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A bounce back game or yet another lacklustre performance to endure?

what you think?

This has to be a statement/bounce back game.

Here’s a novel idea for Mr Fox. How about we use one of the tougher players in the league, Mr McNally and really let him off the leash to be a one man wrecking machine, Coventry don’t really have anyone that could counter this.

Even Jones appears to have reduced his physical play, let’s really up this side of our game and the result could be quite pleasing as well as some overdue entertainment for the fans.

Come on lads show us what you’re made of.

3-2 Steelers.

Pressure game if there ever was one.

I'm predicting a Blaze o/t win.
Mainly because I've never selected that in the poll before .

Who knows what Steelers team is going to show up?

Will Dowd and Latal be available?

A much needed bounce back required, confidence is down particularly in front of goal - we need a good all round performance, to be fair we've been pretty good defensively regardless of the lack of offense. We know we'll get a solid performance from Greenfield at worst! I really want to see us come out pumped up and high energy. We seem a much more effective team when we are engaging physically and it certainly brings out the best of the likes of Dowd, McNally, Allen, Davey and Jones.

Wouldn't be surprised to see some more line shake ups, especially if we see Latal and Dowd return (bloody hope they are back!) if at full strength, here's my guess for the lineup: (Pitule sitting if all fit although from what I've seen recently he's done little wrong, yes he hasn't filled the net but who has!).

1. Ciampini-Allen-Kristo - an experienced skillful line that could certainly dominate in terms of puck possession with Allen crashing the net

2. Latal-Neumann-Vallerand - fast tenacious line with plenty of offensive potential, Vally and Latal have good chemistry and I've always loved Neumann's speed and work rate. Plenty of chances for breakaways with all of their foot speed as well.

3. Dowd-Connolly-Mosey - speed of Mosey and Dowd on the wings with Connolly playing down the middle. Hopefully Dowdy is back and comes out with that fire in him to give us that spark and get the crowd going early.

4. McNally-Whistle-Jono - Whistle has been good and scored a great one against Fife. You know what you're getting from Jono every game, want to see more energy, grit and physicality from McNally (during the game )

We need to get the rolling offensive side of our game back and quickly, the one line after another sustained pressure with goals from different lines (scoring in bunches) was a huge reason for our success that's why although there maybe more obvious line combinations I've gone for a balanced approach with at least one 'goalscorer forward' per line. Hopefully we can get a couple of early ones regardless of how they go in and get our confidence back when going forward.

Usual D and Greenfield.

Blaze are always a tricky opponent and tough for us to match up against but we could be playing anyone at the moment and it's felt like a struggle to score - I'm expecting a big response from the team and I'm confident that's what we'll get! I'll be optimistic and go for a 5-2 win.

smbmetal wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 23, 2023 8:36 pm

This has to be a statement/bounce back game.

Here’s a novel idea for Mr Fox. How about we use one of the tougher players in the league, Mr McNally and really let him off the leash to be a one man wrecking machine, Coventry don’t really have anyone that could counter this.

Even Jones appears to have reduced his physical play, let’s really up this side of our game and the result could be quite pleasing as well as some overdue entertainment for the fans.

Come on lads show us what you’re made of.

3-2 Steelers.

We need more from McNally and others in terms of checking / hitting he doesn't seem to make that many body checks considering that's a big part of his game. I doubt Fox is telling him not to hit but maybe he's trying to keep him in line (especially after seeing him boil over against Giants and Flyers now, both after the game!) He's put up some decent numbers and had a couple of scraps but hopefully in the last part of the season we can use his physical presence more and get him influencing the game more by using his size and strength.

I think it would be good to have the whole team more physical but certainly a player like McNally whose primary role is to bring that aspect of the game. I want to see him fired up at the start of the game hitting from puck drop and agitating, I know he's done this a couple of times but when in a slump we need to create sparks wherever we can, preferably without taking dumb penalties too.

As you say Blaze don't have that fighter or big physical guy to step up against it, so lets see it, we've got McNally and a couple of others who can get us going in that way and when in a scoring slump like we are currently this could be the spark that gets them and the crowd going.

How many times now is that we've said need not just a bounce back result but also performance?
How many times have we said need physicality?
As for pp and goal scoring, do I need to mention these factors?
I like the lines above, but personally would swap Whistle and Conns around.
Ciampini, Allen, Kristo
Latal, Neumann, vallerand
Dowd, Whistle, Mosey
McNally, Connolly, Phillips.
All depends on the sickness, fitness issues.

I've gone for a regulation win for us. It has to be. The tide has to turn. It may not be pretty but if that's the way it has to be I don't care.

Some grit and toughness may not be a bad thing, it'd certainly help get the fans on side a bit more which is something we've been lacking. Sell outs are ok but if there's no atmosphere, no support mere numbers do not help the team.

Don't panic! Who do you need a home and away against when you've lost that scoring feeling?
The Blaze! Lischynsky will consummately divert past his bemused own goalie to give Steelers a goal start!
Seriously, apart from the odd game, Blaze have struggled against the top four this season.
Early season they looked like they were a dark horse for some silverware but Belfast, Cardiff, Guildford and Sheffield are in all honesty, too strong.
They've brought in an experienced goalie (they haven't used a two goalie system at all this season) and a young forward this week.
Presumably this is to make a shove at the play offs because they know they can be great on a Saturday and dire on a Sunday or vice versa.
They still can't kick the habit of losing multiple goal leads relatively quickly also.
Unless these guys make an instant impact, it is in Steelers own hands to make this a four point weekend.

No Schulze or Whistle by the looks of things.

As usual 63 throws away a chance of 5 on 3 nothing new