Panthers haven't ruled out more signings

[GuinnessMan]

From NEP
Panthers haven't ruled out more signings
Thursday, December 22, 2011Nottingham PostFollow
NOTTINGHAM Panthers haven't ruled out making more signings to give their title push an additional boost in the new year.

On the back of his "busiest day of the season", general manager Gary Moran confirmed that Finnish forward Sami Ryhanen, 31, will make his debut tomorrow against Dundee in Scotland, in the first game of a trial period.

As well as overseeing the signing of the Finn on match day Tuesday, Moran also had to negotiate the transfer of Scott Champagne to German side Ravensburg Towerstars, as well as continue talks to bring back former favourite Sean McAslan.

He added: "It was a long day, starting at 8am and finishing around 2am on Wednesday.

"But these things have to be done and there may well be more on the way, because we wouldn't rule out other signings – and not just McAslan.

"He would have been a great pick up when Jeff Heerema was hurt back in September. That's when we initially made contact with him.

"But because he was not doing enough fitness work, he decided not to come.

"We left the offer open and Mac's since been skating every day with a view to coming over and slotting in.

"We think he's worth waiting for and hopefully it will happen, but he has one or two issues to clear up first.

"Champagne forced our hand, of course.

"The timing could have been a lot better, but these things happen and you have to be prepared.

"I've told the coach (Corey Neilson) to keep looking for new players.

"We're always on the look-out to improve the team.

"In the interests of the club, if some hotshot became available and the coach wanted him we'd add them to the squad – and I stress the word add.

"Sami has certainly done it at a very high level. A point every other game in the SM Liga isn't bad.

"His previous club in Denmark didn't have enough money and they had to cut the roster even before they got going.

"If he is half decent for us and he stays, we could end up with 11 imports or 12 if Mac comes.

"We don't want to build up peoples expectations; we want the right man for the job.

[richard1969]

"Busiest day of the season" lol

I read that opening line and thought something else must have happened !!

We signed one and we let one go (and somewhere in between had another chat with McAslan)

[Shorty]

Dec 22, 2011 7:27:03 GMT GuinnessMan said:

If he is half decent for us and he stays, we could end up with 11 imports or 12 if Mac comes.

Either Moran cant add up, or there will certainly be another signing. 10 imports - Champagne = 9. Add Sami is 10, and Macca is 11

[richard1969]

Plus if you genuinely DONT want to build fans hope up just get the extra signing(s) done and dusted and announce them - dont talk about deals that arent complete. That doesnt help anybody.

Talk is cheap !!!

[GuinnessMan]

Really does sound to me like McAslan is being groomed for coaching next year if he is 'potentially' going to be the 12th import

[Shorty]

Dec 22, 2011 8:19:24 GMT richard1969 said:

Plus if you genuinely DONT want to build fans hope up just get the extra signing(s) done and dusted and announce them - dont talk about deals that arent complete. That doesnt help anybody.

Talk is cheap !!!

The club has been lambasted for not being bothered about bringing in injury cover, yet this article clearly shows that they were trying.

Damned if they do, and damned if they dont.

[5+game]

Dec 22, 2011 8:48:50 GMT Shorty said:

Dec 22, 2011 8:19:24 GMT richard1969 said:

Plus if you genuinely DONT want to build fans hope up just get the extra signing(s) done and dusted and announce them - dont talk about deals that arent complete. That doesnt help anybody.

Talk is cheap !!!

The club has been lambasted for not being bothered about bringing in injury cover, yet this article clearly shows that they were trying.

Damned if they do, and damned if they dont.

Doesnt prove anything, they could tell us anything.

If we were serious about injury cover then why not persue someone else after we knew mcaslan was not coming.

Sheffield found someone to cover for Ramsey.

[Shorty]

Just saying they were looking. Some people on here suggested we were not even bothered about looking.

Thats not saying I dont think we should have had cover in, I really do, and agree with the fact that other clubs managed to, so why didnt we.

[lee]

Dec 22, 2011 9:00:16 GMT Shorty said:

Just saying they were looking. Some people on here suggested we were not even bothered about looking.

