Pool Panel - Week 2 - Shrewsbury (a) Lost 2-0 and Blackburn (h) Lost 2-1

Another defeat but plenty of signs that we’re not that far away.  After Tuesday’s ignominious exit from the Capital One Cup, on Saturday we showed plenty of resilience, skill and effort but unfortunately came up short.

I’m taking the view that up to the international break in early September, we’re in our pre-season as a direct consequence of the failure to recruit until the last couple of weeks.  Anything gained from games between now and then will be a bonus.  Having said that, for the first time in maybe 18 months I came away from Bloomfield Rd genuinely encouraged and entertained by what I’d seen.  We gave Blackburn a real run for their money and deserved a point from the game.  As we develop a better fitness level and understanding of the tactics from the manager, I’m sure we can be a force in the Division.  It’s therefore scandalous that we’ve shot ourselves in the foot by having no preseason seemingly due to Karl’s intransigence over Riga’s transfer targets.

For me, it’s essential that Riga and Oyston develop some kind of relationship that enables the former to do what he is clearly capable of doing, ie coach and manage a team to play attractive, winning football.  He needs the backing that will bring in the additional quality and quantity of players to give the fans what they crave; a team they can invest their backing in.  Over the last couple of seasons we’ve seen the quality gradually ebb away along with the entertainment value.  Riga is bringing that back.  Long may it continue.

STARMAN: Peter Clarke (Shrewsbury); David Perkins (Blackburn)

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Pool Panel: Game 1 - Notts Forest (a) Lost 2-0

After an utterly shambolic close season, we unbelievably turned up at Forest to discover that ‘administrative errors’ meant we couldn’t use some of our new signings.  This meant that we could only field four players on the bench, only one of whom was an outfield player with any League experience.

For a club supposedly ‘cash rich and stable’ this is simply unacceptable and surely a full explanation must be provided and lessons learned so this doesn’t happen again.  We were already miles behind the rest of the Division in terms of preparedness, so this is the final straw to the patience for many.

Despite these self-imposed handicaps I actually came away from the City Ground encouraged by what I’d seen.  Riga has clearly worked with the players at his disposal and compared to the previous 18 months we were playing some decent football when we had the ball.  Those players we have managed to get in look as if they’ll be comfortable at this level.  Yes, we conceded twice and lost, but given the state of the summer we’ve had, this was a moral victory for Jose Riga.  For me, the season hinges on whether his relationship with Karl Oyston is one that can be made to work.  If he stays, and gets the support he deserves, then this season might still be one to remember.

The ball is firmly in Karl’s court.  He has to back his manager otherwise the name of Blackpool FC will continue to be dragged through the mud.

STARMAN: Peter Clarke