Behind Enemy Lines: Blackpool

In this edition of Behind Enemy Lines, we speak to Phil Trow of AVFTT, Phil tells us who to watch out for and gives us his thoughts on Wednesday’s game.What’s your opinion on Holloway, good manager or indifferent?

Good Manager (so far!). He’s brought in some decent players, has us playing an attractive style of football, has developed some of our players from last season and, as you’d expect, has a good rapport with the fans.

You’re sitting in 12th, are you disappointed or do you think this is a reasonable position given the teams you played so far?

I think Blackpool fans are realistic and we just want some progress each season. We’ve achieved that since we’ve been back in the Championship and if we can avoid being pulled in to a relegation fight this season and finish comfortably mid-table, that would please the majority.

What went wrong against Leicester?

We more than matched them first half, could have taken the lead when it was 1-1 but Jason Euell missed a decent chance and then defender Rob Edwards made a mess of a clearance and Leicester scored. Matt Fryatt’s finishing was the difference between the two sides and whilst it was a disappointing defeat, it was also a reality check.

Do you expect one of your players to be a real star this year?

Charlie Adam. Came on loan from Rangers last season and was our big summer signing (in fact, our most expensive player in our history). He’s a player who has the ability to change a game and has a winning mentality.

Where about do you think you’ll finish this season?

I’d be delighted with mid-table and see no reason why we can’t achieve that

Is there anyone we should look out for on Wednesday?

Adam is an obvious one. We may play Hameur Bouazza who we signed on deadline day and he’s an exciting talent. At the back Neil Eardley and Alex Baptiste are players who could play at a higher level later in their careers.

Fletcher and Burgess seem to be knocking a few in, how do you think our defence will cope with them?

Well Fletch is injured at the mo and Burgess is always a threat. He comes in for some criticism from our fans but he has been our top scorer for the last two seasons.

Do you think we represent your biggest test so far?

I think QPR away was always going to be a test on the opening day and Cardiff will be there or thereabouts this season. To be honest, it’s more that we’ve not faced one of the poorer sides so far rather than not having faced a real test yet.

What do you know about NUFC?

Ant and Dec support them. Kevin Keegan once said “I’d love it …”. The Likely Lads avoided the score of one of your games. Magpies. Badly run. Cheryl Cole … hmm Cheryl Cole.Where do you think we’ll finish?

I’d be delighted with midtable and see no reason why we can’t achieve that.

Any team news?

Well, considering you’ve kept your squad together pretty much then I’d expect play offs at the least but I think you should be aiming for automatic. Fletch is out other than that I think we’ve got a full squad to choose from.

Finally a score prediction?

2-1!! Dunno why .. but I like playing teams on unbeaten runs and who haven’t conceded. We tend to pull off results against the ‘bigger teams’ (did the double over Birmingham last season). Depends on the atitude of both players really but I think Blackpool will be up for it.

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