Blackpool back in the big time

As a Welshman I was openly supporting Cardiff in their Championship playoff final against Blackpool, but don’t take that to mean I am not over the moon for Blackpool. I am just glad a team other than the likes of Newcastle or WBA have made it the the Premier League.

With the parachute payments paid to relegated clubs I thought there would never be any “New” teams coming up, so to see the seasiders make a premier league debut can only be a good thing.

Holloway has started something quite magic at Blackpool, transformed them from a gritty horrible team to play into a high flair attacking horrible team to play against!

The buzz around the club will be terrific for the town but also for the premier league. The sooner the FA and the premier league and Sky can stop rewarding teams for going down MORE than rewarding the teams for coming up the better. We’d then see more teams push to get there.

Holloway has worked hard at getting a great team spirit and work rate from his players this year, and the way he gets the best from his players reminds me of David Moyes who has been doing a similar thing with Preston and Everton in recent years.

Long may he continue and long may Blackpool enjoy the dizzy heights of Premier League football.

F.A. Cup Final 2010 – Chelsea vs Portsmouth

Being a football fan, wherever you are in the world, you will have heard of and probably watched an FA cup final.

People have said that in recent years the FA cup has lost it’s appeal and it’s magic. I couldn’t disagree more.
The FA cup is still a major draw for foreign players coming to the Premier League. The FA Cup still provides shocks, upsets and drama, and no more so than this year.

Who would think that Portsmouth could make another final despite their off-field dramatics this year. They may be a Championship club next season but when it kicks off today all that will be forgotten and those Pompey players will want to reward the manager, Avram Grant, and the fantastic Portsmouth fans for there faith and support this year.

I find it hard to believe there will be many neutral fans getting behind Chelsea for this one.
Of course they will be the bookies favourites and it would take a brave man to bet against them, but in my heart I really believe that Portsmouth can proivde one last upset. After all a lot of the Chelsea players have a World cup to look forward to and injuries now could be enough to rule them out.
In my opinion any team with the mighty Drogba in, will be dangerous but of course Chelsea have quality in abundance right across the field.

Portsmouth though do have some quality players, they will obviously all be putting themselves in the shop window for transfers following their relegation, and let’s face it shop windows do not get much bigger than the FA cup final.
Reportedly nearly 500 million people watch the FA cup final world wide.

So on a day when my heart says Portsmouth but my head says Chelsea, it could prove to be a very exciting final and once in a while I do let my heart rule.

With nothing to lose I say Portsmouth to win 3-2 after extra time.