SEASIDE RENDEZVOUS
As one football club sited on the English coast drops out of the Premiership, another rises up to take its place. Last night, Blackpool FC (considered by most experts to be relegation candidates from the Championship at the beginning of the 2009-2010 season) defeated Cardiff City to claim the third promotion spot into the Premiership.
By all acounts, it was a thrilling game, with all five goals coming in a frenetic first half. Blackpool had to come from behind twice before snatching the ultimate winning goal on the stroke of half-time. Cardiff tried their best but the closest they got was Michael Chopra hitting the woodwork with a thunderous drive. The Welsh side continued to carve out chances but poor decision making meant that it would be Blackpool making its debut in the top tier of English football in 2010-2011.
But now the hard work begins. Certainly Blackpool has over-achieved this season and one wonders how they can possibly survive next season. After all, their record transfer fee is £500,000, a sum many Prem superstars earn in a month and even with the injection of funds, I reckon their stay will be a short one.
Good or bad?
It might be tempting for Blackpool to pocket the money, invest frugally and live to fight another day when they inevitably do return to the Championship, rather like Burnley, I guess. Or they can go for broke, have a couple of exciting seasons and end up in administration, like Pompey.
Yes, I suppose it seems churlish to write them off a day after they’ve earned promotion but those are the harsh facts, I’m afraid. Even clubs better equipped than Blackpool – like Newcastle, West Brom, West Ham, Wolves, Wigan & even Birmingham – will struggle to stay up.
But that’s something to chew on much later, for now, let Blackpool enjoy the fairy tale while it lasts.
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