Many people have said it. I am trying to think of something well done by any of our newcomers. Perhaps I’m missing something but for the life of me they all look anonymous. As has been said passing is poor, puck control is often hopeless, the PPs are toothless. The only good features are good PK and Greenfield. One or two good movements by a few players but the overall standard is really low. I can only see at the moment another poor season of recruitment followed by coaching which just doesn’t seem to have a structure that I can discern. It’s a mess.
Ice Hockey has a problem in this country with its communication. 8000 people went home with no explanation for the OT goal. That isn’t good enough. The paying customers deserve better. I cant however dispute Fife deserved their win.
GAME THREAD: Steelers v Flyers: Sat 3rd: League
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MLL79
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Like others have said, really, we lost that well before the OT phantom “goal”.
Fife came in and absolutely knocked us around, with absolutely zero response.
On top of the general clattering of one or more of our players on at least every single play of the game, there were at least 4 clear incidents where the team needed to stand up.
(Dowd high sticked and had to leave (fortunately returned) - no response…
Cormier had to leave potentially injured - no response…
Tiessela gets sandwiched and nearly split in two - no response…
Greenfield gets flattened in his crease (and runs screaming at the ref when it should have been at his own D) - no response…)
We will win nothing this year if we let teams run us off the rink like that.. they came with a plan and executed it - we couldn’t, or didn’t want to, answer.
You don’t have to be skilled to put someone on their backside - a ten minute spell of us checking everything that moved was the answer we needed in the first or start of the second. We did nothing to counter their game plan and break their stride.
We were soft last year, but this was next level.
Sorry rant over….
Positives - Jasper is a (lone..) lion and really glad we have him. Thought Steele was having a good game - confused by him being the victim of the shortened bench - didn’t seem fair. Diffley I thought was good as always, as was Aarnio and Tait.
Fife came in and absolutely knocked us around, with absolutely zero response.
On top of the general clattering of one or more of our players on at least every single play of the game, there were at least 4 clear incidents where the team needed to stand up.
(Dowd high sticked and had to leave (fortunately returned) - no response…
Cormier had to leave potentially injured - no response…
Tiessela gets sandwiched and nearly split in two - no response…
Greenfield gets flattened in his crease (and runs screaming at the ref when it should have been at his own D) - no response…)
We will win nothing this year if we let teams run us off the rink like that.. they came with a plan and executed it - we couldn’t, or didn’t want to, answer.
You don’t have to be skilled to put someone on their backside - a ten minute spell of us checking everything that moved was the answer we needed in the first or start of the second. We did nothing to counter their game plan and break their stride.
We were soft last year, but this was next level.
Sorry rant over….
Positives - Jasper is a (lone..) lion and really glad we have him. Thought Steele was having a good game - confused by him being the victim of the shortened bench - didn’t seem fair. Diffley I thought was good as always, as was Aarnio and Tait.
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Brian
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A very poor performance, outbattled and out coached by a team that is not our equal on paper. But fair play to Fife they worked extremely hard to close us down and created good chances of their own. The goal was certainly controversial but as Disco Ray has explained is covered in the rules.
I suppose the issue is whether the officials think Greener knocked the net off intentionally. Very often we see goalies do this at the arena ( Hello Coventry ! ) and a whistle goes and they get the benefit of the doubt.
I suppose you have to accept that they had a review and it didn't change their opinion, brave as it was !
The danger is that the overtime hoo ha masks the incompetence we showed during the game. We had much faster forwards but they tended to put their head down and rush into closed alleys . Brains were not engaged on many occasions , whilst the defence gave some shocking passes and turnovers.
We are so inconsistent I wouldn't be surprised if we win 6 -0 tomorrow!
( but I won't be betting on it ! ) and to think there were so many empty seats tonight because fans expected a walk over !
I suppose the issue is whether the officials think Greener knocked the net off intentionally. Very often we see goalies do this at the arena ( Hello Coventry ! ) and a whistle goes and they get the benefit of the doubt.
I suppose you have to accept that they had a review and it didn't change their opinion, brave as it was !
The danger is that the overtime hoo ha masks the incompetence we showed during the game. We had much faster forwards but they tended to put their head down and rush into closed alleys . Brains were not engaged on many occasions , whilst the defence gave some shocking passes and turnovers.
We are so inconsistent I wouldn't be surprised if we win 6 -0 tomorrow!
( but I won't be betting on it ! ) and to think there were so many empty seats tonight because fans expected a walk over !
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Al Murrays Hairbrush
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We shouldn't be in the situation to be discussing an OT goal at home to Fife, and that's no disrespect to them
Fife came to play physically, hack, whack, close down & finish their checks. We had no push back, or attempt to match them in any manner. One team was up for it, and won.
Greenfield got run & nobody even had a word with Hunt. We've got a massive soft underbelly & can't play when teams close us down or play physically. Fife did both.
