Season Review: Blackpool 'A Spearmint Expiration'

Nick Roe

In the first of a new series Nick Roe takes a fan's look at the highs and lows of the last season.

Summary of the season: 

Remarkable, extraordinary, life-affirming. Ian “Ollie” Holloway’s tangerine army was classy in the championship, stormed the playoffs and then dazzled the premier league. The manager’s attacking instincts, eye for a good player and wonderful man motivational skills will be remembered even more fondly than his erratic media persona. Blackpool were mid-table at Christmas after some truly outstanding results against some big clubs. A poor fun of form in the second half of the season ended in a cruel relegation but they never stopped trying to entertain and they end the year with a significantly enlarged fan-base. 

High point:
Where to start? So many great performances over the course of the season but two that stand out are the 2-1 victories over Liverpool. The first was at Anfield, part of the scousers’ terrible start to the season and the second was against a resurgent reds under the management of King Kenny. Glorious. 

Low point:
In the aftermath of the defeat to Manchester United at home, after Blackpool had been in front and had a clear penalty denied them, the emphasis was on whether or not this would prove to be a turning point for united.
It certainly proved to be so for Blackpool who then went on a dismal run which cost them their premier league status. The real low point however must have been the moment when the constant clichés about underdogs and plucky, attacking football that attracted the label “breath of fresh air” ultimately became more annoying than the constant din of ice-cream vans on Blackpool beach. 

Player of the season/best signing:
Charlie Adam (with Dudley “DJ” Campbell a close second). Adam epitomized the attacking flair, industry and determination of the team this season and the Seasiders were a shadow of themselves on the few occasions he was absent. 

Worst player:
A couple of ineffective signings in the forward department have been criticised but January signings that would stem the constant flow of goals being conceded were conspicuous by their absence. 

Where does the club go from here: 
Open to interpretation really. Financially, the situation is quite rosy with the club’s board refusing to go into the red in their efforts to stay up and the expansion of the stadium. A lot depends upon how much of the team they can retain and whether or not talismanic (or just plain manic) managed Ian Holloway stays on. Charlie Adam has certainly played his lasted game for Blackpool.