A merged topic.. new title - what needs to change @Sheffield Steelers

[Jayboy]

I have previously back Fox believing him to be a good coach with room to improve and learn tactics and a style that will fit this league. By that I mean he is clearly a great coach at what he does and pretty decent at recruitment but when he came in he didn't know our league and in part didn't know how to win it or at the very least how a great deal of Sheffield fans wanted to see our team play. I stated that was the one thing I wanted to see him do, adapt to the league and tweak the style he had us playing and come up with a plan B and C.

The problem I am seeing now in more and more of his post match interviews is there seems to be a resignation to the situation and no fire or grit or determination to correct anything, the fans want to see him rant and rave if he has too maybe even throwing the odd player under the bus (naming a bad play or a silly mistake) anything really that shows the passion to win and the complete loathing for losing a game.
Yet all we seem to get lately is the same monotone appraisal of a game that normal consists of being great for 20 minutes, average at best for another 20 mins and then garbage for the remaining 20 minutes.. just in a different order each week. he seems to have lost that spark of energy or determination or even annoyance and quite frankly is not really instilling any confidence that he has any answers going forward, to me that a big worry...

[Sully]

Been thinking about this before responding.

We have always had teams that have some spite about them with a few big guns that can change it up a bit. Think of the likes of Cardiff and Belfast now. If they’re struggling, they can bring lines in that just get in the faces and bully us. We don’t respond or have anything like that.

We have one way of playing and if teams are on their game we are easy to stop. We are easily bullied and put off our game. We are easy to keep to the outside…..

We need a few players who throw their weight around at the front and back end. We’re too pretty.

[paul johnston]

Been thinking about this before responding.

We have always had teams that have some spite about them with a few big guns that can change it up a bit. Think of the likes of Cardiff and Belfast now. If they’re struggling, they can bring lines in that just get in the faces and bully us. We don’t respond or have anything like that.

We have one way of playing and if teams are on their game we are easy to stop. We are easily bullied and put off our game. We are easy to keep to the outside…..

We need a few players who throw their weight around at the front and back end. We’re too pretty.

Absolutely agree. Look at Ruopp and the othe Giants D men against us recently.
I had high hopes of a havoc line with McNally and Mitchell on each wing centred by either Pitule or Connolly. Unfortunately our coach insists on trying to get four copycat balanced lines out there as best as he can.
Mitchell has been a big disappointment.

[Jayboy]

Mitchell has been the player who we wanted but did not get, we needed what we saw on his CV and highlight reels and got the bits they left out... Love his attitude at times, but that just hasn't been enough!

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[Nathan]

4 point weekend.

Still not convinced...

[smbmetal]

Currently all of 2023 Aaron Fox hockey is no better than the garbage we were served up under Paul Thompson IMO.

Perhaps the results are marginally better but that’s all. Can’t see us beating the likes of Cardiff & Belfast in our remaining games against them.

Zero passion just wasps at a picnic.

[ekt]

just wasps at a picnic.

That's a pretty good description of our powerplay.

[BontSteeler]

Despite everything.....

We sit 4 points off the top with 2 games in hand - 1 which is tonight in Manchester.

It's been a really wierd season for me..

[smbmetal]

Despite everything.....

We sit 4 points off the top with 2 games in hand - 1 which is tonight in Manchester.

It's been a really wierd season for me..

Not for me it isn’t. We’re following almost the exact same pattern as last season where we faded away in the New Year and won nothing

Currently we are miles behind Belfast, Cardiff & Guildford, who I’m sure would easily beat us in our current form.

[Doom]

Not for me it isn’t. We’re following almost the exact same pattern as last season where we faded away in the New Year and won nothing

It does seem to be a theme.

Our fast paced game from earlier in the season has slowed down and Fox is now constantly chopping and changing lines to find some chemistry.

Is it down to the age of our forwards?

Look at the top 3 forward lines tonight, only Neumann is under the age of 30.

Even Latal and Dowd who would come in are well into their 30s.

Could it be that their legs start to go after playing a lot of hockey in the first half of the season?

There certainly seems to be something, because we look a shadow of the team from earlier in the season.

Regards

Doom