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Big Four
Aug 5, 2022 16:13:25 GMT
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Post by notts1999 on Aug 5, 2022 16:13:25 GMT
Going to be some battle this season, I can see there being quite a big difference in points between 4th and 5th.
Us, Cardiff and Belfast look Mustard this year on paper.
Leagues took another step up in quality apart from Dundee, Manchester and Fife
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Jord v4
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Post by Jord v4 on Aug 5, 2022 16:29:09 GMT
Certainly going to be harder to predict than last season.
Even for someone with a 100% prediction record like myself.
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iginla
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Big Four
Aug 5, 2022 19:25:55 GMT
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Post by iginla on Aug 5, 2022 19:25:55 GMT
Certainly going to be harder to predict than last season. Even for someone with a 100% prediction record like myself. Ah but you didn’t predict the final four for POFW right did ya. Lol 🤣
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Jord v4
Ken Westman
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Post by Jord v4 on Aug 5, 2022 19:34:08 GMT
Certainly going to be harder to predict than last season. Even for someone with a 100% prediction record like myself. Ah but you didn’t predict the final four for POFW right did ya. Lol 🤣 I'd switched off by that point. Like most of the team actually.
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Post by Bagheera on Aug 5, 2022 19:41:42 GMT
Looking at it with some rosters not yet complete I'd still make Giants favourite to retain. They've have a core of guys back from last year and, of course Keefe is still there. That consistancy gives them a big edge.
I currently then see us and Cardiff relatively close to each other. We obviously look massively upgraded but as we all know, it's going to be a tough challenge to bring all new aspects together quickly and challenge for the title in year 1. Us and Cardiff will be closer to Giants and if it goes well for either they could be in contention.
Sheffield are Sheffield. On Paper look the weaker of the 4 thus far. As ever though, no way writing them off. It'd be stupid to do so. They've proved that enough times.
Clan in theory should be 5 but they'll end up as usual in a battle with Coventry & Guilford for 5,6&7. Although Coventry appear to be on a long gradual slide. You never know, Sheffield could end up in this party too. 😁
The other 3 will battle it out for 8th. I cant see Dundee being as strong as last year now Pacha is here with us.
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Big Four
Aug 5, 2022 21:27:29 GMT
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Post by wgray on Aug 5, 2022 21:27:29 GMT
Looking at it with some rosters not yet complete I'd still make Giants favourite to retain. They've have a core of guys back from last year and, of course Keefe is still there. That consistancy gives them a big edge. I currently then see us and Cardiff relatively close to each other. We obviously look massively upgraded but as we all know, it's going to be a tough challenge to bring all new aspects together quickly and challenge for the title in year 1. Us and Cardiff will be closer to Giants and if it goes well for either they could be in contention. Sheffield are Sheffield. On Paper look the weaker of the 4 thus far. As ever though, no way writing them off. It'd be stupid to do so. They've proved that enough times. Clan in theory should be 5 but they'll end up as usual in a battle with Coventry & Guilford for 5,6&7. Although Coventry appear to be on a long gradual slide. You never know, Sheffield could end up in this party too. 😁 The other 3 will battle it out for 8th. I cant see Dundee being as strong as last year now Pacha is here with us. Just a comment about Sheffield, are they the team they once were? Admittedly there’s been some disruption, but since they last won the league in 2016 they’ve only managed to win a playoff championship and the challenge cup. They bottled the league last season, got destroyed in a home challenge cup semi final (history repeating itself) and fell apart against the Stars in the play-off quarter finals.
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Post by Bagheera on Aug 5, 2022 21:46:18 GMT
Looking at it with some rosters not yet complete I'd still make Giants favourite to retain. They've have a core of guys back from last year and, of course Keefe is still there. That consistancy gives them a big edge. I currently then see us and Cardiff relatively close to each other. We obviously look massively upgraded but as we all know, it's going to be a tough challenge to bring all new aspects together quickly and challenge for the title in year 1. Us and Cardiff will be closer to Giants and if it goes well for either they could be in contention. Sheffield are Sheffield. On Paper look the weaker of the 4 thus far. As ever though, no way writing them off. It'd be stupid to do so. They've proved that enough times. Clan in theory should be 5 but they'll end up as usual in a battle with Coventry & Guilford for 5,6&7. Although Coventry appear to be on a long gradual slide. You never know, Sheffield could end up in this party too. 😁 The other 3 will battle it out for 8th. I cant see Dundee being as strong as last year now Pacha is here with us. Just a comment about Sheffield, are they the team they once were? Admittedly there’s been some disruption, but since they last won the league in 2016 they’ve only managed to win a playoff championship and the challenge cup. They bottled the league last season, got destroyed in a home challenge cup semi final (history repeating itself) and fell apart against the Stars in the play-off quarter finals. I agree. They arn't the team they were. My statement ahould have ended at they look weaker. They may not have won many titles in recent years but have still finished above Panthers most times. That's the other reason I dont like to dismiss them. Scars of the past come in to play more than anything.
