in his post-match comments and will be keen to ensure that there is no repeat. Herforder made a good point in the Huddersfield match thread when he said that it was better to go through this ‘wobbly patch’ that every team has to endure now rather than at the business end of the season. Next up is a trip to Blackpool, with just one win to their name all campaign – surely as good a chance as any to get our challenge back on track...
The Opposition - Blackpool
Blackpool Football Club was founded on the 26th July 1887.
Blackpool's home at that point in time was Raikes Hall, and on 13 May 1896 they were accepted into the Football League, but were relegated two years later and did not re-join the League again until the 1900/1901 season. At this time Blackpool merged with local rivals ‘South Shore’ and moved to Bloomfield Road.
During the ten seasons that followed, Blackpool could finish no higher than twelfth place.
The outbreak of war forced the cancellation of League football for four years, during which time regional competitions were introduced. When normalcy resumed, in 1919–20, Blackpool had appointed their first full-time manager in the form of Bill Norman who guided the club to fourth-placed finishes in his first two League seasons.
Blackpool remained in the Second Division until they were promoted to Division One for the first time at the conclusion of the 1928/29 season as Champions of the division.
Blackpool lasted only three seasons in the First Division. Two third-bottom finishes were followed by a last-placed finish, and the club returned to the Second Division.
Joe Smith was appointed Blackpool's sixth manager in August 1935, a role in which he remained for the next 23 years.
Blackpool finished the 1936–37 season as runners-up in the Second Division and were promoted back to the First Division.
Two seasons of Division One football were played before the Second World War intervened. Blackpool sat atop the table at the time the abandonment occurred.
Post-war Blackpool reached the FA Cup Final on three occasions, losing to Manchester United in 1948 and Newcastle United three years later, and winning it in 1953 captained by Harry Johnston.
In 1955–56, Blackpool attained their highest-ever League finish: runners-up to Manchester United, despite losing their final four League games.
Mid-table finishes in 1961–62 and 1962–63 (and an appearance in the League Cup semi-finals during the former) were offset by another lowly finish of eighteenth in 1963–64. Much of the same ensued over the following two seasons, before relegation finally occurred in 1966–67.
Les Shannon was installed as manager for the 1969–70 season. In his first season he succeeded by guiding the club back to the top flight as runners-up behind Huddersfield, but they were immediately relegated again after one season in the top flight.
Blackpool finished amongst the top ten teams in the Second Division for the next six consecutive seasons, under three different managers.
The 1977–78 season ended with Blackpool’s relegation to the Third Division for the first time in their history.
Worse was to follow with Blackpool ending up in the Fourth Division at the end of the 1980/81 season where they were to remain for four seasons.
After lower mid table finishes in Division Three at the end of the 1980’s, Blackpool once again were relegated to the bottom division.
On 17 April 1986, the board of directors, after an emergency meeting, put the club on the market after councillors rejected plans to sell Bloomfield Road for a supermarket site in a £35 million redevelopment scheme.
In the 1991–92 season, Blackpool via the playoffs and Wembley final made it back to the new Division Two (third tier) where they remained until the end of the 1999/2000 season when once again they were relegated to the bottom Division.
Once again via the playoffs, Blackpool made it back to the Second Division the following year.
They also gained the first of two Football League Trophy wins in 2002 as Blackpool beat Cambridge United and repeated the feat again in 2004 by beating Southend United.
In the 2006–07 season Blackpool reached the play-offs, and after beating Oldham Athletic in the semi-final, they beat Yeovil Town in the final and were promoted to The Championship for the first time in 29 years.
On 21 May 2009, Ian Holloway was appointed as manager, signing a one-year contract with the club with an option of a further year. On 31 July it was announced that club president Valeri Belokon was setting up a new transfer fund, into which he was adding a "considerable amount" on 5 August to invest in new players identified by Holloway.
