10:03

4 minutes ago, paulhanley said:

Horsfall was fit for their first game and they conceded three at home to Stevenage. He is not the quickest. 

Or is that a case of me clutching at straws before a game at Bloomfield Road again. 

I trust Ennis is still suspended? Pretty sure they have not scored since he was out of the side.

Aye they've had Dale Taylor up top with no service.

Had summet daft like 2 shots v Plymouth and 1 shot on target v Mansfield and that was at 2 down in the 93rd minute.

Tom has it right above, there's no logical reason why we shouldn't be turning up here and winning. Our wingers should terrorise them.

...but we've been here many times before. Form goes out of the window for this one and that north stand will be as vociferous as ever. There's not many nosier gaffs in our division.

5 minutes ago, gonzo said:

Aye they've had Dale Taylor up top with no service.

Had summet daft like 2 shots v Plymouth and 1 shot on target v Mansfield and that was at 2 down in the 93rd minute.

Tom has it right above, there's no logical reason why we shouldn't be turning up here and winning. Our wingers should terrorise them.

...but we've been here many times before. Form goes out of the window for this one and that north stand will be as vociferous as ever. There's not many nosier gaffs in our division.

I just do not bother raising my hopes there any more.

From what I have read they will have Fletcher back up front but a "big ask" for Horsfall to be fit. Knowing them they would probably risk him being out a good few games afterwards just to have him ready for this one. 

Four things Steve Bruce must consider ahead of Blackpool's meeting with Bolton Wanderers https://share.google/dvRg24O8dpR2mFzue

 

 

2 hours ago, gonzo said:

It had major significance because it meant to so much to the fans.

Take a look at those limbs and scenes after the game and tell me it was just another 3 points.

Absolute bollocks.

Football is built on tribalism and emotion.

 

 

I would never doubt any fan for whom this game means a lot. Although I personally I've never considered Blackpool particular rivals.

But I disagree that it makes any real difference to the season as a whole. Your example of what happened the previous season is, to me, just fitting a narrative around what happened. Evatt didn't fail because we lost to Wigan and Blackpool, he failed because his system gradually got found out and his message went stale. We only lost one more game between Wigan (a) and the second leg of the playoffs against Barnsley.

As said, if these games could change a season beating Wigan away last season should've been the ultimate boost. Instead we scraped a win against Bristol and have won one in 16 since.

Another 6 points against those two may have influenced the season in a more positive way, who knows.

From a points perspective, they are indeed no different to any other, therefore a defeat is as injurious as any other, but collectively they add up and make a difference.

That however, is separate to the to the emotional aspect.

36 minutes ago, Tombwfc said:

 

I would never doubt any fan for whom this game means a lot. Although I personally I've never considered Blackpool particular rivals.

But I disagree that it makes any real difference to the season as a whole. Your example of what happened the previous season is, to me, just fitting a narrative around what happened. Evatt didn't fail because we lost to Wigan and Blackpool, he failed because his system gradually got found out and his message went stale. We only lost one more game between Wigan (a) and the second leg of the playoffs against Barnsley.

As said, if these games could change a season beating Wigan away last season should've been the ultimate boost. Instead we scraped a win against Bristol and have won one in 16 since.

But because those games meant so much to the opposition they raise their games. You might not see Blackpool as rivals, some don't see Wigan as such. But there's no denying they do and the fans and players alike are up for it more than a standard game.

We once again showed that we capitulated under any form of big occasion.

That kind of rot sets in. Hence us being big game bottlers. Not just derbies either. Any game where the stakes were 10% higher we folded.

Show character in the big ones and the rest usually follow. Bottle them and it's flat track bully tackle.

 

 

2 minutes ago, gonzo said:

But because those games meant so much to the opposition they raise their games. You might not see Blackpool as rivals, some don't see Wigan as such. But there's no denying they do and the fans and players alike are up for it more than a standard game.

We once again showed that we capitulated under any form of big occasion.

That kind of rot sets in. Hence us being big game bottlers. Not just derbies either. Any game where the stakes were 10% higher we folded.

