In recent years quite a few teams have shocked and surprised English football by making their mark on the Premier League no sooner than they have set foot in it, Burnley's win over Manchester United and turning Turfmoor into a fortress, Wigan and Reading's battles for Europe in their maiden seasons and Stoke cementing themselves as a top flight club in no time at all to name but a few. However none of these triumphs have turned as many heads as Ian Holloway's Blackpool have managed to do this season.
Labelled as one of the favourites to go down in the Championship last season, the tangerines replied to their critics and earned a play-off place, going on to beat Cardiff 3-2 in a thrilling final. And no sooner had the final whistle gone at Wembley than people had re-labelled them favourites to be in that dreaded bottom three once again, but this time in the Premier League.
The lack of signings, due to the lack of funds, at Bloomfield Road only encouraged talks of the side not standing a chance in England's top flight. Their main coup over the summer was that of DJ Campbell. The former Leicester City man spent last season on loan with Blackpool and played a key part in their promotion success and after making the move permanent has been pivotal so far this season being the club's top scorer with six goals. They also managed to secure the services of striker Marlon Harewood who has contributed five to the Seasider's goal tally so far.
Despite having to start the season with almost the same squad they came up from the Championship with, and the minor speed bump of having to switch their opening game to an away match due to Bloomfield Road not quite being ready, Holloway's men did not take long to defy the odds by embarrassing Wigan in their own backyard. Beating them 4-0, they went top of the league for a little while on the opening day until Chelsea later put six past West Brom.
Blackpool however were brought back down to earth a week later, being hammered 6-0 by Arsenal at the Emirates, and then knocked out of the Carling Cup by League One outfit MK Dons just three days later. However, since then they have more than proved that they are capable of holding their own with some massive results including wins at Stoke, Sunderland (something that Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United have all failed to do this season) and even took all three points away from a visit to Anfield. And although the whole team can take credit for these incredible results and Blackpool's success, there is one man who has been crucial in making it all happen, Ian Holloway.
The Bristol-born manager takes both hilarity and controversy wherever he goes, and his first visit to the Premier League has been no different. In the past four and a half months he has ranted about Sir Alex, slated FIFA and almost quit after the threat of a fine for making ten changes to his squad for a game against Aston Villa, a match his side only just lost 3-2. But along with this he brings humour that you would never see from another top flight manager and never fails to make people laugh, even when he's trying to be serious!
He is undoubtedly a great manager. What he has done at Blackpool so far is bordering on unbelievable. They currently sit in 11th in the Premier League, just 4 points away from what will more than likely be Europa League places by the end of the season, and five points above the drop zone in what has to be one of the tightest campaign's in the league's history. I think I speak for almost everybody when I say long may Holloway be their manager and long may Blackpool's amazing run continue, and hopefully they will be gracing England's top flight for many seasons to come.