Blackpool finished the 2009–10 regular season in sixth place in The Championship, their highest finish in the Football League since 1970–71 and claimed a spot in the play-offs where they beat Nottingham Forest in the Semi-final. Blackpool defeated Cardiff City 3–2 on 22 May in the Championship play-off Final at Wembley Stadium to earn promotion to the Premier League. It was Blackpool's debut appearance in the Premier League in its 18-year existence and their first appearance in English football's top flight in 39 years. Blackpool have now, uniquely, been promoted through all three tiers of the Football League via the play-off system.
On 22 May 2011, exactly 365 days after their promotion, Blackpool were relegated back to The Championship, after defeat to champions Manchester United, on the final day of the season.
On 3 November 2012, Ian Holloway decided to leave Blackpool after accepting an offer from fellow Championship club Crystal Palace. He was replaced four days later by Michael Appleton, who left League 1 side Portsmouth to take up the position, however, after being in charge for just two months, Appleton left for Lancashire neighbours Blackburn Rovers, becoming the shortest-serving manager in their history.
On 18 February, after just over a month without an appointment, the club made former England captain Paul Ince their third manager of the campaign and he lasted until 21 January 2014, eleven months into his tenure.
Barry Ferguson was named caretaker manager upon Ince's dismissal. Of Ferguson's twenty League games in charge, Blackpool won just three and finished the 2013–14 season in 20th place.
On 11 June 2014, almost five months after Paul Ince's dismissal, the club appointed Belgian José Riga as manager. He was Blackpool's first overseas manager until being dismissed earlier this week.
One To Watch – Andrea Orlandi
Following their well-publicised difficulties at the beginning of the season, Blackpool supporters will be excused for feeling grateful that they have a squad to talk about at all. But, in spite of their off-field problems, the Seasiders do boast some proven performers at this level, including Spanish midfielder Andrea Orlandi.
Orlandi is familiar to Championship fans from his successful stints with Swansea and Brighton. The classy midfielder had been a key member of the Swans’ squad that had established itself in the second tier before winning promotion. He found his chances harder to come by in the Premier League, though, and was allowed to join the Seagulls in 2012. The former Alavés and Barcelona youngster enjoyed his most prolific season to date as Brighton lost out in the 2012/13 play-offs. He didn’t have such a big impact last time out and, following another unsuccessful play-off campaign, was deemed surplus to requirements at the Amex Stadium. The 30-year-old arrived at Bloomfield Road in August, boosting the Tangerines’ numbers, not to mention adding a good dose of quality at this level.
The Gaffer - Lee Clark
Alright, unless there is yet another change before Saturday, this will probably be Blackpools Manager for the match.
Lee Clark began his playing career for the team he supported as a boy, Newcastle United. The no nonsense midfielder was part of their youth team before helping the first team gain promotion to the Premier League and finished second two years on the trot. After 195 appearances, he joined local rivals Sunderland tin the First Division, helping them first to a play-off final defeat on penalties and then followed it up with another promotion as Champions gaining a record 105 points.
Unfortunately, after he was spotted with Newcastle fans wearing a t-shirt saying “sad makam bastards”, he was dropped from the side, never playing for them again.
He joined Fulham, once again achieving promotion and collecting a championship winning medal. After 149 appearances for the West London club, he rejoined Newcastle in a swansong season.
After retiring, he joined the Newcastle staff, as first team coach under Glenn Roeder, following him to Norfolk when Roeder was sacked by the Magpies and offered a contract at the Budgies. He was there for a little over a year before joining Huddersfield Town as manager.
In his first season at the club he helped them to a ninth-placed finish in League One. They also only lost two home league games under Clark in the 2008–09 season. In his second season in charge Clark helped Huddersfield to secure a play-off spot, although they lost to Millwall in the semi-final.
In the 2010–11 season, Clark guided Huddersfield to a third-placed finish in the league, earning them a place in the play-offs after a club-record 25-game unbeaten run in the league, this time reaching the final but losing to Posh.
