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Post by bigjohncraven on May 23, 2011 10:19:16 GMT 1
So a new day dawns and the reality of what yesterdays events can tell us begin to form. For a start we nearly bloody did it,the thing that all the football world said we couldn't do was only one point away,one point,lets be honest here who thought that would have been the scenario when we began this adventure 12mths ago?not me for one. We began the season having real problems, the ground not up to scratch and having come up through the playoffs a shorter period of time than everyone else to rebuild a small squad that had been littered with loan players,and untill the Prem coughed up the promotion money in August no cash. Getting players in became a real headache as we where such a sure bet for relegation according to all the pundits,didn't pay the highest wages,had the smallest ground ect ect. So we threw up a new stand relaid the pitch put in some sprinklers and somehow managed to throw together a 25 man squad all in a couple of months and prepared to be slaughtered. That we weren't is testament to Ollie and the Players and their never say die attitude that saw us winning friends all over the football world,all those awful phrases,breath of fresh air ,Blackpool rocks,roller-coaster ride we heard them all and basked in the glow of people actually noticing we played good football and that if nothing else you sure got your moneys worth at a Blackpool game.There where times during the season that I could not believe that this fantastically entertaining team was my little Blackpool, Who only a few short years ago I'd watched play kick and rush in the old 4th division. There have been moments in this last year that will live with me forever.Waling into Bloomers at the first home game,four sides to the ground,a big screen! sprinklers spaying water onto a beautiful relaid pitch,the sun shinning,a sea of Tangerine and a Barclays Premier League sign sitting on the pitch. Anfield and the scousers applauding our team off at the end of a fantastic game. Three up against Spurs and looking comfortable,blinking at the 2-0 score against Man u and just not believing my eyes. The whole thing has been a blast and whatever happens cant be taken off me,it really did happen. But its come to an end now and we just have to accept it and move on,it's not like we dont know what this feeling is like is it?The difference this time though is we are being relegated into the Championship,a division that only a few short years ago we where thrilled to be Promoted into a division we all said at the time was a fantastically competitive league with lots of good players and teams,that hasn't changed and next season promises to be a really exiting one yet again,and with a few less plastics about and the filling in of the south east corner I may be able to get to see more games!That said I hope it is only a few and that the exploits of this last two years keep the new fans coming back for more,and believe me I'm sure there will be more. We have all had a moan about decisions made by the club on signings,wages,the ground,the training ground ect but the truth now is that of the three relegated clubs we are in the best financial position.We are all going to lose players thats for sure but unlike the other two we dont need to spend that money on paying off dept.We are one of the few clubs in the whole football league that are solvent,and remembering where we have been in the past thats no small thing. As for what happens next?who knows.As I said we are bound to lose a few players though at the moment I'd like to think it will only be a few with Charlie and Vaughny being the most obvious candidates.I'm sure though that other players will be looking at our club and Ollie very differently and that getting players in wont be quite the nightmare it was last summer. We have all learned a huge amount from the last 12mths both us supporters and Ollie and Karl and we really where not ready as a club for that step up.The players and Ollie very nearly performed the miracle,but lets be honest thats exactly what it would have been.So we move forwards stronger and wiser than we where, ready to face the next challenge on a sound financial footing, with a ground we could have only dreamed of a few years ago,a manager thats up for the fight and wants to play attacking entertaining football,and a bunch of supporters other clubs only dream about. So dry your eyes, pick yourselves up,dust yourselves down "The futures bright,The futures Tangerine"
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Post by Tangerine Sherlock on May 23, 2011 10:52:20 GMT 1
It has been a fantastic season a season beyond all our wildest dreams. A season that will live in all our minds for ever more, from the opening day result to the heartbreak of yesterday. For 60 Mins yesterday we where on course to achieve the impossible. Yes we can all look back and think if only we had done this and done that, but I for one would not have had the season any other way and i really hope we stick to our guns on the way we play, the way footbal should be played. As for the future what i want to see is ollie given a new contract and a chance to build a team ready to head back into the premiership. Sometimes lost in all the media is the fact when he arrived his job was to keep us up and not go on a amazing run into the premiership, Since day one ollie has been plugging holes and fixing this that and the other and what a job he has done. If he does not win manager of the year tonight, well their is no justice in the world at all, it will be small comfort to him i imagine but the boss deserves it. We will loose players thats a hard fact of life but we have a good little squad core but in holloway we trust to find players and he will. Hopefully the recruitment of players can be a bit more calm than the panic buying we have had to do at the end of last season and i am sure the likes of grandin and co will fit nicely into his plans for the championship. Personally