A relegation certainty was the tag given to Blackpool after their shock promotion to the Premier League. But after the Tangerines continued their stunning start to life in the top flight with an impressive 2-0 victory over Newcastle United, are Ian Holloways men primed to prove all the doubters wrong?
Seven points from their opening four games is an impressive start, and is even more impressive when you consider three of their four games have taken place away from Bloomfield Road. While their 6-0 demolition at Arsenal showed that there is still plenty of work to be done, credit must go to Holloway.
Holloway himself said of the win over Newcastle: “I am more than delighted with that. If there was a better word than delighted, I would like to think about it now and say it. I might make my own up – phantasmagorical, whatever.
“My boys get stronger and better all the time and I have got to be careful that I don’t burst with pride about them because we had the worst day ever in my football management on Friday.”
“One of my staff is ill – I had to tell the young lads, cancel their game, I had to tell our boys and I couldn’t be more proud of a group who even paid tribute to Parky on their shirts today. I am very glad that we stuck together.”
Before the season it was stated that the Premier League would love Holloway as much as Holloway would love the Premier League and this is certainly proving to be the case. But it is not only his personality that is endearing him to football fans, his tactics are also admirable.
Holloway had promised attacking football and that he wouldn’t be overawed by the talent they were facing on a week in week out basis. Yesterdays 90th minute counter-attack at Newcastle saw a three on one situation in Blackpool’s favour, and shows Holloways commitment to his principles.
Most teams would have been more than content to sit back and absorb pressure but Holloway left players forward when defending a corner with the ultimate aim of extending their lead.
Dangerous as it is, it certainly makes for interesting games and if Holloway can keep making his side perform above all expectations we might just see them prove their doubters wrong in emphatic style.
What do you think? Can Blackpool really pull of the ultimate shock and survive relegation this season? Or is this start just giving their fans false hope?
