David Vaughan tempted by Rangers move as club make approach

[rbr 1,247]

David Vaughan would be an excellent player for us , in fact he would b e for the left side what Naisy is on the right , good pace , excellent passing , good at dead balls and very very brave , I really hope this one comes to fruition .

 

In fact he is exactly the type of player if he did go to Everton , he would be turned into another Cahill and everyone would be lauding Moyes as an excellent spotter of a player , possibly slightly different since he has been in the premiership for a year but you get my drift .

[Guest Dutchy]

Also, some of these less well known players turn out to be true gems. Considering the amount of interest shown in him amongst other clubs, you'd have to say he's just more than a 'position filler'.

 

I mean, we're not going to sign Messi are we, he can't play in a team and certainly doesn't understand the Championship style of Rangers.

[ian1964 10,457]

Decent player ?

 

I'm sure he won the Blackpool players player of the year

[rbr 1,247]

He won all their player of the year awards as well as the supporters player of the year

[ian1964 10,457]

Blackpool fans forum

 

http://www.fansonline.net/blackpool/mb/view.php?id=755492

[Danny 0]

He won all their player of the year awards as well as the supporters player of the year

 

Yes, I heard that Adam was overlooked for this. I saw an interesting post on another forum saying that Blackpool's own fans don't love him, we don't really love him, and it seems the only ones who think Adam is worth �£10M+ is the media.

[rbr 1,247]

Blackpool fans forum

 

http://www.fansonline.net/blackpool/mb/view.php?id=755492

 

Read some of the usual pish on there , honestly why these clowns cant see that there is life outside thier beloved premiership is beyond me , the vast majority of clubs in the EPL are just there to make up the numbers despite getting over �£40 million per season , our league might be rubbish but you cannot slag off team who get the square root of heehaw financially , compared to these wasters .

[Zappa 0]

Yes, I heard that Adam was overlooked for this. I saw an interesting post on another forum saying that Blackpool's own fans don't love him, we don't really love him, and it seems the only ones who think Adam is worth �£10M+ is the media.

 

In today's transfer market with all the crazy prices many of the fans of clubs like Man U, Liverpool etc would be perfectly happy with Adam being bought for �£10m I can assure you.

 

Some quotes from Sir Alex Ferguson -

 

“He brought Charlie Adam down from Glasgow when nobody seemed to want him and he is one of the best players in the league. He is having a fantastic season.”

 

“The first half we were battered, and we couldn't handle Charlie Adam, his corner kicks are worth Ã?£10m,”

 

“Charlie’s left leg is worth 12 million alone due to his delivery”

[Zappa 0]

Now that Blackpool have gone down I'm expecting Adam to be bought for about �£7-10m this summer.

[Zappa 0]

Getting back on topic here.... This article from a couple of weeks ago is really good and tells you a lot about Vaughan and what he did within the Blackpool team:-

 

David Vaughan: Blackpool’s ‘Other’ Midfielder

10 May, 2011

 

Mention the words ‘Blackpool’ and ‘midfielder’ this season and invariably only one name is ever mentioned. But as Joel Sked argues, it’s not all about Charlie:

 

Ask followers of the English Premier League who Blackpool’s player of the year would be and the majority would give you the name of Charlie Adam.

 

Alongside Adam in midfield has been another impressive performer in Blackpool’s exciting 4-3-3 formation under Ian Holloway. Welsh left-back cum midfield dynamo David Vaughan has gone about his midfield tasks effectively, efficiently and with the elegance of someone undaunted by the hectic nature of the Premier League midfield battle. But unlike Adam his play has gone under the radar.

 

Ian Holloway, often finding the headlines for his extrovert personality rather than his tactical acumen, re-invented himself as a manager after leaving Leicester City. Studying other teams and their styles of play he cites Barcelona and Spain as the inspiration in his change in outlook towards how football should be played.

 

He constructed a team and style of play which mirrored his personality and suited the capabilities of both Adam and Vaughan. Blackpool play with a vivacity, confidence and zest that belies many teams who work ever so hard to reach the ‘promised land’ of Premier League football, only to try and defend their way to safety with little imagination and excitement.

 

But Vaughan was just one of many players used by football fans and experts, outside the seaside Lancashire town, to highlight exactly why Blackpool would be rock bottom and relegated long before the season reached its climax – along with the likes of Gary Taylor-Fletcher, Dj Campbell, and Stephen Crainey. The argument went along the lines of ‘Championship players who do not possess the required abilities to consistently play well in the supposed best league in the world’. A league that includes Keith Andrews.

 

Vaughan, more than any of those listed, epitomises the way Blackpool took the league by surprise, storming into the top half with wins at both St James’ Park and Anfield.

 

Before the start of this season the Welsh international, who has amassed 23 caps, had yet to play in the Premier League but had sampled Spanish football with Real Sociedad, albeit in the Segunda division.

 

He began his career in one of the famous English football academies, Crewe Alexandra, under the tutelage of Dario Gradi, who has had the Midas touch at the Cheshire side in helping propel the careers of former England captain David Platt, Robbie Savage, Dean Ashton, Danny Murphy among many more who went on to play at the highest level.

 

In 2007 after seven seasons at Crewe Vaughan was bought by fellow Welshman Chris Coleman, who had taken over at Real Sociedad, for Ã?£300,000. However Coleman’s Spanish adventure ended prematurely as he left the Basque side half way through his first season in charge. Vaughan would follow at the end of that season to join Blackpool.

 

Signed to predominantly play either left-back or left-midfield it was not until Ian Holloway was appointed Blackpool manager in 2009 that he found his calling as an all-action central midfielder.

 

Holloway’s Spanish inspiration meant he shaped Blackpool into a 4-3-3 formation, Vaughan coming in off the left hand side to play more centrally alongside Keith Southern and Charlie Adam. This new formation and style of play would take Blackpool from relegation candidates to play-off hopefuls to the Premier League. Their three play-off games saw them score nine, concede six but win every game by a single goal. It was the perfect template of how they play; on the front foot, looking to score goals, even if it means leaving themselves vulnerable at the back.

 

Adam may have won and continue to win many plaudits but it is Vaughan who is the heart of the midfield; the heart of the team.

 

Vaughan credits his switch in position as the reason he has impressed, allowing him to see more of the ball. His role has taken on greater importance this season as he plays deeper providing protection to the back four, but also acting as the base to build attacks, allowing Adam and Elliot Grandin the freedom to push forward and/or wider.

 

However he is not your stereotypical, hard tackling, bruising holding player. He is much easier on the eye. He has an awareness which combines with his precise, incisive and accurate passing. The midfielder is happy to take the ball in tight areas, confident in his ability to play his way out creating space for team-mates. His passing success rate so far is 85%, higher than that of the league average which stands at 76%.

 

His energy and ability in possession play a significant part in Blackpool’s high-temp slick passing game as well as his ability to spot danger when in a defensive position. He has a tackling success rate of 67%. An impressive stat for a player not renowned for his tackling. John Kane who runs the Blackpool tactics blog Tangerine Dreaming highlighted the qualities Vaughan possesses and brings to the side, finding it difficult to find a fault in the Welshman’s game.

 

“Most of the season he has played a holding role, covering the back four, tracking runs.

 

“He is very assured on the ball, his first touch is impressive and it’s rare that the ball escapes him. His passing ability is excellent, and whereas he may not have the long flat power pass of Adam over distance, he is very accurate and knows what pass to pick. He is superb in his timing of the tackle, although I wouldn’t say that he is strong in the tackle.”

 

All vital components of a modern day midfielder.

 

“He’s hardly ever noticed, hardly ever seen but he makes everything around him much more efficient. Any team would miss what he gives them. He’s been arguably our best player this season.”

 

Those are the words of Ian Holloway. And he is not talking about his Scottish midfielder.

 

Charlie Adam will likely move on in the summer for a multi-million pound transfer fee while it is widely believed Vaughan will follow the Scot out the door if the Tangerines are relegated.

 

So keep an eye out for a midfielder assured on the ball, constantly finding a team mate and breaking up your teams play with either a well–executed tackle or crucial interception. That player will be David Vaughan. One of the unsung successes of the 2010/2011 Premier League season. And a potential bargain of the summer.

 

Joel Sked is a guest contributor to Just Football.

 

article link - David Vaughan: Blackpool’s ‘Other’ Midfielder