GAME THREAD: Giants v Steelers: Fri 16th Jan

[Bryan]

Although we were well beaten tonight one other thought strikes me. If we’d taken our faceoffs like we did tonight against Glasgow and Fife we might have won those two games and still be in a competitive position. Of course who knows, just a thought.

[smbmetal]

Well, I did think that would be a much closer game.

1st period was the best I’ve seen from us this season. Unfortunately, I said to my Dad that we wouldn’t be able to keep the intensity going as we’re only a 20 minute team.

After the 1st period it was fairly easy for Belfast, they could have upped the intensity as well if they needed to. We just became sloppy with our passes, the physical intensity faded away and we never looked like getting back into the game.

@MLL79 Dowd was missing due to the birth of their baby, congratulations to Dowdy and family.

Was Watling ill or injured? He gets in front of both Harper and Jasper for me. Harper is only noticeable when we are winning.

Richie looked decent for his first game, some nice touches, but I did expect some more physicality from him.

It’s not the first time Fox has got the recruitment wrong. Other than one season, hockey under Fox is average at best. 20 minute teams with no bite. Looks like this could be yet another trophyless season. 3 out of 5 is it if so under Fox?

I would put Tansey back on D as well. Scratch Southorn who had his worst game in the Steelers shirt for me so far this season.

I still think we’ll split the weekend though and win tomorrow.

[paul johnston]

Tony Smith is going to have to persuade fans and will have a hard job doing so, that Fox is the man to stick with going forward. For me, it's time for a change, we need freshening up, it's all very stale and average.
For me the league has gone, a lot of the imports are very meh and won't be here next year. Time to keep playing Watson, Shudra, Kelly and get young Liam Steele in there for some regular ice time and experience. IBN when he is fit too. These guys are our future and will play with more heart and need to get more opportunities.
I feel we need to ditch so many uni players, we get good players going by their cv's but they dont have their minds on the hockey. You cant tell me with our financial clout that we cant get good players without them.

[Bryan]

I would put Tansey back on D as well. Scratch Southorn who had his worst game in the Steelers shirt for me so far this season.

I still think we’ll split the weekend though and win tomorrow.

Absolutely right about Southorn and Tansey.

[Rendo]

I dont think the d-men brought in were better than Saucerman, bad move getting rid

[Brian]

I really cant see us winning tomorrow , Giants were faster, more skilled with their stick handling, more physical and more accurate in passing and shooting. Losing would mean we are too far behind to realistically catch up with the amount of games remaining .
It's likely that if we beat the Panthers in the semi ( if ! ) we would come up against the Giants in the final. A bleak outlook there then.
If we stay in fourth the playoffs will bring us up against number 5 , so that wont be a given that we even get to Nottingham .
Sorry to be negative but thats how I honestly see it.

[Jayboy]

I really cant see us winning tomorrow , Giants were faster, more skilled with their stick handling, more physical and more accurate in passing and shooting. Losing would mean we are too far behind to realistically catch up with the amount of games remaining .
It's likely that if we beat the Panthers in the semi ( if ! ) we would come up against the Giants in the final. A bleak outlook there then.
If we stay in fourth the playoffs will bring us up against number 5 , so that wont be a given that we even get to Nottingham .
Sorry to be negative but thats how I honestly see it.

I like to be optimistic rather than Pessimistic generally in life and most certainly in watching Steelers Hockey..

Having said that, the above post is neither... I would say Brian is being nothing but realistic...

[Jayboy]

Here you go:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZf2wx2VmQM

[Doom]

We seem to be following the same pattern as the two seasons prior to the Grandslam.

In both those seasons we fell apart in the 2nd half of the season.

I was hoping we'd replace Fox at the end of the 22/23 season because of the way we'd repeated our collapse of 21/22.

As it turned out it was a good thing we didn't, because our 23/24 team turned out to be the best in the EIHL era.

This season it's looking very much like we'll repeat the failures of 22/23. I can see Nottingham dumping us out of the Challlenge Cup and us failing to even make the playoff weekend. Far too many poor recruitment decisions made this season.

I'm in a disagreement with my friends on this, but I hope the Panthers go on to win the league title.....it would be well deserved.

Regards

Doom

[paul johnston]

We seem to be following the same pattern as the two seasons prior to the Grandslam.

In both those seasons we fell apart in the 2nd half of the season.

I was hoping we'd replace Fox at the end of the 22/23 season because of the way we'd repeated our collapse of 21/22.

As it turned out it was a good thing we didn't, because our 23/24 team turned out to be the best in the EIHL era.

This season it's looking very much like we'll repeat the failures of 22/23. I can see Nottingham dumping us out of the Challlenge Cup and us failing to even make the playoff weekend. Far too many poor recruitment decisions made this season.

I'm in a disagreement with my friends on this, but I hope the Panthers go on to win the league title.....it would be well deserved.

Regards

Doom

If, and i mean if, Fox remains in charge then I think he firstly needs to think about the tactics he uses and secondly he needs to change up his recruitment ideology also.
Apart from McAdam, I think all the outskaters new to the team this year have been below par, some slightly better than others.