Show character in the big ones and the rest usually follow. Bottle them and it's flat track bully tackle.

 

 

This is what has done for us in these games recently. However in previous times it was not a case of bottling, more just not being prepared for the reality that this is a top contender for Blackpool's biggest derby other than PNE. The result is they are pumped up every time and we stroll out like it is your average Saturday afternoon outing. 

By my reckoning we have played 15 league and cup games there since 1977 when we won. Seven draws and eight defeats. Stats that don't lie. 

We need to match them for attitude before anything else.

6 minutes ago, paulhanley said:

This is what has done for us in these games recently. However in previous times it was not a case of bottling, more just not being prepared for the reality that this is a top contender for Blackpool's biggest derby other than PNE. The result is they are pumped up every time and we stroll out like it is your average Saturday afternoon outing. 

By my reckoning we have played 15 league and cup games there since 1977 when we won. Seven draws and eight defeats. Stats that don't lie. 

We need to match them for attitude before anything else.

What I find strange is that a team can seemingly be so much more up for it than the other.

It's a long time, over different divisions, with different personnel and managers.

It doesn't fully add up that each and every time their players are so much more into it than us, though it appears that they may have been in recent times.

As the reverse is also true, do their fans think they don't put the effort in at our place?

Its just very weird.

I'm still seeing some fragility in this team, but also some renewed hope.

As before, something just says it's this time.

We will certainly have to battle though, and I hope we set up with this in mind.

2 minutes ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

What I find strange is that a team can seemingly be so much more up for it than the other.

It's a long time, over different divisions, with different personnel and managers.

It doesn't fully add up that each and every time their players are so much more into it than us, though it appears that they may have been in recent times.

As the reverse is also true, do their fans think they don't put the effort in at our place?

Its just very weird.

I'm still seeing some fragility in this team, but also some renewed hope.

As before, something just says it's this time.

We will certainly have to battle though, and I hope we set up with this in mind.

Well we are 48 years without a win at theirs and they are 40 without a win at ours and similar number of games in each winless run. In derbies home advantage often counts for less - so it is indeed a very weird state of affairs, whatever the reason. 

All this about them playing crap is just bollocks, means nothing.

They've played 2 home games, against the teams currently in 2nd and 3rd, and scored 5 goals.  Half of one of those games was with 10 men.  In comparison we've played 1 more home game and scored 1 less even with the help of an OG, against 3 "weaker" teams.

Its our 3rd tough/big away game of the season and we don't make a habit of winning those, going back god knows how long.  Surely nobody's fooled by Blackpool fans pretending they're useless, we know what's coming in terms of intensity.

 

2 hours ago, paulhanley said:

Well we are 48 years without a win at theirs and they are 40 without a win at ours and similar number of games in each winless run. In derbies home advantage often counts for less - so it is indeed a very weird state of affairs, whatever the reason. 

 

It's almost as if there's a lot of randomness and luck in there, as opposed to one team being more 'up' for it than the other. For 40+ years when either one of us is playing at home.

7 hours ago, Tombwfc said:

 

It's almost as if there's a lot of randomness and luck in there, as opposed to one team being more 'up' for it than the other. For 40+ years when either one of us is playing at home.

Well there have certainly been a lot of very late equalisers and winners and Blackpool twice blew a two goal lead at ours in consecutive fixtures. There is definitely some randomness. Whatever it is I I hope we reverse the trend on Saturday. But I suspect it'll be deja vu.

10 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

All this about them playing crap is just bollocks, means nothing.

They've played 2 home games, against the teams currently in 2nd and 3rd, and scored 5 goals.  Half of one of those games was with 10 men.  In comparison we've played 1 more home game and scored 1 less even with the help of an OG, against 3 "weaker" teams.

Its our 3rd tough/big away game of the season and we don't make a habit of winning those, going back god knows how long.  Surely nobody's fooled by Blackpool fans pretending they're useless, we know what's coming in terms of intensity.

 

Another statistical twisting exercise there- I admire your continued use of this tactic, even if it's wide open.

