<blockquote>
<div id="attachment_825" style="width: 160px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2010/05/championship-playoff-final-preview-sheffield-united-v-burnley-7031103300.jpg"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-825" loading="lazy" class="size-thumbnail wp-image-825" src="/files/2010/05/championship-playoff-final-preview-sheffield-united-v-burnley-7031103300-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150"></figure></div></a>Welcome To Wembley</div>
Excuse the Stephen Colbert reference above (I wish he would return to UK TV screens!). Saturday signals a great day for football with the Champions League final taking place, but before that there is a game that is worth even more money to the victor. The Championship playoff final takes place at Wembley in a traditional 3pm kick off, and unlike previous seasons which has seen each football league play off final played one day after the other (usually on what is&nbsp; a bank holiday weekend for the UK – next weekend), the Championship final is up first and has the whole weekend to itself. Blackpool, a team with an average attendance of just over 8,000 this season, find themselves in dream land and have credited Ian Holloway with much of the credit for helping them get a chance at entering the Premiership. Holloway himself has <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_6166514,00.html">deflected praise back at the tangerine’s </a>and the quotable manager has received much backing from many neutrals in England, although many would love to see Blackpool in the top flight for a various number of reasons. The famous seaside resort has a big opportunity to return to the top flight after a number of years of exile, and a club that is perhaps most recognisable for having Sir Stanley Matthews on their books has a chance to write more history into the books. Anyone with a lack of knowledge of Blackpool’s impact on the English game should look up the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxWJXR-AJ8o">1953 F.A Cup final</a>, which is one of the greatest finals in history and often labelled as the ‘Matthews final’ after the above mentioned Stanley Matthews performance, despite the fact Stan Mortensen scored a hat-trick in the game (typical).
Blackpool’s opponent is the Welsh outfit of Cardiff, who almost need to win this game if they are to balance the books at the Welsh capital. Due to Blackpool’s prestige in the English game and their loveable manager, the fact that this is and England V Wales tie has been almost amplified in England, which is just one of the many talking points of this particular final. Whether Wales is united remains up for debate however, I remember watching the final episode of the BBC’s football league show this season, in which one Swansea fan (apparently) e-mailed in wishing Cardiff all the luck in the world as they were representing the nation of Wales. That’s probably a load of rubbish and I doubt any Swansea fan would like to see Cardiff doing better than their team who narrowly missed out on the playoffs themselves. <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11704_6164599,00.html">Dave Jones has hailed his team’s spirit</a> ahead of the tie, but will be <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11704_6152330,00.html">sweating on the fitness of star player Peter Wittingham</a>, who has bagged a number of vital goals for the Bluebirds this term. Cardiff have had a number of troubles this season, but promotion the top flight of the English Premier League would soften many of the problems off the field this seasons, and the side will probably go in as favourites.
The semi-finals were exciting, full of action, goals and attacking displays – so surely one must go with <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11704_6162554,00.html">Holloway’s prediction</a> that this will be an action packed affair? Not exactly, as five of the last six finals have ended 1-0, and we often see teams understandably playing with caution. People often cite the 90’s and the excitement the playoffs brought, at this time of year in England, you’re bound to see <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwbiaTz7Yvs">THAT playoff final</a> between Charlton and Sunderland which ended 4-4 after extra time and was decided on penalties. The thing that makes these matches so great and amazing is that you feel like you are a fan of one of the teams for 90 minutes; the tension and atmosphere just takes you over and you can find yourself jumping up and down for a team you have no association with. Albeit, I believe this year’s playoff final could really shake things up and be exciting. Blackpool proved against Forest that they were not here to make up the numbers, and Cardiff showed plenty fighting spirit against a passionate Leicester side.
Many American viewers will be able to relate the playoff final, and the truth is that English people love it – yet they are resilient to extend it to the top flight. In England, there is a belief that you should be rewarded over the course of an entire season, and many see a playoff as pot luck. I am inclined to agree with this, mainly due to the culture of English football I have been brought up with, but no one can deny how amazing and tense the football league playoffs are. It’s a modern spectacle of English football and it draws massive viewers in every year because of the excitement it creates. When the Premiership proposed that the fourth Champions League spot could be decided via a playoff, I was all in favour of the motion, yet it appears to have been cut down, most likely by those who are worried they will lose out on the revenue the European game creates. It’s a lottery – sure – but how much excitement does it create for the fans? You have people who don’t watch a game outside the Premiership all season sitting down in front of their screen for the playoff final, and the fans really enjoy it. The Premiership could really learn from this, American football has the Superbowl which is the most watched live event in the world every year, and it’s an amazing concept to think that it all comes down to one game; everyone all of a sudden feels the excitement which I feel can sometimes be lost in a Premiership season despite Sky’s constant attempts to remind us of GRANDSLAMDECIDERJUDGEMENT whatever.
I can’t see a playoff ever deciding a Premiership champion in the near future, but I do believe that it should be put in place to some degree in the title – the proposal of the fourth Champions League spot being decided this way should not have been shot down so quickly. I do believe that eventually there will be one league in Europe that will adopt the playoff mentality to determine a champion, and I just wonder whether this will create so much commotion that it will shake the world of football. Look at how it has transformed the Championship and the football league. In truth, if you were and English football fan and you were told that you will be promoted via top spot in the Championship or the playoffs, you would chose the playoffs as it has so much excitement about it. If you need any more proof about how exciting this game is, think about this: it’s amazing that a game in England’s second tier could even be mentioned as important or placed on the same day as the Champions league final.</blockquote>

