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- Barnsley
- Pool play them: Tuesday Nov 6 (home), Tuesday Mar 4 (away)
- Last meeting: Aug 22 2006 (League Cup round one) Blackpool 2 Barnsley 2 (Barnsley won 4-2 on pens)
- Last season’s finish: 20th (Championship)
- Info: New striker Miguel Mostto is an unknown quantity who has got Reds fans talking. Istvan Ferenczi played a huge part in Barnsley’s great escape of last season. Simon Davey staved off relegation, which has to go down as an impressive achievement in his first few months in charge.
Verdict by Andrew Lodge of the Barnsley Chronicle: Some of the overseas buys are intriguing but realistically the best we can hope for is a decent bottom-half finish.
Telephone: (01226) 211211
Ticket office: (01226) 211200
Website: www.barnsleyfc.co.uk
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- Burnley
- Pool play them: Saturday Sep 15 (home), Tuesday Jan 1 (away)
- Last meeting: Sep 10 2002 (League Cup round one) Burnley 3 Blackpool 0
- Last season’s finish: 15th (Championship)
- Info: Young Northern Irish striker Kyle Lafferty has attracted plenty of interest and compatriot Michael Duff is strong at the back. Steve Cotterill was appointed summer 2004 after an acrimonious departure from Stoke and a short spell as assistant at Sunderland. Despite being forced to sell key players, has seen his side consolidate in the Championship.
Verdict by Chris Boden of the Burnley Express: “Gabor Kiraly is an experienced international and many were surprised he came here and not into the Premiership. Besart Berisha has really captured the imagination of the fans. We’ve let a few players go, including John McGreal, Frank Sinclair and Graham Branch. If we can play like we did up until Christmas last season, who knows? But I’d say we’ll finish between 10th and 12th.”
Telephone: (0870) 4431882
Ticket office: (0870) 4431914
Website: www.burnleyfc.com
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- Bristol City
- Pool play them: Saturday Aug 18 (away), Tuesday Jan 29 (home)
- Last meeting: Feb 17 2007 (League 1) Blackpool 0 Bristol City 1
- Last season’s finish: 2nd (League 1) – promoted
- Info: New signing Lee Trundle is a proven scorer and midfielder Cole Skuse is seen as a bright prospect. Gary Johnson. the ex-Latvia boss, arrived in September 2005 from Yeovil, having masterminded the Glovers’ amazing rise to League One.
Verdict by Andy Stockhausen, Bristol Evening Post: “At the start of the summer, survival would have been the target but after all the spending fans are expecting more. Gary Johnson is very popular and has signed experienced, exciting players. Mid-table looks achievable.”
Telephone: 0870 112-1897
Ticket office: 0870 112-1897
Website: www.bcfc.co.uk
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- Cardiff City
- Pool play them: Saturday November 3 (away), and Saturday Apr 12 (home)
- Last meeting: March 18 2003 (Division 2) Cardiff 2 Blackpool 1
- Last season’s finish: 13th (Championship)
- Info: Gavin Rae arrives from Rangers with a good reputation but it’s Robbie Fowler who has got everyone talking. Dave Jones enjoyed successful spells at Stockport and Southampton but was sacked by Wolves.
Verdict by Terry Phillips of the South Wales Echo: “Jones had to completely rebuild and keep the team in the division at the same time, which he did. Last season we started very well but couldn’t sustain it with a lot of youngsters in the side. It’s difficult to judge our prospects but everybody is looking for an improvement on last season.”
Telephone: 0292 0221001
Ticket office: 0845 3451405
Website: www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk
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- Charlton Athletic
- Pool play them: Saturday Jan 12 (home), Saturday Feb 23 (away)
- Last meeting: January 5 2002 (FA Cup third round) Charlton 2 Blackpool 1 (aet)
- Last season’s finish: 19th (Premiership) – relegated
- Info: The Addicks fought off strong competition to land France Under-21 captain Yassin Moutaouakil. Going forward, Andy Reid has pulled the strings at Championship level for Nottingham Forest. Alan Pardew failed to keep them in the Premiership but improved performances under him have given fans optimism.
