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So, here we are, game #23 and half way through the season already. I think it's fair to say things haven't quite been going as well as we'd have liked and I'd imagine the same is being uttered by our visiting fans for this weekend too, the future for them certainly isn't looking bright, even if it does still look orange.
Of course, it's hard to consider games against Blackpool without casting our minds back to a fateful Wembley visit when a Bluebird nightmare became a Tangerine dream... we should have been the claiming a place as the 1st Welsh club to hit the heights of the Premier League but alas a Jay Bothroyd injury later and our hopes were dashed, however, lets not dwell on the past and focus on the very immediate future.
Our visitors come to us as one of the few teams that are a) below us in the table, and b) in worse form than we are so this game presents a real opportunity to turn things around and try to pick up our first win in 4.
Despite Balckpool's poor form, they have picked up a few surprise results, not least their last win (away at Robbie's Sky Blues, and just before that a thumping 4-2 home win against miserly Preston).
There are a few familiar names in the Seasiders line up, not least the legend that is Gary Madine (cool your knackers Maskey!!) who will no doubt be hoping to be fighting fit enough to play against and male a decent fist of lanidng a knockout blow against one of his his former employers.
Madine kines up alongside the likes of former Evertonian Luke Garbutt, Liam Bridcutt, the talented Arsenal and England U-20 loanee Charlie Patino and top scorer Jerry Yates (9 goals).
Blackpool Manager Michael Appleton is now in his second stint as gaffer for the Lancashire side, having previously been their shortest serving manager in his first stint after jumping ship to join Lancashire rivals Blackburn after just 11 games in charge at Bloomfield Road. I think it's fair to say that he may not last too much longer this time around if things don't improve, having won just 6 of 22 games this terms and with the club sitting in 23rd spot, 3 places and 2 points worse off than our own struggling Bluebirds.
Last season's corresponding fixture saw us play out a 1-1 draw with the Bluebirds falling behind in the 11th minute but being grateful for a Joel Bagan equaliser early in the 2nd half with his 3rd goal in 3 consecutive games.
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Three is the magic number... now, just for three points this time around. Overall in this fixture the orange clad men have the upper hand with a whopping 34 wins to our meager 18 with 21 games drawn. Never has there been a better time to start chipping away at that statistic in the proverbial 6 pointer.
Early Bluebirds Team News
With the icy weather putting paid to an U-21 game in which Isaac Davies was due to finalise his comeback, it seems the young speedster may now miss the opportunity to get back to the 1st team fold.
Also still missing are likely to be Oli Denham, last season's scorer Joel Bagan and Jaden Philogene together with usual long term absentees JC & Ebou Adams.
After such a positive impact from the subs bench and the need for 3 points, will we see a less cautious line up that includes one or both of Mark Harris and Kion Etete alongside Callum Robinson?
If so, will that mean Rubin Colwill remains benched?
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Just need a bit of this... easy peasy orange squeezy.
Mr Hudson, it's your call.......
Prutton Predicts
Well well well.... guess the law of averages meant that it had to happen at some point, but Mr Prutton has, at long last predicted a triumph for the boys in blue. Ok, it's by a narrow 1-0 margin but I think we'd take that right now wouldn't we?
The bookies appear to agree with Sky Be having the Bluebirds as odds on to win.
Home Win 4/5 Draw 5/2 Away Win 7/2.
The bookies are rarely wrong right?????
Fun Fact
Blackpool first adopted their famous orange strip after a recommendation from a referee called Albert Hargreaves.
The official had taken charge of a game between Holland and Belgium and is said to have been greatly impressed by the Dutch’s eye catching kit.
As a direct result of this, the Seasiders first adopted an orange kit in the 1923/24 season and have worn the colour ever since.
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Tango's do the conga.... Think this Balckpool fan needs to work on his celebration routine!
Sharing the Love
Madine and both current Bluebird keepers Ryan Allsop and Jak Alnwick have played for both us and our visitors Blackpool, but who else makes the list??
Look out for a record goalscorer making a solitary appearance for the Seasiders.
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So, can the Bluebirds avoid feeling blue this Christmas by squeezing 3 points out of the oranges? Will Vinnie Tan go mad if we fail to win?? Will Maskey be able to hold off his man love for Madine for 90 (ish) minutes in order to cheer the City on to victory???
All I know is that 3 points is now top of my wish list to Santa....
Blooooooobirds (and Merry Christmas all).
