Do Blackpool have two top flight championships in their trophy cabinet? No. Do Blackpool have 30,000 expectant fans at their home games? No. And has Blackpool’s manager had the money Billy Davies had at Derby to take them up and watch them flop? No, but you know why I’m going to compare these two teams…

As Derby County did in 2007, Blackpool are the latest team promoted to the Premier League via the playoffs, in a match touted as the richest in football. And just like Derby County did in 2007, Blackpool done it as the underdogs. To make another comparison between the two sides, both were widely expected to finish bottom of the Premier League the following season. Derby County more than lived up to those expectations, finishing the season with a number of Premier League records and in a mess.

When Derby County gained surprise promotion to the Premier League, they came up with a history that included two First Division Championships in the 70′s, 6 seasons in the Premier League between 1996 and 2002, a 33,000 capacity stadium and a bit of spending money for the manager. While Billy Davies blew a lot of that money on the likes of Robert Earnshaw, Claude Davis and Kenny Miller, fromwhom they saw no positive return. Ian Holloway hasn’t had that luxury. Blackpool are experiencing Premier League football for the first time, only have a small stadium and the manager hasn’t been given a cheque book to improve his small squad.

This week has seen Blackpool finally make their first signings of the summer transfer window. They’ve come in numbers too. A few youngsters and the free signing of Marlon Harewood. It’s nothing to send anyone’s pulses racing with excitement. It’s not enough to convince any doubters that Blackpool will stay up at the first attempt. As with Derby, Blackpool are heading into this season under-prepared.

In goal they’re going to need Matthew Gilks to pull off some heroics in order to pick up a few unexpected points during their stay in the Premier League. Arguably the most important position for any team, I’ll wait until the season gets going before I decide to rate Gilks.

Defensively they look vulnerable. They were in the Championship too. They finished outside the top 6 in terms of goals allowed last season, and it only gets tougher now. The pace of the Premier League attackers will hurt this team. Ian Holloway transformed the likes of Alex Baptiste last season and Blackpool will almost be depending on him to be a rock last season. Ian Evatt and Rob Edwards have minor Premier League experience between them, but for most defenders in this squad I expect the pace and skill of the Premier League front men to come as a big shock to them.

Tagged as lazy and a waste of space by a number of Glasgow Rangers fans, Charlie Adam turned out to be one of the signings of the season last term. He’s got good ability and technique and this season is a chance for him to shine and improve on the few international caps he has for Scotland. I would expect Blackpool’s creativity to come through Adam. I don’t expect him to get stage fight, but I wonder if he frustration will kick in if things don’t go his way. Captain Jason Euell adds the experience in midfield. Something this team lacks.

Marlon Harewood comes across as a desperate late signing to me. And not a quality one. One good season at West Ham back in 2006, Harewood has struggled since then, just as he did in the Premier League with Nottingham Forest way back when. He’s a target man, but as all newly-promoted teams are looking for a regular goalscorer, Harewood is anything but that at this level. Blackpool need goals and I don’t see where they are going to come from with their current batch of players. Even if it is their most experienced part of the squad, with both Harewood and Brett Ormerod having previously played a number of seasons in the Premier League.

And the manager himself, Ian Holloway. A good character in front of the camera, even if he toned down last season. While he has Premier League experience as a player, many a year ago, the lack of managerial experience in this league is going to hurt him also. I don’t rate the team he has and he’s seemingly struggling to bring in talent. Loan signings are a must at this stage, but ultimately I see him fighting a losing cause.

While Derby County’s 11 point record appears to be near-impossible to break, finishing in the bottom 3 means the same thing at the end of the day, and that is where I expect Blackpool to be. I’ll be happy to see them prove me wrong, but ultimately I expect these to be solid bets for the season:

Under 26 points 11/10
Blackpool to Finish Bottom of the Premier League 10/11

No, it’s not the Bolton hard man calling it quits on the England squad that have obviously overlooked him for many years. Instead, Blackburn’s first choice goalkeeper has called it quits on playing for England after a frustrating time since Sven Goran Eriksson departed.

I was surprised he wasn’t even on the plane to South Africa this summer given his performance in the Premier League last season, backed up by having the highest number of clean sheets of any English goalkeeper in the top flight last season.

A regular starter in the Premier League since he broke into the starting 11 at Leeds United before conceding a Premier League record 85 goals the season they were relegated and transferred to Tottenham for a mere £1,500,000 in 2004, having already made his international debut. He picked up 41 international caps, but may be remembered in an England shirt for the ball bouncing over his foot and into the net from a Gary Neville backpass during a 2-0 defeat in Croatia in England’s unsuccessful Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Spurs fans may remember his best for his 96 yard goal against Watford; the longest in Premier League history in March 2007. At Tottenham he also picked up his only winners medal to date; the Carling Cup in 2008.

Given that Paul Robinson has handed over his gloves, here is a list of English goalkeepers Fabio Capello can choose from:

Joe Hart (Manchester City)
It will be heartbreaking for England’s best goalkeeping prospect if Joe Hart cannot knock Shay Given off the number 1 spot or get a transfer away from Manchester City this summer. As he showed previously at City, and on loan at Birmingham City last season, Joe Hart is a top goalkeeper in the making. He needs to be playing first team football in the Premier League for Capello to give him a chance. He has great reflexes and is a great shot stopper. There are question marks over his positioning at set pieces, but that’s the same with every English goalkeeper it seems.

