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Post by mattscold on Apr 5, 2007 10:32:25 GMT
Just seen the following article in the NEP, nice to see his side of the story and how he is affected by fan negativity and the like, the article can be found here tinyurl.com/2b3bru
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Post by newham on Apr 5, 2007 10:52:59 GMT
He must read the cage then, hello Corey!
Personally, i won't criticise someone unless they've done something to be criticised for. He's a defenseman that hasn't been very good at defending. That's the bottom line.
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Post by Rumpole on Apr 5, 2007 10:54:09 GMT
I'm so pleased he's showing us what he can do, as I never thought he was the liability that others thought he was. I'd have him back.
It was such a shame his MOM award from last Saturday had to be presented in the relative privacy of the Green Room, rather than in front of the fans. He could be the stand-out player this weekend.
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Post by NickThePanther44 on Apr 5, 2007 11:25:57 GMT
what a top fella, personally ive enjoyed watching him play this season and would have him back in a second. if he does actually read this forum then i hope hes paid more attention to the few of us that have actually praised his point return and good performances
Nick
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Rhino#13
Jim Keyes
South Notts Outlaws Rule
Posts: 906
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Post by Rhino#13 on Apr 5, 2007 11:31:56 GMT
He has been playing very well and I commented during the Sheffield games that he'd thrown more checks than he had done during the entire rest of the season. Which begs the question WHY DIDN'T YOU PLAY LIKE THIS ALL SEASON, COREY ??! At least he says he responds well to negative criticism, not that it ever made a difference to me voicing it.
I was much amused by his comments on avoiding fighting and not being a tough guy. His summation of how he was marketed when he first came to us being over the top and difficult to live up to was dead on the money too.
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Post by psylence on Apr 5, 2007 11:36:08 GMT
i've thought corey has has a great season. can't see why some on here bash him so much i was well pleased he had such an integral role in our win last weekend !
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Post by bobness on Apr 5, 2007 12:16:04 GMT
A most interesting article.
Your big players come up big when required. How many people in the crowd groaned when he came up to take that shot on Sunday night? Talk about cojones like basketballs, and he nailed it. That takes some doing in that situation. I take my hat off to him. What would it have been like on here had he missed it, and we'd lost? I wonder..... I've been disappointed with most (not all, but the vast majority) of the criticism he's received on these very pages this year. I think, same as him, it transpires, that he was over hyped in the summer, and had far too much to live up to. He isn't, as he says, Gretzky. Perhaps we expected too much. He took time to settle in (it is his first year in the UK after all), but now he has, he's been excellent. He's played superbly since Christmas, and is the 5th top scoring D man in the country. He's certainly been a leader in the last few games, when it really matters. His comments on Danny Meyers certainly will strike a chord with all right thinking Panthers fans, and show his qualities as a team guy.
Quite what it's like to have god knows how many people discussing and dissecting your every piece of work on a very public forum, under the anonymity of the internet, and often being quite disparaging, often completely out of all proportion, and often quite abusive, I don't know. He even acknowledges that side of it. Fair play to him.
Lesson for the mangenment next year. Sign the players, say nice things, but don't hype them up to the point we did with Corey. Let the play do the talking.
Whilst it is a terribly "yoof" thing to say, respect to the man for being so honest. I suspect if he returned, we'd see the last 3 month's performances all year next year.
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Post by dodit on Apr 5, 2007 12:36:04 GMT
He has made some mistakes that stick out more than other players mistakes and i admit that i have critised Corey for some of them but it has been outragous the amount of critizism (sp) he has received.
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LUFC
Ashley Tait
Game On!
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Post by LUFC on Apr 5, 2007 12:49:56 GMT
He has been playing very well and I commented during the Sheffield games that he'd thrown more checks than he had done during the entire rest of the season. Which begs the question WHY DIDN'T YOU PLAY LIKE THIS ALL SEASON, COREY ??! At least he says he responds well to negative criticism, not that it ever made a difference to me voicing it. I was much amused by his comments on avoiding fighting and not being a tough guy. His summation of how he was marketed when he first came to us being over the top and difficult to live up to was dead on the money too. Get off his back then? "Attack-minded D-men like Jan [Krajicek] and me need players like Danny [Meyers] and Mike [Rees] to clear up the mess we leave them in!" Loved that, it's how ive seen it all season long. Glad he's been able to pull through in the end, he started off great, lost his way when the team was low on confidence and losing quite afew matches, then since christmas he's been back up performing well. I do still hate those fans in the crowd who always shout when he misses a puck, jesus people every player on the ice misses the puck afew times a night but you dont all jump on them! ive resorted to shouting shut up back at those people now. I actually wouldnt mind seeing him back next season, so long as it's the corey we see now that's settled in and playing well most games.
