<a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=blackpool&amp;iid=8882343" target="_blank"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=blackpool&amp;iid=8882343" target="_blank"></a></figure></div>
<a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=blackpool&amp;iid=8882343" target="_blank"></a> <a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=blackpool&amp;iid=8882548" target="_blank"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=blackpool&amp;iid=8882548" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20100522_WST_19905_Blackpools_Charlie_Adam_26df.webp&amp;width=500&amp;height=298" border="0" alt="Blackpool&apos;s Charlie Adam and Jason Euell celebrate after their English Championship play-off final soccer match victory over Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium in London" width="500" height="298"></a></figure></div>
Congratulations to Blackpool FC for winning the Championship Playoff Final today and being promoted to the Premier League. Here are some pictures from Blackpool’s day in the sunshine. More after the jump.

<a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=blackpool&amp;iid=8882550" target="_blank"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=blackpool&amp;iid=8882550" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20100522_WST_19905_Blackpools_players_celebrate_77ef.webp&amp;width=500&amp;height=267" width="500" height="267" border="0" alt="Blackpool&apos;s players celebrate as they lift the trophy after their English Championship play-off final soccer match victory over Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium in London"></a></figure></div>
<a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=blackpool&amp;iid=8881898" target="_blank"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=blackpool&amp;iid=8881898" target="_blank"><img loading="lazy" src="https:\/\/ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https:\/\/images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/WST_20100522_WST_19905_Blackpools_Adam_shoots_7a9f.webp&amp;width=500&amp;height=281" width="500" height="281" border="0" alt="Blackpool&apos;s Adam shoots and scores a goal from a free-kick during their English Championship play-off final soccer match against Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium in London"></a></figure></div>

Blackpool Win Championship Playoff Final: In Pictures - World Soccer Talk

Blackpool Win Championship Playoff Final: In Pictures

<a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=blackpool&amp;iid=8881899" target="_blank"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=blackpool&amp;iid=8881899" target="_blank"></a></figure></div>
Blackpool’s promotion to the best league in the world today was exactly what the Premier League needed. In a season with plenty of highs and lows on and off the pitch, it was down to feel-good stories from Fulham, Portsmouth and Blackpool this season to end the 2009-10 football calendar on a high.
Congratulations go to Blackpool on promotion to the Premier League. They won a hard fought game 3-2 at Wembley against a strong Cardiff side.
This was an unbelievable season for Blackpool and their manager Ian Holloway. The manager has got his side into the top flight of English football for the first time in 40 years. And he did it by getting his side to play as a team rather than a team of individuals.
Blackpool getting promoted to the Premier League would be the US equivalent of Coney Island or Seaside Heights getting promoted to Major League Soccer (if promotion existed in MLS). This is an incredible achievement for a Lancashire club who will definitely be one of the stories of the 2010-11 Premier League season.
Congratulations once again to the Tangerines!

Blackpool Promoted to Premier League - World Soccer Talk

Blackpool Promoted to Premier League

<a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=cardiff city&amp;iid=8773199" target="_blank"></a><div><figure class="image"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=cardiff city&amp;iid=8773199" target="_blank"></a></figure></div>
Today’s Championship Playoff Final is often called the richest final in the sport. The winner stands to gain around 90 million pounds, which is far more than the 36 million pound prize on offer in this afternoon’s Champions League final between Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.
Needless to say, this match is massive for both Blackpool and Cardiff City. Based on the number of articles in the press and comments posted across the Internet, it seems that most people are hoping for a Blackpool win. I am too but that’s because I’m a Swansea City supporter, Cardiff’s bitter rivals.
Whoever wins today, let’s hope it’s a brilliant match. Before, during and after the final, feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section below. For those of you in the States, the game will be shown live on Fox Soccer Plus and FoxSoccer.tv

Blackpool v Cardiff City, Championship Playoff Final: Open Thread - World Soccer Talk

