Had a quick look, they were on 10. http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/page/LeagueTable/0,,10432~20101017,00.html As much as we get it, I think the Blackpool comparison is a bit of a false one for us. We came up a better side than they were in my opinion, and I think we've strengthened better too.
ha ha, I checked on google for the spelling. I thought you were picking up on some poor spelling or gramma.
Dave, they had 10 points from 8 games, having played and lost to Arsenal, Man City and Chelsea (but beating Liverpool away). In the next 10 games they picked up 15 points. So, half way through the season they had accumulated 25 points.
Its a fair point and does highlight the harshness of the PL when teams can hit the wall sometimes. However, I cannot imagine teams feared Blackpool too much as they always knew they were very leaky at the back and conceded heavily on numerous occasions. Their ground isnt any near as intimidating as a packed Carra Rud and lets face it, they dont have anywhere near as good a manager as we do. In fact the whole set up is geared for the long term and with Mcnarrlly pulling the strings there is no danger of us being left behind the pot of gold that is the PL. We all trust in PLs ability to sign young hungry talented players and mould them into a fearsome unit that will cause anyone trouble in any game. The money is there should we need to strengthen in January so only time will tell but i'd rather have it like it is than being sitting in the bottom three right now. It is certainly better to start the way we have, keep the momentum going and accumulate points now as we do have a tricky run in so a bad run of results could be on the cards at the end of the season. In truth I think you'll find we are a pretty happy bunch of supporters right now who couldnt give a flying **** about comparisons to Blackpool. Compare the Swanseas and QPRs of this league to Blackpool and you may be a lot nearer the mark! Nuff said
Wouldn't disagree with any of that Chris. Of course everyone's happy, with good reason. But IMO there's also a bit of over-confidence around given how early it is in the season. As you so rightly say: time will tell.
There are some VERY big differences between Norwich and Blackpool and even Hull who also had a very good start to their first season which then fell away (however, they did survive the first yeaar). Norwich as a club do have a top flight pedigree. Despite losing that status 16 years ago (excluding the brief flirtation in 2005) all but the youngest fans grew up watching Norwich in the top flight. The vast majority of norwich fans spent the last 16 years seeing ourselves as a top flight club who had hit on hard times rather than ever accepting and being content with the second tier. The Stadium and whole set up is Prem standard. There is a belief that this is where we belong. That was not the case at Blackpool. Deep down even the most loyal of their fans would admit that they were punching above their weight. And has been said above, The management and players at the club are far better.
Blackpool really had a "Season of two halves" Holloway's big mistake was not tightening things up and trying to play other teams off the park every week.You have to hand it to the bloke though,it damn near worked. As for us I suppose we have played two teams with aspirations to win the league.Of the other six Swansea and Wigan were expected to be in the relegation mix and the other four safe but in a handful of spots either side of mid table,so a fair representation of the whole season.I think where we have benfitted compared to the Worthington season was getting beatable sides early on,last time I think we were still winless until mid October. A point a game from now on would see us safe,I have a suspicion that about 36 might be enough this year.
Kenny, are you saying there are no fans who remember the days before the first ever season in the top division, 1972? Good heavens man, some of us have supported City for more years prior to 1972 than there have been years since then! Please don't tell us senior citizens that we are a "top flight club who hit hard times". We know that City have been in the top flight for less than a quarter of the club's existence. Your comment on Blackpool is similarly misguided. In their history Blackpool have spent more years in the top division than City have. Yes, what matters is the here and now, but IMO a bit of history helps put a more realistic perspective on the present
So you think the league is not particularly competitive this year? Isn't it true that the more evenly balanced the teams making up the league, the higher the points total needed for safety? So you must think there are three or four sides clearly inferior to the rest, who are really going to struggle? Candidates so far would seem to be Wigan, Blackburn and ?????
Since when has "Vast Majority" meant ALL? That aside, you are right of course, what I am saying is that the bulk of the support at carrow road, 50% plus grew up watching Norwich in the top flight. That is simply not the case at Blackpool where only the oldest of their fans will remember their previous top flight experience. Peoples perception of their club is influenced by where they first saw them play. I was born in 1974 and my first game (November 19th 1982) meant that I enjoyed 12 years out of 14 of Norwich being top flight (there were 2 relegations but with immediate returns). I would suggest that the majority of Fans at Carrow road on a matchday started watching Norwich during this period as it would cover the 20 - 40 year olds, probably the largest age catagory at any game.
I stand corrected Kenny. I took "the vast majority" in the context of the previous bit about "all but the youngest"; so I read it as excluding anyone who isn't among the youngest and didn't grow up watching top tier football! What I guess I'm saying is that all you comparative youngsters who have watched top-tier football at Carrow Road for most of your lives really need to realise how privileged you've been. It hasn't always been like that, and as the fans of clubs all over the land will tell you, there's no divine right to have it stay that way. It's like good health, when you've got it you take it for granted, but when you lose it, boy, you really notice the difference. OTBC ILM&TBWT