What position were their opponents in when they played them, and so early the season, how on earth do those positions reflect the quality of a team?

Half of two games?

One then.

An own goal- it was going in, and a desperate attempt to stop it was unsuccessful. He didn't pass it back beyond his keeper ffs.

Shows what can happen when shots are taken, and are on target.

Conversely, they have been tatered away from home, by weaker teams (by your definition) whereas we have played two strong ones.

Do you work for a political party by any chance?

 

Same old story when it comes to derbies for us

Each local team means something different to every one 

It means everything to @gonzo and @paulhanley to beat them

I get way more fired up for Wigan 

Others for Blackburn and Utd 

I'll be delighted if we finally win for the first time in my life 

But I'll be even happier for those two posters I mentioned

I'm only going for the piss up really

14 hours ago, Johnnyrotten said:

All this about them playing crap is just bollocks, means nothing.

They've played 2 home games, against the teams currently in 2nd and 3rd, and scored 5 goals.  Half of one of those games was with 10 men.  In comparison we've played 1 more home game and scored 1 less even with the help of an OG, against 3 "weaker" teams.

Its our 3rd tough/big away game of the season and we don't make a habit of winning those, going back god knows how long.  Surely nobody's fooled by Blackpool fans pretending they're useless, we know what's coming in terms of intensity.

 

All true, plus Bruce has been forced into playing folk out of position until now.

But, whilst both teams will have returning players and both teams will be desperate for a win, I can see us being favourites providing Schumacher gets it right. The BN has been banging on about what great stats we have and how unlucky we’ve been, but the only stat that matters is points, and if Schumacher can get both strikers on without compromising the middle, the goals will come.

Hopefully this will be the week when it finally comes together.

27 minutes ago, Zico said:

Same old story when it comes to derbies for us

Each local team means something different to every one 

It means everything to @gonzo and @paulhanley to beat them

I get way more fired up for Wigan 

Others for Blackburn and Utd 

I'll be delighted if we finally win for the first time in my life 

But I'll be even happier for those two posters I mentioned

I would be delighted to see @gonzo have a full meltdown on the front Saturday to be fair resulting in Mrs @gonzo dragging him by his ear 

1 hour ago, Zico said:

Same old story when it comes to derbies for us

Each local team means something different to every one 

It means everything to @gonzo and @paulhanley to beat them

I get way more fired up for Wigan 

Others for Blackburn and Utd 

I'll be delighted if we finally win for the first time in my life 

But I'll be even happier for those two posters I mentioned

Indeed. Great post .

I was more alluding to how they view us and being more up for it than us and us failing to deal with it time after time.

Same with Wigan. We spent years just pretending it wasn't a derby, patting them on the head. But they were always bang up for it.

Remember reading one of their player saying it's all anyone talks about for weeks before, even the tea lady is saying get stuck in to them.

Same witn this lot. We are talk of the town and that gets through to the players. The atmosphere is up and notch and the players are bang up for it.

That's why form always goes out of the window and we usually get beat. Same with Wigan.

Treating the occasions like normal games is what's fucked us. 

If anyone thinks it's just 3 points and another game to them then they're living in cuckoo land and mustn't attend the games in question.

 

3 hours ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

Another statistical twisting exercise there- I admire your continued use of this tactic, even if it's wide open.

What position were their opponents in when they played them, and so early the season, how on earth do those positions reflect the quality of a team?

Half of two games?

One then.

An own goal- it was going in, and a desperate attempt to stop it was unsuccessful. He didn't pass it back beyond his keeper ffs.

Shows what can happen when shots are taken, and are on target.

Conversely, they have been tatered away from home, by weaker teams (by your definition) whereas we have played two strong ones.

Do you work for a political party by any chance?

 

Just saying they've shown more goalscoring potential than us at home, and we don't think we're crap, no reason to think they are either.

I loved our goal on Saturday and it was a good cross from Duberry, but it wasn't going in, if the defender wasn't around its a goal kick, we got lucky (deservedly).