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iginla
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Post by iginla on Aug 5, 2022 22:39:21 GMT
Steelers aren’t the team they were. Their team make up has changed,for years it was always virtually full of hard nosed Canadians and Americans but the last few years there seem to be far more Europeans pitching up in Sheffield. Fox needs to start winning some regular trophies or their fans will be on his back pretty soon.
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Post by wgray on Aug 5, 2022 22:45:23 GMT
Just a comment about Sheffield, are they the team they once were? Admittedly there’s been some disruption, but since they last won the league in 2016 they’ve only managed to win a playoff championship and the challenge cup. They bottled the league last season, got destroyed in a home challenge cup semi final (history repeating itself) and fell apart against the Stars in the play-off quarter finals. I agree. They arn't the team they were. My statement ahould have ended at they look weaker. They may not have won many titles in recent years but have still finished above Panthers most times. That's the other reason I dont like to dismiss them. Scars of the past come in to play more than anything. I agree with what you’re saying about our previous failures in the league and against them specifically. I just feel like this is the season where we’ve got to make our mark in the games against Sheffield, they don’t look to be anything special, keep faith in the team we’ve got and trust in the guys running the club.
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Pies
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Big Four
Aug 5, 2022 23:24:01 GMT
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Post by Pies on Aug 5, 2022 23:24:01 GMT
Fox chokes. A challenge cup isn’t their level.
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Deleted
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Big Four
Aug 6, 2022 7:43:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2022 7:43:35 GMT
I said when he was appointed he's a good recruiter but crap coach.. if lord, Keefe or neilson had the lead Sheffield had they wouldn't have choked!
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Big Four
Aug 6, 2022 9:32:05 GMT
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Post by notts1999 on Aug 6, 2022 9:32:05 GMT
I said when he was appointed he's a good recruiter but crap coach.. if lord, Keefe or neilson had the lead Sheffield had they wouldn't have choked! Sorry pidge, not so sure I agree with great recruiter this season anyway Sheffield are in the 💩 if Ciampini doesn’t produce I’d have them as a 4th place team this year
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Deleted
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Big Four
Aug 6, 2022 12:02:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 6, 2022 12:02:46 GMT
I said when he was appointed he's a good recruiter but crap coach.. if lord, Keefe or neilson had the lead Sheffield had they wouldn't have choked! Sorry pidge, not so sure I agree with great recruiter this season anyway Sheffield are in the 💩 if Ciampini doesn’t produce I’d have them as a 4th place team this year Yeah agree I'd say this Sheffield team are paper is the weakest he's recruited
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Post by John Casey on Aug 6, 2022 13:50:52 GMT
Whatever you do, do not ever underestimate The Steelers
If things don't go right anytime they will make changes, even if we give them a good seeing too in both Pre-Season Games.
I will say this, those Pre-Season Games against Sheffield do intrigue me. I doubt Gary Graham will tell them to take it easy on them.
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Big Four
Aug 6, 2022 14:57:20 GMT
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Post by wgray on Aug 6, 2022 14:57:20 GMT
Whatever you do, do not ever underestimate The Steelers If things don't go right anytime they will make changes, even if we give them a good seeing too in both Pre-Season Games. I will say this, those Pre-Season Games against Sheffield do intrigue me. I doubt Gary Graham will tell them to take it easy on them. Never underestimate any opposition, we just need to stop with this fearful mindset that they’re always going to turn us over and beat us. They’re not the winning club that they used to be
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iginla
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Big Four
Aug 6, 2022 18:03:27 GMT
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Post by iginla on Aug 6, 2022 18:03:27 GMT
Whatever you do, do not ever underestimate The Steelers If things don't go right anytime they will make changes, even if we give them a good seeing too in both Pre-Season Games. I will say this, those Pre-Season Games against Sheffield do intrigue me. I doubt Gary Graham will tell them to take it easy on them. Judging by GG’s latest interview it didn’t sound as if he’s that bothered about pre season games,even against the Steelers!
