Party pooper

While most of the football world were smiling at Blackpool's unlikely rise to the Premier League on Saturday, Nick Miller's gag reflex went into overdrive. Here's why...

Last updated: 24th May 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Blackpool

Do Blackpool deserve their place in the top flight?

holloway

Holloway: Miller's not a fan

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Blackpool! Aren't they brilliant? With their funny orange kit and their quaint old ground with three sides, and Jimmy Armfield. Won't it be a great away trip next season? Bless 'em. Everyone wanted them to win on Saturday, right? Do you know anyone who desperately wanted them to fail?

Nick Miller, nice to meet you.

Full disclosure first - Blackpool gave my beloved glorious, brave and worthy Nottingham Forest a thorough schooling for at least 120 of the 180 minutes of the semi-finals, and on the basis of the three play-off games, they absolutely deserved their victory.

But that doesn't necessarily mean they deserve a place in the Premier League. For gaining promotion is the easy part - it's what you do with the riches that count, and in no way are Blackpool an elite club.

A team does not prove it deserves a place in the top flight by simply getting there - they must prove they are worthy by convincingly competing next season.

Blackpool will, if you'll excuse the vernacular, be thoroughly boned most weeks next season when presented with even the most average top-flight teams.

Their style of play is certainly attractive, but 'small' teams survive in the top flight with some backbone, strength and a little necessary nastiness. See Stoke and Wolves for evidence.

Whether Cardiff, with their unpleasant fans and financial...ahem, 'issues', deserve a spot in the elite is up for debate, but based on footballing achievements, with Dave Jones gradually building a terrific and competitive side despite having to sell any half-decent youngster, they are unquestionably more worthy.

And Blackpool don't even need to try and survive this season. They are guaranteed £48million in 'parachute payments' alone, so they can use this season as a cash-gathering exercise before having another go when they are most suitably prepared. Fine for them, but it will water down an already-pretty-diluted Premier League next season.

As I type an understandably giddy Blackpool fan on Sky Sports News has declared Ian Holloway to be 'the best manager in the world', which is clearly the orange-tinted burblings of a loon when presented with a microphone.

However, the idea that Holloway is a genius miracle-worker is at best reactionary, at worst revisionist crap. Holloway is a perfectly decent Championship manager who has had good seasons (like this one) and bad ones, such as when he took Leicester from 17th in the Championship to relegation in six short months.

Of course, most of the press love 'Ollie', because he says wacky things and will provide decent copy after a damp 0-0 draw at Sunderland. His verbal diarrhea before and over the weekend was sickening, and one would have been forgiven for not realising that there was another team at Wembley on Saturday.

The play-offs of course are hugely exciting, but their major flaw is that they can easily reward a season of solid mediocrity (and there is a lot of that in the Championship) along with a well-timed run of form. Blackpool spent 39 of the 46 rounds of league matches out of the top six, and were never higher than fifth.

Does that suggest a team ready for the Premier League?

Blackpool are nowhere near ready enough, just as Burnley weren't this season. Forest aren't either, so don't think this is a jealous rant of the boy that didn't get the girl.

Finishing sixth in the Championship with a team that was widely tipped for relegation is certainly an impressive achievement, but as heads clear on the coast this morning, their most realistic ambition will be to beat the 11 points posted by Derby a few seasons back.

Sure, they might have a lovely time next season visiting grounds that hold more than 10,000, but there is a chance this promotion could do more harm than good.

Comments (71)

Ollie Way (West Bromwich Albion fan) says...

I'd just like to move away from the negativity of this article and congratulate Ian Holloway and his orange army for their amazing achievement this season. I don't care what anyone says, they deserve what they got and fair play to them for getting it!!! Look forward to watching Blackpool vs WBA in the Premier League next season, come on!

Posted 14:01 28th May 2010

Dp Dp (Blackpool fan) says...

3rd best goal difference and winning the playoff final suggests they deserve to be there. This is what football should be about, not who serves the best prawn sandwiches - Entertainment, scoring goals and giving us a fairytale story which can inspire all those teams who haven't gone into massive debt to get into the premiership. Can you name me 3 out of the top 10 premier teams who aren't in MASSIVE debt or propped up by a suger daddy?....would you say THEY deserve to be there?

Posted 11:09 28th May 2010

Philip Rossall (Blackpool fan) says...

I love a bit of irony.Was it not Nottinghams own famous son Robin hood who was the champion of the underdog.(Steals from the rich gives to the poor etc.) And was it not also like your article, pure fiction.

Posted 14:14 27th May 2010

Stu Preston (Cardiff City fan) says...

So to sum up what Nick Miller is saying here, he thinks Blackpool shouldn't be allowed into the premier league because they don't play with 'nastiness' and don't 'deserve' it. He also shows us how he is a bitter man who wishes he was as enthusiastic and amusing as Ian Holloway.

