Blackpool should back Ian Holloway as much as they can"

FL Extra

18Nov

“Blackpool should back Ian Holloway as much as they can”

This time last year Blackpool were setting Premier League pulses racing with their breathless attacking football, but it’s a different story this season as Ian Holloway struggles to propel his side back to the top flight on a tight budget. Which leaves the Life’s A Pitch panel wondering what’s next for the colourful boss.

“Blackpool should back Ian Holloway as much as they can” says Duncan White of The Sunday Telegraph who thinks he’s shown there are few better at polishing rough diamonds into gleaming footballers. “He’s proved it to them that he can make a success of the team and discover players who have been overlooked.”

Adrian Clarke of the Red White & Blue podcast says Holloway needs to hang onto his canny loan signings if the Seasiders are to have any hope of making the playoffs. “His loan market acquisitions are saving them. Jonjo Shelvey is the main man for Blackpool – he’s shining and proving he’s a Premier League quality player.”

But The Daily Telegraph’s Jason Burt reckons Holloway will jump if a rich club comes in for him. “If you’re Ian Holloway, the next move has to be to a bigger club with more resources. I sense he’s frustrated.” Although he wonders whether the Bristolian’s flamboyant vocabulary might put off image-conscious chairmen.

The panel also ponders whether Nicky Barmby has got what it takes to fill the manager’s boots at Hull, asks who’s going to be the next gaffer at Northampton and questions whether Steve Davis can replicate Dario Gradi’s managerial style at Crewe.

Related articles:

Video: Nigel Pearson tipped to take Leicester up

Video: Too early to talk of Southampton as promotion certainities

Follow Life’s a Pitch on Twitter @BTLifesapitch

Watch Blackpool live on BT Vision:
Southampton v Blackpool, live 12:30pm, 10 December, Sky Sports 2

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