Blackpool v Cardiff City, Championship Playoff Final: Open Thread

<div id="attachment_822" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http:\/\/epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2010/05/Besian_Idrizaj_Liverpool_new_630500.jpg"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a>A Sad Day For Football</div>
The agent of Swansea striker Besian Idrizaj has unfortunately told the media of the <a href="http:\/\/news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Swansea-Footballer-Besian-Idrizaj-22-Dies-In-His-Sleep-In-Linz-Austria-His-Agent-Announces/Article/201005315632829?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_4&amp;lid=ARTICLE_15632829_Swansea_Footballer_Besian_Idrizaj%2C_22%2C_Dies_In_His_Sleep_In_Linz%2C_Austria%2C_His_Agent_Announces">players death due to a heart attack</a> on May 15th in his family home in Linz, Austria. Although not a regular in the Swansea side, it is so unfortunate to see a player (or indeed anyone) die at such a young age, and the death of the 22 year old gives a sad end to a great season in the Championship. In England Idrizaj represented Liverpool, Luton, Crystal Palace, Blackburn and of course Swansea City, which has been rocked by this sudden death. Although only making three appearances for the Swans in his first season, manager Paulo Sosa was a fan of the youngster and was thought to be impressed with the attacking option he could bring to a team.
An actual diagnosis of the death will become clearer with time, but our thoughts go out to the family and everyone involved with Besian tonight. Hopefully there will be a minutes silence before the upcoming Championship play-off final as a mark of respect to the player. This is a very sad day not only for the Championship, but football in general.
R.I.P.

R.I.P Besian Idrizaj - World Soccer Talk

R.I.P Besian Idrizaj

<div id="attachment_817" style="width: 310px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http:\/\/epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2010/05/ParachuteBurn.jpg"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a>This just about sums things up…</div>
If you have seen the <a href="http:\/\/www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11688_6145731,00.html">news recently regarding parachute payments</a>, you may have also heard that many clubs originally were against the proposal, mainly those who were in league’s one and two. It could appear that the football league has somewhat been <a href="http:\/\/www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/29/premier-league-football-league-parachute-payments">bullied into accepting</a> this offer, and the implications of such a deal could create a number of problems for teams in the football league by creating a much larger gap between the leagues and also giving a lot of teams an easy way out. You may have read something I wrote recently regarding the <a href="http:\/\/www.championshiptalk.com/pay-up-pompey-pompey-pay-up/794">situation at future Championship dwellers Portsmouth</a> and their money problems, and although it would appear that the Premiership is attempting to follow the trend of money in football, it would appear they’re almost encouranging teams to build up more risk and spend more money to have a shot at the Premiership, when in truth they should be going in the opposite direction and making it so that clubs don’t have to spend ridiculous amounts of money in order to compete in leagues once they are promoted. This season should have been a wake up call, but instead it hasn’t.
You may have heard lately claims that Newcastle United have <a href="http:\/\/www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11678_6144424,00.html">no desire to spend in the summer</a> after a <a href="http:\/\/www.nufc.com/2009-10html/2010-05-09nufc-statement.html">confusing statement was released by the club’s board</a>, and much of the media have reported it in this way after reading the statement ‘there is no plan for new capital outlay’. The statement is extremely hard to read and there is an <a href="http:\/\/timesonline.typepad.com/thegame/2010/05/the-statement-newcastle-should-have-released.html#more">altered version here from George Caulkin</a> which may be a better read for you, but what that statement supposedley means is that Newcastle do not plan on spending money they don’t have – e.g: no paying in installments, such has been the way of football in the past several decades. And this is the way football should be, because you see teams like West Ham and Hull in the Premiership who have spent ridiculous amounts of money and then realised that they don’t have those funds, and what success did they gain? They both fought a relegation battle and one got relegated. There is pressure from the fans today to spend money and bring players in, but this has been created due to the nature and culture of the clubs that has been created over the past few years and now there are a number of what would be considered badly managed businesses. Man Utd and Liverpool have a ridiculous amount of debt, now Liverpool aren’t in the Champions League next season, it would appear that things can only get worse. Newcastle are a club that are famous for spending vast amounts of sums in the Premiership, and before Ashley took over they were destined to go into administration, in one facebook group dedicated to rubbish Premiership players, I believe one person described Newcastle as ‘the king’s of rubbish Premiership players’. It is good to see that there is a change in emphasis, but there is still a fear that the gap between the two leagues due to the money being spent by a number of sides could see them relegated once again, as there is too much pressure to spend money.
But the best example I can give you is West Bromich Albion, who have again been promoted this season. They’ve been promoted and relegated for a number of seasons now, and they’ve never really spent a massive amount of money other clubs have once they have been promoted, with most of the same board in place I don’t expect them to do so this season either. But why is it fair that West Brom who are a club that spend their money correctly and have a manageable debt can’t compete, against a load of clubs that are spending money they don’t have in chase of an unrealistic dream, and the thing is, the majority of these teams are eventually crumbling. Sheffield Wednesday chairman Lee Strafford<a href="http:\/\/www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/apr/28/crystal-palace-sheffield-wednesday-relegation"> made a poin</a>t of this before his team was relegated at the hands of Crystal Palace, and although he didn’t exactly say that they should be relegated as the Guardian quoted, he did make a point of there needing to be greater punishments for clubs and I agree with this only to scare them into not taking up unmanageable risk and if they do, they will just face the consequences.
Now that the parachute payments have doubled, it means teams that are relegated have a greater chance to establish themselves in the league, thus diminishing a league one sides potential at competing in the Championship. It is also encouranging clubs to spend ridiculous amounts of money they don’t have, safe in the knowledge that they will get that money. The biggest danger is that all of a sudden the English leagues get split into two, and although there will always be a gap between the Championship and the Premiership, a huge gap between league one and the Championship could spell disaster for the English game. Imagine if you supported a team in league one or league two, what would your dream be for your club? I bet it would be to some day see your side play in the top flight of English football, but these changes could make that unlikely. The greatest possibility of achieving this would be guess what? Spending loads of money the club does not have. I’m not saying don’t give teams parachute payments, they’re necessary for the game and they were at the right level before this game, but the Premier League’s obsession with being ‘the best league in the world’ is starting to hurt English football a bit now. At the least, clubs should be encouraged not to spent wild amounts of money they don’t have, if anything for the fans who will ultimately just suffer in the end. <a href="http:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/3473712/Five-things-the-English-Premier-League-can-learn-from-the-German-Bundesliga-Football.html">Germany is a prime example</a> of how finances should be controlled in football, but I fear that this approach will never be taken in this country unless something terrible happens in order to force the hierarchy. This unfortantley is bad news for much of the English game.

