Pies
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Post by Pies on Sept 28, 2010 11:51:15 GMT
Farmer has been released by the Ottawa 67's - so if a return is on back to England, how would people feel about him signing for us as a replacement Brit whilst Levers is injured? He came through our youth system and is from the local area.
I am aware Dean Holland has gone to Newcastle from Manchester (maybe to free up a space for Farmer?) but coudl this be a signing on the books? I thought he was a good player for Steelers last year and wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty
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Shaggy
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Post by Shaggy on Sept 28, 2010 12:09:53 GMT
Very unlikely, I'd have thought.
He's likely to be trying to find another team over in N.America for a start... and if he did come back to the UK, which is far from certain, surely he'd want to have a proper roster slot instead of just a fill-in? There'd be several teams with room for him, I'm sure.
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Post by pantherdman on Sept 28, 2010 13:29:46 GMT
Sign him NOW!!! Sign him no matter the cost! lets use our financial clout!
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Pies
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Post by Pies on Sept 28, 2010 13:45:21 GMT
I know I suggested as a replacement Levers, but why not sign him up for the rest of the season? Maybe then get rid of Lisack and sign an import d or a centre man - Farmer has proven he has great abilty and I think Him, Lacho and McDonald would be a great, young 3rd line and then use Penner and Levers on a gritty line to wear down their players.
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Jay
Ashley Tait
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Post by Jay on Sept 28, 2010 14:09:29 GMT
I know I suggested as a replacement Levers, but why not sign him up for the rest of the season? Maybe then get rid of Lisack and sign an import d or a centre man - Farmer has proven he has great abilty and I think Him, Lacho and McDonald would be a great, young 3rd line and then use Penner and Levers on a gritty line to wear down their players. Sounds good but i doubt they'd go for it.
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Rich
Paul Adey
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Post by Rich on Sept 28, 2010 18:05:03 GMT
Hmmm no doubt he would do a job, but If I were him I wouldnt fancy playing on a 4 line system in a big season for him. Frankly Id probably go anywhere but Nottingham for that reason!
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warx
Robert Lachowicz
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Post by warx on Sept 28, 2010 19:45:24 GMT
Farmer was great for us last year and he was only released as Ottawa had defensive problems and signed an import Dman, so Farmer had to go. Im pretty sure Manchester had some kind of agreement with him that if he came back this year it would be to play for them.
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Pies
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Post by Pies on Sept 28, 2010 20:52:29 GMT
Agreements dont mean much in hockey! But i am just speculating really thinking of ideas. I don't have much hope he will come but teh circumstances were in at the moment make him a very viable option. With no wage cap in place and the fact he's local should mean we can make some form of offer IF he is wanted.
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Post by NickThePanther44 on Sept 28, 2010 21:54:27 GMT
If he comes back here he should return to the EIHL, the EPL can do a job at developing kids but with his talent he will now develop more playing at EIHL standard.
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Post by pantherdman on Sept 29, 2010 9:17:04 GMT
We must be speaking to him, it would be scandelous if we are not. Send him a birthday card with a nice cheque in it, even though it's not his birthday.
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warx
Robert Lachowicz
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Post by warx on Sept 29, 2010 13:10:22 GMT
Agreements dont mean much in hockey! In this country at least. Money very much speaks loudet than any gentlemens agreement. I think he would be stepping down to play in the EPL and think it would help him to be playing EIHL everyweek. I just hope it isn't for you guys
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Rich
Paul Adey
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Post by Rich on Sept 29, 2010 16:23:41 GMT
Disagree with the above. He would learn more on a good line with big icetime in Manchester, than rolling out on the 4th line for Panthers.
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Post by pantherdman on Sept 29, 2010 18:04:37 GMT
I would say always play at the highest level possible.
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Post by heja on Sept 29, 2010 20:12:40 GMT
I would say always play at the highest level possible. the key bit being PLAY
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abi
Jim Keyes
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Post by abi on Sept 29, 2010 20:53:26 GMT
Disagree with the above. He would learn more on a good line with big icetime in Manchester, than rolling out on the 4th line for Panthers. FINALLY someone on my wave-length!
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Pies
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Post by Pies on Sept 29, 2010 20:58:33 GMT
Who says he'd play 4th line?! He's a good player - if he's good enough to even get a slight shot in NA then he could do a job on any of our lines. And he's had time in the EPL and scored lots of points - no point him going back there cause he was a proven player at that level.
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warx
Robert Lachowicz
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Post by warx on Sept 29, 2010 21:13:12 GMT
Disagree with the above. He would learn more on a good line with big icetime in Manchester, than rolling out on the 4th line for Panthers. Ah, but I never said 4th line for one of the bigger teams. I think he would progress even more playing on a EIHL 3rd line.
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Post by NickThePanther44 on Sept 29, 2010 21:25:37 GMT
Disagree with the above. He would learn more on a good line with big icetime in Manchester, than rolling out on the 4th line for Panthers. Ah, but I never said 4th line for one of the bigger teams. I think he would progress even more playing on a EIHL 3rd line. Surely there would be an EIHL team that would be able to give him regular ice time? Clan, Stars, Stingrays and Caps are all short of quality Brits.
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GB
Jade Galbraith
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Post by GB on Sept 29, 2010 23:08:19 GMT
Coventry? Brit Injury problems. Agent Simms arranging the deal?
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warx
Robert Lachowicz
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Post by warx on Sept 29, 2010 23:14:05 GMT
Ah, but I never said 4th line for one of the bigger teams. I think he would progress even more playing on a EIHL 3rd line. Surely there would be an EIHL team that would be able to give him regular ice time? Clan, Stars, Stingrays and Caps are all short of quality Brits. That would make sense. Watching him in the continental cup last season he did himself proud over there playing against other Euro teams as well as not looking at all out of place in the EIHL last season.
