Blackpool vs West Ham preview - Adam set to captain Seasiders - 7M sport

Blackpool vs West Ham preview - Adam set to captain Seasiders



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Posted Wednesday, February 02, 2011 by PA

Blackpool vs West Ham preview - Adam set to captain Seasiders

Blackpool captain Charlie Adam will lead the side out at home to West Ham after failing to secure a move in the January transfer window.

Manager Ian Holloway strengthened his squad by bringing in four players on deadline day and must decide which, if any, to involve against the Hammers.

That quartet are strikers James Beattie and Sergei Kornilenko plus midfielders Andy Reid and Jason Puncheon. Holloway will hope to have left-back Stephen Crainey in contention again after he missed last week's home defeat by Manchester United with an ankle injury.

Holloway expects Adam to be as committed and professional as ever but the Seasiders' boss has warned all his squad they will be dropped in an instant if he senses any of them lacking motivation.

Adam handed in a transfer request last week after learning of Liverpool's interest, but the Reds had three bids turned down and even a cheeky offer from Tottenham failed at the last minute.

Holloway insists he does not have an issue with the 25-year-old wanting to move to a bigger club - and has pledged to do everything to make it happen - but he did not want him to leave midway through the Seasiders' first season in the top flight for four decades.

"Charlie's been fantastic for us and he can feel however he feels, but he is still professional," Holloway said. "He has to deal with the fact he has at least another 15 games to get us at least another four wins and then wait and see what happens in the summer.

"I would love him to go to a club he wants to when the time is right. I have no doubts he will get where he wants to be eventually, but I didn't understand the timing or his impatience.

"I believe he is getting better all the time and without a shadow of a doubt in the summer it will be impossible to hang onto him. But for now everything can go back to being about the football because we've an awful lot of work to do, we've got to improve.

"I'll have to see how people are (ahead of West Ham's visit), whether they are motivated or not. But I strongly recommend to anyone who pulls on a Blackpool shirt that they better remember that or I won't pick them."

New signings Robbie Keane, Demba Ba and Gary O'Neil are all in contention to make their West Ham debuts.

Victor Obinna is likely to retain his place after netting a hat-trick in the FA Cup win over Nottingham Forest after his return from suspension, meaning Carlton Cole could have to be content with a place on the bench.

Manuel Da Costa (ankle) and Thomas Hitzlsperger (thigh) remain sidelined.

Keane maintains he has "nothing to lose" as the Republic of Ireland striker looks to fire West Ham out of the relegation zone.

The Hammers are Keane's eighth club since he made the breakthrough at Wolves, and last season he spent a loan spell in Scotland with Celtic.

The much-travelled frontman, though, is confident he can have an impact for his latest employers.

"It is something I am fairly used to now, coming to a new club," Keane said.

"It is an opportunity for me, and I don't really have anything to lose.

"West Ham are bottom, all we can do is push up the table and I am here to hopefully do that to avoid relegation."

Manager Avram Grant believes Keane is just the character the Hammers need in their fight against relegation.

"I can only be myself, if other people can see me bringing something else to the dressing room, well great," the striker said.

"I am here to help the team, if that is off the pitch also with the character I am, then that is great.

"The spirit is fine here, there are good lads and top quality players."

Grant, meanwhile, is a big fan of what Blackpool have achieved on their Premier League debut.

"For me, they are the team of the season and Ian Holloway is the manager of the season," the Irons boss said.

"They did miracles because everyone said they would quickly be on their way to the Championship again, and also I like how they play football."



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