i don't even want us to push for promotion straight back to the premiership unless it is as champions of the division, Given Ian time to build a squad over the next 2 seasons and i think we will be better off as a team. some will not agree but next time we make it to the premiership i would like to see the club and team better prepared, just think what Ian can do given time. But all in all a great season and fantastic effort from the club,staff and players. I would like to see but can not see it happening is take the prize money which i think is about 1.7 million and split it between the players and coaching staff, but i am old fashioned and believe they still deserve to rewarded. Hopefully we will have picked up some new supporters that will stay with us and if you happen to be one reading this please please remember this season just gone and show the team and the gaffer the same support as this year, because now they need us more than ever and we have a real chance of building something very special at bloomfield. A true football club supported by true fans, who no matter what back the team and manager. forever a tangerine sherlock
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Post by pikeypete on May 23, 2011 11:26:46 GMT 1
Can't help feeling a bit down today but the two articles above have helped me no end. The whole Club did us proud this season with outstanding performances that will live with me for ever. You can't follow Blackpool and not expect some lows. That what makes the highs so good! Yes we gave it a bloody good go and nearly pulled it off. Fergies panic at 2-1 showed what we have achieved. No-one can deny we rattled some of the best clubs in the world....yes WORLD... and we can look forward to some great games next season with a new crop of talent. Players come and go and this too is part of football. Anyone that leaves Bloomfield this summer goes with our blessing and thanks. Lets just get over the next few days and then re-group. We have a lot to look forward to. Next season we will be looking for promotion rather than just survival in the PL and we'll have some great games to look forward to. The PL is a rough tough place to be but we lit the place up and brought some well needed realism, romance and passion. It's no wonder other PL fans love us. I can imagine them thinking..."yeah this is what football should be about" Thing is it's what WE'RE about. Proper club, proper fans. Onwards and upwards fellow Tangerines
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Post by sandgrown'un on May 23, 2011 11:53:26 GMT 1
Naturally a bit down this morning but really so incredibly proud of the players, they gave it their all as we knew they would. We have had a few fantastic seasons of late and the memories will stay with us forever and nobody can ever take them away. We achieved something that I never thought I would see in my life time, Premier League football, we made ourselves world famous and half the worlds other team. The legacy of this season is that as a club, we are stronger and in great shape for the future. I have never been prouder to be a SEASIDER. PS. I was very impressed with the humility of Roberto Martinez and I wish him well. He didnt patronise, he was genuine in his comments. A true gentleman.
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Post by trueblackpool on May 23, 2011 12:18:35 GMT 1
I think more than just a few of the squad will leave in the Summer, but for the first time we will have the ability to replace them with quality as we are on a stronger financial footing. The squad will take time to rebuild and blend but for once we might not be favourites for relgation from the league we are in!
How many will be inside Bloomfied next season, i guess between 12,000 and 14,000.
Even if it is another 40 years until we grace the Prem again, i can now say i have seen my team in the top league in the country.
Lets all remeber 10 years ago we were playing teams such as Rochdale and Bury.
Good to see the PNE fans on the M55 bridge clapping us back into town.
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Post by bootledylan on May 23, 2011 13:55:50 GMT 1
fantastic articles poolers but i'm seriously gutted and will be until next season kicks off .. hope ollie can keep majority of squad together and KO provides the financials in order for him to do that .. but most of all hoping for some proper training facilities so we can play attacking football for a full 90 mins and not be out on our feet at the end of games (this is an observation and not a criticism of the players/club).
UTMP and see you all in August
PS whats this about qualifying for europa league? does getting relegated prevent this?
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Post by alderneytangerine on May 23, 2011 14:58:32 GMT 1
I have loved every minute of the last two seasons. My team Blackpool on everyones lips. All you guys that comment on this board. I used to love reading your comments on 606. Everything about BFC, I love. It is what makes my world go around. I have loved the stick that I have recieved over the years, but to hear the praise about our manager, players and true fans has been music to my ears. Roll on next year when I am sure we will win more games than we lose. Nobody in that league to fear. UTMP.
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Post by Tangerine Sherlock on May 23, 2011 16:38:17 GMT 1
I see AVFTT has gone into melt down again, i must stop reading that forum it only gets me mad.
everybody is finger pointing again all aimed at Karl and some at Holloway really does beggar belief sometimes
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Post by yenilira on May 23, 2011 19:03:12 GMT 1
John and Sher - Well Said You Two Guys. Thank you. Bootle: Relegation has no effect whatsoever - if we're top of that league when it's all finalised, incl. observers' reports, etc., we'll be plying the highways and byeways of Europe (and beyond?) next season. (there's another thread on this topic a day ago?) YL.