The Playoff Final &#8211; Great Occasion Or The Greatest Occasion In English Football?

The Playoff Final - Great Occasion Or The Greatest Occasion In English Football? - World Soccer Talk

The Playoff Final – Great Occasion Or The Greatest Occasion In English Football?

<div id="attachment_807" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2010/05/playoff-final.jpg"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-807" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-807" src="/files/2010/05/playoff-final-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225"></figure></div></a>Wembley awaits for two hopefuls</div>
After Sunday’s playoff drama which saw Blackpool <a href="http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3151859,00.html">just edge their way</a> onto the right side of the line, we now get to one of the most exciting times in English football, as four teams attempt to realise their dream of playing in the top flight of English football. Nottingham Forest V Blackpool and Cardiff V Leicester will be play each other over two legs, in games where away goals do not count, so each team has something to play for in all the games. Then, when these matches are decided, two teams will travel to Wembley for a one off game, which has been described in recent seasons as <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/football/05/21/promotion.match/index.html">the richest game in football</a>. History of this exciting system would tell us that it is near impossible to pick a favourite from the four and its truly all up for grabs.
Nottingham Forest V Blackpool:
(First Leg – Saturday 8th May, 12.45pm GMT @Blackpool) | (Second Leg – Tuesday 11th May, 7.45pm GMT @Forest)
Third place Nottingham Forest will take on the plucky tangerine army in the first playoff game, and for Forest, a place in the playoffs seems like more of a consolation prize after the great season they’ve had, where at one point they were being tipped for automatic promotion. Just because Forest finished third does not make them favourites, and their <a href="http://www.skysports.com/football/match_report/0,19764,11065_3151867,00.html">final league result against Scunthorpe</a> will give their fans cause for concern. Instead, it is Blackpool who come to this game in form, and the orange army will be looking to Charlie Adams for inspiration after the spectacular season he has had. Billy Davies <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11727_6129380,00.html">does give Forest an edge howeve</a>r, as he has winning playoff experience with rivals Derby, so will be well accustomed to the pressure this mini competition brings. However, one thing that could hinder Forest players is Billy Davies’ recent quotes in which he claimed he would <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11727_6125512,00.html">love the opportunity to manage Scottish champions Rangers</a> and it is possible that Davies already has other priorities on his mind; Derby fans will know all too well that Davies is quick to jump ship. Blackpool’s DJ Campbell has ran into controversy recently, being <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/8640652.stm">linked with a nightclub stabbing</a>, although the player has featured in recent weeks it will be interesting to see whether he can focused on the job in hand. In any case for Blackpool, they are happy to be in this position, and although much of the credit has gone to the hilarious Ian Holloway, he has <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackpool/8652806.stm">deflected this praise to the clubs chairman</a> and whatever the result, Blackpool can look back on this season with a big smile on their face. From what I’m getting from people in England, Blackpool will have a big backing from the neutrals in the playoffs, no more so from Premiership fans who would love nothing better than seeing their football team play followed by a night out in the seaside city.
Cardiff City V Leicester City:
(First Leg – Sunday 9th May, 1.15pm GMT, @ Leicester) | (Second Leg – Wednesday 12th May, 7.45pm GMT, @Cardiff)
Cardiff City has had an up and down time this season. Great on the pitch, but <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8653322.stm">problems off the pitch</a> have had fans protesting as the club was one of the many teams this season who were politely asked by the British government if they could <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/8662161.stm">pay tax money they owe.</a> This is why this game could be make or break for the Welsh outfit, as Peter Ridsdale (a man that should not be allowed near football or any other business for that matter) appears to have plummeted the club into heavy amounts of debt, and their future appears uncertain. If the club fail to get promotion, they will need to sell off a number of assets to keep the tax man happy and promotion would help the club gain money they so badly need right now. Manager Dave Jones has <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/8658334.stm">rallied his Bluebird troops</a> ahead of the two semi-final matches and the club will be hoping Michael Chopra and Petter Whittingham, who have both featured in a number of ‘teams of the season’, will fire to club to Wembley and help the club represent Wales in the top flight of English football. Leicester manager Nigel Pearson has issued a <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11712_6129516,00.html">similar vote of confidence</a> ahead of their ties against the Bluebirds, and the club have recently <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11712_6131487,00.html">welcomed back the dangerous Matty Fryatt</a>, who could be key to the Foxes promotion push. Nigel Pearson has done a fantastic job at the famous outfit, and from <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leicester_city/2359863.stm">near bankruptcy</a> in the past decade, to relegation two seasons ago to League One, Leicester are now facing the prospect of back-to-back promotions. It would be a dream come true for long suffering Foxes fans if they could have a trip to Wembley and a chance at the Premiership.
I don’t know where your money is at for this season’s playoff competition but all four teams are in quite different situations and we are bound to see a lot of emotion from the fans and on the pitch. The dream will come to one team, but you can’t think about Wembley yet, as the first hurdle is the semi-final and you don’t want to be a player who thinks ‘what if…?’

