I’ve passed through Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. All the time you are aware of the passion South Americans have for football. Boca v River in Buenos Aries, the passion of Newells Old Boys from Rosario, the endless number of dirt football pitches even at 3,000 meters above sea level in the middle of nowhere in Bolivia.

When any local ask me where I’m from they always respond with the same question, City or United. (I live in Manchester) a surprising number know about the team in Tangerine when I explain I’m a Blackpool fan.

At Boca's Stadium in BA

Every county I’ve been too also has a terrible history or civil wars, dictators etc. The south Americans have a little temper let’s say.

I’ve been keeping up with events at home, the results, the lack of signing, fans wanting to know where the money has gone.

All I can say is it’s a good job that Blackpool aren’t based in Argentina or Chile as there would have been full scale rioting, instead everyone has hit the message boards to display their anger.

However….

If I had been in deepest, darkest Amazon Jungle and could only receive scores then its been a good start to the season, 12 points on the board from 7 games and in 7th place.

Things could be worse…. it will be interesting to see how we fair in the next few months as I travel in New Zealand!

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A view from abroad

Let’s hope we’ll be back in the Prem when I return!

John!

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A season break for me

It’s also my last match for 12 months as I’m going traveling around the world.

You could not make thus stuff up!!

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Manchester United v Blackpool

Another great day in the capital chatting with a range of fans from the Mansfield and Darlo fans there for the LDV final to the Spurs fans on the way back to Euston. Even strangers in London asking how we got on!

Ollie in the end got the right team out, Kornilenko just doesn’t seem fast enough for this level of football. It was a classic away performance with is soaking up pressure and looking to score in the break.

Credit to Charlie for sticking the second pen away, but again he wasn’t plaguing to his best.

Hopefully this results gives us a little more confidence going into next week! Up the Pool !!!

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Spurs 1 – 1 Pool

This isn’t a must win game but more of a “match wigan results game”. With Spurs having one eye on playing mid week we might have a chance today.

I hope we start with the same 11 bar Phillips out and Puncheon in.

As ever whatever happens it’s going to be a good day out!! No hangover this morning which makes the train a little easier!

Up the pool!!

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Spurs v Pool

What was really interesting was the starting 11 featured 9 of the starting 11 from the play-off final. Erds played instead of Coleman and Phillips in for Brett. Hopefully having that core set of players over the next set of games will reignite us on a run similar to the one 12 months ago.

Three points would have gone a long way with West Ham, Wigan and Blackburn Rovers losing over the weekend. At least it’s back in our hands now.

Here’s hoping for Stoke win tonight!

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Blackpool 1 – 1 Newcastle

I missed the home match last year when Rovers grabbed a last minute winner. Since then big Sam has been booted and Steve Keen has tried to get rovers playing football.

It will be interesting to see how rovers play today, try to bully us or go head to head and out football us.

With Charlie back Grandin and Fletcher too we are almost back to full strength. Next week Gilks should be back which is just in time for the important run of games.

Let’s just hope for another famous away win today, the 11:00 am to Blackburn awaits…

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Blackburn v Pool

It’s hard to tell if Ollie was forced into the change with a lack of personal?

The good news from the night is we now have Crainey back, Grandin and GTF on the bench. With Charlie back for the next match we are going into a important period of games with key players back into contention. Gilks is back in training too, his return can’t come sooner.

Here’s looking forward to Blackburn for the Lancashire derby!

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Blackpool 1 – 3 Chelsea

With good results for Wolves, West Ham and West Brom at the weekend the gap is shortening all the time. And tonight, we face Chelsea.

For anyone at the away game this season there was a bit of gulf between the two sides in the first half half with home side notching up four goals. However that day we set about with a strange 4-1-2-1-2 formation with Alex Baptiste playing as holding midfielder.

Second half we changed to our normal formation and Charlie ran the show, we didn’t concede and had a few great chances to score.

However tonight we’ll be missing, Grandin, Gary Taylor-Fletcher, DJ, Charlie Adam and Stephen Crainey. Without Crainey at left back we look very lop sided and Luke Varney lack support which allows him to go forward. Until Crainey gets back in the side I can’t see us getting the most out of Varney.

However it’s not all doom and gloom, Chelsea have only managed 2 away wins in their last 9 away matches. With torres not looking anywhere near full fitness or form we could get something out of tonights match.

We still have the outstanding record of scoring in 37 concesutive home matches, the last match we didn’t score was against Derby, I missed that match so I have to go back to Saturday 4th April 2009 when we failed to score against Plymouth, a total of 40 games!

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Pool V Chelsea

Vinspired.com are giving away tickets to Premier League football matches for volunteers. There’s a whole range of places to volunteer across the Fylde coast including sporting activities.

The scheme is aimed for young people aged between 16-25. All you need to do is visit: vinspired.com/football, register, select your team (Blackpool!) and your then your in the draw for tickets.

Even if your not lucky enough to win the tickets the experience is great for boosting your CV as well as helping to pick up new skills, meet new people and maybe some job opportunities.

The scheme is being supported by my ex pro’s including Chris Kamara “I’m proud to say I’ve already made the team – I’ve recently volunteered to climb Kilimanjaro for charity and I’m really excited to get involved and do my bit to raise awareness for a worthwhile cause. Whatever your interests, you can go to vinspired.com to find out about a huge range of volunteering opportunities and see how you can make a difference too.”

So for an unbelievable opportunity head over to vinspired.com/football and get signed up!

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Get Volunteering for Free Blackpool FC Tickets