Verdict by Tony Hudd of the London Evening Standard: “There are great expectations and season ticket sales are better than anticipated. I have never known supporters to be 100 per cent behind a manager but they are with Pardew. Top six is a reasonable aim.”
Telephone: 020 8333 4000
Ticket office: 0871 226 1905
Website: www.cafc.co.uk
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- Colchester United
- Pool play them: Saturday Sept 22 (away), Saturday Dec 29 (home)
- Last meeting: Nov 19 2005 (League 1) Colchester 3 Blackpool 2
- Last season’s finish: 10th (Championship)
- Info: All eyes will be on Teddy Sheringham, particularly after the losses of Richard Garcia, Chris Iwelumo, Jamie Cureton and player of the year Wayne Brown in defence. Geraint Williams enjoyed a fine first season in charge after assisting Phil Parkinson. Has got the best out of a squad which lacked big names and – Teddy apart – will need to do so again.
Verdict by Jonathan Waldron of the Colchester Gazette: “Garcia was the only member of last season’s squad who cost anything, so what we achieved was amazing. Losing Mick Harford and Chris Barker to QPR has been a big blow and we’ve lost Chris Iwelumo and Jamie Cureton, who got 40 goals between them last season. But if the new signings are good enough we can stay in the Championship again.”
Telephone: 01206 715301
Ticket office: 01206 715301 or 751302
Website: www.cu-fc.co.uk |
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- Coventry City
- Pool play them: Tuesday Oct 2 (home), Saturday Dec 22 (away)
- Last meeting: Oct 1 1997 (League Cup first round) Coventry 3 Blackpool 1
- Last season’s finish: 17th (Championship)
- Info: New centre-back Arjan De Zeeuw and striker Dele Adebola bring vast experience. Ian Dowie earned a fine reputation at Oldham and Crystal Palace but was sacked after 15 games at Charlton. Appointed at Coventry in February.
Verdict by Andy Turner of the Coventry Evening Telegraph: “Dowie made a fantastic start – unbeaten in his first six games – but then the side seemed to revert to type. He is a good motivator with great attention to detail. There is takeover talk at the club and this is pivotal to the season. If a takeover does happen, we’ll be looking to gain promotion. If not, we’ll most probably be also-rans again.”
Telephone: (0870) 421-1987
Ticket office: (0870) 421-1987
Website: www.ccfc.co.uk |
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- Crystal Palace
- Pool play them: Saturday Oct 20 (away), Saturday Mar 29 (home)
- Last meeting: Oct 28 2003 (League Cup round three) Blackpool 1 Palace 3
- Last season’s finish: 12th (Championship)
- Info: Ben Watson is an all-action England Under-21 midfielder and Clinton Morrison is always a handful up front. Peter Taylor has had two spells as England Under-21 coach, besides stints at Southend, Gillingham, Leicester, Brighton and Hull. Had an up and down season at Palace.”
Verdict by John Selvey, London freelance: “The club has lost a lot of players and only bought a few in. But pre-season has gone well, including a 1-1 draw with Anderlecht, and we should be able to score goals, with Shefki Kuqi flanked by Clinton Morrison and Dougie Freedman. The target is the top 10.
Telephone: (020) 87686000
Ticket office: (0871) 2000071
Website: www.cpfc.co.uk |
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- Hull City
- Pool play them: Saturday Sep 1 (away), Saturday Feb 9 (home)
- Last meeting: August 23 2005 (League Cup round one) Blackpool 2 Hull 1
- Last season’s finish: 21st (Championship)
- Info: Veteran Dean Windass will carry much of Hull’s goalscoring responsibility, with Stuart Elliott hoping to return to the form he was producing a couple of years ago. Phil Brown worked alongside Sam Allardyce at Bolton and had a tricky baptism at Derby County before taking over at the KC Stadium.
Verdict by Charlie Mullan of Hull Daily Mail: “The club should improve on last season after £10m takover by businessman Paul Duffin. There are a few new signings and the club is looking to finish at least mid-table. Need to avoid the bad starts of the past couple of seasons.”