David James (Bristol City)
Still a dependable goalkeeper at 40 years of age, David James is unlikely to see much action in an England shirt having dropped down a division. He is however a good character to have around and a good influence on younger goalkeepers and defenders alike. If Capello is to bring in a lot of the under 21 squad it will be worth keeping David James around a little longer to tutor them.

Robert Green (West Ham United)
Not an international class goalkeeper in my opinion. He’s erratic and prone to mistakes. The one against the USA at the World Cup had been on the cards after a poor season with West Ham. Maybe he needs confidence? He’s not going to get it with the Hammers with a weak defence in front of him. He needs to put in a large number of good performances to get back into contention in my opinion.

Ben Foster (Birmingham City)
He had an opportunity at Manchester United, but failed to grab it with two hands. Ben Foster is still rated as a goalkeeper with potential. He’ll have a chance to live up to it this season as he becomes Brimingham City’s first choice following his transfer from United. He needs to eradicate the errors from his game that saw him drop behind Tomasz Kusczack at Manchester United if he is to contender for the number 1 jersey in the England squad. Joe Hart was overlooked after putting in a solid season at the Blues, so what chance does Foster have at Birmingham? He’s already been called up to the squad for a midweek friendly with Hungary!

Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic)
A top goalkeeper that has also been overlooked by Fabio Capello. Injuries at crucial times have cost the Wigan Athletic shot stopper from claiming more than 1 international cap. He also goes through spells of bad patches. In those cases, he must not be near the England squad. When he’s at the top of his game though he should certainly be considered, especially given the situation with a lack of top goalkeepers England are currently going through.

Scott Carson (West Bromwich Albion)
Remembered for his blunder in England’s crucial defeat to Croatia in their final qualifying game for Euro 2008. Scott Carson had been playing well for Aston Villa up until that point. Since then it seems to have been depleted of confidence. As West Brom’s first choice keeper during their last unsuccessful Premier League campaign, he was at fault for a few goals then too. With all the action he’s likely to see this season I can see Fabio Capello giving Scott Carson a call up to the England squad. If he ever gets capped by England again I hope it’s after a magical turnaround in performances and not on the basis of not having anyone better. Right now, Scott Carson is anything but international quality.

With one month to go of the summer transfer window, Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is still trying to sign 19 year old Inter Milan forward, Mario Balotelli for the second time in his career.

Mario Balotelli was destined for great heights as early as the age of 16 when he signed for the Nerazzurri. The Ghanian-born Italian under 21 international broke into the first time in Serie A when aged just 17, and gained national attention with a brace against rivals Juventus in the Coppa Italia that season. In the following two seasons that have passed, Balotelli has been a bigger part of the first team and a regular in their Champions League matches too. His goalscoring record in the Champions League is poor for a striker currently, but Manchester City fans need not worry about that should they sign him this month. A 1/3 record in domestic competition is pretty impressive from the wide forward, who didn’t always play 90 minutes under Jose Mourinho, and who also takes set pieces.

Talented

His talent is unquestionable. A pacey wide player who could devastate a few Premier League defences. However, he is both frustrating to watch for fans and team mates alike. A player who trips over shadows more often than Arjen Robben, Mario Balotelli isn’t one to get back and join in with the defensive side of the job. He can take a decent set piece, has blistering pace, great touch and a good finish. The beholder of more than enough quality to light up the Premier League, should he be in the right mental state and well guided.

Behaviour

His off the field behaviour is one that could get him in the spotlight often with the way the English media love stalking top Premier League footballers. As a child, Mario Balotelli once annoyed his local priest on a trip to the mountains, so bad that he was made to walk the journey home. Only recently did he make the news for doing donuts in one of his sports cars… drunk. In between these events, trouble for Balotelli has included being fined by his team and being seen wearing the shirt of rivals AC Milan. Is he mature enough for the pressures that come with playing at the top end of the Premier League?

Speculation

Not participating in Inter Milan’s 3-0 victory over Manchester City in a pre season friendly this past weekend has only increased speculation that Balotelli is set to join Manchester City. With Martin Petrov already sold to Bolton Wanderers, Robinho wanting a move away from the club and Craig Bellamy constantly linked with a move away from the club this summer, there is space for Mario Balotelli down the left wing in the starting line up. And there is certainly room for another talented, somewhat controversial character in the Premier League…

With the new 25 man squad rule coming into the Premier League this season, many of the top clubs in England’s top flight will be looking to cut the size of their squad before the deadline at the start of September; the day after the transfer deadline day.

For the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, with their billions, who may not be concerned by their wage bill, but as things stand, there are several players who will not be featuring for them until January at the earliest. Senior players such as Ricardo Carvalho, Craig Bellamy and Stephen Ireland have been linked with moves away from the club to continue their careers.

While only 25 players can be registered until the winter transfer window, an unlimited number of players under the age of 21 on January 1st 2010 may also play without being registered. This to help the development of younger players. Hopefully this does not force managers to keep onto their youngsters just to fill the bench when they could be gaining valuable first team experience out on loan.

Players not fit to start the season, such as Manchester United’s Owen Hargreaves and Fulham’s Andy Johnson, two big signings for their respective clubs, could miss the first cut. Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has already announced that injury-prone England defender Jonathan Woodgate will not be in his initial 25 man squad. With clubs currently over the 25 man squad, this could lead to a large number of players being sent out on loan. A blessing in disguise perhaps for Ian Holloway and his Blackpool, who have struggled to improve their squad so far this summer following their surprise promotion.