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Busy Transfer Window Ahead For Blackpool FC

Michael James

With Blackpool failing to meet expectations this season, currently lingering in 15th, 11 points off the promotion places and just 10 points above the bottom four, there is certainly work to be done in this transfer window.



With an already large squad, and some players under-performing, there is a lot of room for improvement, and it will be interesting to see if Steve Bruce uses any of his contacts to bring some fresh talent to Bloomfield Road.


Here we look at some of the business Blackpool could conduct in the next month.



Outgoings

There are several positions that Blackpool are certainly flush in, with one of those being at left back.


Neil Critchley opted in the summer transfer window to bring in multiple fullbacks to suit his back-five system, but Steve Bruce is now opting for a back four, leaving a few quality defenders out of the match-day squad.


One defender who could be on his way out of the club is Dominic Thompson. The former Brentford man has found his play time very limited this season, only playing in a handful of cup games so far.



After spending last season out on loan at Forest Green Rovers, and failing to impress, it was a surprise to see Thompson stay at the club past the summer transfer window.


With James Husband, Hayden Coulson, Zac Ashworth and Andy Lyons all ahead of Thompson in the pecking order, Blackpool should consider moving him on to free up money on the wage bill.


Another defender to consider moving on would be Zac Ashworth. Signed in summer from West Brom, Ashworth has hardly had a chance in the starting 11, finding himself behind Coulson and Husband.


However, he has shown signs of promise when featuring in the team, and so should not be let go permanently. A loan move to a higher end League Two club could help Ashworth kick on.


Moving away from the defence and into the midfield, poses the question as to whether Josh Onomah should be given another chance at the club.


The injury-struck midfielder was given a six month contract to try and improve his fitness on his return from injury, and he gave the Seasiders some impressive performances.


Unfortunately, he picked up another injury in the past few weeks, resulting in him being out for the next few months.


Blackpool need to decide whether or not to give him another chance at the club, or whether to move him on and free up more money on the wage bill.


Finally, one of Blackpool’s Achilles heels this season is their inability to find the back of the net consistently, and that is not helped by some of their under-performing strikers.


Jordan Rhodes looks like a poor signing from the summer transfer window. After his brilliant loan move last season, Rhodes has not hit the ground running and looks lost in some games.


His lack of pace is hampering his performances in this Steve Bruce side, resulting in him finding his play time extremely limited.


With him being signed in the summer, it would be a harsh decision to let him go already, but Blackpool need to sort their goal-scoring problems out.




If not Jordan Rhodes, then Jake Beesley could find himself playing elsewhere by the end of January. Like Rhodes, Beesley’s playtime has been extremely limited, and his performances have been poor so far.


He has previously been linked with a move away from the club, but this time it could come to fruition.


Incomings

There are a few positions that Blackpool could improve in, one of those being out wide.


With Critchley playing a back five at the start of the season, the club found itself not needing any attacking wingers. Now Bruce is in charge, playing a back four, Blackpool are struggling out wide, with CJ Hamilton and Rob Apter being the only natural wingers at the club.


With Hamilton being injured for the past few weeks, Bruce has had to shoehorn various players into a wide position, including left-back Hayden Coulson, an out-of-form Elliot Embleton, and midfielder Sonny Carey.


This has restricted Blackpool going forward, and they looked much better against Shrewsbury when CJ Hamilton came back from injury, with him grabbing an assist just moments after he came off the bench.


There are two loan slots open at the moment after Dan Ballard found himself recalled by Southampton, so Blackpool could find themselves bringing in at least one winger on loan.


Blackpool should also be looking at another striker in this window. With Ballard being recalled, Beesley and Rhodes being out of form, and Ashley Fletcher not being able to find the back of the net, Blackpool could certainly do with some goals up top.


With the style of football Bruce is trying to instil at Bloomfield Road, they need a young striker, willing to run and chase the ball down, and one that can drop short and help link play, helping compliment Kyle Joseph’s style of play.


This position desperately needs filling, especially if the club decide to move on Rhodes or Beesley as well, as they are light in this area already.


Finally, if Blackpool are willing to spend the money, they should sort their goalkeeping position out.


After the surprise sale of Daniel Grimshaw just days before the end of the transfer window, Blackpool have not been flush with great goalkeepers.



Harry Tyrer was signed on loan from Everton, and Richard O’Donnell is far from the required standard of the first team at the moment.


Whilst Tyrer has performed well so far this season, it would be beneficial for Blackpool to have their own first choice keeper, rather than relying on a loan player.


Blackpool could enquire about Tyrer, and see if Everton are willing to part ways with the young shot-stopper, or they could look to spend a bit of the money gained from the Grimshaw sale to bring in a top keeper at this level.


It could certainly be a busy transfer window for Blackpool, in terms of incomings and outgoings, but they will need to act fast.


There are a lot of big teams in League One, capable of offering a lot more money than Blackpool are, so they may need to rely on Bruce’s connections to help bring some fresh, young talent in.

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