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Former Loanee Garbutt Joins Blackpool
Tuesday, 22nd Sep 2020 10:45

Former Blues loanee Luke Garbutt has signed a one-year deal with fellow League One side Blackpool.

Town were keen to bring the 27-year-old, a free agent following his release by Everton, back to Portman Road on a permanent basis over the summer but after the introduction of the League One salary cap cooled their interest and signed Stephen Ward.

Sunderland were also in talks with Garbutt but were similarly hampered by the salary cap.

“I’m pleased to be here and looking forward to working under Neil Critchley,” Garbutt told the official Blackpool website.

“I really like what the head coach had to say when I spoke to him a few days ago, and he was a big factor in my move here. He’s spent the last few years at Liverpool and developed players really well, so I’m looking forward to what the future brings here.

“There’s big plans for this football club and I’m hopeful I can be a big part of what’s to come this season.”

Critchley added: “I’m delighted Luke has joined us for the upcoming season. He will bring experience to a youthful group, and he knows this division well having enjoyed a really successful season in League One last year.

“The fact he has chosen Blackpool over a number of other interested clubs, is a sign of how well the club is progressing.

“During my conversations with Luke, I felt his desire to come to Blackpool. I very much look forward to working with him, as he will be a vital member of our squad this season.”

Garbutt, who joins another former Blue Grant Ward at Bloomfield Road, made 29 starts and one sub appearance for Town during 2019/20, scoring six goals.


Photo: TWTD



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unknown100 added 10:48 - Sep 22
I actually really liked garbutt but I also think he wasn't an outstanding player he just scored some wonder goals and made him look better than he was, I'm not sure he would have fit in to our new system
4

BildestonBlue added 10:49 - Sep 22
Wow! Well played luke👍🏻
2

itfcpaul added 10:53 - Sep 22
He wasn't that special to be honest, scored the odd goal and took an OK free kick early in the season but did nothing later on, looks like him holding out for a huge club worked for him, noticed it's only a 1 year deal, so he isn't tied in too long and probably had to take it or he wouldn't have a club by the looks of it
6

TractorRoyNo1 added 10:56 - Sep 22
Too greedy should have taken our offer, now he's hit the bottom of wages and club - serves him right
5

Nazemariner added 11:02 - Sep 22
WTF!

He was one of best performers last season and would have slotted straight back in to the team in one of a few positions.

I understand that the wage cap would of hampered our efforts to sign him, and that Blackpools lesser wage expense would of allowed them to offer a higher wage than either us or Sunderland, but surely we surely we looked to move somebody on in order to bring him in.....I can't imagine Stephen Ward is earning any less than the money Garbutt will be earning at Blackpool???

I am fearful that this bite us on the bum big time :-(
-2

TrueBlue66 added 11:05 - Sep 22
Prefer Stephen Ward, he's a natural leader and our back line has improved greatly and it's without doubt his experience will have been a contribution to that.

Does look from the outside that Garbutt has clung on to hope of a championship offer and had to settle at Blackpool for a season!
10

bobble added 11:07 - Sep 22
lots of clubs have big plans......................
1

Gilesy added 11:09 - Sep 22
Blackpool is closer to his home than Ipswich so that makes sense. Blackpool offered him a contract, so that makes sense too.

I hope he's had a chlamydia jab...it's an awful place.
6

Blocker123 added 11:24 - Sep 22
I knew he was going to join another club instead of us.........
But BLACKPOOL!!!!!!!😭😭😭
4

iaintaylorx added 11:26 - Sep 22
People now saying “he wasn't that good and just scored the odd free kick” make me laugh at the bitterness. We struggled massively when he was injured along with KVY. Don't like and say you're glad he didn't come back😂😂
3

Bluearmy_81 added 11:31 - Sep 22
What a joke. Convenient excuses peddled out by twtd re the wage cap. How is that different for Blackpool?! More like Evans was too tight to spend on him. This club has zero ambition
-12

Wallingford_Boy added 11:35 - Sep 22
Nazimariner - where would he fit in? He is not a defender, plus Ward looks to have settled in really well at left back. Would he fit into a 3 man midfield? Even if he could adpot to that formation, he wouldn't get ahead of Downes/Nolan/Dozzell. And he certainly isn't a left sided front man. So nope, he doesn't fit in. If we went 4-4-2, maybe.
5

Terry_Nutkins added 11:38 - Sep 22
Bluearmy it is different to Blackpool. They had more wiggle room left. It's not that complicated. It's also close to home for him.

We were no longer in market but a shame. I thought he could do better.
7

BlueandTruesince82 added 11:40 - Sep 22
Well this is ideal for us because we can sign him when we go up nxt year as Ward will no doubt be a short term option
3

Nazemariner added 11:52 - Sep 22
Listen and learn Wallingford!

Ward is highly unlikely to play every game, he will either pick up a knock, get a suspension, or perhaps just be rested. Garbutt could easily play wide left in a front three. As you correctly identified, his best moments in a blue shirt were attacking ones. He could also play wide left, when we inevitably switch to a 4-4-2 at some point. He would have been a tremendous addition to the squad, and to disagree is just plain daft.

All a mute point now anyhow. He's a tangerine now.
0

PortmanTerrorist added 11:57 - Sep 22
Looks like he almost ran out of options. At least it is close to home for him and no great loss and we might be lucky and Ward will stay fit, as he has been quality so far.
1

rabbit added 12:05 - Sep 22
So Bluearmy_81 you now have decided to turn on TWTD!! How ridiculous you sound as usual.
You are now purporting to know about the financial situation at Blackpool, please enlighten the rest of us ignorant Suffolk folk so that we can also understand.
Anyway in your opinion what loss is Garbutt to ITFC bearing in mind you have never seen him play in a live match.
4

Bluearmy_81 added 12:12 - Sep 22
Of course, I've seen him play! Lying again rabbit. Is BJ or Trump your hero?
-8

herfie added 12:13 - Sep 22
‘Mute' or ‘Moot' point? Hope Garbutt doesn't cost us any points!

Would have been a good option for us - good quality at this level. But a one year contract at B'pool speaks volumes!






1

Alan_Essex added 12:14 - Sep 22
wouldashouldacoulda... it's history, we move on. We'd have liked to have signed him, yes - last season with him and KVY we had a decent pair of attacking full backs for the first time in years, which fitted our early pattern, and got us a great start. This year, we just deal with what we've got - not bad so far, right? Not a bad back four, still missing KVY and Wolfy. Good luck to him wherever, who cares?!
1

blueoxford added 12:16 - Sep 22
All these comments about us lacking ambition. You can bet that Garbutt's wage demands are not where they were a month ago when he was talking with us and Sunderland
5

rabbit added 12:20 - Sep 22
Haha Bluearmy_81 happy to shout out the old "lie" soundbite and then run for cover without actually addressing the inane point you make.
As a matter of interest which match was that you saw him in??
1

BlueandTruesince82 added 12:21 - Sep 22
Bluearmy.... its different because Blackpool are a different club, with differnt players and a differnt wage bill.
6

Wallingford_Boy added 12:29 - Sep 22
Nazi, I am confused by your Ward reference.... HE IS NOT A LEFT BACK!! He is also NOT a forward!! So you think we should sign him just in case we play 4-4-2 at some point?! How very odd.
0

WhoisJimmyJuan added 12:45 - Sep 22
If Garbutt had really been interested in staying with us, he would have signed permanently. He wasn't so he didn't. We now have Ward. It is up to our existing midfielders, wingers and full backs to show he wasn't needed. Turning this into a rant about ME finances, ambition whatever, is irrelevant. Let's move on and nullify him when we play Blackpool.
14


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