Thats not saying I dont think we should have had cover in, I really do, and agree with the fact that other clubs managed to, so why didnt we.

Other clubs also fail miserably at making a profit and keeping stable should we follow suit there as well?

People moan the club don't care and should be doing all we can to win get extra imports, here is an article from the club stating all this and it's still not enough !

I understand actions speak louder than words but I can't see us going to all these efforts without there being something behind it. I do think macaslan is being spotted up to coach next year however

[BigLad]

No point in signing oplayers for the hell of it.

They have to be the right fit for the team.

[pantherdman]

Dec 22, 2011 9:59:47 GMT lee said:

Dec 22, 2011 9:00:16 GMT Shorty said:

Just saying they were looking. Some people on here suggested we were not even bothered about looking.

Thats not saying I dont think we should have had cover in, I really do, and agree with the fact that other clubs managed to, so why didnt we.

Other clubs also fail miserably at making a profit and keeping stable should we follow suit there as well?

People moan the club don't care and should be doing all we can to win get extra imports, here is an article from the club stating all this and it's still not enough !

I understand actions speak louder than words but I can't see us going to all these efforts without there being something behind it. I do think macaslan is being spotted up to coach next year however

Too true, i'm off with my scalf and hat, down canary wharf next season. i love sucessful businesses!!!

[Rob Scott]

Dec 22, 2011 11:01:51 GMT pantherdman said:

Dec 22, 2011 9:59:47 GMT lee said:

Other clubs also fail miserably at making a profit and keeping stable should we follow suit there as well?

People moan the club don't care and should be doing all we can to win get extra imports, here is an article from the club stating all this and it's still not enough !

I understand actions speak louder than words but I can't see us going to all these efforts without there being something behind it. I do think macaslan is being spotted up to coach next year however

Too true, i'm off with my scalf and hat, down canary wharf next season. i love sucessful businesses!!!

;D

[kezypanther]

Dec 22, 2011 8:18:16 GMT Shorty said:

Dec 22, 2011 7:27:03 GMT GuinnessMan said:

If he is half decent for us and he stays, we could end up with 11 imports or 12 if Mac comes.

Either Moran cant add up, or there will certainly be another signing. 10 imports - Champagne = 9. Add Sami is 10, and Macca is 11

. I think what he meant by that was if he don't do aswell he could potentially become the 11th import and we bring someone else in as the 10th with macca as 12th. At least they are finally realising we needed cover all along.

[texpef]

Yep but that hal'peth of tar may cost us the league, if this had been pursued with vigour when we were imports and brits short at the very beginning of the season then we may not be behind the 8 ball at this stage of the campaign behind sheffield and belfast...

Glad this is being done now just hope it isnt just to appease the fans and is too little too late....

[panthers4ever]

Lets just wait and see

[elliottstanley]

Dec 22, 2011 8:48:50 GMT Shorty said:

Dec 22, 2011 8:19:24 GMT richard1969 said:

Plus if you genuinely DONT want to build fans hope up just get the extra signing(s) done and dusted and announce them - dont talk about deals that arent complete. That doesnt help anybody.

Talk is cheap !!!

The club has been lambasted for not being bothered about bringing in injury cover, yet this article clearly shows that they were trying.

Damned if they do, and damned if they dont.

Would kind of agree but the timing, the outlet of the release and content just looks like an appeasement exercise. Forgive my cynicism but a euro "on trial" in yet another season and a 2 year retired player (albeit a guy I would welcome with open arms) sound like another reactive measure.

If we're not adverse to more signings and we're happy to extend our roster to 11 or 12 imports then i'd really have hoped we'd have taken advantage of that from day 1 with perhaps 1 quality import rather than reacting now when the points that we've failed to gain cannot be fought for again.

Hope i'm wrong, hope Sami and Sean add something to our roster and we charge towards the title but I won't get my hopes up just yet.

[jd]

How many "quality" players are out there though, willing to come here?

I cant imagine there are a room full of Craig Weller's/Insert another name here just asking to come over.

