Biggest Money Match of them all ...

From relegation favorites to the Premier League. Brilliant year for Blackpool. Unfortunately, they're on the hook for facility improvements to even get into the Prem, so most of that money is already spoken for.

Given the talent level of the club, their poor defense, and the lack of money to improve the squad, they should rival Derby's 07-08 run unfortunately.

But it's a great accomplishment for the Tangerines nonetheless.

 

Some great play by Blackpool -- that free kick by Charlie Adam for their first goal was brilliant. I though the last two goals for them were as much due to poor defending as anything else. A corner kick that goes through 3 defenders on the line? Amazing. Still, Blackpool made Cardiff pay for their sins, and I look forward to them being in the top flight. Their all time legend Jimmy Armfield is pretty pleased too.

That Adam is a player, he's led from the front for them all year. Keith Southern, their MOTM in midfield, is pretty OK too.

 

One of my football drinking buddies is a longtime Blackpool supporter, so I was hoping this would happen for his sake.

 

This is the beauty of relegation/promotion. They'll finish 20th next season, but for their fans a chance to see top flight football in their home stadium (and get the upgrades to the stadium paid for) for the first time since 1971. It is an amazing story.

Their manager Ian Halloway will be a great interview. If anybody saw his rambling "proper people, and what is wrong with the country today" postmatch talk with the trophy in hand is classic. All reporters seem to do is ask a question and get the hell out of the way.

 

Ever wonder why more clubs don't go to Spain or Italy for keepers? Both countries have youth basketball programs, right?
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And you can tell Don's an anglophile:

Sticking possessive apostrophes on a possessive pronoun is a particularly 'Brit' foible. Dunno why.. just is. Even some of their best writers make that typo on their and your.
Some lesser brit writers just stick apostrophes everywhere there's an 'S'.

 

No sticker on your post, Don.

 

Thank you God for bringing Blackpool up and not Cardiff.

 

Any particular reason?

 

So how exactly could Cardiff be allowed to play in the English Premier League, is it because the were grandfathered in the English FA when the Welsh PL formed in 1991?

 

Thank you, fair sire.

And I guess this happens in other nations.

Most notable I think is Derry City F.C. of Northern Ireland who play in the Republic because of sectarian issues.