Site Poll #18

Last week, we asked “Who would you like to see back at Bloomers?”

The results are as follows:

Trevor Sinclair: 41%
Richie Wellens: 13%
Brett Ormerod: 38%
Scott Taylor: 5%
Alan Wright: 3%

Unsurprisingly, the England international Trevor Sinclair tops the poll with 41%. Trevor has gone for a cool £5.4 million in transfer fees with Blackpool (his first club) receiving £600K of this when they sold to QPR back in 1993. Sinclair spent his best footballing days at Upton Park with West Ham under Harry Redknapp. Since leaving London, his career has been blighted by injury at Manchester City and that has restricted him to just 64 league starts since joining in 2003 after his 2002 World Cup exploits.

Defender Alan Wright came last in the list, with just 3 % of the vote. Wright spent his junior playing days in the Blackpool academy and got his break in 1989 and played almost solidly for two years, clocking up 99 starts. The left sided defender then was sold to Lancashire rivals Blackburn Rovers in 1991 for £400K. This stay wasn`t as stable, with 67 starting places for Wright in his four years at t`Ewood Park before moving onto Aston Villa for £1million. Villa Park was where he played his best football of his career where he made a huge 281 starts for Villa, scoring just five goals. After eight years in the midlands, Wright moved up north to Middlesbrough. This was only brief however, with Alan only playing twice in his five month stay. Championship side Sheffield United swooped for Wright in 2004 after a loan move. He then helped United to promotion but has since been farmed out on loan to several clubs including Derby County – partly because of Chris Armstrongs` form at full back or in midfield for The Blades.

Richie Wellens managed just 13% of the poll, which surprises me as he was a hot favourite whilst at Bloomers following his move from Manure in 2000 for a nominal fee. The feisty Wellens went on to score 19 goals in his five year Pool career and clocked up 173 league starts. His time at the seaside was marred by his constant transfer requests as he grew frustrated by the lack of progress within the football club. In 2005, Colin Hendry let him go to Oldham for a pittance in exchange for Scott Vernon – who, until now – has failed to make an impact. Thankfully we`re seeing a goalscoring return from Scotty. Richie is now pulling The Lactics` strings at Boundary Park and is becoming somewhat of a cult figure. However, his reaction to the home support when Oldham played Blackpool at Bloomers earlier this season has plonked Wellens down in some fans estimations.

Scott Taylor and Brett Ormerod are the two strikers who were in the poll, with one collecting 38% and the other just 5 %. Ormerod finished second, with Taylor second-bottom. This is due (in my opinion) to the way both left The Tangerines. Ormerod left for a wad of money (fans and media are lead to believe that £1.75m was forked out by Southampton) whereas Taylor left for bobbins (just £100K when in the form of his live) to Plymouth. The circumstances were much different also. Brett wanted to further his career but loved the club. Scott wanted out, and he wasn`t bothered where, and made excuses about being nearer his father for his departure.

Since then the two attitudes of the players has shone out. Brett was fantastic in The Premiership as a foil for then England international – James Beattie and drew praise from watchful fans and pundits. Sadly, Mark Lawrenson wasn`t one of these as he slated Brett and didn`t grasp the former Accy Stanley mans game. It`s just a shame Ormerod didn`t do himself justice when scoring goals. Saints wanted rid soon after Gordon Strachen moved on but only let the frontman leave for Prest*n a year ago. This was after loan spells at Leeds and Wigan. He is now playing good football so I`m told and scoring goals as well. Pity!

In stark contrast, Taylor`s career has spiralled. He arrived at Bloomfield Road with no real scoring pedigree but his play took off. 61 goals in three seasons is a very good return for a striker and this prompted a move to Plymouth. The goals then dried up. Taylor only hit the net five times in 36 appearances before being shipped out to MK Dons. At the National Hockey Stadium he has only scored four goals in 56 outings. Attitude problem? Or unlucky? I`ll let you – the reader – decide!


This week, we ask ‘Best Thing To Come Out Of 2006?’
-Simon Grayson
-Wes Hoolahan
-A Sell Out
-Valeri Belokon