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Welcome to the Madhouse, Lee Clark - Notes for Blackpool
Friday, 31st Oct 2014 10:42 by HarryFromBath

HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday's game by delving into their forums.

"That's not my club out there losing. The club is dead, replaced by a revenue-generating Oyston business masquerading as a football club", "We have imploded. The spirit is gone. The hope is gone and the players are psychologically beaten before they step on to the pitch. What a mess."

Blackpool come into Saturday's game rooted to the foot of the table, on a run of three straight defeats and having just sacked their manager. "It's a nightmare. I never felt so low and disillusioned when we were in the lower reached of the Fourth Division. We just feel like we have been burgled."

"No heroes, no chants with players' names. We don't know them. It's not a team, just a bunch of desperate mercenaries pretending to be footballers", "There is just nothing positive to say about this team", "I hate being so negative but this is shocking to watch."

"We are not a normal football club. We need to stop thinking like normal football fans", "I just can't watch any more of it and I find myself sadly wishing the season away in anticipation of firstly the inevitable relegation and then the eventual departure of the root cause of all this grief."

A sense of impotence, futility and deep frustration has taken hold of fans. "We are doomed. Nothing can be done about it. We'll be down by Christmas in all but a mathematical sense", "There is no happiness in this. We are relegated. I am convinced of it. It's irrelevant if Jose Riga is here or not."

Riga Mortis

"Thank you, Jose Riga. You had class, honesty and integrity", "You have not failed here", "You deserved better than this shambles", "They never really gave you a chance, did they?", "I hope you get a decent club to manage and return to Bloomfield Road for a proper send-off soon."

There was a huge outpouring of sympathy for the former Charlton manager when his dismissal was announced on Wednesday. "We were happy with Jose Riga and he certainly was not the problem at our beloved club", "When the engine is ruined, there is no point in changing the gearbox."

"Most fans believe that we have sacrificed a man of ability and integrity who was starved of almost everything that would have given him any realistic chance of success", "Never have I seen a manager treated so shabbily", "He has been plugging gaps until the roof caves in."

The Seasiders had started to hold their own before the most recent international break, drawing at Brighton and Middlesbrough and beating Cardiff at home, but Riga was dismissed after three defeats at Huddersfield (4-2), at home to Derby (1-0) and last Saturday at Reading (3-0).

He wasn't immune from criticism. "We were playing without pace, not getting behind opponents and he was unwilling to change a game when we were behind. Players were played out of position, he persisted with underperforming players and there was a lack of attacking ambition at home."

The majority feeling is that Riga had run out of ideas and options when shuffling a desperately poor squad. "The Huddersfield and Reading defeats were shockers. Before that, we hadn't played particularly terribly", "Don't forget we couldn't even name a full bench for our first game at Forest."

Karl Oyston

"It doesn't matter who is manager. As long as the Oystons are in charge, the club is totally f*****", "Get them out. Everything stems from their utter incompetence, end of discussion", "We cannot maintain this level of exposure to the Oyston virus for too much longer. They are killing us."

All discussions come back to way chairman Karl Oyston has managed the club's finances. Fans resent the brinkmanship and lack of investment which took place over the summer's player recruitment. They are scathing in their view that money earned from their recent Premier League sojourn has not been put back into the club.

"Our dream of reaching the Promised Land happened and we have seen the consequences. Instead of planning a trip to Reading today, we switch on the TV at 4.55pm to see how many we have lost by. RIP Blackpool FC - I never thought that reaching the Premier League would have killed the club."

"I am resigned to relegation. I am resigned to the fact that no good can come while the Oystons are in charge", "Karl Oyston only cares about the money he can make off the back of the football club", "This tapeworm has his mouth-hooks firmly in the guts of our club."

Lee Clark

"So we have a sacked manager from the second bottom team taking over the bottom team", "That will be me completely finished then. With Riga, I felt that we had the slimmest chance of survival this season. We'll be down by the end of November, never mind Christmas with Clark in charge."

A poll on one message board has an overwhelming 96.4% of supporters "unhappy with the appointment of Lee Clark", "It staggers me that someone who has been an absolute disaster in his previous job could be appointed", "Out of the frying pan and into the blast furnace."

"My message to Lee Clark would be do you really need a certain relegation on your CV?" "It's a poisonous club at the moment and you would be better off working for an honest non-league club", "He has proven himself to be an adequate League One manager, which is where we are headed."

Valeri Belokon

"Without Val Belokon, there would be no South Stand, no Charlie Adam and we would not be in the Championship without him." The Latvian businessman took a 20% stake in the Tangerines in 2006, money which was invested both in ground development and strengthening the squad.

"Just when things hit rock bottom, there is a ray of sunshine." Belokon has indicated in recent press comments that he may take a more active role in the club and is viewed by Seasiders as something of a white knight. "It is some good news but let's not get too giddy."

