What's the talk in the stands?
Greeting fellow season ticket holders in the adjoining seats who have been following Blackpool for years and the smiles on everyone's faces - really told you everything - we were about to witness the Seasiders in the Premier League. The buzz at the end of the game reflected how well the team had played and a new belief that Blackpool might just actually survive this first season in the Premier League. PG
Do we like the new stand and, of course, the DJ Cambell will he? . . . won't he? saga. The concensus was that the stand looks good and that DJ deal is still not dead! DM
Pre match it was a look of surprise amongst us that the new ST Card system worked remarkably smoothly! Post match it was that the players left the pitch the most disappointed of the two sides GB
Was it a fair result on Saturday?
Despite the fact that the late equaliser from Utuhu was disappointing at the time denying Pool all three points I think most people would have taken a draw after the Arsenal thrashing last weekend. The hard working Seasiders deserved nothing less for an excellent display from start to finish. PG
Yes a fair result. We probably shaded overall play, Fulham made more of their approach play. DM
Possibly about right, but no-one could have complained had we come away with all three points. The turning points were clearly the naivety of Prefect Oliver in allowing the Zamora goal despite the foul on Evatt and the marginal offside of Zamora, followed by the disallowed Grandin Goal when Stockdale embarrassed himself. GB
Best chant?
It was only after Fulham's scored against the run of play did the 1200 cockneys began to find their voice which was greeted with the wry "we thought you'd all gone home" reply from the Bloomfield Road faithful who were in fine voice especially in the second half after Pool took the lead. PG
Nothing stood out in terms of content but the volume after our second goal was mightily impressive. DM
Not a chant, but after the second goal, the sight and sound of Pool fans going wild on all four sides of the ground will stick in my mind for a long time. GB
Funniest moment?
The half -time challenge involved two fans from both clubs to race each other inside a large plastic ball across the pitch for £250. The Pool fan set off at quite a pace whereas the Fulham fan despite all his efforts was getting nowhere until Bloomfield bear finally let him go - Tony Parr the announcer tongue in cheek said Pool fans would probably win this game all season. PG
Stockdale slipping over when clearing under intense pressure from the North Stand !! (Hope the lad's not badly injured though.) DM
Looking up and seeing Capello in Corporate. Very surreal. The H/t Ball thing reminded me of the early 'nineties h/t slapstick of the sumo wrestlers. And possibly Capello's face when some said to him, "erm 'fraid not Vaughan is Welsh". GB
Who were Blackpool's star players?
Confident Charlie Adam our midfield maestro was everywhere tidying up in the centre with superb distribution and joining in the attacks and was on top of his game against Fulham he could even have got on the scoreboard on numerous occasions. Varney also started well and looks to be a solid loan signing from Ollie. PG
Baptiste, Grandin, Adam and Varney, plus a couple of good and important saves by Gilks. Of those Grandin was my Man of the Match with Varney the hero for the goal(s) involvement. Looks like we've got another good 'un in Varney. As the boss says 'It's not where they've come from it's where they're going to.' DM
No-one had a poor game, but the midfield three were immense. Grandin just gets better every game.GB
Any regrets?
Not to finish with three points was regrettable this was easily a game that Pool could have won as they dominated for long periods and more importantly created many chances in front of goal. In this league we have to be able to kill games off otherwise teams are likely to punish you for one mistake which is exactly what Fulham achieved. PG
I wish we could have hung on for 3 points. Perhaps at 2-1 Ollie might have considered Sylvestre coming on to protect the back 4 from their midfield runners (and take Brett off), but I ain't going to criticize the gaffer! DM
Referee: Oliver. GB
Opposition any good?
They played neat-passing football and Bobby Zamora was the stand out player always dangerous and likely to pop up and hurt you at anytime on the other side of the coin John Paintsil was dreadful and not only did he score a calamitous own goal but was instrumental in helping Pool go into the lead with some poor defending. PG
A decent side, crisp passers, Zamora a handful. DM
The fact that Duff was substituted says a lot about how we comtrolled the game. Zamora a handful and Dembele neat and tidy. GB
What next?
Blackpool bounced back after two disappointing defeats and played extremely well against a Fulham side who had drawn the previous week against Manchester United. With the transfer window about to shut all eyes will now be focused on who Blackpool bring in to strengthen the squad because our entire season will probably rest on the quality of our next signings. PG
Bring in a keeper, left back, and a couple of strikers by Tuesday, bed them in during the international break and go to the Toon refreshed and all guns blazing. DM
The Ctrl-V and Ctrl-C key strokes on Caravan's laptop will be doing overtime as the window rumours fly thick and fast. GB
Final thoughts?
Saturday was a proud moment in many ways for all Blackpool fans the sight of watching the Tangerines in a Bloomfield Road Stadium smartened up and with four sides back together with a beautiful pitch was a sight to behold and it was fitting that England Manager Fabio Cappello was also present to enjoy a wonderful entertaining game which I hope would also have impressed the newcomers. PG
Great game, good result, good start to the season. Happy days, long may they last! Come on you Premier League Pool !! DM
Four points from 3 games and one of the probable-banker no points out of the way is a start that bodes well. GB