What Parachute Payment Changes Mean To The Football League - World Soccer Talk

What Parachute Payment Changes Mean To The Football League

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=hodgson&amp;iid=8657630" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
Fulham Boss Hodgson Wants Europa League Final Postponed
With the Icelandic volancano rearing its ashy head over the weekend Eurpean air travelers are once again experiencing serious delays and restrictions. Fulam skipper Roy Hodgson has asked UEFA to postpone their Europa League final&nbsp;in Hamburg against Athletico Madrid on Wednesday unless the situation improves.
“If Madrid are also in that situation, UEFA should show some transigence, rather than the usual intransigence, and trying to find a solution which helps us both by postponing the game until we both can fly there,” Hodgon told ESPN Soccernet.
The ash cloud hovering over European airspace caused serious travel problems during the semi-final legs of the European Cups. With many blaming poor performances by Liverpool and Barcelona on lengthy travel times. Even if both clubs were to make it to Hamburg on time it would be nearly impossible for away supporters to attend with air travel shut down.
“You would be placing the game with thousands and thousands of English and Spanish fans not able to go, which I would say is another reason for UEFA to reconsider. It would be harsh, especially on a team like ours who have had to do it once already.”
Blackpool and Cardiff take early leads in Championship Playoffs
Charlie Adam’s penalty on the hour mark sealed a first-leg win for Blackpool in their clash with Nottingham Forest. Chris Cohen silenced the home fans with a volley in the 13th minute. But Keith Southern brought the Tangerines level in the 26th minute before Adam’s penalty gave the home side a victory. Forest will be disappointed with giving up an early lead but are only behind a goal.
In the other semi-final Cardiff nicked a 1-0 away victory against Leicester City. Peter Whittingham broke the deadlock 13 minutes from time with a stunning long-range free kick. The Bluebirds created the majority of the chances during the match and Leicester City is lucky to only be trailing 1-0 going into Wednesday’s matchup. 
Grant might stay on as manager of Portsmouth
Avram Grant has told Pompey that he would like to remain manager of the embattled club, but only if he can focus on running the team. Constant scrutiny over the clubs finances have made Grant field questions about a host of issues not related to his team’s performance.
“If I can work like a manager of football, and only a manager of football and not like this year, when I needed to be a manager of football and many, many other things,” said Grant. “I don’t know if you know. I was a financial man, I was a lawyer, I was many other things. This I will not do one season more. I don’t think it is a good idea, not for me, not for the club.”
Grant has won admiration from the southern fans by staying at a club that faces questions on whether or not it will survive.
Brown may return as Hull City manager
After being unofficially sacked and replaced by Ian Dowie earlier in the season Phil Brown is still&nbsp;technically&nbsp;the manager of Hull City. Facing a big financial payout to Brown should Hull fire him, the Tigers simply put Brown on administrative leave and brought in Ian Dowie as a “football consultant.” This means that it’s very likely that Brown could be back managing the Tigers in the Championship next season.
Brown is fueling fire to those rumors by refusing to deny them. “I just want it to be honourable. If it’s closure then give me what I’m due and appreciate what I’ve done for the club in the last three and a half years. I’ve never heard of it before [a manager returning after being removed] but nothing in football surprises me,” said Brown.
Dowie managed only one win in eight games at the helm and the Tigers were relegated to the Championship with two games to spare.