The Premiership Beckons For Four Playoff Hopefuls

The Premiership Beckons For Four Playoff Hopefuls - World Soccer Talk

<div id="attachment_788" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2010/04/42723441_wembley416.jpg"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-788" loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-788" src="/files/2010/04/42723441_wembley416-300x216.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="216"></figure></div></a>Wembley Will Be Waiting For Two Lucky Clubs</div>
Firstly, congratulations to Roberto Di Matteo and his West Brom side who clinched the second automatic promotion berth and will be once again in the top flight next season. The sound coming from West Brom fans is that they’re desperate for their team to spend money and cement their place in the Premiership, as in previous seasons West Brom have been considered as the team ‘too good for the Championship – not good enough for the Premiership’. Albeit, many would of argued in the previous season when they did go down, they ill-deserved their fate as many met their style of football and mentallity favourably. Early rumours coming out of the club suggested that the Albion would be <a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11698_6094847,00.html">looking to invest heavily this summer </a>but this may no longer be the case, as instead the chairman, Jeremy Peace, is hoping for<a href="http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11698_6090384,00.html"> sensible purchases</a>. Next season will be an interesting one for the Baggies and they have added to the recent success of other clubs in the area such as Villa, Birmingham and Wolves.
Now that the two automatic places have been decided, that leaves only four more promotion places and in truth only one of those spots will see a team thrust into the top tier as the Championship playoffs draw ever closer. Nottingham Forest are guaranteed a place in the final four and look odds on to finish top and play the team who finishes fourth in the play off section. Forest’s amazing home form and mid-season unbeaten run made them hopeful of obtaining automatic promotion, but I’m sure no fan would have complained at the start of the season if they knew their side would be finishing in 3rd!
Cardiff city also look odds on to play in this season’s play-off semi finals and surprise package Leicester, who are looking for back-to-back promotions, are also in a strong position. The final play-off spot looks less certain however and although Swansea have a slim advantage and sit on the right side of the line, Blackpool and Middlesbrough are snapping at their heels. Outside of that, there is Bristol City and Sheffield United, but with only three games to go their challenge appears to be over. So in my opinion, there is one more play-off place that can really be contested.
Swansea have an all Yorkshire run in for the remainder of the season:
Swansea V Barnsley
Sheffield United V Swansea
Swansea V Doncaster Rovers
These are all tricky ties and although all three of these teams have little competitive to play for, they will be keen to put in the performances towards the end of the season as the opening of the transfer market draws closer. Swansea have been picking off 1-0’s and a lot of draws this season, but with teams motivated behind them they’ll need to give it their all if they want to make it to the play-offs.
Blackpool have two tough games coming up too, but luckily for them they are both at home:
Blackpool V Nottingham Forest
Peterborough United V Blackpool
Blackpool V Bristol City
Forest and Bristol City are two tough oppositions and Bristol City, who sit behind this pack of three, will still be keen to test out whether or not they can reach the play-offs and if by chance they do make it to the run in, that final game of the season could be massive.
Finally, Middlesbrough will need to dig deep and they could most definitely do with winning every single one of these games despite how tall an order it may be:
West Brom V Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough V Coventry City
Leicester City V Middlesbrough
That final game, against Leicester, is such a tricky game and one that few teams would look forward to due to the Fox’s dominance at home games. As well as this, Leicester are not too far away from the chasing pack and could be sucked back into a battle, meaning this could also be an interesting final day tie with everything to play for. It is also hard to say whether a newly promoted West Brom will be a good thing or a bad thing, as players may be in a more relaxed mood but the pressure is off them and they can play with more freedom. ‘Boro need to go for that game and make it competitive as possible, as that is the last thing the Albion will want.
In my opinion these final few games are tricky for every side and it’s going to come down to which team wants it more. If I had to chose one run in, I’d probably go for Swansea’s, with all due respect to those teams, it’s a more balanced fixture list and you would be hoping to challenge for points there, whereas Blackpool play Nottingham Forest and ‘Boro have two daunting away tasks. But like I said, they’re all difficult fixtures and it’s hard to say which team can gain an edge from the games they have. Swansea are looking good to take that final place, but in the Championship you cannot rule anything out.