"Let's make the Ipswich game ‘Latvia Day'", "I like the ‘Latvia Day' idea", "Their national flag is maroon and white. I would suggest wearing something on the day in these colours", "We need to show our solidarity with Val. He must be our best bet to get rid of the Oystons once and for all."

Football

"Do you remember when we used to talk about football?" "The football is over. This is about getting the club back", "Is football now a side issue? Most fans have consigned us to relegation and they also realise that there is not a manager on the planet that can save us."

Wider club issues have taken centre-stage over any normal football discussion. "We are in a bizarre situation where results are secondary to the main task. Defeats don't hurt as much and relegation is no longer a fear. Off-field issues take priority for the time being."


Quality

One overwhelming theme however has been the lack of quality of the squad. "We are a rag-tag ensemble of cast-offs, misfits, has-beens and duff players that nobody else in the Championship would touch", "It's not their fault, but the players are poor and nowhere near good enough."

"They're not rubbish. They are just League One players", "Our team-building could be compared to building a sandcastle on a beach", "It is like asking Jose Riga to repair a broken vase with a hammer", "If you have a portrait artist, you don't ask him to emulsion landings with broken brushes."

Central Defence

Blackpool's problems have been especially compounded at the back when their weak squad have been hit by injuries and suspensions. This has led to struggling players being moved out of position. "At times we look like a bunch of seven-year-olds at the back, all bunched up and confused."

"Against Huddersfield, we passed the ball to Butterfield on the edge of the box and said ‘Have a shot, mate'", "Shocking defending, absolutely shocking", "We set up to defend and cannot even do that", "There is no way we look solid", "We are all over the place at the back and sitting too deep."

Joe Lewis

"The goalkeeping position is probably the only one that hasn't been weakened by player departures. Joe Lew is every bit as good as Matt Gilks if not better", "He has a more rounded game", "We could have been 8-0 down in the first 20 minutes against Huddersfield if it wasn't for Lewis."

The 27-year-old former Peterborough keeper is on a season-long loan from Cardiff. "He has been a great addition to the side and gives confidence to the defence. Lewis comes off his line for crosses, doesn't panic in 1 v 1 situations and best of all makes good saves", "Our best signing by a mile."

It was cruel that his errors contributed to Reading's victory last Saturday. "Lewis let a tame effort trickle over him after getting down on his left for what should have been an easy save", "You have to feel sorry for Joe Lewis. He has been the stand-out player of the season."

Jeffrey Rentmeister "is solid but his distribution is poor". The 30-year-old ex-Westerlo man "was poor against Reading, losing out to Glenn Murray in the air. He played some short passes which Lewis had to clear in a panic", "It was a horrific decision of Riga's to drop him against Huddersfield."

"Peter Clarke is a League One defender." The 32-year-old former Huddersfield centre-half "clears headers and gets the job done, but plays quite a few poor long balls", "His distribution can be poor and he struggles to find a Tangerine shirt", "He didn't pass to a Blackpool player all night in the Watford defeat."

Donervon Daniels

"Daniels is one of the few Championship standard players we have", "He looks happier with Clarke as his centre-back partner", "He is solid and improving with each game. He keeps it simple", "We're in trouble if he gets injured, and has been head and shoulders above the other defenders."

The 20-year-old West Brom loan signing struggled when deputising at right-back for the suspended Tony McMahon against Reading. "Daniels was solid, but poor going forward", He did well defensively, but did not look comfortable pushing on", "He's not the prettiest but can hoof the ball."

Full-Backs

"Anyone with half a brain will have done their homework on us and realised our weaknesses. You can bet that Reading will put their wingers right on our full-backs at the earliest opportunity", " They are going wide at every chance", "Our full-backs cannot defend to save their lives."

Blackpool would greatly welcome back 27-year-old ex-Osasuna left-back Joan Oriol, who has been carrying an ankle injury. "Joan makes some good tackles but seems to get a nosebleed when he gets in a good position up the field", "He is a joy to watch but his lack of pace exposes us time and again."

Joel Dielna was dropped after enduring a horrible first 16 minutes against the Terriers' Sean Scannell before getting substituted. ‘Pool played ex-Barnsley central midfielder David Perkins at left-back against Reading, where he picked up his fifth yellow card of the season and misses Saturday's game.

Tony McMahon

"After another stupid tackle giving away another soft penalty against Derby, should McMahon be stripped of the captaincy?", "Aside from the penalty, he had his best game in a Blackpool shirt. He's still not good enough though", "It's not Riga's fault that McMahon has conceded four penalties."

The 28-year-old former Sheffield United right-back was shuffled over to the left side of defence for the game against the Rams. "He had a decent game in a makeshift position until the penalty which was just pathetic. What can you possibly achieve by sticking a leg out like that?"

