New Delhi: With the ever-changing landscape of the top-half of the EPL table now having taken shape, it is the basement of the table which seems to be hotting up in the home stretch of the 2010-11 season.
Every year pundits and book-makers have given the magic number i.e. the number of points needed to stay up in top-flight English football. But such has been the story of the season that along with the title no team has been guaranteed safety.
The flavour of the season has been the team from the south coast. The Tangerines from Blackpool gave the phrase "Attack is the best form of defence" a new meaning. Not being intimidated by the new-boys tag in the league, their brand of fearless, attacking football has been a treat to the eye for the neutral.
Vibrant players like Charlie Adam and DJ Campbell clearly showed that the 'Tangerine Dream' saw no dead end, let alone detours. But such has been the disappointing standard of the league that in spite of gathering praise from managers and players alike, Ian Holloway and Co. went through their worst form in the league at the least desired time, if there ever was one.
Losing three games on the trot before captain Fantastic Charlie Adam rescued his side with a last-gasp winner against Bolton, the Seasiders would be hoping and praying that history repeats itself. In 2006, Hull faced relegation in their faces and to add to that a trip away from home to Manchester United after the Red Devils had sealed the title.
United fielded a weakened side keeping the Champions League final in Moscow in mind, but still managed to beat the Tigers 1-0. What worked for Phil Brown's side was the fact that every side battling in the relegation dog-fight lost!
Blackpool would be hoping for a similar fate, just that if Blackpool draws against Manchester United and the likes of Wigan and Birmingham and Wolves lose, we would see another season of the Bloomfield Road faithful cheering their team on in full pomp!
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