They were picked by almost nobody to make it out of the Championship. Now, Blackpool is being picked by everyone to do back down.
Aug 11, 2010 - Out of the top flight for forty years, Blackpool makes their Premier League debut on Saturday at the DW against Wigan. All levels considered, Blackpool's only won one division title in the club's 114-year history: Division Two in 1929-30 thanks to 45 goals from Jimmy Hampson. Playing in a park that holds only 12,555 and having never paid more than £500,000 for a player, Blackpool may be the smallest club to ever compete in the Premier League.
Which is not to say Blackpool doesn't belong in the top division. You don't push Swansea out of the playoffs then beat Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City without winning-over some neutrals. All three of those clubs showed Premier League-quality at points last year, yet it's Blackpool that will be competing with the Manchester Uniteds and Chelseas this season. If for no other reason than the transitive property of team goodness (my term, don't steal it), Blackpool took the last Premier League-ness they needed from Cardiff at Wembley.
That 3-2 win in the playoff's final was a fitting triumph for Ian Holloway, Blackpool's first year manager who had just finished a promotion campaign leading a team that finished sixteenth the year before. In a managerial career that's included five stops and two relegations (to go with two promotions), taking the Tangerines to the Premiership is by far Holloway's greatest achievement. While Premier League fans are already anticipating the former midfielder's wild post-match interviews, providing entertainment will be the least of Holloway's concerns as he tries to keep an out-manned and out-gunned team in England's top flight.
Out-gunned or up to the challenge, I'm happy Blackpool's going to be with us this year. Nicknamed the Tangerines, I'll have a constant reminder of one of the best, most overlooked Led Zeppelin songs. Neither ambitious nor profound, Tangerine, a harmonic sojourn from the driving Immigrant Song, is the palm's embrace of cold water splashed against your mouth agape, reflecting on Gallow's Pole as you're renewed by the dawn's streaking light across your bathroom's window.
"Living reflection from a dream
I was her love, she was my queen
And now a thousand years between.
The Cast
Major Comings: Nobody, a function of the club's size. Though the revenue Blackpool receives from promotion will redefine the club, they weren't able to build-up the team. As the transfer window closes, they'll be reliant on loans to address problem areas. Ultimately, Blackpool will try to survive the Premier League with the nearly the same squad that finished sixth in the Championship.
Significant Goings: Forward Ben Burgress takes his six goals to Notts County while D.J. Campbell moves back to Leicester City, his loan deal expiring after scoring 11 times in his half-season in Lanchashire.
Still There: Charlie Adam was brought-in from Rangers last year and led the club in goals. Brett Ormerod was the team's second leading scorer, his goal at Wembley sending the Seasiders to the Premier League. Keith Southern's a constant in central midfield, with former Scotland international prominent in defense.
Prognosis
| Rk | Club | Avg | W | D | L | GF | GA | 1st | Top 4 | Top 7 | Relegated | Best | Worst | Range* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Blackpool | 19.7 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 24.6 | 28.9 | 86.5 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 96.9% | 8 | 20 | 18-20 |
Why: A squad that was probably not Premier League-caliber to begin with can't retain one of their best scoring threats and fails to reinforce. There's little reason to think they've passed anybody.
Best Case Scenario: Per the numbers, this is going to be a very long year for the Seasiders. Normally the three lowest Relegated percentages are relatively pretty low (30-35 percent). Teams who go down usually have unexpectedly poor seasons. Blackpool's Relegation number is the highest I've seen - so high that the only way they survive has them playing at the top of their range while three other teams simultaneously have seasons at the bottom of their expectations.
Nightmare: Blackpool breaks Derby County's record for fewest points in the Premier League season.
Most Likely: They get off to a horrible start but pick-up enough points in the mid-season lull to avoid setting any records. Blackpool takes their parachute payment back to the Championship.
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