"McMahon is clumsy and not quick enough", "He makes good tackles but can make stupid decisions which usually give penalties away. He has limited ability and should not be on our books", "It is Oyston's fault that we had to resort to signing a free transfer like McMahon in the first place."

Central Midfield

"Have we made one defence-splitting pass all season? Have we got round the back just once all season? Have we cut the opposition open with a decent move all season?", "Sideways, sideways, sideways, backwards, forwards, backwards and we lose the ball."

"Tomasz Cywka is a tricky little fella. He's very good with his feet, but doesn't create that much." The 26-year-old ex-Barnsley man has been played out wide without success. "Cywka is not a winger. He is painful to watch and so out of his depth", "He naturally plays in the centre of a midfield three."

Costa Rica international Jose Cubero has made a faltering start with work permit problems and injuries preventing him playing regularly. "Cubero isn't a box-to-box midfielder but more of a deep-lying playmaker", "I hope he is better than Lundstram or we desperately need a new midfielder."

John Lundstram

"The third Reading goal summed Lundstram up. He tried to chest and volley the ball on the edge of their area, but it hit his face and he fell over. He got up, ran 80 yards to defend and gave a penalty away", "It was a schoolboy error. He lost the ball and tried to make up for it with an awful tackle."

The "wayward passing" 20-year-old is on a season-long loan from Everton. "I know this guy has the potential to play a lot better than he has been doing", "He's poor. I just can't see what he brings to the team", "As soon as he gets the ball, he does look to move it on and advance it forward."

"I have nothing nice to say. He's so bad that you have to wonder how he's an Everton player. He's young and may improve, but he's far away from the required standard. He makes one in eight attempts at a long diagonal ball but otherwise contributes nothing. He tries hard but has no quality."

Wide Midfield

"Our wingers are useless. Zoko and Delfouneso haven't got around the back of Reading's defence once. When are we going to sign a pacey winger that can actually dribble past a defender?" "We have no width", "We definitely need a speedy winger."

"Sergei Zenjov looks absolutely dreadful", "Whether it's fitness or adjusting to the pace of the Championship, I still cannot see him making an impact." The 25-year-old Estonia international left-winger has been a peripheral figure. "He's rubbish, but people think he plays well because he tries."

"Edu Oriol should be playing on the left-wing", "He was non-existent for the most part against Reading and doesn't look comfortable in the centre." Fans were perplexed when Riga moved the former Limassol man - and Joan Oriol's twin brother — away from his natural position last Saturday.

"Edu had an awesome game in the first half against Watford, causing havoc down the left", "He puts himself about and has some nice touches but doesn't appear to have the skill or pace to beat a man", "He is technically good but is very lightweight and lacks any real pace."

Former Brighton player Andrea Orlandi "should be a class act but isn't", "He is non-existent for the most part, but tidy on the ball. He just drifts out of games", "He shows glimpses of class but isn't fully fit", "He is regularly substituted because he can't do a full game now."

Francois Zoko

"Zoko tries hard but is not good enough", "He tries to get forward and run at his man, but has no quality and loses possession too often", "I have watched him play twice and was impressed both times. He likes the football to be heading towards the opponents' goal."

The 31-year-old ex-Stevenage striker is seen as a positive, albeit limited player. "He is one of the few heading in the right direction with the ball", "He's a good player who is tricky with his feet, but who just doesn't create all that much", "He works hard but is clearly out of his depth in this league."

Nathan Delfouneso

"It's no surprise that Delfouneso isn't going to track back, and opposing wingers have a field day", "He's a poor winger in this league which is no surprise as his natural position is as striker", "Calling him a striker is too kind", "It's like playing with 10 men when he is playing."

The 23-year-old ex-Aston Villa striker has been slated for his work rate out of possession. "He's stealing a living. He doesn't break a sweat and spent most of the Reading game at walking pace", "He seemed to spend 95% of the game in a 10 yard area wither side of the half-way line."

"His finishing is appalling. We cannot afford to have strikers missing two sitters in two games", "He just does not get stuck in", "When he is in possession, we get lots of pretty football with no end result", "Even once he understands the offside rule, he will still miss."

Strikers

"We have nothing going forward and five goals in eight games tells its own tale", "We barely muster an effort on goal", "We have no out ball", "We don't seem to have any method of attacking or any systematic way of creating chances", "We huff and we puff but we don't look threatening enough."

"It was good to see Nile Ranger on against Reading. He may be nuts but he can play." The 23-year-old former Newcastle striker has mostly appeared off the bench in recent games. ", "He has a few decent runs and won a few headers. He was out biggest threat but that wasn't saying much."

