Today we’ve been joined by John from Seasiders Podcast who has answered a few questions about today’s game between Plymouth Argyle and Blackpool!
1. Hi and thanks for joining us. How long have you been a Blackpool fan and how did you get into following the club?
35 years (I’m old) and my Dad first took me on Bloomfield Road as a kid and I got the bug from day one.
2. Blackpool clearly had a chaotic few years when the Oystons were in charge of the club. How does it feel to finally be rid of them?
It feels like the club is re-born and feels like it is our club once again. Coming off the back of a near four year boycott of the club, it felt amazing to finally to be able to go back to Bloomfield Road again – although it feels like we are boycotting once again thanks to COVID-19!
3. New owner Simon Saddler has expressed his belief that clubs will ‘topple like dominos’ in response to the coronavirus crisis. How well equipped are Blackpool to cope with the pandemic?
We have an owner with fairly deep pockets, who is Blackpool and born and bred and has the clubs best interests at heart. We have never been a club to overspend on wages and we are run by experienced football people. We have also sold our limited allocation of 4,000 season tickets pretty quickly and we have a solid core of support prepared to back the club financially, despite the chance of not being able to watch any live football. So I’d say we are well equipped to weather the storm.
4. Neil Critchley has recently been appointed manager following a spell in the coaching set up at Liverpool. How are you feeling about the appointment?
I’m excited about the appointment, particularly with regards to the attacking, progressive style of play Critchley will bring. His brand of football will be the antithesis of the dour and defensive system of play under Simon Grayson!
5. What are your thoughts on the business done this summer? Which incomings and outgoings are you most sad about?
Generally happy with the business. We have signed plenty of attacking, flair players which is great but I worry about our defence, which we have failed to strengthen and is actually weaker than last season. The loss of Armand Gnanduillet and his goals will be a big miss. I’m also surprised we didn’t keep hold of Ryan Hardie, given how well he did you for you last season.
6. Blackpool signed Ryan Edwards from Argyle last summer but it doesn’t look as though he ever really established himself before moving to Dundee United. How did Edwards play in a Blackpool shirt?
Ryan Edwards did OK we he first arrived and looked like a solid defender without having great ability on the ball. He then became prone to a few defensive slips and was responsible for giving away a few goals and was subsequently dropped towards the tail of the season. I’m not sorry he’s moved on to be honest.
7. What are the first words that come to mind when you hear ‘Plymouth Argyle?’
Ian Holloway.;
8. Which Argyle player or players would you most like to sign if you got the chance?
Ryan Hardie 😉
9. How do you think Blackpool will do this season and what will be your style of play?
5th and quick passing, high energy and plenty of goals, but at both ends of the pitch!
10. And how do you think Argyle will do?
A solid mid-table tenth.
11. Finally, let’s hear a prediction for the match?
2-2