Congrats to Wigan.....

It's good to see the underdog come through in one of the few competitions where this can happen. It's what dreams are made of. You don't get picked in the original line up and become the hero when you come on as sub to score a cracking winning goal. Well done Ben Watson. In a game that was tight you just knew one goal would decide it. Man City really didn't look like they had it in them to win it, but although Wigan had plenty of possession they seemed to take an age to move forward. At times understandably, they looked nervous when they had the ball and were guilty of taking an extra touch rather than hitting the ball earlier. McManaman was one of the main culprits for this, taking on Glichy too many times instead of moving quicker. But he was Wigan's most dangerous player and was named Man of the Match. It was good to see Dave Whelan's return to Wembley being a happier occasion than last time he was there as a player, when a broken leg ended his playing career. I'm also pleased for Roberto Martinez, a genuinely nice guy, to add ther FA Cup to his CV. Whether he stays next season or is enticed away only time will tell. But quite rightly he's concentrating on keeping Wigan in the premiership. Good luck to him.

The championship first leg play-offs are out the way with Leicester taking a 1-0 goal lead to Watford tomorrow, with  Palace and Brighton still with everything to play for at 0-0. Hope I'm wrong but I can see a Brighton v Leicester final. Just hope if that happens Brighton come out on top.

A season to forget, roll on next season....

Pleased this season's out the way. We ended with a 2-2 draw away at Bolton, which in the end was a bit disappointing considering we were 2-0 up and playing some lovely football. They got one back through Eagles and got their equaliser by way of a massive deflection. So we went in 2-2, like I said disappointing.

So now it's contract renewal time, with 37 players currently out of contract (not an ideal situation) it should be interesting to see who we retain and who are shown the door. According to Will Watt of the Gazette we'll have 14 players retained with a number of deals on the table for others. Rumour has it Ian Evatt might be released. I don't think his injury problems have helped his cause much.

This is the quietest end to a season we've known for a couple of years having been involved in play-offs previously. Although it'll be a hat-trick for Ollie with his Palace side making it, together with Brighton, Leicester (Ollie's bogey side) and Watford. I have a horrible feeling Leicester could just do it. Don't like them or their manager, but having scraped into the play-offs on Saturday at the expense of Bolton, they could end doing what we did when we got promoted. I think Zola's Watford have blown it and so could have Brighton despite having a decent run of late.

Bit of breaking news with the announcement of Fergie's retirement at ManU and with David Moyes being made his replacement. I bet Bill Kenwright and the Everton fans are gutted losing him after 11 years, but as we know anything can happen in football.

With Wolves sacking Dean Saunders and Kenny Jackett leaving Millwall, the close season should be an interesting time. As for me I'll be keeping myself busy building a brick garage after getting rid of an old asbestos and wood monstrosity.



Bolton v the Mighty Pool.....

 

 

Although I said the last game of the season against Bolton away is less important now that we've secured our championship place for next year. I still want us to go out in style and beat them, so that we finish above Burnley & Blackburn for obvious reasons. I personally have nothing against Bolton. In fact having worked there for over 9 years up to a couple of years ago, I have very happy memories of the place. But this is football and we all know there are no loyalties to any other team than your own. It should be a full house there, especially as they are going for a play-off place and there's a bit of past history between the two sets of fans. Still I hope it's a good entertaining game and of course we win.

 

 

Will Palace win tonight?.....

I see Palace are playing everyone's favourite thugs tonight, Millwall . I've mixed feelings about the outcome. I would like to see Ollie stay in the play-offs, but I've no great love for Palace. I thought Ollie was on a hiding to nothing going there especially after Freedman had them in automatic promotion place by the time he left. Palace's form of late has been inconsistent and I would think the fans there will turn against the manager if he fails to get them to the final. It was always going to be difficult for him to emulate what he did with Blackpool and honestly I don't think he will get them promotion.

 

All the same I wish him all the best, simply because of what he did for us.

