With the start of the new season just hours away many people are predicting that Blackpool will be this season’s Burnley. However, Ian Holloway has added several new players to his squad this summer and they may well fancy their chances of upsetting the odds by staying up. The big question is have they got enough quality to do it?

There is no doubt that every week Blackpool will be organised and hard to beat but the gulf in quality between the Premier League and Championship is a big one as so many promoted teams have found in the past. Teams have managed to avoid the drop in the past though and Blackpool need to take hope from that fact. The new arrivals that have joined in the past week will give the supporters a real belief that the club can survive whilst also showing the rest of the league that they are not here to simply make up the numbers as many have predicted.

Chris Basham and Marlon Harewood are both players with Premier League experience who may well feel that they have a point to prove to the footballing public. If they can both find form that they have shown glimpses of in the past then Holloway could have pulled a couple of gems out of the bag. Defender Craig Cathcart who joined from Manchester United will also be looking to make an impression in the top flight after finding his first team chances limited at Old Trafford. These signings along with players like Charlie Adam could prove enough to keep the Seasiders afloat. It won’t be easy but if teams think that that their visit to Blackpool will be a simple three points followed by a good night out they could be in for a rude awakening. Do you think Blackpool have enough to stay out of the relegation zone come the end of the season?