Opinion: Blackpool leave taste of what could've been as standard is set for next season

Opinion: Blackpool have left a taste of what could’ve been in the last few weeks after a season that simply wasn’t good enough.

The recent run of form to secure League One survival has been exceptional, and any thought of the ultimate disaster seems very distant now.

In fact, in the strange world of football, Saturday’s 1-0 victory over Leyton Orient moved the Seasiders up to 13th - which is nose bleed territory given the campaign on the whole.

The scenes at Bloomfield Road were superb once again at the weekend, as the fans got the place bouncing from start to finish.

There was real unity at full time as the players did their lap of honour to sign off another season on the Fylde Coast.

The squad should be celebrated for the way they’ve pulled themselves out of a major hole to avoid relegation; in the same way it’s right to criticise them for being in that position in the first place.

Despite the many things that have gone wrong for the club in the past 12 months, and beyond, it was only right that both fans and players made the most of a moment to enjoy - even if it’s not what everyone set out to achieve back in August.

Looking back now safety is secured, Blackpool’s two good spells are frustrating more than anything, as it shows what they are capable of.

This is a team that could’ve been pushing much higher up the table, and the fight over the past month should’ve been for a much better prize.

There are mitigating factors - such as the injuries they’ve endured at times, but when you look back at the major slump from January to March, there was more than enough still available for things to be so much better than what they were.

Obviously, the squad hasn’t turned out to be the promotion chasers that they were meant to be when assembled, but nor are they the relegation fodder they looked like at times - they’re somewhere in between, and at least that offers a base to build on.

Last summer wasn’t the massive step forward that the investment should’ve brought, and plenty of things on the recruitment front need to be addressed again.

The pro is, some of last year’s work was a good starting point, and a complete clear out is far from required - it’s going to be more about carefully pinpointing the areas that need the biggest upgrades to match the way Ian Evatt wants to play.

Snapping up Reuell Walters and Karoy Anderson on permanent deals would be the perfect place to start after their impressive loan spells, while handing Steve Thompson a new contract to stay with the coaching staff has to be on the agenda too.

In a season of doom and gloom it does feel as if there’s a place to kick on from, that could see some of last year’s signings come good on a more consistent basis.

The big thing that’s in place is a unity with the fans, and that’s something that needs to be built on as well by ensuring as many people as possible are in the ground around come August.

Credit is deserved at both ends - a ticket deal that also coincided with the homecoming game opened the doors, while supporters more than played their part by turning up and getting behind a struggling team.

As seen in the last few weeks, not many visiting teams can cope with Bloomfield Road when it’s like that, so imagine the levels it could reach if next season’s prize is so much more than a safe mid table spot.

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