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Mick's Matchday Preview - Blackpool vs. Derby
Mick's Matchday Preview - Blackpool vs. Derby
Wednesday, 17th Aug 2011 13:50 by Mick McDermott

Two undefeated teams go head-to-head tonight with much to prove. Blackpool will want to prove they have what it takes to bounce back to the top flight and Derby want to build on their best start to a season for 38 years!

 

Blackpool v Derby County

Bloomfield Road, Blackpool

8:00pm - 17th August 2011Blackpool - The Seasider’s or Tangerines

What happened to Blackpool? One minute they looked like they were holding their own in the Premier League - the next, they were being relegated.

It's been all change at Bloomfield Rd with almost a new team coming in. Despite Ian Holloway saying that Luke Varney was theirs for £250k and "Derby was unable to do anything about it because of a clause in his contract", Varney isn't one of them.

I used to like Holloway but he became a bit of a pillock in the Premier League. There's no doubting the fact that he's good at his job, as his new signings have taken no time at all to bed in and look to be aiming to get back to the promised land.

They've started well, having a 100% record the same as the Rams. Kevin Phillips, perpetually linked with the Rams over the last few years is their leading scorer - and the money gained from the sale of Charlie Adams looks to have been wisely used.

This will be a tough game.

 

BLACKPOOL 11/12 - Ins & Outs

Out:

Jason Euell, DJ Campbell, David Vaughan, Charlie Adam, Richard Kingson , Marlon Harewood & Andy Reid

In:

Barry Ferguson, Kevin Phillips, Miguel Llera, Tom Ince, Angel Martinez, Craig Sutherland & Bob Harris

 

Current Form:

P 2 W 2 D 0 L 0 F 3 A 1

Leading Scorer: Phillips

 

Past games:

Historical at Bloomfield Road:

P 31 W 5 D 10 L 16 F 32 A 53

We seem to play Blackpool for a season or two and then our relative fortunes seem to take us in opposite directions.

I can't remember ever going to Blackpool for a Saturday game though the history books tell me we won 1-0 at Bloomfield Road on a Saturday in February 1985 - perhaps that's why I don't recall it.

That was also our last victory there. The last game there finished in a 0-0 draw. That was our first away point of the season.

Tue 18 Aug 2009 - Blackpool 0 - 0 Derby County   

 

Team: Bywater, Connolly, Buxton, Addison, Moxey, Croft (Green 67), Savage, Pearson, Teale, Commons (McEveley 89), Hulse (Varney 80)

 

Current Tangerine Squad

No.  Position.  Player

1  Keeper Matt Gilks

2  Defender Paul Bignot

3  Defender Stephen Crainey

4  Midfield Keith Southern

5  Defender Neal Eardley

6  Defender Ian Evatt

7  Striker Billy Clarke

8  Midfield Elliot Grandin

9  Striker Kevin Phillips

10  Striker Brett Ormerod

11  Midfield Gerardo Bruna

12  Midfield Gary Taylor-Fletcher

14  Midfield Ludovic Sylvestre

15  Defender Alex Baptiste

16  Midfield Barry Ferguson (captain)

17  Defender Chris Basham

18  Defender Matt Hill

19  Midfield Stephen Husband

20  Defender Craig Cathcart

21  Keeper Mark Halstead

22  Defender Ashley Eastham

23  Midfield Matt Phillips

24  Striker Craig Sutherland

25  Defender Miguel Llera

26  Midfield Liam Tomsett

27  Striker Thomas Barkhuizen

28  Midfield Adam Dodd

29  Striker Josh Egan

31  Midfield Angel Martinez

32  Midfield Bojan Djordjic

33  Defender Bob Harris

34  Keeper Chris Kettings

36  Midfield Tom Ince

 

Injuries or Suspensions

Matt Gilks is the only injury worry (ankle) though Ian Holloway expects him to start.

 

How To Get There

Straightforward journey though often troubled by traffic jams. Leave early. Take the A50 to Stoke then head north on the M6 to J32.

Take the M55 towards Blackpool (spotters badge to the first one to spot the tower) and continue into Blackpool. You should see the ground on the right.

Parking

There's a pay and display very near the ground but last time I went, there was ample street parking and you won't die of old age waiting to get out of the car park. Note that because it's Blackpool, pay & display are 24hrs and don't shut down at six.

Where To Drink?

The No 1 Bar near the away end is highly recommended, though I couldn't find it last time I went.  There's also the Waterloo near by.

The town itself is not far away and being Blackpool, everyone is welcome just about everywhere. I think it's unfair of the league to pander to Blackpool by ensuring that only the minimum number of away fans can make these midweek trips.

It also gives Blackpool an unfair advantage in my opinion.

 

Mick’s Prediction

We've not played well and yet have made our best start to the season for nearly 40 years. We've got lots of injured players and yet the young players bought in as cover have done well and in many peoples eyes have done better than the players they are replacing.

Is Clough being lucky, or wily?

I was 11 back when we last won our opening two fixtures, I wasn't born when we last won three - 1948.

I'd like to see the two victories as a sign of progress but here's the thing; I listened to the first half on BBC Radio Derby and it sounded like many of the games we played last season. The opposition with most of the ball, us giving the ball away in silly positions, and generally just hoofing it to a 'target' man who was easily dominated by the centre half.

Against Shrewsbury we were bereft of midfield and capitulated all too easily. I'm worried that the same could happen in a league fixture.

People keep saying that we will play better than we have and lose. I'd rather take the positive and say that a win is a win and like Billy Davies's team, how you get it doesn’t matter.

If we can get some players fit, we might be able to compete in this league - but it's too early to tell. Tonight might give us some more pointers.

Blackpool 1-1 Rams

 

 

Can the Rams make it 3 from 3 ?

Why not join the RamZone Forum by clicking on the link above or our Facebook page and give us your thoughts!

CLICK HERE! for RamZone's Facebook page!

 

 

Photo: Action Images



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