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MP
Paul Adey
Hail hurts and rain is cold. Summer in the mountains
Posts: 6,811
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Post by MP on Apr 5, 2007 13:00:58 GMT
Whilst it is a terribly "yoof" thing to say, respect to the man for being so honest. I suspect if he returned, we'd see the last 3 month's performances all year next year. I'd echo those sentiments. I've not been a fan of Corey for much of this season - so many turnovers! With defensive heroes like Bob Nordmark and Scott Ricci who didn't know what a turnover was and had great positional sense, Corey's rather loose play became very frustrating. I don't think I criticised him much in public but walls were climbed in private at times! Must say I've admired the dignity Corey has shown in the face of the vitriol and criticism that's been channeled his way. He's shown a quiet, determined leadership on the ice as well. If he plays the way he has done the last month or so then he can be a valuable player - especially if the rest of the team remember their team defensive duties
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Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
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Post by Shaggy on Apr 5, 2007 14:39:32 GMT
Corey's certainly had an up-and-down season. The title of "Captain Cough-Up" that has been heard in various quarters is a bit cruel, but unfortunately it did have some basis in fact. There were games where he had a total 'mare, but there was also glimpses of what he could really do. Is this the real Corey Neilson we are seeing now? I certainly hope so...
If you'd asked me at Xmas whether I'd want him back, the answer would have been a resounding "No". Now I'm not so sure... the Corey Neilson we saw last weekend is a player that I'd like us to keep hold of. Funny thing is, I wasn't at all worried when he skated out to take the 2nd penalty shot... as I recall, he took one in that early-season game vs Manchester at Ice Sheffield and slotted it home as neat as you please.
He's got a good point about the way he was built up when signed (as a few others have pointed out)... that certainly didn't help the situation. He did put up impressive goal & assist stats (especially on the powerplay) but the defensive side was definitely lacking at times.
I suppose the question that has to be asked is... if he was to be re-signed, what would we get - the inconsistent Corey Neilson of the regular season or the changed man that we've seen recently? If the former... sorry, Corey - but I would have to hope that it was goodbye. If the latter... hmmm... a return might not be unwelcome after all.
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Abi
Pat Casey
[Bean]
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Post by Abi on Apr 5, 2007 14:50:46 GMT
My dad calls corey the secret sniper and i think these past few months he's played mint! that goal on sunday was amazing!! Well Done
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Rich
Paul Adey
Go hard or go home
Posts: 6,691
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Post by Rich on Apr 5, 2007 15:08:34 GMT
Id have Corey back but only on an average wage. Very good read, il admit iv been critical of him... because hes frustrating to watch. Hes never been a bad player, hes got natural ability and thats the problem for me. Hes shown he can be awesome so he needs to look at himself and step up next season if hes back and be the player we thought wed signed but has taken all season to get here.
He was the best player on the ice both games for me last weekend, closely followed by Tessier but he was stoppable and flawed , Coreys game was almost impeccable.
I had a discussion with someone who posts on here last night and said id watched him closely and the difference is conviction and determination. He threw himself into everything he did last weekend ie keeping pucks in the zone. IMO hes not the kind of guy who responds well to pressure on a personal level. Fans saying he was under acheiving got to him which in turn made him think twice before going for 50/50s etc and thats what seperates a good D man from a bad one, or in this case "regular season Corey" to "playoff Corey"
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MP
Paul Adey
Hail hurts and rain is cold. Summer in the mountains
Posts: 6,811
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Post by MP on Apr 5, 2007 15:19:10 GMT
made him think twice before going for 50/50s etc and thats what seperates a good D man from a bad one Surely a good Dman doesn't usually go for 50/50s - he sees the danger before it happens and skates to the place on the ice where the play will have arrive in due course - looks boring but reduces the risk element.
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Rich
Paul Adey
Go hard or go home
Posts: 6,691
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Post by Rich on Apr 5, 2007 15:26:50 GMT
made him think twice before going for 50/50s etc and thats what seperates a good D man from a bad one Surely a good Dman doesn't usually go for 50/50s - he sees the danger before it happens and skates to the place on the ice where the play will have arrive in due course - looks boring but reduces the risk element. He does do that, but you still get 50/50s, thinking on the PP for example (Big part of his game), if he throws himself at a puck to keep it in the zone he will, if he holds back and makes half an effort to get the puck he wont. In the Neutral zone I agree totally but I wasnt thinking of that. Its all about fitting into a decent team, If Corey is confident in his wingers covering he will pinch the zone, if hes condfident hes got a good D man to cover his side of the ice he will commit to a play. Hes only human but the team needs to play around him sometimes and all in all it just hasnt worked until now. It takes him to take control and responsibility but it also takes the forwards to respect his game and plan around it
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Post by newham on Apr 5, 2007 15:36:30 GMT
I'd only consider having Corey back if he was on a heavily reduced wage.