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Post by bpooler2 on May 23, 2011 21:17:58 GMT 1
Thanks BJC for a fine and understanding thread, it includes many of my own thoughts and after all I believe most fans view the glass as half full and of course we are now TOP of the Championship (only joking) I had thoroughly enjoyed the previous se asons CCC matches and I now eagarly await the start of next season whatever happens to our beloved club/team. It has been a privelige to enjoy the excitement of the EPL and to watch my team take on the giants of the game thanks to "Ollie" and his band of heros in tangerine shirts, match days at Bloomers made me SO proud each and every game, win or lose the POOL always gave value for money and 11out of 10 for sheer excitement...Yes I'm looking forward to next August and to see what our cunning fox of a manager has in store for all us POOL fans ? He sounded down in the dumps on the radio talking about all the vultures circling above, ready to swoop for the out of contract players but I don't believe for a moment that "Ollie"doesn't have plans in place to put things RIGHT given some of the parachute payment and a lump of the cash we get for Charlie.... All will be revealed ! ! ooooooooooo Come on you superPOOL ooooooooooo
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Post by mickyg on May 24, 2011 13:05:18 GMT 1
I tried to leave it until Tuesday to give my thoughts as I'd hoped I'd be feeling a little less fragile.......but no, I'm not! I'm still absolutely physically and mentally destroyed after Sunday's traumatic twists and turns! The following is a catalogue of the events of Sunday afternoon. (Sorry for how the tables look but the software has removed all the spaces I put in to make it look right!) At kick off things looked like this...... 4.00pm GD Pts Blackburn -14 40 Wolves -19 40 Birmingham -20 39 ------------------------------- Blackpool -21 39 Wigan -22 39 West Ham -24 33 4.00.25s pm.....Gnasher misses putting 'pool 1-0 up 4.20pm...Park scores for Man U 4.20pm GD Pts Blackburn -14 41 Wolves -19 41 Birmingham -20 40 ------------------------------- Wigan -22 40 Blackpool -22 39 West Ham -25 33 4.22pm....Roberts makes it 1-0 for Blackburn 4.22pm GD Pts Blackburn -13 43 Wolves -20 40 Birmingham -20 40 ------------------------------- Wigan -22 40 Blackpool -22 39 West Ham -25 33 4.38pm......Emerton makes it 2-0 for Blackburn 4.38pm GD Pts Blackburn -12 43 Birmingham -20 40 Wolves -21 40 ------------------------------- Wigan -22 40 Blackpool -22 39 West Ham -25 33 4.42pm....Charlie Adam equalises, 1-1 at Man U 4.42pm GD Pts Blackburn -12 43 Birmingham -20 40 Blackpool -21 40 ------------------------------- Wolves -21 40 Wigan -22 40 West Ham -25 33 4.48pm....Hoillet makes it 3-0 for Blackburn 4.48pm GD Pts Blackburn -11 43 Birmingham -20 40 Blackpool -21 40 ------------------------------- Wolves -22 40 Wigan -22 40 West Ham -25 33 5.09pm...Pavliyuchenko Makes it Spurs 1, Birmingham 0 5.09pm GD Pts Blackburn -11 43 Blackpool -21 40 Wolves -22 40 ------------------------------- Wigan -22 40 Birmingham -21 39 West Ham -26 33 5.17pm..Gary Taylor-Fletcher makes it 2-1 to Blackpool ;D 5.17pm GD Pts Blackburn -11 43 Blackpool -20 42 ;D Wolves -22 40 ------------------------------- Wigan -22 40 Birmingham -21 39 West Ham -26 33 5.22pm....Anderson makes it 2-2 at Old Trafford 5.22pm GD Pts Blackburn -11 43 Blackpool -21 40 Wolves -22 40 ------------------------------- Wigan -22 40 Birmingham -21 39 West Ham -26 33 5.33pm......O'Hara pulls one back for Wolves 5.33pm GD Pts Blackburn -12 43 Blackpool -21 40 Wolves -21 40 ------------------------------- Wigan -22 40 Birmingham -21 39 West Ham -26 33 5.35pm....Ian Evatt scores an own goal 5.35pm GD Pts Blackburn -12 43 Wolves -21 40 Wigan -22 40 ------------------------------- Birmingham -21 39 Blackpool -22 39 West Ham -26 33 5.38pm...Gardner equalises for Birmingham 5.38pm GD Pts Blackburn -12 43 Birmingham -20 40 Wolves -21 40 ------------------------------- Wigan -22 40 Blackpool -22 39 West Ham -26 33 5.39pm...Rodalllego puts Wigan 1-0 up against hapless Stoke 5.39pm GD Pts Blackburn -12 43 Wigan -21 42 Birmingham -20 40 ------------------------------- Wolves -21 40 Blackpool -22 39 West Ham -26 33 5.47pm...Hunt pulls another Back for Wolves & Owen scores Man U's 4th 5.47pm GD Pts Blackburn -12 43 Wigan -21 42 Wolves -20 40 ------------------------------- Birmingham -20 40 Blackpool -23 39 West Ham -26 33 5.52pm....Pavlyuchenko seals Birmingham's fate at 2-1 to Spurs 5.47pm GD Pts Blackburn -12 43 Wigan -21 42 Wolves -20 40 ------------------------------- Birmingham -21 39 Blackpool -23 39 West Ham -26 33 5.57pm...final whistles blow and it's all over...... Too many ups and downs, too many twists and turns, emotions ripped to shreds as they changed from sad at the loss of the first goal, to