Telephone: 0870 8370003
Ticket office: 0870 8370004
Website: www.hullcityafc.net |
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- Ipswich Town
- Pool play them: Saturday Jan 19 (home), Saturday Feb 16 (away)
- Last meeting: 1978/79 (League Cup) Blackpool 2 Ipswich 0
- Last season’s finish: 14th (Championship)
- Info: Alan Lee is a consistent goalscorer, while Jaime Peters is one of several young players held in high regard. Ipswich player Jim Magilton took charge in June 2006. He also turned down chance to take charge of the Northern Ireland team.
Verdict by Derek Davis of the East Anglian Daily Times: “Magilton is still learning the trade but learning quite well. He will have learned from his mistakes and has done a reasonable job. There is an air of cautious optimism but realistically I think we’re looking for a top 10 finish, maybe the play-offs.”
Telephone: (01473) 400500
Ticket office: (0870) 111-0555
Website: www.itfc.co.uk |
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- Leicester City
- Pool play them: Saturday Aug 11 (home), Saturday Feb 2 (away)
- Last meeting: Sep 20 2005 (League Cup second round) Leicester 2 Blackpool 1
- Last season’s finish: 19th (Championship)
- Info: The Foxes have been busy in the transfer market this summer, and Carl Cort and Radostin Kishishev look like very shrewd signings. Martin Allen set about strengthening Leicester immediately after his arrival. After spells at Brentford and MK Dons, ‘Mad Dog’ has been touted for Premiership management jobs.
Verdict by Andy Mann of the Leicester Mercury: “So far Allen has been magnificent. He has a persona around him and a great enthusiasm. “It will be a tough season as he and all the new players bed in, making it difficult to predict. It’s also Milan Mandaric’s first full season as chairman but he has talked about promotion.”
Telephone: 0870 0406000
Ticket office: 0870 4991884
Website: www.lcfc.com |
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- Norwich City
- Pool play them: Tuesday Nov 27 (away), Saturday March 1 (home)
- Last meeting: Feb 13 2007 (FA Cup round four replay) Norwich 3 Blackpool 2 (aet)
- Last season’s finish: 16th (Championship)
- Info: Darren Huckerby is extremely dangerous at Championship level and Jamie Cureton will be one to watch. Manager Peter Grant was previously Alan Pardew’s assistant at West Ham but endured a difficult first season.
Verdict by Jonathan Redhead of the Eastern Daily Press: “I think it’s going to be a tough season. We’ve lost our parachute payments this year, and we’ve missed out on Billy Sharp and lost Robert Earnshaw. Most people would be happy with the play-offs.”
Telephone: 01603 760760
Ticket office: 0870 4441902
Website: www.canaries.co.uk |
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- Plymouth Argyle
- Pool play them: Saturday Oct 6 (away), Saturday Apr 26 (home)
- Last meeting: Feb 28 2004 (Division 2) Blackpool 0 Plymouth 1
- Last season’s finish: 11th (Championship)
- Info:Krisztian Timar is a giant in defence and his fellow Hungarian Peter Halmosi cost a club record £400,000. Barry Hayles provides class and experience up front. The ever-quotable Ian Holloway is a favourite. This brief sample is typical of the man: “Our performance today was not the best-looking bird but at least we got her in the taxi!”
Verdict by Chris Errington of the Plymouth Evening Herald: “Holloway was thrown in at the deep end, taking over the day before the start of pre-season training last season. He has gradually built up his team and had an excellent first season. We’ve improved our position in each of the last six seasons, so the target this time is to break into the top 10. We have a settled side, so that should be possible.”
Telephone: (01752) 562561
Ticket office: (0871) 222 1288
Website: www.pafc.co.uk |
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- Preston North End
- Pool play them: Saturday Dec 8 (home), Saturday Mar 15 (away)
- Last meeting: April 1 2000 (Division 2) Blackpool 0 Preston 0
- Last season’s finish: 7th (Championship)
- Info: With David Nugent departed, former Blackpool favourite Brett Ormerod will be hoping to step into the breach. At the back, Billy Jones arrives from Crewe with a big reputation. Paul Simpson, the former Pool favourite, endured a torrid end to the season as Preston contrived to miss out on the play-offs after spending much of the season in the top six. Simpson won successive promotions with Carlisle before moving to Deepdale last summer.