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abi
Jim Keyes
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Post by abi on Sept 30, 2010 8:51:54 GMT
The problem with Farmer coming to the EIHL is this...
-If he goes to a big, quality team eg Belfast, Sheffield etc, he will have a hard time breaking into the pecking order and getting a regular shift. He may be good, but these teams have been together over a month and drilled into life as a unit.
-If he goes to a smaller team eg Clan, Stars, Stingrays etc he's shooting himself in the foot. The primary reason I could see him wanting to go top league is that he will want to play and learn alongside the best. No disrespect, but what could the likes of Hull teach him that Tony Hand couldn't a league below?
He'd slot back in easily at Manchester, with Dean having just left for Newcastle there is a slot open and all it would take is Tony to rejig his lines (which he seems to do periodically anyways, Lacho, Bowie and Walker all had slots on the 1st line last season) to put Farmer on the top line. I think he'd end up settled on there as well.
Tony, IMO is the best coach at making the players around him very good very quickly, and keeping that going once they've left. Look at the imports he's introduced to these shores, his best find is icing for you lot this year. Also, look at the start young Bowie has had to this season...the Tony Hand influence is there for all to see. He was showing up the Caps imports in the pre-season.
If I were in Farmer's skates, I'd try and find a team over there first, but knowing all this would definitely have me considering Manchester above others. Even if it was out of good manners and agreements as much as what I could actually achieve. I know i'd rather have a 100pt season in the EPL (easily achievable for Farmer if you ask me) than a meh 20points on the 3rd or 4th line of an EIHL team.
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Post by pantherinmanc on Sept 30, 2010 9:02:23 GMT
Hand is a genius, no doubt, but sometimes he's given more credit than he deserves. He didn't 'find' DAB nor make him the player he is, he came over here in the back third of a very successful career and that goes for many other so called 'Hand proteges'. Farmer would learn a lot in Manchester but what he wouldn't get is the opportunity to train and play with a group of players who are, on the whole, more experienced and better than he is. It's not just about competitive games it's about training as well. One of the reasons I wanted to see Rob Lachowicz back at Panthers this season is I felt he'd got all he could out of the EPL.
I just don't see what Farmer can get from the EPL that is not bettered by icing in the EIHL; and the much fabled 'Hand factor' is not, in my opinion, as much of a factor as some make it out to be.
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Shaggy
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Post by Shaggy on Sept 30, 2010 12:15:31 GMT
I agree with panthinmanc... plus also:- -If he goes to a smaller team eg Clan, Stars, Stingrays etc he's shooting himself in the foot. The primary reason I could see him wanting to go top league is that he will want to play and learn alongside the best. No disrespect, but what could the likes of Hull teach him that Tony Hand couldn't a league below? Sir Tony of Hand is a great player, no question... but that does not necessarily also mean that he's also a great teacher, just like the best player doesn't always make the best captain. Different skill sets... Plus - there's more to learning than just having a great mentor (if that's what Tony Hand became for him - remember, he's got the whole team to coach!). For a start, even if Farmer played for one of the so-called 'lesser' teams in the EIHL, he'd still be playing against the top players. And you can learn a hell of a lot from facing a stronger opponent. As for whether he should go EPL or EIHL (assuming he even comes back to the UK, of course!)... I'm on the fence there. I think there are potential advantages to either option, but exactly what would be the best... that will depend on a lot of factors that the likes of us will have no clue about. I wouldn't rule either option out.
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warx
Robert Lachowicz
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Post by warx on Sept 30, 2010 13:23:18 GMT
The problem with Farmer coming to the EIHL is this... -If he goes to a big, quality team eg Belfast, Sheffield etc, he will have a hard time breaking into the pecking order and getting a regular shift. He may be good, but these teams have been together over a month and drilled into life as a unit. -If he goes to a smaller team eg Clan, Stars, Stingrays etc he's shooting himself in the foot. The primary reason I could see him wanting to go top league is that he will want to play and learn alongside the best. No disrespect, but what could the likes of Hull teach him that Tony Hand couldn't a league below? He'd slot back in easily at Manchester, with Dean having just left for Newcastle there is a slot open and all it would take is Tony to rejig his lines (which he seems to do periodically anyways, Lacho, Bowie and Walker all had slots on the 1st line last season) to put Farmer on the top line. I think he'd end up settled on there as well. Tony, IMO is the best coach at making the players around him very good very quickly, and keeping that going once they've left. Look at the imports he's introduced to these shores, his best find is icing for you lot this year. Also, look at the start young Bowie has had to this season...the Tony Hand influence is there for all to see. He was showing up the Caps imports in the pre-season. If I were in Farmer's skates, I'd try and find a team over there first, but knowing all this would definitely have me considering Manchester above others. Even if it was out of good manners and agreements as much as what I could actually achieve. I know i'd rather have a 100pt season in the EPL (easily achievable for Farmer if you ask me) than a meh 20points on the 3rd or 4th line of an EIHL team. Yes, but even for a team like Hull or the Caps he would be playing week in-week out against quality EIHL players. This would be worth more than playing in the EPL alongside hand.
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Post by pantherdman on Sept 30, 2010 17:39:40 GMT
Yeah, but say he goes to Manchester, gets injured and his carrers over. A sporting life is short, play at the highest level possible as long as possible if i was him.
we rotate too much imo, he'd get plenty of ice time here, we even play young brits.
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