Only Four More Shots At The Premiership...

Only Four More Shots At The Premiership... - World Soccer Talk

<a rel="attachment wp-att-183" href="http://www.championshiptalk.com/stadiums-bloomfield-road/182/183/" title="blackpool30.jpg"><div><figure class="external-image"><img src="http://www.xslt-tutorial.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/blackpool30.jpg" alt="blackpool30.jpg"></figure></div></a>
Blackpool FC play their home matches at Bloomfield Road and have since 1899. It has a capacity of 9,941. It is an all seater stadium and one of the smallest in the Championship. It is slowly being expanded to a capacity of 16,000 by around 2010. The pitch is 112 x 74 yards. Bloomfield Road only has two stands currently unlike the usual 4 stands in other stadiums.
Away Fans:
Away fans are housed in a temporary stand in the East Side of the ground while the permanent Away stand is being built. It currently houses 1,700 away fans. The stand also has no roof and the wind from the sea cuts right into the away supporters. There is a good chance of finding yourself signing in the rain if your an away fan at Blackpool. The No 1 Bar is adjacent to the visiting fans and is rather friendly to traveling fans. There is a nominal fee to get in however. There are also other bars within a 10 minute walk of Bloomfield Road that are welcoming to visiting fans as well.
Tickets:
Home Fans*: 
Blackpool Airport Stand (Centre): Adults £30, OAP’s £24, Under19’s £21, Under 16’s £19 
Blackpool Airport Stand (Wings): Adults £28, OAP’s £23, Under19’s £18, Under 16’s £16 
Blackpool Airport Stand Stand (Outer Wings): Adults £28, OAP’s £23, Under19’s £18, Under 16’s £17 
North West Stand: Adults £28, OAP’s £22, Under19’s £16, Under 16’s £13, Under 11’s £11 
All In Property Services Family Area: Adults £28, OAP’s £23, Under19’s £16, Under 16’s £13, Under 11’s £11 
Blackpool Leisure North Stand: Adults £28, OAP’s £23
Away Fans*: 
Adults £28, OAP’s £23, Under19’s £16, Under 16’s 13 
* A £1 discount on these prices per ticket is available if the ticket is purchased prior to matchday. Home fans can gain a further discount on the ticket price if they become Club members.

Stadiums: Bloomfield Road

Stadiums: Bloomfield Road - World Soccer Talk

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Stadiums: Bloomfield Road