The big Bloomfield Road freeze may have caused many a Fantasy Premier League (FPL) Manager serious selection issues for a couple of Gameweeks in early December, but, on the upside, it now means Ian Holloway’s side face a run of three doubles within a six Gameweek period, with every match in these doublers being at home.
With the second Wildcard imminently on offer, there’s bound to be a few transfers-in of the Seasiders players as managers look to bolster their squads following a highly unpredictable festive period.
The Opponents
First up this Tuesday, Holloway’s side host a Birmingham side that now find themselves in the relegation zone, due to a poor run of form that has harvested one win in their last ten matches, and only two victories since Gameweek 2. Alex McLeish’s side have yet to win away from home this season, picking up just four points from their nine games. They have scored just nine times on their travels, and have failed to find the net in three of their last five away games. Defensively, they have chalked up two away clean sheets, conceding fourteen in total.
The weekend sees FA Cup Round Three kick off before Blackpool return to league duties the following midweek, this time against Liverpool. Roy Hodgson’s side have severely underachieved this season and their performances on the road have been even less convincing than Birmingham. Granted, they may have a win under their belt, but Liverpool have six losses in nine away games and have scored a paltry six goals outside Anfield. Defensively, they also have just two clean sheets on the road, conceding sixteen times. Fernando Torres has netted just one away goal so far, an indication of their ineptitude thus far.
Current Form
Blackpool come into the double Gameweek with just two defeats in their last nine matches, one of the better records over the past couple of months. Their away form has been sensational this season, with five wins and five clean sheets already.
Further analysis of their home form shows that Blackpool have always got amongst the goals. Holloway’s side have played six home matches and have never failed to score, netting twice on five occasions. The attacking nature of their football means their defence has yet to repel a single opponent at Bloomfield Road, though, conceding two or more goals on four occasions.
Rotation Risk
Holloway has a small squad of trusted players, with a starting XI practically set in stone. So far this season, if one of Holloway’s core players is fit and available for selection, he plays. A recent injury to Elliott Grandin, however, has allowed Matty Phillips some game time and the youngster’s speed and trickery proved so problematic to Man City last Saturday that site favourite Aleksander Kolarov was subbed before the hour mark. Holloway recently sung the praises of the 19 year-old, saying:
“The lad is so good it’s scary. I am glad I don’t play anymore because I would not like him running at me. There are aspects of his game he needs to improve on but the world is at his feet.”
Phillips could start at least one of the two matches then; elsewhere Holloway is suggesting that he’ll juggle the resources available to steer his side through the busy period. With the Gameweek 22 fixtures being a week apart, it seems unlikely that this policy will kick-in just yet.
Potential Targets
Defensively Blackpool certainly remain a risk – Ian Holloway will rarely look to close a game down and subsequently his defenders come with a health warning. Yesterday’s Watchlist article on Stephen Crainey outlined his appeal and he perhaps remains the best option within the Seasiders defence. Fellow full-back Neal Eardley could come under threat from fit-again Alex Baptiste, so Ian Evatt is perhaps the next best alternative. His presence at set-plays has at least seen him notch a goal and, along with Crainey, he earned 4 Bonus Points.
Attacking returns seem far more likely. In light of the above-mentioned Blackpool home form and their respective opponents dire away records, a haul in the region of three goals over the two games for the Seasiders seems realistic. With that in mind:
Charlie Adam
The top-scoring FPL Bonus Points player so far this season, he’s at the hub of all things good about Blackpool. Adam’s set-piece duties and passing ability means he is virtually always amongst the points when his side perform, and even in defeat -as illustrated by the award of 3 Bonus Points in last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Eastlands- his role within Holloway’s system seems tailor-made to be looked upon kindly by the Bonus judges.
With postponements affording Holloway’s side more of a rest than any other team- plus the Scot’s recent one match suspension- Blackpool, and Adam, will be fresher than most as these January fixtures commence.
Predicted Return: 1 goal, 2 assists, 4 Bonus Points
David Vaughan
His hard work in centre midfield gives Adam the platform on which to pull the strings and Vaughan’s toil is not overlooked by the Bonus Judges; he has 11 so far; in terms of midfielders, that’s just two less than Gareth Bale but the same number as Florent Malouda and more than Tim Cahill.
Predicted Return: 1 Bonus Point
Luke Varney
Something of an unsung hero this season, the on-loan Derby man has been impressive up front for Holloway’s men. With an fine average of 5.3 points per home game, Varney seems to rise to the occasion in front of his own fans, having only failed to either assist or score in just one of the club’s Bloomfield Road games so far.
Predicted Return: 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 Bonus Point
DJ Campbell
Coming into the doubler on the back of some decent form; Campbell scored three times in Blackpool’s two December matches, picking up 20 Fantasy Points for his displays. Yet to score at home so far, but with their two upcoming opponents so out of sorts, has a great chance to rectify that stat.
Predicted Returns: 1 goal