"Ranger's movement is very poor", "He looks knackered all the time. For how long can you say he'll look good when fit? He looks overweight and offers nothing", "Ranger and Miller are far too static so they don't complement each other at all. They aren't sharp enough in front of goal."

Ishmael Miller

"Miller is a poor man's Ricardo Fuller. How many chances does he get?", "I have never known a striker to duck when the ball is played into the box", "I have no idea what he is meant to do. He isn't a target man as he doesn't win headers and he's not a player who runs in behind."

The 27-year-old former Forest striker played well in the Tangerines' improved form before the last international break. "I thought Miller was good at Boro, but that performance should be the norm", "He was a real handful when he had the ball. He has real pace and power and worked his socks off."

"Miller was a monster against Cardiff", "He looked like the sort of player we missed since Ince's early days", "He spends lots of time on the floor and can dawdle when getting into good positions", "He can be too predictable and lack any work-rate. He shows glimpses of quality but not often enough."

Tangerines' Thoughts on ITFC and the Game

"Forget the Ipswich game. It's already lost." While abject pessimism held sway before Clark's appointment, one or two Tangerines are looking for glimmers of hope. "Ipswich are a classy little outfit, but they are on a poor run", "Pool could beat Ipswich with the Lee Clark factor."

Blackpool fans have given up match predictions, but we have been briefly discussed. "Ipswich in 2009 had seven points from 13 games and eventually stayed up with 56 points in the end. We need a miracle already", "The difference there is that Ipswich had owners who wanted to stay up."

Epilogue

"We're supposed to enjoy this football lark, at least sometimes. I try not to let football affect my mood, but I'm genuinely sad writing this. The Oystons have taken something I love and dismantled it systematically for their own gain. I can't see any way we can avoid decades in the lower leagues. It's all gone."

Websites

There are two websites worth visiting. The Fans' Network site, AVFTT has a busy forum and some good, well-argued longer pieces. Additional opinion and comment can be found on Back Henry Street.


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



ElephantBlue added 11:31 - Oct 31
You have to feel sorry for them. What a mess.
5

MaySixth added 11:44 - Oct 31
Positive bunch then.
0

SouperJim added 11:51 - Oct 31
Ipswich fans attending the game could (should?) start an "Oystons out" chant. Best way to turn the atmosphere sour and nullify the new manager affect. The 'pool fans would lap it up!
6

jpring89 added 11:56 - Oct 31
easy 3 points then or so it would seem lol
0

theblueginger added 12:13 - Oct 31
Puts our 'plights' of recent years into perspective.
2

SamWhiteUK added 12:53 - Oct 31
My favourite "Notes for..." I've read so far, made me laugh out loud on more than one occassion.

Have to feel sorry for them though - the epilogue really sums it up. I'd hate for that to happen to us.
0

cookra added 13:33 - Oct 31
How quickly success can turn into disaster, pompey now blackpool, both premiership teams and both now sinking to the lower leagues and in deep financial trouble!

I do know another player who ducked when the ball was played to him, Darren Bent. He used to jump so high but would duck to header it!!!

Should be a win for the blues this weekend
COYB
1

mparkyn added 13:42 - Oct 31
got to agree with theblueginger. For all our moaning it's much worse at Blackpool & Birmingham City
1

NoCanariesAllowed added 14:17 - Oct 31
I should be looking forward to this game with a mirthful confidence, safe in the knowledge that we should be walking away with the points. But given our recent run, I fear another slip-up.

Have to say though, Blackpool's demise is quite astonishing. I'm sure they were the envy of many clubs when they were climbing into the top flight, but it has gone very badly wrong this year. After the way Jose Riga rocked the apple cart by standing his ground in the summer, I fear Karl Oyston sees Lee Clark as a doormat - someone who put up with an awful lot at Birmingham City what with zero money to work with and the shadow of a convicted criminal still hanging over the club. I dare say he'll quietly put up with it at Bloomfield Road too, and it'll probably come down to him proving his worth in League One again.

Good report again anyway, Harry. I feel slightly annoyed at myself for never having thought of "Riga Mortis"! Always fascinates me too the sort of creative imagery fans can come up with when discussing their clubs - "If you have a portrait artist, you don't ask him to emulsion landings with broken brushes", "This tapeworm has his mouth-hooks firmly in the guts of our club" etc... I'm quietly impressed!
1

backwaywhen added 16:56 - Oct 31
Another good read Harry , I am going tomorrow , pick my son up in Preston then off to the seaside ! COYB ...................................A little nervous !
0

StowTractorBoy added 22:53 - Oct 31
Many of our fans think this will be a walk in the park and I am afraid it does not always work like that. I too am slightly nervous.
0

TomJamesLW added 08:58 - Nov 1
Weak on the wings? 4-4-2 please Mick!
1


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