Clark continued breaking records at the beginning of the 2011–12 season, extending the unbeaten run in domestic regular-season league games to a Football League record 43 games. Clark was sacked as manager of Huddersfield on 15 February 2012 following a 1–0 home defeat to Sheffield United. When he was sacked he said "I'm shocked, but when Huddersfield go up this season, I'll be celebrating like any other Huddersfield fan"
On 26 June 2012, Clark was confirmed as manager of Birmingham City, with Terry McDermott as his Assistant Manager. Clark signed numerous players during the 2012/2013 season.
Clark endured a difficult start to his managerial reign, with a draw and two losses in a row for his first three games in the Championship. Clark struggled to get Birmingham out of the bottom half of the league. Despite receiving criticism from fans for alleged poor management skills regarding public fallouts, Clark has been praised for introducing academy players into the first team squad. Clark continued the start of 2013 with his team producing good form, finishing the season in 12th place, 7 points off the play-offs.
The 2013-14 season started poorly again for Clark, as Birmingham had their worst start to a league season for 25 years.
Despite poor results in the league (including a disappointing 18 home match run without a league win) Lee Clark managed to keep Birmingham City in the Championship with an injury time equaliser from in the final game of the 2013/14 season, the result being enough to keep Clarks' team up on goal difference.
On 20 October 2014, with Birmingham 21st in the table and having won at home in the league only once in more than a year, Clark was sacked.
Clark was appointed manager of Blackpool on 30 October 2014.
Past Match - Video Highlights - Trev
A cracking little 3-2 win for us from last season
Trev's Trivia
Players to play for both Teams
Billy Clarke ITFC 2005–2009 BFC 2009–2012
Michael Chopra ITFC 2011–2013 BFC 2013-2014
Media Watch - K L Blue
Tommy states the obvious amongst other things
Goalscorer Tommy Smith says Town have to end their recent habit of dropping points from winning positions. The Blues were ahead but failed to claim all three points for the fourth successive game on Saturday as Huddersfield came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Portman Road.
“It has happened far too often and it is something we need to address,” the central defender admitted. “We have to make sure it doesn't happen again.“We have to try and put our finger on it. We should be in the top six, but it is about putting the points on the board. “When you have a look at how many points we should have and where we should be it is disappointing.”
Smith, 24, opened the scoring in the 21st minute of Saturday’s game with his first goal of the season: "I didn't know too much about it, I got my head to it but didn't see it actually hit the net."Ted [Bishop] needed to put in a delivery because his previous two had hit the first man. We all attack balls in different areas and vary it. I went to the near post that time and it paid off."I had another chance, I saw it was going to come back off the post but it came back a bit too sharp for me and I couldn't sort my feet out quickly enough and the keeper's grabbed it.
"Christophe had made it 2-0 and we should see the game out from there. They made a couple of substitutions and they caused us problems but we should have seen it out.”
Smith has often been out of the starting line-up in recent weeks but says he’s just as committed to the cause: “I give 100 per cent the fans know that. I will always be ready whenever I pull that shirt on for Ipswich. I love the club and the fans and I will always give everything.”
Terriers two-goal striker Nahki Wells was pleased to score against a club with whom he had a trial as a 17-year-old."It was especially pleased to score after being on trial here,” the Bermudian, now 24, said. "I asked Tommy Smith if he remembered me and he didn’t, but he might now.“I reminded him I had been on trial but I was very young and I was homesick, so I squandered the opportunity. Ipswich asked me to stay a bit longer."It is a fantastic club, so it was great to come back here and get a couple of goals as I could have been here."You can't dwell on these things and when I got another opportunity to play in England I took it and things have worked out well."Ipswich thought highly of me but I wasn't in the right frame of mind. They wanted me to stay but I just wanted to go back to Bermuda. "As soon as I landed after the flight home I realised I had done the wrong thing because Ipswich is a fabulous club with great facilities, stadium and fans. I'm just glad I was able to get back at this level."
