So, do we want a cup run or are the Seasiders going to fall into the Premiership trap of disrespecting the Carling Cup?
Who knows, but it’d be wise if Ian Holloway’s team took tonight’s second round tie at MK Dons seriously.
The likelihood is that Blackpool will be in the lower reaches of the Premier League this season and therefore a good cup run could provide light relief in the winter months if and when they struggle for victories.
Playing away at Stadium:MK could be a perfect pick me up after the 6-0 mauling at Arsenal on Saturday.
That’s if Ollie goes with a strong team.
Dekel Keinan should make his first competitive start in tangerine but it remains to be seen who he will partner. Hopefully Craig Cathcart will play – leaving the two stand out central defenders with time to get to know eachother’s game and form a partnership.
On the back of an impending call up to the Scotland squad, Matt Gilks has to start in order to properly communicate with his new defenders.
I’m not advocating that Holloway sticks with his best eleven – if indeed he knows it – but that treating MK Dons with respect can have its major benefits for us come Saturday against Fulham.
If Chris Basham is given a full 90 minutes alongside two of Vaughan, Adam and Sylvestre it’ll provide decent game time with key midfielders which can’t be recreated on the training ground.
It’d be surprising to see Gary Taylor-Fletcher start and giving him a rest and using him sparingly is possibly the only way to see his best form. That could see Brett Ormerod start on the wing with either Elliot Grandin or Ishmel joining him.
To be honest, Grandin looks like he might need a few away games to get used to the pace of English football – especially when we attempt to hit teams on the break. I felt on Saturday he was too quick to lay the obvious pass on and seemed to be playing within his shell. Giving him license to go and beat the full back tonight could provide him with huge confidence ahead of the Cottagers trip to Bloomfield Road in a few days time.
Does Marlon Harewood start? Well, he simply has to. Not only to keep him sharp but the club are seriously lacking in options up there after the failure to land Brett Pitman from Bournemouth.
Keeping the spine of the team largely the same and making only subtle tweaks should see the Seasiders beat the Dons this evening. Wholesale changes may see them fall flat on their face – as we’ve seen first hand in the last couple of years.
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Oh dear 1-0 at HT is not a good sign. Lets hope that you can turn it round in the second half. It looks like the Pool are going to strugle this season unless some better players are brought in.