Blackpool v Everton: Preview

05 November 2010 20:03
Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has a long-term vision - winning the Champions League with Charlie Adam pulling the strings.

Adam is involved in a bonus dispute with the club which the Premier League is in the process of making a ruling.

The influential Scotland midfielder looks set to retain his place in the side to face Everton tomorrow even though he may need another pain-killing injection in his troublesome ankle.

Holloway hopes Adam puts down roots at Bloomfield Road as he has high hopes for the newly-promoted team.

He said: "I realise I might lose my best players because they will go and be paid a damn sight more elsewhere.

"I would love Charlie Adam to stay for a long time and get us in the top four, maybe Champions League places, maybe winning the Champions League.

"You might think I am crazy but I am not. I have watched games over the last few days and I have watched my team play.

"You know what? I am very proud. I am very proud of how we are playing football. We are playing it the right way with our passing.

"We need to be a bit more clever in and around goal, and show a bit more belief. You see Tottenham's passing, Real Madrid's passing, we can do that.

"I want to create an atmosphere where the players know I believe in them and that is what I have been doing. This is a fantastic journey and I do not want it to stop."

Northern Ireland defender Craig Cathcart is doubtful after he suffered a recurrence of a back injury in the win over West Brom.

Holloway has already addressed the problem by withdrawing Dekel Keinan and Rob Edwards from a reserve game in midweek.

Meanwhile, Everton manager David Moyes has urged winger Seamus Coleman to take a leaf out of Tottenham star Gareth Bale's book.

Bale has emerged as one of the hottest properties in Britain after a series of outstanding performances for Spurs, not least against European champions Inter Milan this week.

Yet Bale was not even a Spurs regular a year ago and Moyes can see similarities with Irish youngster Coleman, who ended last season on loan at Blackpool.

Moyes said: "Seamus has done great. He is getting games for us now, albeit probably not in his right position.

"We have played him wide on the right when he is a right-back.

"But the experience he is getting - there is a similarity to Gareth Bale.

"Bale is playing wide left but is really a left-back.

"It is getting him the games, there is a lot of competition at right-back here.

"I think it has been good for his development and in time when he does step back, hopefully he will have learned from it."

Coleman showed glimpses of his talent for the Toffees last season before joining Blackpool in March and playing a key role in their promotion to the Barclays Premier League.

Moyes believes Coleman is a better player for his spell away and the 22-year-old will get chance to remind Seasiders boss Ian Holloway of his talent when Everton travel to Bloomfield Road.

"Blackpool played a big part in his development because he went there and played in a team which was successful," Moyes said. "He went right through to the (play-off) final.

"He has done fine but he has just had a little dip in the last week or two and we will need to assess exactly where we think he is."

Jack Rodwell is unlikely to return to action against the Seasiders.

The 19-year-old has made a quicker than expected recovery from an ankle injury and was an unused substitute against Stoke last week but is still not fully fit despite a reserve-team run out.

He could again be given a place on the bench but Moyes all but ruled out a start.

Leon Osman faces a further six weeks out after undergoing surgery on his injured ankle while Marouane Fellaini (hamstring) and Ross Barkley (broken leg) are still out.

Striker Victor Anichebe (knee) is stepping up his comeback and returned to full training on Friday after playing 20 minutes in the reserves in midweek.

Source: DSG