Our top earning defenseman in the past have been the likes of Jimmy Paek, Bob Stancock, Nick Boynton etc... Neilson is nowhere near that standard.
I just think a lot of people are allowing a few excellent games to cloud their judgement. For the majority of this season he's been very disappointing.
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Rich
Paul Adey
Go hard or go home
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Post by Rich on Apr 5, 2007 15:48:17 GMT
I'd only consider having Corey back if he was on a heavily reduced wage. Our top earning defenseman in the past have been the likes of Jimmy Paek, Bob Stancock, Nick Boynton etc... Neilson is nowhere near that standard. I just think a lot of people are allowing a few excellent games to cloud their judgement. For the majority of this season he's been very disappointing. Theres no doubting hes on good money but if you look through his stats again I doubt hes the top earner. No real AHL experience, no NHL so hes not a superstar in that respect. I agree tho id like to think hes not on big money and he will be back
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Post by smart6 on Apr 5, 2007 15:49:46 GMT
what a top fella, personally ive enjoyed watching him play this season and would have him back in a second. if he does actually read this forum then i hope hes paid more attention to the few of us that have actually praised his point return and good performances here here - trouble some jumped on his every mistake as if no other player made any. He wsn't a stay at home D man and should imagine Mike didn't sign him as one. He does some great shots from the blue line which unfortunately haven't resulted in goals as often as hoped but then there have been some a lot of rebounds missed as well. Would be more thanhappy to see him back next year
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Post by smart6 on Apr 5, 2007 15:57:11 GMT
I just think a lot of people are allowing a few excellent games to cloud their judgement. For the majority of this season he's been very disappointing. Disagee I for one haven't been disappointed but then again I wasn't expecting a super star who never made a mistake. IMHO I think peoples judgement was clouded by those amoungst us who were looking for a scapegoat
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Post by bobness on Apr 5, 2007 16:09:18 GMT
For the majority of this season he's been very disappointing. That's exactly the point. Disappointing because we (the club) built him up to be "too good to play in this league". As he says in the article. That title belongs to people like Jeff Ulmer, Travis Brigley, Kevin Bolibruck, Dan Tessier and the "real" NHLers etc. Turns out he's a "plain" good offensive D man. If we'd have signed him with no big fanfare, we'd be praising him as "the find of the season after a slow start" right now. I agree with Rich, for exactly those reasons, and have said so on here before. I'd be surprised if he is on top money.
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Post by pantherbird on Apr 5, 2007 16:38:17 GMT
I really like Corey, i think he bring's the team together, yes he's made mistakes but what hockey player hasn't. One of many great players on the Panthers team!
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Cav
Pat Casey
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Post by Cav on Apr 5, 2007 16:50:17 GMT
We've seen 2 Corey Neilsons this season. The one pre-Rasto looked completely out of sorts, unable to live up to a over-hyped reputation (not his fault) and maybe trying to cover for a netminder in which he knew was liable to let in soft goals. He's stepped up a geat in 2007 & then another gear or 2 last weekend. I'd take him back, so long as Ellis can reign him in a bit so that he doesn't put himself in a position where 1 mis-controlled puck leads to a break away for the opposition.
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Post by Rob #12 on Apr 5, 2007 18:14:50 GMT
I think guy has done fine. If he had been a low key signing like Mike Rees, no one would be expecting too much. I don't think its the fans fault and I don't think it's Corey's fault that the hype was too much pre-season.
But he has got on with it and out scored Krajicek, who everyone seems to love.
I just think it's a shame he was so hyped. Speaking to him on several occasions, I know he can take the criticism, which is a good thing. But I know it would get to me I was said to be something more than I am and I was trying to constantly meet that expectation.
It would have been far better to let him play his game and expect nothing.
I expect him to step up this weekend and am expecting a few more points to the tally too!
Rob
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john
Jim Keyes
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Post by john on Apr 5, 2007 18:27:22 GMT
Hi corey if you read this!!
Hes been a good player and makes a few bad passes but if you watch macca so does he but he dont get half the stick corey does!!hope he comes back and he could be good if he got them FEW bad passes sorted out!
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Post by 1986panther on Apr 5, 2007 19:09:22 GMT
For me Corey Neilson is the type of player that sums up why panthers haven't won much in recent years. Too many players have worn the black and gold that we know are quality players but don't seem to show this for a full season, other good examples of this this year are Stevens and Petricko.
Thanks for the effort this season Corey and what a great game you played over the weekend but it is inconsistent players like him who need to be the minor changes in the team for us to take the league title next season. If we can keep the same netminder and the other 3 d men then another solid stay at home d man would complete a very good black line.
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