Daily Ticker: Hodgson Wants Final Delayed, Championship Playoff Update, More - World Soccer Talk

Daily Ticker: Hodgson Wants Final Delayed, Championship Playoff Update, More

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http:\/\/view.picapp.com/default.aspx?term=Fernando Torres Chelsea&amp;iid=7231683" target="_blank"><div><figure class="image"></figure></div></a></div>
Playoff Schedule For Premier League Promotion Set
Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion have already booked their tickets to the top flight next season but the EPL still has room for one more club. Teams that finished 3-6 will compete in a playoff for that final promotion spot in the Coca-Cola Championship Playoff. The fixtures have&nbsp;officially&nbsp;been announced and will follow the typical home-and-away format.
<h4 style="text-align: center">#3 Nottingham Forest vs. #6 Blackpool</h4>
First Leg: Saturday, May 8, at Blackpool, 12:45 GMT
Return Leg: Tuesday, May 11, at Nottingham Forest, 7:45 GMT
<h4 style="text-align: center">#4 Cardiff City vs. #5 Leicester City</h4>
First Leg: Sunday , May 9, at Leicester City, 1:15 GMT
Return Leg: Wednesday, May 12, at Cardiff City, 7:45 GMT
Rob McCuskey from our sister-site Championship Talk has an&nbsp;<a href="http:\/\/www.championshiptalk.com/the-premiership-beckons-for-four-playoff-hopefuls/806">in-depth&nbsp;analysis</a> of the matchups. Give it a read and tune in over the next two weeks to see who will be enjoying the riches of the EPL next season.
Chelsea Make £70 Million Bid For Torres
Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich is looking to take advantage of the vunerable Liverpool FC and poach star-striker Fernando Torres on a reported £70 million fee, according to Sportsmail. Chelsea has been relatively quiet in the last few transfer windows while Manchester City and Real Madrid have gone on a spending spree. In 2006, Chelsea made an&nbsp;unsuccessful&nbsp;bid for Liverpool captain Stephen Gerrard but the recent turmoil at Anfield makes Torres seem a lot more&nbsp;accessible. Liverpool&nbsp;officials&nbsp;have said Torres is not for sale but Abramovich, a Russian billionaire, has very deep pockets and Torres is not satisfied at Anfield. The&nbsp;Spaniard&nbsp; is currently working through an injury and his World Cup may be in jeopardy.
Capello Send Medical&nbsp;Personnel&nbsp;To&nbsp;Assess&nbsp;Ferdinand And Rooney
With about a month until the World Cup England fans are understandably concerned about the lingering health problems of Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand. Manager Fabio Capello has sent Dr. Ian Beasley, senior medical officer for the national team, to Manchester to assess the health of the two stars. The stop in Machester is only the first for Beasley, who will travel to all the EPL clubs to assess potential England players ahead of Capello’s announcement of his 30-man provisional roster. The 30-man provisional squad will compete against Mexico at Wembley on May 24 and against Japan in Austria on May 30.
Wenger Interested In Joe Hart
Aresnal’s goalkeeping troubles this season have been well documented with Manuel Almunia&nbsp;receiving&nbsp;a great deal of criticism for his play. Arsene Wenger is readying a bid for Birmingham keeper Joe Hart, who is on loan from Manchester City. Hart, who has impressed so much this season that he’s challenging for a ticket to South Africa with England, struggled for playing time at City but has been one of the cornerstone’s of Brimingham’s&nbsp;successful&nbsp;EPL campaign. &nbsp;City are not likely to give up the keeper without a fight due to Shay Given’s long-term injury and lack of viable keeping options behind him. Arsenal have also been linked with Lyon and France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. It may come down to whether or not Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon makes the jump to Manchester City and the prognosis of Shay’s rehabilitation.

Daily Ticker: Championship Playoff Schedule Set, Chelsea Move On Torres, More - World Soccer Talk

Daily Ticker: Championship Playoff Schedule Set, Chelsea Move On Torres, More

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Blackpool Promoted to Premier League

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Blackpool v Cardiff City, Championship Playoff Final: Open Thread

Leagues: Championship

R.I.P Besian Idrizaj

Leagues: Championship

What Parachute Payment Changes Mean To The Football League

General

Daily Ticker: Hodgson Wants Final Delayed, Championship Playoff Update, More

General

Daily Ticker: Championship Playoff Schedule Set, Chelsea Move On Torres, More