Next up is Blackpool UPDATED Monday 24 July 'Pool team news

[redrobo]

Blackpool gave Barrow a footballing masterclass in their 0-5 win at Holker Street on Saturday with over 1000 Blackpool fans travelling to Barrow to support their team.

Without doubt the game v ourselves will show if DA's charges are up to competing in EFL2 and will be a test for our lads against one of the favourites to get promoted back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Can't recall seeing any news of their fans being given a full ticket allocation or is it pay on the day and all the problems that could have if no ticket allocation having been deemed not necessary....

Forget the Bursco game result as it was men v boys and will have no bearing on this Tuesday's game.

[redrobo]

Match report and Blackpool team details in order to compare against us on Tuesday evening.

https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2023 ... blackpool/

First Half XI: Grimshaw, Pennington, Ekpiteta, Husband, Moore, Virtue, Trybull, Morgan, Thompson, Dale, Lavery

Second Half XI: O'Donnell, Connolly, Casey, Tharme, Lyons, Dougall, Norburn, Carey, Lankshear, Apter, Beesley

[black morse]

Match report and Blackpool team details in order to compare against us on Tuesday evening.

https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2023 ... blackpool/

First Half XI: Grimshaw, Pennington, Ekpiteta, Husband, Moore, Virtue, Trybull, Morgan, Thompson, Dale, Lavery

Second Half XI: O'Donnell, Connolly, Casey, Tharme, Lyons, Dougall, Norburn, Carey, Lankshear, Apter, Beesley

That's pretty much their full 1st team squad including new arrivals. Bet we don't beat them 10-1.

[Dave (Barra)]

The joys of pre-season - Wild put the squad through ‘hell week’ and then they were out on their feet on Saturday. Something to tweak for next pre-season.

[black morse]

We;re 1 up at half time. Bloxham free kick.

[black morse]

1-1

[Crazeenick]

Blackpool player stretchered off and match abandoned near the end.

Hope the lad is OK.

[Freez]

Good run out. Bloxham with a tidy finish with the outside of his foot after a back post free kick. Faz could have opened the scoring after we got to byline and pulled it across but he couldn’t time it.
Moore made a decent save from Hamilton in the first half, as they broke well on three or four occasions.
Second period they step it up and pounced on a mistake, Faz got suckered and the lad ran through to slip it past Moore who was a little slow in coming out for 1-1.
All in all, difficult to make any definite impressions but, liked the look of JJ McKiernan in the hole, good awareness and feet, could be way wide of the mark but a little John Normanish. Mayor and Mellon have been in the gym and now look like men not boys. Davenport is like a cheaper and less pirouetting Crowley, always available and he and Songo’o looked comfy as the two in a 4-2-3-1. Senior is obviously a right back playing left back but is useful roaming forward. Love was wayward for the first half but got better. Faz took no prisoners and Bedeau is spot on at this level. Subs didn’t have long, but Cam Smith looked a bit lost, and Brown had no chance to impress so maybe they start against Wigan??
Considering the time they have spent together, and Taylor didn’t appear, cautiously optimistic for half decent season, barring injuries and suspensions, need another two at least.

[Vinny]

Cheers Freez. Glad someone gives a decent account of the game for those who can't be there! I'm looking forward to, and quietly optimistic for a mid-table consolidation season. COYS!!!

[Redalert1970]

Mid table finish would be good anything better than that would be a bonus

Very tough start though with Walsall, Mansfield, Notts County and Bradford in first 4 games

[twosheds]

Forgive me for bringing this up...but Blackpool's No.23...what a tw@t ..he only got a yellow card for rugby tackling our player to the ground...in my book it was a plain and simple straight red...friendly or no friendly...there's no place in football for behaviour like that.

One saving grace is that a minute or so later we scored our goal...

[Gone_Shrimping]

In his interview after the game Derek said we have 18 senior players + 2 academy.

He says we want 4 more players to bring the squad up to 22 seniors and 2 academy players.

He doesn't know whether we will have all 4 before the Walsall game.

[redrobo]

As a preseason friendly it was a good showing and argues well for a mid table finish.

Thought a number of players looked good in particular Senior despite the constant barracking at him in the first 30 by DA. Mellon looks up for it as does Rawson and Mayor.

Slight concern about Yan but we all know what he's capable of.

DA is looking for 4 extra players, loan I suspect to bolster his squad to 22.

New goalkeeper looked OK but Blackpool offered very little to test him.

