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Is 4 games too short? About right for me to be honest. Pre-season continues for most teams unofficially into the CC anyway.

I’ve watched one full game and seen the highlights for the remaining 3 games.

My very early thoughts is we have a slightly better team than last season, but I’m not sure it will be enough to worry Belfast.

If I didn’t know it was pre-season, I’d say this was typical Fox style team. Has one very good period in them, but will be bang average for the other two. Yes, I know it’s extremely early. Wouldn’t surprise me if there’s further changes once the season gets going, which has happened a few times in seasons past.

Really hope I’m proven wrong, but I feel it’s a season too far for Fox.

Personally would have liked 1 extra game and started a week earlier - 1 game first weekend and then 2 weekends of 2 games.

Obviously Cardiff were ahead in terms of preparation for the first 2 games, but I thought game 1 was a good showing in spite of that and absolutely dominated the second period. Game 2 I think was a bit too much and fatigue took over when the opposition had an extra week of camp under their belts.

Much better this weekend apart from 1 dodgy period.

My gut is saying there's the potential for a fantastic team with this group. There were periods of play in both games against Manchester where the zone control and puck movement was absolutely top drawer. However, there's also an obvious need to get more familiar with systems, especially forecheck and defensive ones. There's not a lot of room for error in how Fox wants to play on D - the swarm has to win the battle or at least create a safe loose puck or there's likely an odd man chance created. It's high risk/high reward as it sets up quicker transition if you win the battle.

If they can put it all together, then it's a trophy challenging team. I have a gut feel that this could end up being a playoff winning team - maybe not quite being consistent enough in first part of the year but then putting it together down the stretch. Doubt that's enough to win the league but playoffs might end up perfect timing.

In the match night programme last weekend, the subject of pre-season and the number of games we play was commented on in Dowdy’s column. He wrote the following…..

“I read some comments about ‘Why can’t we start two weeks earlier like Cardiff do? ‘ The answer to that is that, I think, Cardiff start earlier for financial reasons, they can’t get 8000 in their building so they try for more games. Also if we had started that early we would have been playing on rubber matting and against Gladiators… that could have been interesting mind you. So no ice is the other reason”.

Personally, I feel it’s a hard one to call really, if we have a good start to the season, then we had enough pre-season. A poor or inconsistent start, then it could be argued we should have had more pre-season. Let’s hope we all feel it was enough by the end of September.

I've watched 3 of the 4 games so far and my initial thoughts are that we're a long way from a championship winning team, but it is still early.

I didn't see the game down in Cardiff, but my mate watched it and said we did quite well for a first outing, especially in the 2nd period.

At home it was clear Cardiff were better organised and just looked a step ahead of us, especially in the 2nd when they stepped it up.

Against Manchester at home we played a decent game, without ever looking outstanding. I think Manchester will be one of the weaker teams this season, so I would expect us to comfortably see them off.

In Manchester I was hoping to see further improvement, but that 1st period has to be one of the worst I've seen from a Steelers team. It was like watching the Keystone Cops at times, with players falling over, passes constantly misplaced and awful puck control, payers out of position etc.

To be fair, the 2nd period in Manchester was much better and at times we looked like we were on a 5 on 5 powerplay. If we could perform like that for 3 periods, we're in business.

Of the new guys, Teissala has caught my eye, just because of the way he plays. I think he'll be fun to watch.

I've not really noticed Gettinger much, but he's steadily been collecting points, which isn't a bad habit.

I think the penalty kill will be good again and we'll score plenty of shorties this season. Powerplay I reserve judgement.

Faceoffs I wasn't overly impressed with and I think we'll struggle again. Collins looks outstanding at them and Gettinger has done well, but Rockwood and Whistle have been poor. Dowd may improve that situation if he plays centre.

If we want to challenge we need to see more from our established pros like Balmas, Juusola and Greenfield.

I'm also hoping Fox plays settled lines with square pegs in square holes.

If it was a school report, I'd probably give the team a B.

Regards

Doom