GAME THREAD: Steelers v Devils Saturday, 10th September 7:00pm

[smbmetal]

I quite enjoyed the game and thought Connolly had a good game considering he’s been injured for over 9 months. Also thought Allen and Pitule had good games too. I of course enjoyed the feisty side and was pleased that we stuck up for ourselves. I actually think we came out on the wrong side of a couple of penalties, Cardiff got away with a couple I thought.

It’s very much early days, but I don’t believe this team is capable of winning the league without a couple of changes. We lack a couple of quality players and a stay at home defenceman. Petgrave will look good when we’re winning, but I can’t say he stood out for me in this game. Also thought Dowd was very anonymous. Latal also doesn’t look the player we had last season either. McNally I’m afraid doesn’t offer much and I was really looking forward to seeing him play.

6,600 made for a good atmosphere and I liked the new jumbotron. Although I would like to see a clock during the period breaks not just a countdown timer.

Let’s hope we can get a win in Guildford tomorrow, we need to get off to a good start as there’s no time in this league to start slowly.

72% were right in the voting poll. I obviously had too much optimism

[paul johnston]

I saw on Twitter that we've lost something like our last 8 competitive games in a row. Thats a shocking stat if correct.

Need two points tomorrow for definite. Nothing else will be good enough.

[Robert Mansell]

I saw on Twitter that we've lost something like our last 8 competitive games in a row. Thats a shocking stat if correct.

Need two points tomorrow for definite. Nothing else will be good enough.

8 out of last 9

[Doom]

I thought it was a decent game and we played OK, but Cardiff were far more clinical with their chances.

According to the stats Cardiff had 12 shots on our goal......I would have snapped your hand off if that was offered to me at the start.

Simple fact is we're toothless in attack so far.

Coventry....Manchester.......Cardiff.......Fox will claim we've created more grade A scoring chances.

I've no doubt he's correct, but at some point we need to start converting them otherwise it's fair to say he's the problem.

Regards

Doom

[paul johnston]

I saw on Twitter that we've lost something like our last 8 competitive games in a row. Thats a shocking stat if correct.

Need two points tomorrow for definite. Nothing else will be good enough.

8 out of last 9

Thats just as bad.
At least we get the entertainment of seeing Norma,
and hearing Sweet Caroline and Bad Manners when we are behind in the third and about to lose the game.

But you don't win games with grade A scoring chances. You win putting in back of the net and our end of last season form and start of this not so hot at all.

I do think they got a bit of puck luck with shots off metalwork etc and Bowns made a few decent saves.

[Sully]

I’ve got to disagree with many of the previous posts. I thought we were awful back to front. We look totally imbalanced.

I’m sorry but our D is so poor and very weak on and off the puck. Far too many times, all of our forwards were out battled and out fought in the corners. I got sick of the times 1 sole Cardiff player out fought 2 and 3 of our players just by wanting it more.

We are crying out for not 1, but 2 solid stay at home defensive leaders.

Piche and Neuvalnen far too weak, Shulze is the same.

Sorry but I’m disappointed with what I’ve seen this far.

[paul johnston]

Nevalainen is the strangest signing ever. A small non physical european and euro style player brought to a league that essentially plays North American physical in your face hockey. And so far it's showing! Maybe he will grow into it.

I thought Raska was put off his game by the physicality too.

[Brian]

Very early days but points lost in September cost you at the end of the season and home losses are not league winning form. Maybe we will be a bit luckier in front of goal tomorrow, we hit the post or bar three times on my count tonight. We may get better referees tomorrow who don't make unfathomable decisions.
Overall though I just thought Cardiff looked better man for man. I think at the moment we have not replaced the players we have lost with anything like the same quality.
Guildford will be a good yardstick having held the Panthers tonight in regulation.

[Jayboy]

In my opinion Fox needed to start of this season very strong for him to be safe from early criticism. In my opinion it's far far better hockey than we suffered though with PT but non of that will count for toffee if we keep losing..

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[smbmetal]

Just listened to the post game podcast. Whilst I agree there were some positives and we out shot Cardiff etc. Did anyone think we were actually going to win the game? I didn’t, the majority of shots were from the outside and even if the crossbars went in, I think Cardiff would have just upped their game and scored again.

Beating Guildford tomorrow will only hide the early signs that IMO, we haven’t replaced the likes of Vallerand and the goals he scored. It’s not going make everything better again.

I’ve watched the Belfast CHL games and have now seen Cardiff for the 1st time live. We’re a 3rd place team with this current crop at best. Both Belfast & Cardiff look better to me.