Ian Holloway: Our progress surprises me
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has said that he is very surprised at the progress the club has made since gaining promotion to the Premier League.
Holloway took over at Blackpool last season when the club sat in 16th place on the Championship table. The club then went on an amazing run to secure a playoff place, which provided the club's route into
the top-flight of English football.
Blackpool currently sits in ninth place in the Premier League with the club playing well above any pre-season expectations. Blackpool has secured good victories in the league away at Wigan Athletic, Newcastle
United and Liverpool.
Blackpool is starting to look more and more like a Premier League club but there is still work to be done in a number of areas. It's important everyone connected with the club enjoys the occasion because
a blip could be just around the corner.
Work still to be done
Blackpool needs to improve the club's home record in the Premier League. The club has played a lot of games well away from home but this has not been repeated at Bloomfield Road.
The club has failed to hang onto points at home, allowing both Fulham and Blackburn Rovers to score goals in the closing stages of matches. This must change if the club is going to stay up.
The defence has to become a lot stronger and more difficult to break down. The club has conceded 15 goals so far this season, which is more than any other team in the league. This is far too many goals
for a current top ten side.
"I am absolutely gobsmacked with this football club and how we've made progress.
I am gobsmacked by the boys, the people they are, how hard they are working and how much they care about others, not just themselves. It all bodes well for the future.
What we don't want to do is let any outsiders in who aren't like-minded," said Holloway.
Enjoy the occasion
Blackpool has to enjoy the occasion of being in the Premier League because the good run the club is on will not last forever. It's important the club always plays as though
the club has nothing to lose.
This will be important in keeping the support the club has strong. Blackpool is taking more fans to away matches and making more noise than any other set of supporters.
This will continue for as long as the team shows all of the right qualities, regardless of results.
"Our skill and our strength is that we don't expect. Expectations cause
problems. They cause people to be frightened and give the ball away. My boys showed no fear because we've got great fans who don't put us under that sort of pressure.
Maybe we put ourselves under pressure at times, then we lose to the likes of Blackburn, but we've got to keep bouncing back," added the Blackpool boss.
Betting advice
Blackpool is in a very strong position at the moment but a lot of people have started to ask how long it will be until the bubble bursts. Back it not to and back the club
to stay in the Premier League this season.
The club seems to have a mentality where everyone thinks the team is lucky to be in the top league. This means there is a constant nothing-to-lose attitude that is taken
into every game.
Charlie Adam is a great player to back at the moment for Blackpool. He takes the majority of penalties and free kicks and will always have extra chances to score.
Tags: