What can we take from Blackpool's pre-season? Who impressed and who struggled to make an impact?

But how did the Seasiders get on this summer? Who impressed and who needs to do better?

Blackpool FC writer Matt Scrafton takes a look...

OVERVIEW

Results-wise Blackpool enjoyed a fairly strong pre-season, winning three of their six friendlies and drawing with Premier League side Everton. Both defeats came with major caveats too, with a weakened side going down to a 3-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers and a host of half-time changes resulting in a 7-2 reversal at the hands of Premier League champions Liverpool, with Pool having previously held a 2-1 lead.

Neil Critchley’s side began their pre-season preparations with a routine 4-0 win against National League North side Southport thanks to goals from Grant Ward, Sullay Kaikai and debutants Keshi Anderson and Jerry Yates. This was followed up by a 2-1 win against Port Vale, Sullay Kaikai and Anderson the scorers, before Pool made it three wins from three with a 2-1 victory against David Dunn’s Barrow - Jordan Thorniley and Matty Virtue getting the all-important goals - in Blackpool’s first game at Bloomfield Road since March.

Blackpool performed admirably against Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton next, racing into a three-goal lead thanks to CJ Hamilton, Kaikai and Ward before being pegged back to 3-3. Their first defeat of the summer came against a strong Blackburn Rovers outfit, who beat Blackpool’s weakened side 3-1, Virtue netting for a second time in pre-season.

The Seasiders were cruelly knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties the following weekend after drawing 0-0 with Championship side Stoke City, a game in which they dominated for large parts. The club’s pre-season preparations then came to an end at the weekend at the home of the Premier League champions Liverpool, as Blackpool threw away a two-goal lead thanks to goals from Hamilton and Yates to eventually lose 7-2 to Jurgen Klopp’s men.

WHO IMPRESSED?

Summer arrivals Keshi Anderson and CJ Hamilton have arguably been Blackpool’s standout performers in pre-season. Anderson arrived to mixed reviews from fans of his former club Swindon Town, but he’s been a revelation with his energy and bursting runs from central midfield. Hamilton, meanwhile, is rapidly (an apt word given his electric pace) becoming an early fan favourite following some impressive showings. Develop a consistent end product and the 25-year-old will be hard to stop this season, as Liverpool’s James Milner can certainly attest to.

Elsewhere, Ethan Robson and Grant Ward have also performed well alongside Anderson in midfield. For Ward, it was key he made the most of pre-season after having a difficult time of it in recent times through injury and he’s done exactly that. It was only a few months ago he was considered backup at best following some underwhelming displays under Simon Grayson, but he’s likely to be considered a starter under Critchley.

Michael Nottingham has been another that has stood out in pre-season, having looked set for the exit door only a few months ago. Used previously as a right-back, the 31-year-old caught Critchley’s eye as a centre-back during his loan spell with Crewe Alexandra last term, where he helped Dave Artell’s side to promotion from League Two. Nottingham has since been utilised in that position in tangerine and it’s done his chances of getting regular game-time the world of good.

Youngsters Nathan Shaw and Cameron Antwi have certainly done themselves no harm, either. Both were deservedly named on the bench in Blackpool’s Carabao Cup tie against Stoke City, a reward for their strong showings in pre-season.

WHO STRUGGLED TO MAKE AN IMPACT?

Liam Feeney was named the club’s player of the season last term but, following an array of new arrivals this summer, the winger now finds himself on the periphery. He was a standout performer last season thanks to his 18 assists in all competitions, but at the age of 33 there’s doubts about where he now fits into Neil Critchley’s 4-3-3 system and if he’s capable of playing the high-intensity, pressing style the Blackpool boss wants to see from his players.

At the start of pre-season, Blackpool fans had high hopes that Teddy Howe would stake a claim and make the right-back position his own, but it’s not transpired that way. The solid and ever-reliable Ollie Turton has kept him at bay and, with rumours of a potential new arrival in his position, Howe now has a fight on his hands for first-team involvement. If he’s involved against Barrow tomorrow night, he must catch the eye.

Elsewhere, Gary Madine has struggled to make an impact, while Jamie Devitt continues to be left out with a move away still not coming to fruition. The 30-year-old, who has yet to make a competitive appearance for the club, hasn’t even been handed a squad number for this season.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

As we all know, results count for very little in pre-season. Fitness is the name of the game and the Seasiders certainly look up to speed having begun their pre-season training nice and early, earlier than a lot of other sides in the lower leagues anyway. Neil Critchley’s men look sharp and raring to go for Saturday’s season opener at Home Park. Fitness will prove crucial this season with the way Critchley wants his side to play.

Performance-wise there have been plenty of encouraging signs too. Blackpool have looked well-drilled, structured and, most importantly of all, exciting to watch. Critchley has brought a new brand of football where his players, who all know their roles, will constantly look to play on the front foot with an adventurous and ambitious mentality. The one and two-touch passing, inter-play and movement has been a joy to watch at times and, unlike the Blackpool side we saw under Simon Grayson last season, we should expect to see this rejuvinated team create and score a hatful of chances. If there's one slight negative, the Seasiders have looked susceptible to conceding from set-pieces, which is something the Seasiders will need to work on in the coming weeks and months.

Blackpool’s summer arrivals, 11 in total so far, have integrated well but there’s still plenty of time to do more business, with the transfer window not closing until October 16. As previously mentioned, a right-back looks likely, as does a centre-back. But only the finishing touches are now required with the club having done the vast majority of their business early on.