West Ham United vs. Blackpool: 6 Bold Predictions for the Playoff Final

It has all come down to this in the world's most lucrative football match.

We now know that one team that was relegated from the Premier League last season will make a triumphant return to England's top flight, and either London or Blackpool will add a club to the world's best domestic league.

On paper, West Ham would appear to have the advantage against fearless Blackpool, as the Hammers just narrowly missed out automatic promotion this season and have 86 points to Blackpool's 75.

But in this ferocious one-game playoff, anything can happen, as the Seasiders know well. They were the lowest-seeded team two years ago and Ian Holloway still guided his team to promotion.

Let's try to predict what might happen in an exciting and thoroughly unpredictable match.

Thomas Ince Will Be Massive

Young Thomas Ince has emerged as a crucial player for Blackpool this season, and West Ham may struggle to cope with the 20-year-old winger's influence.

In 34 games this year, Ince has contributed six goals and seven assists, while offering a dynamic threat down the wing that others have struggled to contain.

In the first leg of Blackpool's playoff tie with Birmingham, Ince scored the only goal of the game with a 25-yard strike that took a deflection off of Curtis Davies, and he was Blackpool's main threat for the remainder of that game.

Don't rule out the young attacker making a couple moments of magic in the Final.

There Will Be Goals

Both Blackpool and West Ham are teams that can and want to score goals, especially in big matches.

Ian Holloway's men are known for their fearless, swashbuckling play, and the Seasiders always look to at on the scoresheet in matches of every magnitude, against any opponent.

Of course, such forays forward open up their fragile back line to counterattacks, which the Hammers can certainly capitalize on. They have scored nine goals in their last four games, and have shown that they are capable of finishing chances that are presented to them.

The fundamental nature of these two sides means that the nets should be bulging at Wembley.

Blackpool Will Enjoy Possession

Even when Blackpool lost 4-1 to West Ham in February, they enjoyed the majority of the possession.

This is a team that loves to have the ball, and will try to keep it and push forward as much as possible, so it will be very hard for the Hammers to keep the ball for long stretches and dispossess Blackpool when they have it.

Possession, as we know, does not guarantee goals or victory, but it does give the team with the ball a better chance of putting the ball in the back of the net and gives a leaky defence some valuable respite.

There Will Be a Battle of the Wingers

Both Blackpool and West Ham have very skilled wingers who are capable of wreaking havoc down their respective flanks.

For the former, the aforementioned Thomas Ince and Matthew Phillips have had great seasons, and possess plenty of pace to blow past any fullback who has the audacity to challenge them.

And the Hammers do not possess any less talent in the dynamic Ricardo Vaz Te, who has been in great form recently, and Matt Taylor.

All four are absolutely crucial to their sides' respective attacks, and can break away and change a game at any moment, making the opposition constantly respect the threat they pose.

Kevin Nolan and Barry Ferguson Will Fight It out

The captains of the two teams are coincidentally their two most influential midfield men, and will both compete for supremacy in this crucial area of the pitch.

Nolan has proved to be a great purchase for Sam Allardyce, and the Englishman's unflappable box-to-box authority has worked wonders for West Ham in the center of the park.

Ferguson, meanwhile, brings his own brand of leadership to Blackpool and his vast experience has played a very large part in guiding the Seasiders to Wembley.

This will definitely be the matchup to watch when the two go head-to-head, and whomever wins will give his team a great advantage in the crucial midfield area.

West Ham Will Be Promoted

West Ham have gotten the better of Blackpool on two separate occasions in grand fashion this season, and they will once again when it truly matters.

The Hammers are simply a better all-around side than their opponents, and there is a reason why they just barely missed automatic promotion and finished with 11 more points that Blackpool.

At the back, in the middle of the pitch, and up front, West Ham are a very strong and balanced side, and are in great form, having eased past Cardiff in the first round of the promotion playoffs.

Both sides are definitely worthy of promotion, but it will ultimately be Kevin Nolan leading West Ham's charge back into the Premier League a year after demotion. It would not be surprising if the Hammers stayed there for a while.

Follow @charliemelman