Blackpool 2 Derby County 1

That result not only means we're safe from relegation but I can now stop being a miserable sod. My missus thinks I'm barking. She doesn't understand why I go around with my face down to the floor when we lose. When Tom Ince missed his penalty I nearly threw my computer on the floor even though we were 1-0 up. I just knew we couldn't to do it the easy way and when they equalised I was inconsolable. In a split second I had turned into Mr Hyde, I was cursing Burnley for going 2-0 up and for Rovers equalising against Palace and to top the lot, some idiot on ebay hadn't turned up to pay for some box hedging he'd won. So, the world and his mates had all turned against me. There I was thinking well a point might still be enough when I heard Ludo had scored another priceless goal with 2 minutes to go. All of sudden there was a sun in the sky, the clouds had disappeared and the ebay clown was less annoying (well all most). You see, being a Pool fan has never been easy, but being a Blackpool lad I can't support any other club. I'm just glad I can now enjoy my summer and the Bolton game has now lost it's importance. Well done Paul Ince, you've managed to keep us up and now you can start to put your own squad together.

 

Yesssssssssssssss..........

2 games to go....

Nearing the end of what could be described as a annus horribilis (sorry your majesty) for me and the 'Pool. We started off under Ollie as though we were champions elect, but gold dust quickly turned to sand. His initial impact started to wane,  mainly due I think to the fact he'd run out of ideas and enthusiasm. We were then put through an horrendous time with our chairman pursuing different bods to replace him. It seemed to go on and on and on, until finally he picked Michael Appleton, least I think he took him on as manager, because when I blinked he'd vanished, only to reappear at some chicken farm up th'road. Eventually King Karl settled for Paul Ince, who I must admit was low down on my preferred list of candidates. I was hoping for Nigel Adkin or Owen Coyle, but obviously KO's offer of employment was far less attractive than the dole.

So, on 18th February 2013, Incey started his reign. Since then his record is as follows:

 

Games played     Won      Drawn     Lost     Goals for      Goals against

         12                  3            6           3            7                  12

 

He was doing ok up until last week's 6-1 thrashing by Brighton, which turned our positive goal difference into  negative equity in one felled swoop. So, tomorrow we face Nigel Clough's Derby County who are as predictable as the weather. When we've wanted them to beat some of our rivals they've failed miserably, but when we played them earlier this season at their place (ironically Ollie was in charge) they beat us 4-1. So they are not my favourite team. We really need a least another 3 points to make us completely safe. I just hope we manage it tomorrow without relying on a win at Bolton on the last game of the season.                  

 



What's going on Oyston?....

So, we're nearly at the end of the transfer window and not only have we not signed anyone, but we also don't have a manager. Why am I not surprised? Easy, it's because we have Karl Oyston as our chairman who seems to think the football world moves at his pace. This guy started out as a farmer before succeeding his mother as chairman. So you would think a farmer would know something about groundwork, alas not this one. Unfortunately our pitch has been likened to a ploughed field, so I supposed he must know a bit about ploughing. If I was talking about another a club I would be laughing my socks off, but we're not. You see I have been supporting this club all my life, which is a very long time. So, when I see how he has dragged his feet over so many things related to my club it hurts.

 

There are so many former managers out of work and yet this guy can't decide who he wants. Obviously he wants someone in who won't cost him much and who is capable of being able to work with him (not easy at all). He took on Appleton who proved to be as mercenary as the best of them by doing the dirty on us and supposedly, according to him moving to a bigger club? What Blackburn Rovers, please. Then a clutch of managers most of us had never heard of turned us down one by one. Nigel Adkins was so impressed by Oyston's approach he b******* off on holiday. Nigel would have been a fantastic choice as would Owen Coyle, but as I write this no one is even near taking over.

 

So, my question is....What's going on Oyston? Either pull your finger out, otherwise we'll continue to slide down the league and we'll find ourselves in a relegation battle instead of a promotion push.