A number of Blackpool players benefitted from the appointment of Steve Bruce last September.
Steve Bruce’s arrival at Bloomfield Road last season proved to be beneficial for a number of Blackpool players.
Several players experienced personal development during the season, even if the Seasiders ultimately missed out on a spot in the League One play-offs.
Sonny Carey probably got better the most while Bruce was in charge. The 24-year-old was in the best shape of his career while on the Fylde Coast.
The midfielder’s strong play in the second half of last season gave him a lot of choices this summer. He chose to move to Charlton Athletic in the Championship on a free transfer after Blackpool turned down his offer for a new contract.
Carey wasn’t the only player who did well under Bruce. The veteran coach can still build around a lot of other players.
Olly Casey
For Olly Casey, the past 12 months have undoubtedly been a coming of age. The 24-year-old has had to exercise some patience since joining the Seasiders from Leeds United in 2021.
It appeared that the 2023–24 season would have been his big break after a loan stint with Forest Green Rovers in League One, but things didn’t quite go as planned.
Although the center back was able to establish himself as a member of Neil Critchley’s back three, the former head coach didn’t seem to fully trust him, and he was in and out of the starting lineup.
He was still given a lot of games, though, and he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to establish himself as a major player under Steve Bruce without it.
Casey has blossomed since the renowned former Manchester United defender was brought in, and the only thing keeping him out of the squad is suspension.
In many ways, he is an old-school defender. He will repeatedly head the ball away because he enjoys aerial combat. In addition to making innumerable crucial tackles, he simply has a talent for timing perfectly under duress.
It will be up to the new pair to compete for the position next to Casey, who will undoubtedly remain the important man in the defensive despite the arrival of seasoned defenders Fraser Horsfall and Michael Ihiekwe this month.
Ashley Fletcher
When Ashley Fletcher’s name was announced as the fans’ player of the year at the end of April, you couldn’t help but feel truly happy for him.
After a string of unsuccessful loan stints with teams like Sheffield Wednesday and Wigan Athletic, the 29-year-old finally made it to Bloomfield Road.
In Tangerine, he didn’t start out the best either, but a chat with Bruce helped turn things around, and the forward went on to solidify his spot in the starting lineup.
His ability to hook up with others and entice them into an aggressive move is arguably his greatest talent. Although he could have done a better job of finishing, he still managed to score 11 goals.
Albie Morgan
Last season, Albie Morgan emerged as Blackpool’s star player in the middle of the park. He displayed glimpses of his abilities during his first season in Tangerine after leaving Charlton Athletic, but it was under Bruce that he began to play regularly.
The midfield player began to show that he could manage game tempo and had the passing range to breach opposing defenses.
He was frequently still a dependable player, even in games where the Seasiders didn’t really show up as a team.
The fact that the 25-year-old’s form occurred as he was adjusting to life after receiving a type 1 diabetes diagnosis adds even more significance to it.
Rob Apter
It’s difficult to predict what Rob Apter’s season would have been like had the early managerial change not occurred.
He performed well in Critchley’s wing-back system in an early EFL Cup match away to Burton Albion, where he was afforded more freedom on the right. However, that luxury certainly wouldn’t have been available for every game, and as a result, his playing time may have been more constrained.
Instead, in his first season at League One level, the 22-year-old played more games than anticipated under Bruce.
Overall, it was encouraging to see the winger rise up and be a real threat on the right, even though he still has a lot to improve.
Apter was able to play to his abilities and have several great days in Tangerine thanks to the 4-4-2 configuration, which he hopes to develop on more often the next season.
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