He added: ”It was great to get a couple of goals, but it was even better to get the draw and keep our good run going.”
Wells’s striker partner Grant Holt was in no doubt that referee Richard Clark was correct to award a penalty when he clashed with Blues skipper Luke Chambers in the 70th minute.
"I have gone for the ball, Chambers has brought me down. He said he didn’t, I said he did, the ref has given it and booked him, so that says it all.”
Holt was booed by the home support due to his Norwich connections, something the 33-year-old frontman was anticipating."I expected that warm reception from Ipswich fans, although they weren't too bad in the first half,” he added."They gave it to me second half but I don't mind, that's all part of football. I bet a lot of them went home wishing they hadn't chanted ‘Grant Holt, what’s the score?’ because I can tell them now, it was 2-0.”
Stat Time
Head To Head
Blackpool Wins......................4 (17.39%)
Ipswich Town Wins.................10 (43.48%)
Draws.................................8 (39.13%)
Blackpool Goals....................30 (ave. 1.30 per match)
Ipswich Town Goals...............34 (ave. 1.48 per match)
Head To Head at Blackpool
Blackpool Wins......................4 (33.33%)
Ipswich Town Wins.................4 (33.33%)
Draws.................................4 (33.33%)
Blackpool Goals.....................17 (ave. 1.42 per match)
Ipswich Town Goals.................12 (ave. 1.00 per match)
The Predicted Teams
I will revisit this closer to the end of the week, possibly Chambers gets a rest and Williams should come back into the side.
Blackpool
01 Lewis
02 Daniels
06 Clarke
28 Rentmeister
11 Orlandi
04 Perkins
24 Lundstram
23 Oriol
14 Delfouneso
13 Zoko
17 Miller
Ipswich Town
01 Gerken
02 Parr
05 Smith
06 Berra
03 Mings
19 Hyam
08 Skuse
50 Williams
09 Murphy
10 McGoldrick
32 Sammon
Marko’s Caption Competition
Only 7 entries this week but a few pretty darn funny ones. Must give the 4 to Quasar though, that had me laughing out loud:-
"mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the.... actually don't bother !"
Barmy, your second attempt, ....., feckin disgusting buddy, but
Quasar 4
Barmy 3
Frosty 2
Table:
1. Frosty ....., 11
1. Quasar ...., 11
2. Blueblood , 10
3. Herforder , 9
4. Bluemike , 7
5. Floors ...., 6
5. James ...., 6
6. Andy M ..., 5
7. Barmy ...., 4
7. Mr Punch ., 4
7. Jamma ...., 4
8. Morph ....., 3
9. LnP ........., 2
9. Don ........, 2
10. Charnwood , 1
10. Number 9 .., 1
10. Derick ......, 1
Have another "go" at Delia (not like that, Billy!)
Match Referee - Andy Haines
Final Thought - Frosty
Jamma brought up the ‘Manager of the Month Curse’, now I want to bring up the ‘oh Poo you just sacked your Manager? curse’.
Just how often have we been the next opponents for a team that has just lost or replaced a manager with often an unhappy outcome for us? No idea actually, as after giving it a brief thought I decided that I couldn’t be buggered working the stat out for the past 5 seasons. However I would suggest it’s more than most other teams in our division.
Anyway despite this fact, Blackpool have been quite frankly awful this season and I would suggest fault lies at the very top of the club rather than at the feet of the Manager. This is a side that could barely field 11 players near the start of the season. In all honesty, whether this is a ‘must win’ game or not, it is certainly a ‘had better win’ game for Town, considering we have ‘Wolves’ and Watford to follow this fixture.
For those of you making the journey, have a safe trip and make sure you go on the Ferris Wheel, its particularly enjoyable straight after watching the movie ‘Final Destination 3’.
BLACKPOOL 1 IPSWICH TOWN 2