Posted 18:59 26th May 2010

Rhys Hayman (Ipswich Town fan) says...

Have to say well done to Blackpool they done well with what they had..... but i cant help but feel slightly bitter being a Ipswich town fan.... we beat both teams that were in the play off final twice this season but i guess that's the price we pay for being so dam inconsistent !!

Posted 03:29 26th May 2010

Steve Pike (Arsenal fan) says...

As mentioned above Blackpool along with Portsmouth, Burnley, Preston, Huddersfield and Wolves were the better teams in the 1950's and if money had been thrown at them in those days as the top clubs in the prem get it now I have no doubt that they would still be at the top as the teams such as Chelsea, Forest, Everton, Spurs, Leeds would not be able to compete so would reside in the lower division. Would the fans of those clubs say "We do not deserve to be in the top division and play against like Blackpool etc because we are only there because we won the play offs" Nick Miller and those that support his views need to take a look at themselves. Maybe if they were born on a council estate they should not have the opportunity to better themselves, as that is their argument.

Posted 14:14 25th May 2010

James Lavery (Newcastle United fan) says...

well done you tangerines! at least we can have a pint with you lot! poor, poor cardiff! never mind me voiceferous welsh lovelies theres always next season(if you are still afloat by then!!) best fans ths season? plymouth argyle! next season? nufc 6th blackpool 10th oh i do like to be beside the seaside!

Posted 13:56 25th May 2010

Peter Seddon says...

I am biased as a Seasider but hey, can we get some perspective here please? What is all this having to 'deserve' to be a Premier League team? If the rules include a play off competition then whoever wins it deserves to go up, end of. How dare you say that because we are a small club that our lack of stature and financial credentials should exclude us from competing in the most false and fixed league in the world. The PL has made it nigh on impossible for anyone other than the obscenely wealthy clubs to win it, and it isn't about the true spirit of competition, it is a battle of who has the wealthiest owner. We have been the 'neutral's' favourite because guess what? We represent the 'dream', the romance of what used to be the beautiful game but which people with your attitude have hijacked and ruined.

Posted 13:43 25th May 2010

Mike Bleazard (Blackpool fan) says...

Last season Blackpool played 3 Premiership teams: Everton in a pre-season friendly (and beat them 2-1), Wigan in the League Cup (and beat them 4-1), Stoke in the League Cup (lost 4-3 - Stoke's winner scored on the 96th minute). Possibly not all full strength squads? We got those results on a season's transfer budget of £800k. We've got £5-£10m to spend over the summer on strengthening the squad, a great team spirit, a huge buzz of adrenalin and a canny manager. It's feeling quite cruel to write us off already. Please don't.

Posted 13:12 25th May 2010

Neil Tomlinson says...

and your comment of "Blackpool are rubbish" is based on what exactly. I assume you've been to watch the team regularly over the past couple of years to enable just a wide ranging, well thought out comment like that.

Posted 13:02 25th May 2010

Andy Watton (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...

I think it's fantastic and fully deserved based on their late-season performances. They showed the desire and passion to reach the Premier League - Forest, Leicester and Cardiff simply could not match them. As for the play-offs, it provides some excitement and meaning for a dozen or so clubs hovering around them. If the 3rd team went up automatically, the Championship season would effectively be over well before the final games. It's fantastic for our area to have another 'small northern team' in the game's elite division - and besides, Blackpool, like Blackburn, Preston and Burnley have an older, prouder and more successful history than most of the teams currently in the division. So if anything, they are back where they belong. Welcome Seasiders - looking forward to our matches.

Posted 12:34 25th May 2010

Ben Smith (Bolton Wanderers fan) says...

Very provactive article, credit to the writer. If good journalism was measured by the number of comments, you'd be up there. Unfortunately, that's kind of like saying the team with the most throw-ins would win a game of football. I think the writer of this is a very sad and bitter man, the point of the play-offs is they allow teams to get promoted that wouldn't usually, and Blackpool fully deserve their success. I notice it's only the fans of the "Big" teams (which are in fact, mostly in League One) who agree with you, those who think their team has a God-given right to be in the Premier League. Promotion is earned, and Blackpool have earned it. Get over it.

Posted 12:10 25th May 2010

Chris Alty says...

