Blackpool v Lincoln Official Matchday Thread 03.09.20

1-1. Lincoln have started like a train! Saying that, 3 key players missing too.
 
Heavy rain and windy throughout the game. Not sure who that will help the most, but I doubt pretty football with no end product is going to fare very well in that sort of weather.
I would suggest starting with Plan B if we had one.
 
Very good preview from a Lincoln blog, a good perspective on us too...

Looking Ahead To Blackpool | The Stacey West

Analysing Lincoln City's trip to Blackpool on October 3rd and why it might be a good time to play the Tangerines
staceywest.net staceywest.net

Blackpool are a decent side, one I tipped for promotion this season, but I might have been a little hasty. They made a lot of signings over the summer, some of which I think could be big players at this level, but they haven’t gelled just yet and coach Neil Critchley is still adding to his ranks. For instance, Luke Garbutt has yet to appear for them and I wonder if maybe there has been too much recruitment there for instant results. There has been a fair bit for us, I get that, but some of the relationships already existed; Scully and Elbouzedi for instance, McGrandles and Walsh, Eyoma knew some of the squad, as did Bridcutt. We weren’t quite as much of a blank canvas, but Blackpool might be.

Keshi Anderson, Marvin Ekpiteta, Jerry Yates, CJ Hamilton, Ethan Robson and Bez Lubala all started the 2-0 defeat against Gillingham and they were all in League Two last season. The only player I suspect might struggle to impress regularly in League One is Anderson, but the others could take time to adjust. They haven’t been dropped into a group of players used to playing at a higher level and established, like Anderson, Grant, Hopper, McGrandles and Brdcutt all provide for us. Instead, they have to forge the identity from new. I firmly believe Neil Critchley will get them there, but that for us, tomorrow is the best possible time to face Blackpool.

Garbutt hasn’t played, they have just signed Jordan Gabriel from Forest and I strongly suspect Demetri Mitchell will be a big player for them too, but they need time to settle under the manager. Critchley is like MA, a coach, someone who doesn’t just gather good ingredients but has the skills to turn them into a tasty prospect too. In terms of means, Blackpool are perhaps where we want to be in a year or two. In terms of squad progression, we may be where they want to be in three months time.

I’m not saying that means we’re going out to win there, but the notion that we are a brand new squad coming together successfully, quickly isn’t really right. A core of our squad has been together since January, with other elements having settled well.

The other aspect of the game which intrigues me is the fact we’re both playing a 4-3-3. They play a neat, passing game, just as we do, and they’ll look to retain possession in the middle of the park, as we do. Ethan Robson is a real talent there, he moved from Sunderland in the summer and plays the holding role, with Anderson and former Ipswich man Grant Ward in attendance too. I think there is scope for us to control that battle, and we’ll do that through Liam Bridcutt. He’s not shone as yet this season, but I think tomorrow could well be his game. Given that both Ward and Anderson are attacking players, I think if the midfield battle turns into a real scrap, we are better equipped with grafters. I might be wrong, and if Blackpool do break, they will at pace, but that central area is going to be huge and I’m confident that our midfield is the most composed and functional part of our embryonic team.
 
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voyeur said:
Very good preview from a Lincoln blog, a good perspective on us too...

Looking Ahead To Blackpool | The Stacey West

Analysing Lincoln City's trip to Blackpool on October 3rd and why it might be a good time to play the Tangerines
staceywest.net staceywest.net

Blackpool are a decent side, one I tipped for promotion this season, but I might have been a little hasty. They made a lot of signings over the summer, some of which I think could be big players at this level, but they haven’t gelled just yet and coach Neil Critchley is still adding to his ranks. For instance, Luke Garbutt has yet to appear for them and I wonder if maybe there has been too much recruitment there for instant results. There has been a fair bit for us, I get that, but some of the relationships already existed; Scully and Elbouzedi for instance, McGrandles and Walsh, Eyoma knew some of the squad, as did Bridcutt. We weren’t quite as much of a blank canvas, but Blackpool might be.