Wigan I suspect will be a sterner test before the season start v Walsall.

[black morse]

I've just read the Blackpool fans forum and, whilst most of it was naturally about their team, some did mention we were a decent and well organised team without threatening too much.

[redrobo]

I've just read the Blackpool fans forum and, whilst most of it was naturally about their team, some did mention we were a decent and well organised team without threatening too much.

Also some at the game wanted them to sigh Rawson and sang 'sign him up'.....hands off 'pool....unless you pay £250,000.....

[KenH]

I've just read the Blackpool fans forum and, whilst most of it was naturally about their team, some did mention we were a decent and well organised team without threatening too much.

I think that's a fair assessment. We coped well, especially in defence which did seem well organised. Going forward, we didn't really offer much in open play, all a bit simplistic, obvious and easy for Blackpool to defend, but we weren't really making mistakes all over the pitch, and did look disciplined with players mostly staying in position, doing their jobs, etc. I was pleasantly surprised really, especially given it's a new team and most players havn't played together before the last 2/3 weeks! - I expected worse, especially against a higher team. Mellon and Mayor do seem to have "grown up" a lot and look like they're going to be pivotal players this season.

I'm quietly confident really, obviously not deluded enough to think we're promotion contenders (though it would be nice!), but from what I saw yesterday, I don't expect us to be in a relegation scrap (barring any long term injuries of our key players).

[Wild Bill]

Lets hope these four signings make the difference in quality between a solid mid table team and a sneaky push for promotion.

[Zip It Shrimpy]

I hear that we're still in touch with a few former players who we're hoping to re-sign if they don't find anything elsewhere.

My source said that those who have been signed elsewhere have been offered 4 times as much as we can offer.

[redrobo]

I've just read the Blackpool fans forum and, whilst most of it was naturally about their team, some did mention we were a decent and well organised team without threatening too much.

One 'pool fan reckons that our goalkeeper Moore should have stayed and been their No1.....

Has DA pulled off another gem like he did with Connor Ripley but only a bit younger...

Wonder if last seasons perpetual sub goalkeeper will find himself on the bench again....

[Gone_Shrimping]

I hear that we're still in touch with a few former players who we're hoping to re-sign if they don't find anything elsewhere.

My source said that those who have been signed elsewhere have been offered 4 times as much as we can offer.

Most seem to have found clubs. By my reckoning just Ash Hunter , Arthur , Niasse.

I wouldn't mind seeing Ash Hunter back here.

[Born again Bill]

I hear that we're still in touch with a few former players who we're hoping to re-sign if they don't find anything elsewhere.

My source said that those who have been signed elsewhere have been offered 4 times as much as we can offer.

Most seem to have found clubs. By my reckoning just Ash Hunter , Arthur , Niasse.

I wouldn't mind seeing Ash Hunter back here.

What about Caleb Watts , has he not been released from Southampton ?

[Gone_Shrimping]

I hear that we're still in touch with a few former players who we're hoping to re-sign if they don't find anything elsewhere.

My source said that those who have been signed elsewhere have been offered 4 times as much as we can offer.

Most seem to have found clubs. By my reckoning just Ash Hunter , Arthur , Niasse.

I wouldn't mind seeing Ash Hunter back here.

What about Caleb Watts , has he not been released from Southampton ?

I was only referring to the players we had on contracts and then didn't offer them one.

[lancaster shrimp]

I hear that we're still in touch with a few former players who we're hoping to re-sign if they don't find anything elsewhere.

My source said that those who have been signed elsewhere have been offered 4 times as much as we can offer.

Most seem to have found clubs. By my reckoning just Ash Hunter , Arthur , Niasse.

I wouldn't mind seeing Ash Hunter back here.

I wouldn't want Arthur back. He's one of the most frustrating players I've seen wear there shirt. I agree on Ash Hunter though.

[CityShrimp]

Aside from a couple of games, Arthur has been mediocre for us for two years so I wouldn’t offer him a deal. I like Ash Hunter but his lengthy injury and patchy form last season concern me a bit. Niasse I would take a punt on, if a better experienced striker isn’t on the horizon.

[vvm]

Think Ash Hunter has been on trial with a couple of league one teams but doesn't sound like any have offered him a contract. I think a return for him is doubtful.

Not seen any news on Niasse or Gnahoua, Arthur might pull a repeat of last year where he held out for a better offer before ultimately resigning with us when nothing came in.