Verdict by Dave Seddon of the Lancashire Evening Post: “All eyes will be on the forward line to see if they can fill the void left by Nugent, though the return of Neil Mellor after knee problems could be timely. The play-offs will be the aim and will be expected after just missing out last year following back-to-back top-six finishes, but the squad lacks depth and so the top 10 may be more realistic.”
Telephone: (0870) 4421964
Ticket office: 0870 4421966
Website: www.pne.com |
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- Queens Park Rangers
- Pool play them: Saturday Dec 1 (away), Tuesday Mar 11(Home)
- Last meeting: January 10 2004 (Division 2) Blackpool 0 QPR 1
- Last season’s finish: 18th (Championship)
- Info: Ray Jones is a very highly rated young player, as was Lee Cook who will be missed. John Gregory made his name at Wycombe and reached the FA Cup final with Aston Villa. Won compensation from Derby for unfair dismissal and spent three years out of the game before helping Rangers stay up last season.
Verdict by Nicola Ross, London freelance: “Rangers are the bookies’ favourites to really struggle and it’s hard to disagree. Pre-season results have been mixed, though things have improved in the last week with victories against Wycombe and Harrow. Gregory is playing down the mixed pre-season, saying that people who read too much into these results drive him ‘crackers’. It could be a long, hard campaign, though Daniel Nardiello (signed on a free from Barnsley) could liven it up.”
Telephone: (020) 8743 0262
Ticket office: (0870) 112-1967
Website: www.qpr.co.uk |
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- Scunthorpe United
- Pool play them: Saturday Nov 10 (away), Tuesday, Dec 4 (home)
- Last meeting: April 28 2007 (League One) Blackpool 3 Scunthorpe 1
- Last season’s finish: 1st (League 1) - promoted
- Info: Following the sale of Billy Sharp, an impressive returning season will be required of Paul Hayes. Left-back Marcus Williams is a strong player who has attracted the attention of other clubs. Nigel Adkins was the physio before taking over as caretaker manager in November 2006, with a difficult act to follow in Brian Laws. Even so, they were crowned League One Champions.
Verdict by Bob Steels of the Scunthorpe Telegraph: “Adkins has produced a great team ethic. Season ticket sales have doubled but after losing Billy Sharp our basic aim has to be survival. The foundations of the team that won promotion are still there.”
Telephone: (01724) 747670
Ticket office: (01724) 747670
Website: www.scunthorpeunited.co.uk |
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- Sheffield United
- Pool play them: Tuesday Sep 19 (away), Wednesday, Dec 26 (home)
- Last meeting: Oct 5 1993 (League Cup) Sheffield Utd 2 Blackpool 0
- Last season’s finish: 18th (Premiership) - relegated
- Info:Talisman Phil Jagielka has gone to Everton but the returning Billy Sharp has scored almost 60 in the past two seasons in League One. Bryan Robson is charged with taking the Blades back to the Premiership, having done so at Middlesbrough and having kept West Brom up against the odds two seasons ago.
Verdict by James Shield of the Sheffield Star: “I would back United to finish second or third – depending on the fitness of Rob Hulse – but creativity in midfield is still a problem. May get off to a sluggish start but then expect them to start climbing.”
Telephone: 0870 787 1960
Ticket office: 0870 787 1799
Website: www.sufc.co.uk |
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- Sheffield Wednesday
- Pool play them: Saturday Oct 27 (home), Saturday Apr 19 (away)
- Last meeting: March 12 2005 (League One) Sheff Wed 3 Blackpool 2
- Last season’s finish: 9th (Championship)
- Info:Midfielder Chris Brunt will cause problems with his excellent left foot. Mr Reliable Lee Bullen has played in all 11 positions for the club! Brian Laws was appointed from Scunthorpe last November after twice winning promotion. The Owls hope he brings stability after many managerial changes.
Verdict by Paul Thompson of the Sheffield Star: “The aim is to challenge for the top six after winning nine of the last 13 games last season. However, the squad has not been strengthened dramatically and the £26m debt has long been a handicap.”
