A Tangerine Dream

Ian Holloway is an interesting character. As large an understatement as the hole in Blackpool's defence and as large as the heart they continue to show. The scope of what he has achieved so far with the plucky seasiders cannot be underestimated, but while the fate of his team will be decided across a 38 game season, Holloway's own may be bought to an altogether more untimely end, and all because he has his finger on the trigger, and is aiming squarely at his own head.

Blackpool are most certainly formed in the image of the eccentric Bristonian. His desire to succeed courses through the veins of the side and has driven Blackpool onto results most thought impossible. He is without doubt the heart of the team, and if his threat to quit if charged by the F.A over fielding a weakened team becomes a reality, Holloway may just be confirming his caricature as a joke figure rather than an accomplished manager, and rip the heart out of everyone's second favourite club.

"He has his finger on the trigger, and is aiming squarely at his own head"

Harry Redknapp recently said; “even Jose Mourinho would struggle to do better than Ian Holloway has done”. Most will agree with this but a glance into his checkered past casts doubt over his credibility. The three month spell at Plymouth and relegation with QPR do not hint at a successful Premier League manager, although it seems he has found a home at Blackpool, a place where he can put his coaching skills to practice. However it is not his coaching skills which are in doubt, but his managerial skills - and he must balance both to ultimately succeed. It seems it's now time to lose the eccentric interviews and the outlandish comments. Holloway is a man who cannot now hide behind his personality - in the Premier League he will rightly be judged on the results he achieved.

Quitting would not only hurt his career but put Blackpool in serious jeopardy. Holloway should, no needs, to learn the lessons of Mick McCarthy and Wolves and move on to complete the job he has started. As much as most can agree that the F.A charge is ridiculous, most will agree that Holloway's response bears the same hallmark. To undo the hard work and to jump off the roller-coaster mid-loop would be sheer lunacy, the act of a mad man. Oh dear.......