Premier League previews: West Ham v Blackpool
Ian Holloway is the manager of Blackpool, and as the manager, he has the right to chop and change his team.
But it doesn’t seem to work like that, as the very fine people that run the Premier League are going to investigate why he made 10 changes to his side for the midweek game at Aston Villa, which they narrowly lost 3-2.
The trend was set last year when Wolves boss Mick McCarthy also made 10 changes to his side when they played Manchester United at Old Trafford in a three-nil defeat, with Wolves being fined £25,000. The difference between Holloway’s and McCarthy’s decision is that the latter stated he would play a weakened side because his team were unable to beat United.
Holloway’s changes didn’t affect Blackpool at all, who would have secured a well-deserved point had it not been for James Collins’ 89th minute winner. Holloway has said he would resign if he receives a similar punishment to that of McCarthy’s.
Bearing that in mind, the Blackpool boss has also been dealing with the fact that his starting XI for the last two games has been leaked on the internet. It’s probably the last thing he wanted ahead of a crunch game against West Ham tomorrow.
He also had a message for the person who was responsible for putting the team news 24 hours before kick-off. “If you want to come and talk to me about who I am picking, then please do. Do you think you're clever, because I don’t.” Staying away would be the best bet here.
Holloway has received support from Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger and Villa manager Gérard Houllier, so maybe that is telling the Premier League something about rule E20, which states a club must field its strongest side in every game.
West Ham have been struggling this season, and find themselves bottom of the table. More and more as the weeks go on, you get the impression that mentally they are failing on the pitch. Valon Behrami said so a few weeks ago, and now Kieron Dyer has done the same. “We can’t seem to hold a lead at the moment. I think it’s a mental thing. There’s a fear in us,” he said.
Manchester City take on Birmingham City, and after City played out a goalless draw in the over-hyped Manchester derby against United on Wednesday, boss Roberto Mancini wishes the Premier League would finish right now. It’s not because of the indifferent form his team have had over the past few games, it’s because of the league position City hold at the moment.
“If the Premier League finished tomorrow, I am happy,” said the Italian. “Our target is to get to the Champions League. But the season is very long. It is important for us to stay near the top and we can change our target.”
Birmingham will take strength from coming from two-nil down against Stoke on Tuesday night to draw level, but that’s where it stops. They won’t take anything from letting in the winning goal from Dean Whitehead, which undid all of their hard work. Birmingham are hovering a place above the relegation zone, and considering the solid season they had last season on their return to the top flight, this campaign is not turning out the way they expected it to.
Seventh-placed Tottenham entertain an in-form Blackburn at White Hart Lane, and while Tottenham were not able to cope with playing in the Champions League and then a league game a few days later, Blackburn are beginning to put a good run together. They have won their last two games, beating Newcastle midweek and Wigan the week before, and will give Spurs - who need to recover from a pounding from Bolton and a sloppy draw with Sunderland - a tough task.
Newcastle enjoyed a deserved win at Arsenal last Sunday, but it didn’t count for much as they lost to Blackburn at St James’ Park. Once again they are at home, this time to Fulham, and are without Joey Barton, who has apologised to Morten Gamst Pedersen for punching him and is serving a three-game ban.
Wigan are at home to West Brom, who are starting to slide after their positive start to the season. If West Brom want to win this game, then not getting a red card will help them as well, they’ve been shown three in their last three games, which finished in two defeats and a draw.
Wolves play Bolton, and after Wolves conceded a goal in 37 seconds and another 94 minutes into their two-nil defeat to Arsenal, they have to be wary of Bolton, who have climbed up to sixth in the table. Bolton will have Johan Elmander and Gary Cahill in their team, and those are the two players who will not be leaving to cut costs at the club, according to boss Owen Coyle.
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