We stank like roadkill in a heatwave.
It's not just tonight's performance.
Home to Panthers, struggled to a win in the worst derby game I can recall.
Win in Glasgow, who spent 60min stood around, and are poor this year.
Well beaten in Guildford, as they came hard & fast at us. The score there flattered us even in defeat.
Huffed, puffed & struggled, but eventually beat weakened Cardiff, 3 players down & who played the night before.
Horrendous in Coventry, we can't blame Brine for that one.
Then onto tonight's offerings.
No Plan B, oh sorry there is one. Bench Steele, & IBN every time it's a close game.
Why not drop IBN down to the 4th, and push Jussola up the line?
Nope, sit them both, so we have to roll 5 D, them mix & match forward lines.
Whistle isn't a 1st line centre standard.
Gettinger & Rockwood have yet to either impress or produce.
Overall I think the D is upgraded from last season, but up front it's a hefty downgrade so far.
It's going to be a long slog to mid table.
Fife came to play physically, hack, whack, close down & finish their checks. We had no push back, or attempt to match them in any manner. One team was up for it, and won.
Greenfield got run & nobody even had a word with Hunt. We've got a massive soft underbelly & can't play when teams close us down or play physically. Fife did both.
We stank like roadkill in a heatwave.
It's not just tonight's performance.
Home to Panthers, struggled to a win in the worst derby game I can recall.
Win in Glasgow, who spent 60min stood around, and are poor this year.
Well beaten in Guildford, as they came hard & fast at us. The score there flattered us even in defeat.
Huffed, puffed & struggled, but eventually beat weakened Cardiff, 3 players down & who played the night before.
Horrendous in Coventry, we can't blame Brine for that one.
Then onto tonight's offerings.
No Plan B, oh sorry there is one. Bench Steele, & IBN every time it's a close game.
Why not drop IBN down to the 4th, and push Jussola up the line?
Nope, sit them both, so we have to roll 5 D, them mix & match forward lines.
Whistle isn't a 1st line centre standard.
Gettinger & Rockwood have yet to either impress or produce.
Overall I think the D is upgraded from last season, but up front it's a hefty downgrade so far.
It's going to be a long slog to mid table.
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steeler pete
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It seems Greener was deemed to have knocked the net off, nothing to do with the Fife forward trying to jam the puck under his pad!? Hence it was a legit play to knock the puck in.
As above he was left to deal with it on his own, no other Steelers player helping him out.
I’m inclined to agree this team lacks any grit or determination. More than one change is needed, but I doubt it will happen.
As above he was left to deal with it on his own, no other Steelers player helping him out.
I’m inclined to agree this team lacks any grit or determination. More than one change is needed, but I doubt it will happen.
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DSLSteeler
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paul johnston
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If we needed to shorten the D corps to 5 it's one of the new highly regarded/likely highly paid imports new to the team not called Aarnio and Erkamps who I'd have gone with. Terrible showing on the night. Steele didn't do much wrong at all tonight.
Sadly coaching is done paint by numbers style. Maybe reward good play and "punish" poor play.
Sadly coaching is done paint by numbers style. Maybe reward good play and "punish" poor play.
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DSLSteeler
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Sure I read somewhere, Reddit possibly, that they are mic'ing the refs up this year and are finalising getting each gaff's sound system up to speed to enable it to happen. Is that right or did I dream it?
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steeler pete
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Good luck with our sound system cos it knackered.
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Bryan
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Well I’ve listened to Fox’s interview. He doesn’t pull any punches about our lack of pattern and competitiveness. But a pattern is beginning to develop here. This is not a one off game. We’ve deservedly lost to Guildford, Coventry and Fife. All teams a championship winning side should at least hold their own with, but we’ve looked distinctly second best.
Perhaps Fox needs to look at himself too. Has he done a good job with his recruiting? Are these new players a step up from last year. So far there is little evidence they are. The few good moments have come from existing players not the new ones. Does his coaching work in this league and for these supporters? It doesn’t look so on the basis of these three losses. In all three cases we deserved to lose.. It wasn’t bad luck or bad refereeing. It was poor play. Is it just early in the season? But surely that also applies to our opposition. Was the pre-season well calculated? I’m not convinced. We still seem to be a team of strangers.
Perhaps Fox needs to look at himself too. Has he done a good job with his recruiting? Are these new players a step up from last year. So far there is little evidence they are. The few good moments have come from existing players not the new ones. Does his coaching work in this league and for these supporters? It doesn’t look so on the basis of these three losses. In all three cases we deserved to lose.. It wasn’t bad luck or bad refereeing. It was poor play. Is it just early in the season? But surely that also applies to our opposition. Was the pre-season well calculated? I’m not convinced. We still seem to be a team of strangers.