First off I'd like to say congrats to Blackpool! (trust me, it sickens me to say that, but they deserve it) Everyone knows how the league works. If you finish 3rd or 6th you still have the chance for promotion and you know that from the start. so to complain you came 3rd and didn't get promoted, you only have yourselves to blame. You should have played better and got automatic promotion, or even better and played with a real passion and won the play-offs. Blackpool would never have been promoted without the inspiration of Ollie and they know that! Yes BFC don't have a nice ground but they have a spirit and holiday town that most prem fans will like to goto for the fun of the day and not just the game, so shut up about how they are going to get relegated by Feb and enjoy the fact that a smaller club with limited funds and a vast history has managed to clinch a cheque that will ensure they stay around for years to come. Also for people to say that teams like Blackpool don't deserve to be in the Prem, do you remember Burnley Vs Man Utd at the start of last season??? Had Utd beat Burnley they would have won the league, but it was a smaller club that got promoted via the play-offs that stole the headlines that day and played a vital role in the overall picture in making Chelsea champions. Its these unpredictable games and teams that make the Prem so watchable not the big teams!!! I hope all the Blackpool fans enjoy this coming season and remember at the end of the season just what it has done financially for your club and town. Don't be upset! From a very jealous Preston North End fan!!!!!

Posted 11:45 25th May 2010

Simon Maguire says...

Oh dear oh dear oh dear! Whinge whinge whinge! So the Premier League will be watered down by a side with the guts to play football the way it's meant to be played? Stoke are a top half of the PL side, but I'd pay NOT to have to watch them. Perhaps teams should be promoted on the basis of who the majority thinks "deserves" it most. Blackpool did what they had to do, they won the playoffs. Forest didn't, and (thank Christ) nor did Cardiff. Perhaps Portsmouth shouldn't have been allowed to play in the FA Cup because they weren't good enough....anbd yet they made the final. That's the beauty of football. Take awayt eh magic, the genuine fairytales, and it's just a business with a load of overpaid sportsmen running about. And it matters so much less.

Posted 11:32 25th May 2010

Dan H to the z says...

ha ha ha ha ha - the bitterest thing i have ever read. enjoy another season in the fizzy pop league, lots of love... Dan (Newcastle fan)

Posted 10:29 25th May 2010

Andy Bolton (Blackpool fan) says...

Fraser Suddick, you say it all really. Blackpool will be under NO illusion as to how tough this season is going to be. To finish 6th and get promoted, is not fair on those who finish 6 or even 9 points more, but it is their, we have done it and done it in a style that has taken the heart of the impartial fans this season, we bring a unique colour to the football world and we will give it a cracking shot in the Prem. We were one of few teams to take points off Newcastle, who ran away with the league, what makes them any safer from relegation next season? I find your aticle utter garbage, and how it got commissioned and approved for publishing is beyond belief. You DO sound like a bitter school kid, whos team failed to make the grade during the playoffs. NO TEAM HAS THE GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO BE IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE. We played some excellent football, winning 9 out of our last 11 games. Failed to score in 7 of our Games. UP THE POOL.

Posted 10:09 25th May 2010

Bri Stewart says...

Im a Ross County supporter and was 100% behind the Pool.... mon the underdog!

Posted 10:02 25th May 2010

Andy Murphy (Blackpool fan) says...

The league is played over a full season, not just the last 3 matches. We play attacking football and the stats speak for themselves. Apart from Newcastle and West Brom we out scored every other team in the Championship, Forrest by 9 goals, Cardiff by 1 goal, Leicester by 13 goals and Swansea who just failed to make the play off's by a massive 34 goals. The play off Final was a case of Cardiff had better score 'cause we certainly will!!!! This team has been labelled as a small club by previous managers who rolled over when the big boys turned up but not Holloway. Ok we probably will get pasted a few times but it certainly won't be boring. I can't see Forrest getting into the Prem next year either not with Hull, Leeds, and all the cash Burnley will have to spend,,,,shame!!!!

Posted 09:56 25th May 2010

Warren Jackson (Blackpool fan) says...

So Blackpool are too small to be in the Premier League? how did Forest ever get into the European cup? Our league structure is the best in the world because everybody from the conference upwards can progress up the league ladder and aspire to be in a league above the one they are in. You move up by beating the teams in the same league and finishing in the right position when the league finishes. Everybody understands the play-off structure at the start of the season and the play-off are great tournament that you win a place in by finishing outside the promotion places but in the top 6. The prize for winning that tournament is great, but that is the beauty of it. From the tone of this article you would prefer leagues to be arranged by bank balance and promotion and relegation eliminated. Lets appreciate how our league is structured and that all football supporters can aspire to greater things. PS. Blackpool may well get releated but we will put up one hell of a fight!

Posted 09:44 25th May 2010

Robert Vollans (newcastle fan) says...

What a terrible case of the green eyed monster. Blackpool deserve to be where they are because they won!! They played some good football this season and unlike Forest showed passion and belief in their play. Ok u may say Blackpool are odds on to be relegated but stranger things have happened at sea, I say well done Blackpool and good luck for next season. The gates of St James Park will welcome you as a premiership team. TANGERINE ARMY!!!

Posted 08:58 25th May 2010

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