It was "half of one game", not sure what your point is?  ie 45 minutes v Hudds, a great win for them.  Yes its too early to say who will be up there long term but they've clearly played 2 in form teams at home (can't say the same about 2 of their away defeats).

I'm not overly concerned with how they've done away from home re this game, its at Blackpool, if it was at home I'd agree their away form would give us cause for encouragement (and yes they conceded 3 v Stevenage - hopefully we can repeat that - just saying they are capable of scoring goals at home).

Feel free to ignore all that and assume we'll turn over a team that's out of form.

 

17 hours ago, gonzo said:

Four things Steve Bruce must consider ahead of Blackpool's meeting with Bolton Wanderers https://share.google/dvRg24O8dpR2mFzue

 

 

one thing that stood out for me there

Another defensive consideration for Bruce should be over whether Zac Ashworth deserves his chance, even if it’s off the bench.

The 22-year-old has done a decent enough job when he’s been called upon in the last few weeks, and probably deserves to feature more.

 

I'd say that pretty much sums up his time with us as well

50 minutes ago, Johnnyrotten said:

Just saying they've shown more goalscoring potential than us at home, and we don't think we're crap, no reason to think they are either.

I loved our goal on Saturday and it was a good cross from Duberry, but it wasn't going in, if the defender wasn't around its a goal kick, we got lucky (deservedly).

It was "half of one game", not sure what your point is?  ie 45 minutes v Hudds, a great win for them.  Yes its too early to say who will be up there long term but they've clearly played 2 in form teams at home (can't say the same about 2 of their away defeats).

I'm not overly concerned with how they've done away from home re this game, its at Blackpool, if it was at home I'd agree their away form would give us cause for encouragement (and yes they conceded 3 v Stevenage - hopefully we can repeat that - just saying they are capable of scoring goals at home).

Feel free to ignore all that and assume we'll turn over a team that's out of form.

 

At no point did I assume we would turn over a team out of form.

Indeed I said there is little reason for the belief we will- maybe you missed that bit.

I do have a feeling that we will win, but based on nothing other than exactly that- a feeling.

None of which matters; you're simply taking selective statistics to make a point.

Other stats, as posted by several people would suggest the very opposite. 

Perhaps you're ignoring those?

1 hour ago, Tonge moor green jacket said:

I do have a feeling that we will win, but based on nothing other than exactly that- a feeling.

None of which matters; you're simply taking selective statistics to make a point.

Other stats, as posted by several people would suggest the very opposite. 

Perhaps you're ignoring those?

If 2 lots of stats exist that support opposite views, why would we only put one lot on here? - doesn't that mean the other stats were selective too? Someone has put the "Blackpool are crap" argument, so we can either leave it at that or offer an alternative bit of info.

I'm certainly not ignoring any stats, I've no reason to, all part of the discussion for me.

That topic is exhausted now anyway, it all means nothing at 3pm Saturday.

And FWIW, I also have a feeling we'll win this one, I think we'll be better than we were at Barnsley and they'll be slightly worse than Barnsley were, defensively.  And we're due to click up front.

 

Edited August 27, 2025Aug 27 by Johnnyrotten

Anyone who doesn't see this as a derby game needs to give their head a wobble. This fixture is steeped in history . A proper Lancashire Derby game.

22 hours ago, Tombwfc said:

 

I would never doubt any fan for whom this game means a lot. Although I personally I've never considered Blackpool particular rivals.

But I disagree that it makes any real difference to the season as a whole. Your example of what happened the previous season is, to me, just fitting a narrative around what happened. Evatt didn't fail because we lost to Wigan and Blackpool, he failed because his system gradually got found out and his message went stale. We only lost one more game between Wigan (a) and the second leg of the playoffs against Barnsley.

As said, if these games could change a season beating Wigan away last season should've been the ultimate boost. Instead we scraped a win against Bristol and have won one in 16 since.

Its an age thing Tom

1 hour ago, Ratwhite said:

Its an age thing Tom

I agree. I get up for Blackpool and Blackburn far more than Wigan! But I started going as a youth, in the 70s.