Site Poll #20

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These past two weeks at Vital, we asked you to choose what was Blackpool’s best signing during the January transfer window.

Unsurprisingly, central defender Ian Evatt – who signed after weeks of speculation from QPR – was voted as Simon Grayson’s best buy of the month, scooping 54% of your votes.

The central defender endeared himself to the ‘Pool faithful while initially on loan, with a string of good, strong performances resulting in a run of 15 home games without loss.

He finally scored his first goal in a Tangerine shirt against Norwich City in the FA Cup – and what an important goal it proved to be, earning ‘Pool a well-deserved replay, considering they had many chances to win the game in the original tie!

Surprisingly, Kaspars Gorkss was your next best January signing with 22% of the votes. I say surprisingly because the next best signing according to the Vital members was the player penciled in as a prime target for 90% of ‘Pool fans – Simon Gillet. However he only managed to get 10% of the votes, indicating, to me at least, that a left back was more of a priority in the window for some fans, than re-signing Simon Gillet after his terrific initial loan spell.

Gorkss made his Blackpool debut in the heart of defence and impressed with his strong tackling and heading abilities. However since switching to ‘Pool’s troublesome left back slot, he has failed to impress, leading some people to suggest that he would be in fact better off played along side Evatt or Jackson at the heart of the backline – with Tierney stepping in at left back.


Again surprisingly, Paul Rachubka was selected as your 3rd best signing from the window with 14% of the Vital Votes. Rachubka is a very accomplished player, having been trained as a youth at Manchester United’s academy and having spells at the likes of Oldham and Huddersfield. One suspects that the reason he has so many votes compared with the likes of fan’s favourite Gillet, is that a replacement was needed for Lee Jones who could push Rhys Evans to better himself and push him for a first team place. Fingers crossed he is the man to put Evans under pressure to avoid any complacency that may slip into his mind about having the number 1 spot.

Finally, and most surprisingly for me anyway, Simon Gillet weighed in with only 10% of the votes. The versatile midfielder was arguably the ‘must buy’ player during January and we finally got him on loan until the end of the season amongst speculation that he would reject us for Bournemouth or a spell on the bench at his club, Southampton.

The percentage of votes is irrelevant on the whole from this poll as all of the players are set to play a valuable part in Blackpool’s race for promotion this season.


This week we ask you ‘should a review of the transfer market be made?’


– Yes, all transfers should be done pre season

– Yes, the loan system is far more beneficial for our club

– Yes, a restructured window

– No, it’s fine and stop moaning!

Happy Voting!