 | Blackpool versus West Bromwich AlbionLocation: Bloomfield Road (Blackpool)Date: Monday, November 1 Time: 4:00 p.m. Eastern Records (W-D-L, +/-, Place): Blackpool, 3-1-5, -7, 14th Brom, 4-3-2, -2, 6th |  |
English Premier League Week 10 Preview: West Bromwich Albion Goes Seaside To Take On Blackpool
Each possible outcome of Monday’s Premier League closer will leave the league’s table in a relatively shocking state. If the Seasiders win, they move ninth, meaning all three recently promoted clubs would be in the league’s top-half. Should Blackpool share points with visiting Brom, the Baggies would sit above Spurs after ten matches, and if West Bromwich Albion wins, they’ll climb into a Champions League spot. Soon it will be cliché to stare mouth-agaped at the standing of the league’s newest clubs (it will be so 2010). Instead, we’ll be discussing the strength of the top of the Championship, particularly given the performances of Cardiff City and Queen’s Park Rangers.
But this is a supposed to be a Premier League preview? Oh, OK. Sorry about the digression, and sorry to break the news: Both teams are likely to be without their best players. Blackpool’s orchestrator Charlie Adam picked-up an ankle injury against Birmingham and is set to sit. For West Brom, striker Peter Odemwingie’s knee still isn’t good enough to go, though replacement Marc-Antoine Fortuné looks like his fitness doubts will be gone by Monday.
Beyond injuries and ironic context, the match offers the best of a new English Premier League. For decades the league has been rightfully characterized by overly-physical football, the reflection of a culture built by valuing effort and physical strength. After a generation’s debate over the lack of skill in the English game, new faces within the Premier League have adopted styles which promote more creative play. Blackpool manager Ian Holloway’s amongst those faces, and although Roberto Di Matteo is neither new to the league nor English, he joins Holloway to help change the reputation of the world’s most popular circuit.
Projected Lineup, Blackpool (4-3-3): Gilks - Crainey, Evatt, Carthcart, Eardley - Adam, Vaughn, Taylor-Fletcher - Varney, Harewood, Campbell
Oh, can we just be hopeful that Adam will play?
Projected Lineup, West Brom (4-3-3/4-5-1): Carson - Shorey, Olsson, Tamas, Jara - Mulumbu, Scharner, Morrison - Thomas, Fortuné, Brunt
Key Matchup: Craig Cathcart and Ian Evatt don't get as much help from Ian Holloway as West Brom's center halves get from Roberto di Matteo. Brom's coach helps protect his defense from the 4-3-3's shortcomings by starting both Youssuf Mulumbu and Phil Scharner, midfielders known more for their defensive acumen than their offensive contributions. The closest thing Blackpool has to a stopper is Adams, meaning the Seasiders are likely to be exposed to the benefits of Brom's 4-3-3.
Battle Within The Battle: Both goalkeepers have had strong starts to the season. Matthew Gilks has been amongst the most tested and successful number ones in the league. His hot start is the most ready explanation for Blackpool’s unexpected competitiveness. Scott Carson’s performances for West Brom have moved him back into the England picture. Calling a comparison between two goalkeepers a “battle” may be a stretch given where they’re deployed on the pitch; still, both `keepers are capable of winning this duel by stealing three points.
Pick: Blackpool has not beaten Brom since 1970 and dropped two 3-2 results last season. With a number of goals likely to be scored, this match shouldn’t be much different, though if Charlie Adam does not play, the result will be lopsided. If Adam’s healthy, we could see Brom by a 3-2 score. Without Adam, we could see Brom win 4-1.
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