Blackpool were easily the most impressive of last season's promoted teams, but a surprise summer departure of manager Neil Critchley, controversial appointment of Michael Appleton, and stodgy summer of transfers leaves them facing a tricky second season back at this level according to Mitch Cook's Left Foot.
Assessment of last season? Easily the most impressive of the promoted teams...
Last season was generally really good. Whilst we weren’t exactly playing total football most weeks, the commitment and discipline was commendable and we claimed some decent scalps. We were rarely outplayed and for while we dared to dream we could go a bit further than midtable. It’s a shame the season fizzled out with some poor performances, not least a really dismal display against Preston, because that put a little bit of a cloud over what was really a terrific achievement. To be safe with quite a long while to go was outstanding really.
Losing Neil Critchley like that must have been a blow?
I’d prefer not to talk about it. The blow was particularly painful as the ex-manager had cultivated a really strong relationship with the support and talked in what seemed like genuine terms about being here a long time. Obviously, there’s no loyalty in football, however all but the most sceptically minded of ‘Pool fans fell for all the flannel and thought we’d have him for a while longer - at least till a really decent job came up. That the job that took him from us was to be part of the backroom at Villa wasn’t what we expected. The fact he’s still not spoken about it, not given his reasons or thanked fans for their support leaves us a little bitter after all his proclamations of true love for the tangerine massive.
Michael Appleton, quite a divisive appointment it seems given his Preston connections and walking out on his first spell here for Blackburn - what do you think?
My initial response was incredulity. It appeared the board were trolling us. However, Appleton 2022 is a different beast from the very defensive and dour man who took over from Holloway. I’ve been cautiously impressed by his methodical, reasoned but firm style and his intent to play football. The former manager had success but we played a very pragmatic way most of the time - the results spoke for themselves, but there was an emerging feeling that we needed to be a little more expansive and that we could see more football from the squad than we saw sometimes. Appleton seems to want to attack a little more and be less fearful of creative players than his predecessor who preferred a workhorse most of the time.
Blackpool league results so far…
Blackpool 1-0 Reading Connolly 9
Stoke 2-0 Blackpool Clarke 33, Brown 75
Blackpool 0-1 Swansea Ntcham 87
How have the first few games gone?
The first half hour of the first game was great! We haven't scored since...
What has Appleton changed?
Appleton has brought 433 to replace 442 and youthful (very youthful) technical midfielders to replace the more 'dogs of war ' approach Critchley favoured in the middle.
Transfer business done and still to do?
We've got Dom Thompson from Brentford but I think, by and large, we like and lots of fancy loans who haven't done anything yet. Who knows what else we'll do. We've mostly not quite signed people this summer which has been frustrating, not so much because we expect big signings but we've built ourselves up and the deals have fallen through. Josh Bowler may or may not go. Who can say?
Ins >>> Dominic Thompson, 21, LB, Brentford, Undisclosed >>> Rhys Williams, 21, CB, Liverpool, Loan >>> Lewis Fiorini, 20, CM, Man City, Loan >>> Charlie Patino, 18, CM, Arsenal, Loan >>> Theo Corbeanu, 20, CF, Wolves, Loan >>>
Outs >>> Richard Keogh, 35, Legend, Ipswich, Undisclosed >>> Ethan Robson, 25, CM, MK Dons, Free >>> Reece James, 28, LB, Sheff Wed, Loan >>> Oliver Casey, 21, CB, Forest Green, Loan >>> Grant Ward, 27, RM, Released >>> Cameron Antwi, 20, CM, Released >>> Owen Dale, 23, LW, Pompey, Loan
Push on and build, or does the Critchley departure damage that?
The legacy of the Oyston regime lingers on and that is probably having an equal impact in terms of investment on the pitch. Despite the Premier League being achieved on a shoestring we never built any meaningful infrastructure and thus the new owners stated goals are to have a new East Stand and swanky training complex in place. Funds have been committed and it seems that patience in terms of pushing on will be needed. It’s possible Critchley didn’t have that patience. We’ve certainly had to wait for signings this season. We’ve brought Dominic Thompson from Brentford and a couple of loan signings but in the main, it’s the squad from last year. We’ve still got Josh Bowler (for now) so we can score against anyone if he has a magic day and we’ll not be short of effort, but we do seem short of a few key positions and maybe a little goal-shy. I’m hopeful of midtable and going a little bit better than last year, but also mindful this year could be tough if a few of the players who were more peripheral last year don’t step up under a new system.
How do you see the season going?
If we add a couple of more experienced players and gel, we'll probably be ok. We do look a bit flimsy right now but then Forest looked shite at the outset last year so again, who can realistically see the future? If you offered me survival right now, I'd probably take it, which should say where my instincts are.
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