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ant
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Big Four
Aug 9, 2022 10:25:34 GMT
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Post by ant on Aug 9, 2022 10:25:34 GMT
Whatever you do, do not ever underestimate The Steelers If things don't go right anytime they will make changes, even if we give them a good seeing too in both Pre-Season Games. I will say this, those Pre-Season Games against Sheffield do intrigue me. I doubt Gary Graham will tell them to take it easy on them. Never underestimate any opposition, we just need to stop with this fearful mindset that they’re always going to turn us over and beat us. They’re not the winning club that they used to be I'd have their defence as stronger than ours so think they'll play their old soak it up/ counter attack / frustration tactics
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Post by wannabe2 on Aug 9, 2022 11:11:12 GMT
Anyone writing off Steelers do so at their own peril, Steelers are one of those clubs that win even when not playing great. They are always there or there about, and I don’t see that changing this season,hate to say it but Steelers will still be pushing everyone.
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Post by bobness on Aug 9, 2022 12:38:17 GMT
Anyone writing off Steelers do so at their own peril, Steelers are one of those clubs that win even when not playing great. They are always there or there about, and I don’t see that changing this season,hate to say it but Steelers will still be pushing everyone. Have to say, I agree at this stage. They've always been the kind of team that you can be beating 5-0 and yet only think "We may have done enough to squeak a point here..."
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Big Four
Aug 9, 2022 15:41:44 GMT
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Adi likes this
Post by John Casey on Aug 9, 2022 15:41:44 GMT
If Sheffield go on a 3 game losing run, they will make changes
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Post by The Flying Shirt on Aug 9, 2022 15:47:01 GMT
It would be nice just to look that we belong in the top four.
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Deleted
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Big Four
Aug 9, 2022 16:21:34 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 9, 2022 16:21:34 GMT
Sheffield can still sign who they want for me, but while they still have Fox behind the bench they won't dominate
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Big Four
Aug 10, 2022 16:07:20 GMT
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Post by wgray on Aug 10, 2022 16:07:20 GMT
Just looking at the rosters of the other teams in the league and I’d say that Cardiff look to have the best team on paper.
They’ve brought in new players with great experience at better levels, they’ve got good balance throughout the lineup in terms of roles, they’ve got playmakers, goal scorers, physicality, a bit of size. They’ve brought proven winners back and they’ve kept the majority of their core from last season that will already have chemistry. I honestly can’t see anything that they are lacking. Will Dupont, in his first full season as a head coach, be successful?
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Big Four
Aug 10, 2022 16:19:34 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2022 16:19:34 GMT
Just looking at the rosters of the other teams in the league and I’d say that Cardiff look to have the best team on paper. They’ve brought in new players with great experience at better levels, they’ve got good balance throughout the lineup in terms of roles, they’ve got playmakers, goal scorers, physicality, a bit of size. They’ve brought proven winners back and they’ve kept the majority of their core from last season that will already have chemistry. I honestly can’t see anything that they are lacking. Will Dupont, in his first full season as a head coach, be successful? I agree. I see devils being the team to beat with panthers challenging them.. then Giants and Steelers in 3rd and 4th respectably
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Post by bobness on Aug 10, 2022 16:34:21 GMT
Just looking at the rosters of the other teams in the league and I’d say that Cardiff look to have the best team on paper. They’ve brought in new players with great experience at better levels, they’ve got good balance throughout the lineup in terms of roles, they’ve got playmakers, goal scorers, physicality, a bit of size. They’ve brought proven winners back and they’ve kept the majority of their core from last season that will already have chemistry. I honestly can’t see anything that they are lacking. Will Dupont, in his first full season as a head coach, be successful? I may be up the wrong tree here, but I do wonder if goalie is maybe the (relative) weak link in the Devils team? Bowns is coming off a year where he wasn't the best goalie on his team let alone best in the Slovak league, which is probably broadly on a par with the EIHL, and a good thrashing at the WCs? Kozun's SP% was the same as Carr's last season? That said, it may not be at all, I know Bowns has consistently produced in the EIHL as part of a very good D, and they may still have the best overall D. I think the top 4 are very hard to call on paper, but I certainly wouldn't be predicting Panthers (or any of them) as league winners at this stage.
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