Keshi Anderson, Marvin Ekpiteta, Jerry Yates, CJ Hamilton, Ethan Robson and Bez Lubala all started the 2-0 defeat against Gillingham and they were all in League Two last season. The only player I suspect might struggle to impress regularly in League One is Anderson, but the others could take time to adjust. They haven’t been dropped into a group of players used to playing at a higher level and established, like Anderson, Grant, Hopper, McGrandles and Brdcutt all provide for us. Instead, they have to forge the identity from new. I firmly believe Neil Critchley will get them there, but that for us, tomorrow is the best possible time to face Blackpool.

Garbutt hasn’t played, they have just signed Jordan Gabriel from Forest and I strongly suspect Demetri Mitchell will be a big player for them too, but they need time to settle under the manager. Critchley is like MA, a coach, someone who doesn’t just gather good ingredients but has the skills to turn them into a tasty prospect too. In terms of means, Blackpool are perhaps where we want to be in a year or two. In terms of squad progression, we may be where they want to be in three months time.

I’m not saying that means we’re going out to win there, but the notion that we are a brand new squad coming together successfully, quickly isn’t really right. A core of our squad has been together since January, with other elements having settled well.

The other aspect of the game which intrigues me is the fact we’re both playing a 4-3-3. They play a neat, passing game, just as we do, and they’ll look to retain possession in the middle of the park, as we do. Ethan Robson is a real talent there, he moved from Sunderland in the summer and plays the holding role, with Anderson and former Ipswich man Grant Ward in attendance too. I think there is scope for us to control that battle, and we’ll do that through Liam Bridcutt. He’s not shone as yet this season, but I think tomorrow could well be his game. Given that both Ward and Anderson are attacking players, I think if the midfield battle turns into a real scrap, we are better equipped with grafters. I might be wrong, and if Blackpool do break, they will at pace, but that central area is going to be huge and I’m confident that our midfield is the most composed and functional part of our embryonic team.
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Very good and impartial summary of where we’re at IMO.

Bit of a worry too. My mild optimism for this afternoon has taken a bit of a knock. 😟
 
As I’ve said elsewhere - today’s a tough game against a good squad with a very good manager - as long as we play our game and do so for 90 minutes I’ll have no complaints win or lose. I want to see us improving, finessing our style, and cutting out the mistakes from previous games - there’s no excuse for another slow start. A repeat of that really would be the only thing to concern me.
 
Thanks Voy. Good blog. It looks like two similar teams and a win will be a very good result for us. Because of the way NC's sides play we need to dominate the midfield in this game or our front line will be starved of chances. The advantage last season was that we could pump the ball straight to AG when outplayed in midfield and he did the rest. I predict 2-2 and would be delighted if we got three points.
 
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Given the weather forecast, and that very well written Lincoln perspective I think I would be tempted to leave out an attacking midfielder, maybe Williams or Virtue (if fit), or Garbutt even for Anderson?
Husband to replace Notts for me, and at some point let’s have a look at Madine and Yates on the pitch at the same time, especially if we are chasing the game.
 
2-0 Pool today. We’re going to find our flow, score 1 in the first half and exude confidence from there on in with the second goal coming nicely with the run of play.
Please don’t bookmark this thread 🥴
 
Interesting read the Lincoln blog. Had not heard much about how Lincoln play till I read that. A more settled squad v a still developing squad. After further consideration I hope we have developed sufficiently to scrape a narrow 1-0 win.
 
This must be the physically smallest BFC side ever. More set piece issues again today with that starting team. ☹️😮
 
I'm ok with this team.
Gabriel hasn't been with the team long enough to go straight in & Garbutt hasn't played enough football to start.

Critch can't keep changing the team every week because of iffy performances, otherwise there will be no consistency.
 
SeasideKurt said:
I'd have played Madine with Yates on the left. For 2 reasons. Defensive corners and this weather is garbage. It's going to be scrappy and I've liked what I've seen from Madine in the past few games.

Gabriel for Turton and I'd have given Mitchell a break for Garbutt.
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Agree with all that apart from Mitchell, also not sure how match fit garbutt is and we can use Tuesday for that.
 
1 big question boys.....
No centre back on the bench...
What happens if 1 of our centre backs gets injured or has a fooking mare ?
 
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