McAslan knows the league and has been keeping fit, Sami could be a great fit we just need to give him a game or 5 to adjust. Champagne going has obviously put the cat amongst the pigeons but i think the club have been ok on the recruitment front.

[jerome29]

This will all depend on what happens between now and April.

If they are both great signings and we win the league great bit of business at the right time, well done Panthers management

If it all goes Pete Tong, terrible decision we waited to long, what a waste of management we have.

Live by the sword die by the sword. That in a nut shell is business

[elliottstanley]

Dec 22, 2011 15:53:43 GMT jd said:

How many "quality" players are out there though, willing to come here?

I cant imagine there are a room full of Craig Weller's/Insert another name here just asking to come over.

McAslan knows the league and has been keeping fit, Sami could be a great fit we just need to give him a game or 5 to adjust. Champagne going has obviously put the cat amongst the pigeons but i think the club have been ok on the recruitment front.

Agreed, totally and I hope the guys come in and adjust to make a hugely positive impact. However that still doesn't help us recover points we've already lost which some may argue were lost due to playing short staffed without key players. I can see both views.

On the McAslan front if he's fit, ready to play and happy to be a 'spare import' then why has it taken until December to do a deal?

[jd]

Dec 22, 2011 16:30:24 GMT elliottstanley said:

Dec 22, 2011 15:53:43 GMT jd said:

How many "quality" players are out there though, willing to come here?

I cant imagine there are a room full of Craig Weller's/Insert another name here just asking to come over.

McAslan knows the league and has been keeping fit, Sami could be a great fit we just need to give him a game or 5 to adjust. Champagne going has obviously put the cat amongst the pigeons but i think the club have been ok on the recruitment front.

Agreed, totally and I hope the guys come in and adjust to make a hugely positive impact. However that still doesn't help us recover points we've already lost which some may argue were lost due to playing short staffed without key players. I can see both views.

On the McAslan front if he's fit, ready to play and happy to be a 'spare import' then why has it taken until December to do a deal?

Taken from the NEP:

But these things have to be done and there may well be more on the way, because we wouldn't rule out other signings – and not just McAslan.

He would have been a great pick up when Jeff Heerema was hurt back in September. That's when we initially made contact with him.

But because he was not doing enough fitness work, he decided not to come.

We left the offer open and Mac's since been skating every day with a view to coming over and slotting in.

We think he's worth waiting for and hopefully it will happen, but he has one or two issues to clear up first.

Champagne forced our hand, of course.

[pantherdman]

Thank god they haven't ruled out more signings, I would hate to think this is it for the season.

[KimThePanther]

My guess is the management are looking to avoid a repeat of last year's 'falling out' between the club and fans which is entirely understandable as no one connected to the club could have enjoyed that. If the club are seen to be doing something then people are going to be much more patient with them.

My first question whenever we make a mid season signing is why that player wasn't already connected to a club by that point. People know what they're getting with McAslan and, while I think it'd be harsh to expect miracles from him straight away, I'd be happy to welcome him back.

[Mark]

Call me cynical but we've panic signed Ryhanen because Champagne has dropped us in it and suddenly after some fans voiced concerns about the club's league ambitions the Panthers are chasing McAslan as an 11th import. They both may turn out to be excellent aquisitions but they've been looking to strengthen all season?

It's the season of goodwill but I didn't fall off a Christmas tree.

[richard1969]

Dec 22, 2011 18:42:51 GMT KimThePanther said:

My guess is the management are looking to avoid a repeat of last year's 'falling out' between the club and fans which is entirely understandable as no one connected to the club could have enjoyed that. If the club are seen to be doing something then people are going to be much more patient with them.

I know what you are saying but compared to how bad it got last year any disgruntlement this year is very minor so far - but will gradually pick up if the League slips away

Almost a case of GM trying to anticipate the fallout in advance if the two Steelers games dont go well

Anyway we have now been told Mcaslan will play for us "some time" in the New Year ?

[asbo26]

I get the feeling that some on here have already written Sami off even before a puck drops.