Refreshed Bruce has Blackpool bouncing
Today at 02:30 AM
September the 3rd was a strange night for many Tangerine fans like myself. We had just beaten Crewe in the Football League Trophy and news rolled in of Steve Bruce’s appointment. The appointment was met with raised eyebrows and thoughts was this an April Fools joke. Needless to say, the veteran boss has shown he still has it with the fans buying into his ethos and principles.
Releaving former general Neil Critchley of his duties at the club was something that needed to be done. The rugged and dull 3-5-2 system which never changed had become to pragmatic and easy for teams to work out. This is something that Bruce has shelved and put his own stamp on and you could say ‘has gone back to basics’.
System change
Blackpool have been stuck in a rut since last season with the three at the back with wing-backs being the ‘steering wheel’ at the club. The steering wheel clearly needed a new driver and Simon Sadler made the correct decision to dispose of Critchley. The wing-back aura is over and the trusted 4-4-2 is now back. Bruce has breathed new life into the club the old faithful formation. Often in his first two games at Exeter and Charlton, the Seasiders have been front-footed and break at huge pace and it is League One specialist Lee Evans who is the conductor of the orchestra who sweeps the ball out wide to the rapid CJ Hamilton and all action Rob Apter who are giving defenders nightmares.
In behind strikers
Bruce has now two fine irons in the fire with England under-20 international Dom Ballard and the energetic Kyle Joseph who are completing each other. Both young forwards possess raw ability and Joseph especially has been unshackled. A big money signing last season under Critchley always seemed to lack confidence is now showing his true colours and is giving defenders no time to think with his off the scales pressing and harrying. He played a crucial role in the first goal against the Addicks and is winning most of his aerial duels and is feeding Ballard who will undoubtably bag a plethora of goals this season.
Midfield solidity
Ollie Norburn has also been removed of his cuffs and is playing a crucial part alongside Evans barking orders to his comrades. A hamstring injury has rocked the Grenada international who now has to sit a month out on the sidelines. The return of Albie Morgan was a massive boost to the Tangerines. Morgan cropped up with crucial goals and assists last season and, with just his first league appearance of the campaign, netted the winner against his former employers. Bruce is a big fan of Morgan and his capability to fill the void left by Norburn bore fruit immediately. Lee Evans continues his golden spell with Pool. The ability of the magician to twist and turn and calm the game is a joy to watch.
Rob Apter
The League Two Young Player of the Year last season who pulled up many trees with Tranmere Rovers was never going to fit as a wing-back. Apter is a throwback old school winger who specialises in running at defenders and crossing the ball in. Bruce knows the Scotland under-21 star’s ability and the winger role for the starlet. Apter has put in two brilliant performances and the homegrown hero is starting to purr.
Streetwise play
Something which the club severely lacked last term which ended up with the Seasiders finishing outside the play-offs by a point was no backbone. Too many times away from home Blackpool lost and even this campaign the limp 2-1 defeat to Crawley showed that dark stigma sticking. The win at The Valley with the determined 11 men putting their bodies on the line was something which was missing under Critchley. In just two weeks under Bruce, Blackpool are showing that tough streak again. Oliver Casey, Odeluga Offiah, Jordan Gabriel and James Husband were like men possessed in the first two games under the new man and showing the true passion that is needed to rocket up the table.
With the games coming thick and fast, Blackpool have started to build some steady momentum and face tricky fixtures coming up. Under Bruce, things will only get better.
