Sunderland signed Ian Poveda earlier this week.
How would you summarise his loan spell at Blackpool a few years back?
I liked Pov.
Michael Appleton wasn’t keen however, and nor was Mick McCarthy. Both of them seemed to fall out with him.
He had a couple of great games and he was frankly Maradona-esque (I’m not exaggerating) against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup, but he ended up being sidelined by Mick’s long ball game.
In roles reversed, ex-Sunderland striker Ashley Fletcher recently scored his first goal for Blackpool.
What are your thoughts on this signing?
Hopefully he scores a few more with us than he has in his career to date.
He’s played a fair amount of football at a higher level so he can’t be useless…we hope!
Bolton Wanderers v Sunderland – Sky Bet Championship
Ashley Fletcher made 16 appearances during a loan spell at Sunderland, scoring two goals. Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images
Looking at League One, there are eight ex-Premier League sides in the division.
How do you rate Blackpool’s chances of automatic promotion or of reaching the playoffs?
I think we’re about four quality players short of where we need to be right now.
Neil Critchley has returned to Blackpool after a spell as Aston Villa assistant and as manager of QPR.
How do the fans feel about his return, and how has he got on?
Critchley is a polarising figure.
His fans would say he steadied the ship after a terrible year prior and made us professional again, whereas his detractors would say his style of play sent us to sleep and that his caution cost us a playoff berth.
Reading v Blackpool – Sky Bet League One
Blackpool have signed Zac Ashworth, Hayden Coulson, Lee Evans and Jordan Rhodes.
How do you feel about the window so far?
Ashworth seems a handy signing but is quite raw. Coulson we already know (he was on loan last year) and we’re pleased with him.
Rhodes is a natural goal scorer and Evans is potentially the midfield player we’ve lacked forever, but those two need to stay fit.
As I said above, I think we need more to really compete.
Aside from the players we’ve mentioned, who are Blackpool’s standout players?
The problem is we don’t really have ‘standout’ players.
That said, I really like Sonny Carey, who’s sort of a ‘League One Phil Foden’ type.
Dan Grimshaw is an excellent keeper and we’ve got high hopes for Rob Apter (from our own youth setup) who had a storming loan spell at Tranmere last season.
Reading v Blackpool – Sky Bet League One
Elliot Embleton enjoyed a fantastic loan spell at Blackpool under Critchley when you last achieved promotion, and he could be available again.
Would you take him back?
If Embo is the player we had on loan and his injuries haven’t taken a toll then aye, because he was a really intelligent player and a pleasure to watch.
How have Blackpool got on so far in pre-season and what style of play can we expect?
Won one, drawn one, lost one.
We often play like England under Gareth Southgate. We may or may not have a shot, and sometimes it feels as if we’re doing a training exercise as opposed to playing a game.
Occasionally it clicks and we look great, but sometimes the wheels fall off and we look hopeless.