Telephone: 0870 9991867
Ticket office: 0870 9991867
Website: www.swfc.co.uk |
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- Southampton
- Pool play them: Saturday Nov 24 (home), Saturday March 8 (away)
- Last meeting: Dec 17 1977 (Division 2) Blackpool 0 Southampton 1
- Last season’s finish: 6th (Championship)
- Info: Powerful Polish striker Grzegorz Rasiak and compatriot Marek Saganowski are the players to watch. The vastly experienced Claus Lundekvam will shore things up at the back. George Burley won promotion to the Premiership with Ipswich, earning a fifth-placed finish and UEFA Cup qualification in first season. Moved on to Derby and Hearts before guiding Saints into the play-offs last season.
Verdict by Simon Carter of the Southern Daily Echo: “Burley was given £7m to spend last season – only Birmingham spent more. We certainly look a top 10 side and hope to get in the play-offs again. We should score enough but look light defensively.”
Telephone: 0870 2200000
Ticket office: 0870 2200150
Website: www.saintsfc.co.uk |
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- Stoke City
- Pool play them: Saturday December 15 (away), Saturday Mar 22 (home)
- Last meeting: Jan 1 2002 (Division 2) Stoke 2 Blackpool 0
- Last season’s finish: 8th (Championship)
- Info: Apart from former Blackpool loan favourites Carl Dickinson and Andy Wilkinson, Salif Diao has proved a good signing from Liverpool and will be especially important following the loss of Darel Russell. Tony Pulis is in his second spell and used loans well last season.
Verdict by Martin Spinks of The Sentinel: “We’ll certainly need more goals from the strikers this season; so much depends on new signing Jon Parkin. We’ll do well to match last season but the play-offs aren’t impossible.”
Telephone: 01782 592222
Ticket office: 01782 592204
Website: www.stokecityfc.com |
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- Watford
- Pool play them: Saturday Sep 29 (home), Sunday May 4 (away)
- Last meeting: March 7 1998 (Division 2) Blackpool 1 Watford 1
- Last season’s finish: 20th (Premiership) - relegated
- Info: Goalkeeper Mart Poom looks an excellent signing, while a fully fit Marlon King will be a big presence. Adrian Boothroyd was offered a new deal despite finishing rock-bottom of the Premiership. Appointed in March 2005 and won over doubters by getting the best out of his players.
Verdict by Kevin Affleck of London Evening Standard: “The ever-optimistic Boothroyd predicts promotion but claimed Watford would finish in the top 10 of the Premiership. Three outstanding players have gone in Ashley Young, Ben Foster and Hameur Bouazza. Much hinges on whether King can regain his form of the promotion season Play-offs may be the best hope.”
Telephone: 0870 1111881
Ticket office: 0870 1111881
Website: www.watfordfc.com |
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- West Bromwich Albion
- Pool play them: Tuesday Oct 23 (home), Saturday Apr 5 (away)
- Last meeting: February 6 1993 (Division 2) Blackpool 2 WBA 1
- Last season’s finish: 4th (Championship)
- Info: The Baggies have bags of Premiership quality, including Captain Curtis Davies. Tony Mowbray was tough and uncompromising as a player and instills similar qualities now. Success at Hibernian preceded his appointment last October but suffered Wembley heartbreak in the Play-off final.
Verdict by Steve Marshall of Wolverhampton Express and Star: “Despite all the big-money departures there’s still plenty of quality in the squad and they should finish in the top six at least. They have money to burn and will be able to strengthen in January if necessary.”
Telephone: 0870 0668888
Ticket office: 0870 0662800
Fax Number: 0870 0662801
Website: www.wba.co.uk |
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- Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Pool play them: Saturday Aug 25 (home), Tuesday Feb 12 (away)
- Last meeting: February 28 1989 (ODivision Three) Blackpool 0 Wolves 2
- Last season’s finish: 5th (Championship)
- Info: Andy Keogh will want to show how dangerous he is and winger Michael Kightly is much-coveted. Mick McCarthy’s difficult spell at Sunderland ended with the sack and the ex-Republic of Ireland boss took the Molineux job in July 2006, reaching the play-offs in his first season.
Verdict by Mark Douglas of the Wolverhampton Express and Star: “Following Steve Morgan’s £30m takeover expectations are high. The pressure is on for a play-off place at least Automatic promotion is realistic.”
Telephone: 0870 4420123
Ticket office: 0870 4420123
Website: www.wolves.co.uk |
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