nervous hope as we eqalised and the ecstacy of going 2-1 up and believing we were going to do it, only to be dashed back down again when Evo unfortunately netted past Gilks. The most emotionally charged 2 hours of my life! So, what now for the 'pool? The fall out from Sunday will, unfortunately, be immense with the inevitable loss of key players and probably, knowing the way KO operates, the suspension of key developments at the club......vis a vis training ground, udersoil heating etc...... What new players will come in and will they be good enough to maintain the progress of the last 2 years? For the sake of harmony in the dressing room, will Gilks be shunted away? Too many questions left to be answered and only time will tell us what's really going to happen. Like BJC I try to keep a perspective on things by remembering how far we've come in such arelatively short time.... Peckers up people and who knows, we could be the next boing boings and have a good few eventfull seasons in front of us before we settle into Premiership mid table mediocrity!! Bring it on!!
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Post by yeoldetangerine on May 24, 2011 18:52:44 GMT 1
Common sense and perspective as always, guys Just been away across the border to Yorkshire to raid their food and beer supplies, no computer or TV, probably helped the nerves. Felt a bit numb yesterday, probably all the emotional swings of Sunday. For the future, I hope we can tie Ollie to a longer generous contract, after that, I'm confident. The transfers in January were to cover injuries that we were actually pretty lucky with, and the posssibility of CA leaving, so, apart from Punch, who could be great, not too many worries there. I agree that we will be seen as an exciting club to come to, so see many good ( not outstanding) lower league youngster s wanting to come, they'll see how much time Matty got and want a bit of it. If it's true that the King is basically crocked, I will be very sad for him, and wish him all the very best, some of his saves were absolutely brilliant. As for Gilks, we simply cannot have such disrespect at the club, bin him, remember we have achieved as a team. Hope Ollie manages a holiday sometime, not sure when it happens in his position, and also KO, with our grateful thanks. As for the numpties calling for heads, go back to supporting Manu, yer plastics!! As so many of you have said, looking forward to a successful Championship season, how many years have we ever thought that! From a selfish point of view, looking forward to next season, with a slightly higher capacity, like BJ, looking forward to getting a ticket when I want
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Post by shopkeeper on May 24, 2011 22:14:07 GMT 1
Well said one and all. Sunday was so nerve raking, I never thought we had a chance at OT, so could not bear to watch as I am a confirmed ABU (any one but United), so spent Sunday messing in the garden with 5 Live on. Plucked up the courage to watch match of the day and was proud of the performance the team gave, as I have been all year. As usual some of our play was as good or better than most other teams and we probably gave one of the best performances by an away team at OT.
As for next season we are obviously going to loose a few players but I just hope Karl will free the purse strings a bit I don't expect or want him to spend megabucks on buying new players but just hope he will be more realistic with wages he is prepared to pay. I do worry when I read about players getting a 50% pay cut as we must do all we can to keep players where possible DJ must not be allowed to have his head turned as we need his goals.
After this season new players will buy into the clubs ethos and should be keen to work with Ollie to make them better players but they will want a realistic wage, personally I think this could be done by offering large bonuses for wins/league position/promotion.
With the parachute payments coming his way Karl should be looking to ensure we have every chance of a quick return to the big time after all the championship must be one of the most competative leagues to be in and Ollie will need as much support as he can get lets all keep the faith.
In Ollie we trust
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Post by Tangerine Sherlock on May 24, 2011 22:29:57 GMT 1
I am so proud of the team but also of the real and true fans that seem to inhabit this humble forum and are not interested in finger pointing makes a refreshing change
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Post by april13th1970 on May 24, 2011 22:52:15 GMT 1
What's done is done . . . . finger pointing & recriminations won't change that . . . . . onwards and upwards . . . . back to where the 'Pool have proved they belong
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