Weaver departs Vipers!

[Nemesis]

Just confirmed on the Vipers web site.

I can actualy say I am stunned by this news!!!!!

Wonder what he will do, commute? I very much doubt he would sell the home he is continualy saying he wouldn't move away from?

[Nemesis]

Latest PR indicates him looking like going to Blaze.......

[KimThePanther]

What were you telling us about half an hour ago?

If he goes to the Blaze that's a pretty decent replacement for Taity.

[Nemesis]

Move on people.........

Nothing to see here!

;D

As I said on ours though, it has been the reason he has given for not moving for many years now. Obviously the reported bust up was so bad it outweighs the trouble of commuting.

[mattscold]

He wouldn't have to give up his home, him and his family could be put up in accomadation just like imports are and he could keep his Scottish home for the off season.

[jd]

Hope he signs at LPS, so how think he will be in a Coventry fan shirt next season

[KimThePanther]

The Great Britain International who has spent the previous four season’s on Tyneside, now looks set to set to join the Vipers’ bmibaby Elite League rivals, the Cassidy Coventry Blaze.

The Newcastle website isn't exactly known for it's reliability though.

Apparently Sheffield are/were also in the running.

[barnsleyfan]

I can't see why he'd come to Sheffield now though - because we have 5 Brits already.

It would mean either Hewitt or W.Tait would be used as an extra forward (presumably Towe or Dowd would be better used for that) or that we'd go with 1 less import?!

[Borussia10]

barnsleyfan said:

I can't see why he'd come to Sheffield now though - because we have 5 Brits already.

It would mean either Hewitt or W.Tait would be used as an extra forward (presumably Towe or Dowd would be better used for that) or that we'd go with 1 less import?!

I would imagine we would go with less imports if he did sign. Can't see it mind but would be overjoyed with this one as he was the best offensive d-man in the EIHL last year IMO.

[Frodo]

barnsleyfan said:

I can't see why he'd come to Sheffield now though - because we have 5 Brits already.

It would mean either Hewitt or W.Tait would be used as an extra forward (presumably Towe or Dowd would be better used for that) or that we'd go with 1 less import?!

Well why not go with less imports. Matsos has made a very clever move in acquiring some of the best brits he can early on, they are more established/settled in this country than a new import would be. Their knowledge of other teams and leagues is at a higher and their is far less likelihood of a brit been poached or leaving a team part way through the season. Also a good import is easier to replace than a good brit.

but im not panicking just yet at the lack of signings coming from the panthers there's still plenty of time.

[texpef]

i would bet next months wages steelers will sign as many imports as possible regardless of whichever brits they sign... precedents and all that!!!.....

Oh and lets not here about all this team building over last three years i dont count poaching other teams british players as team building, just like i didnt count it when steelers signed Hand, chinn and lobby as their token british players....

[barnsleyfan]

texpef said:

Oh and lets not here about all this team building over last three years i dont count poaching other teams british players as team building, just like i didnt count it when steelers signed Hand, chinn and lobby as their token british players....

Tait, Hewitt and Thomas' third season with us. Lawrence has been with us for 4 or 5 years now. Phillips is returning as captain. I'd say that was quite a good start for building a team. Ashley Tait has said himself having his brother in the same team was a major reason why he signed for the Steelers. It would be great if good British talent grew on trees but it doesn't happen.

I don't quite understand where you're coming from though Tex, because surely in a sporting business, trades go on between teams every season. Just like you 'poached' Richardson from Cardiff, Clarke from Guildford all those seasons ago etc...

EDIT: Oh and i watched Hand, Chinn et al, but I was too young to appreciate the behind the scenes stuff you're on about above.

[carolle]

Weavers 3 year contract with Blaze is a good signing for them and an ample replacement for Tait.

He gets the job done.

More points than Tait and less pims.

[Frodo]

Not been the worst day ever for the blaze ok they lost their captain (who last year wasnt at his best) and replaced him with a better brit (IMO) and they have re-signed the best (again IMO) netminder in the league. Some thought has gone into when and who to announce has signed.

[Shorty]

Interesting information on Steelers website, together with the usual dig at the Panthers:

"What a few days in the bmibaby Elite League, Sheffield are the big winners after securing the signings of Ian Manzano, Ashley Tait and another new import to be announced on Thursday. Coventry hit back with Jonathan Weaver but Belfast and Nottingham are left holding the bath water

Steelers gain is there for all to see, the signing of Ashley Tait has certainly shown Dave Matsos intent of winning the championship, when you add Tait to the ultra impressive Jonathan Phillips, followed by Warren Tait, Mark Thomas and Jason Hewitt Sheffield certainly lead the way in the Brit Pack Department.

Steelers drive to sign Weaver was diminished by the arrival of Tait, the importance reduced as Weaver would have had to play as an import, his loss, as disappointing as it is will be cushioned by the fact that Matsos can replace his position with a quality, experienced import defenseman.

Matsos says "Having Ashley takes us up a notch in the stakes for the championship, especially as we have retained Jonathan Phillips, someone I rate as highly as anyone. Having Jono was great but then adding a guy like Ash gives us a huge advantage"

The position with Coventry was the reverse of that, Taits loss meant that Paul Thompson had to make a do or die move for the GB Captain otherwise risk losing the advantage of having a top quality Brit in his team.

Thompson joined the rush for Weaver late in the day as Sheffield battled out the fight for Weaver with Belfast, Nottingham and Newcastle. Thompson is also favourite to sign another member of the GB team later next week so the Blaze team will continue to boast a top range of home grown talent

Coventry's position though is that Weaver will probably take the place of the highly rated Reid Simonton with a 3rd line import now having to be drafted in, the reality of the situation is that Thompson has lost Tait and Simonton and replaced them with Weaver and a GB International. Steelers have just gained Tait.


Steelers the winners this week we think
So what of other teams, Cardiff have lost Richardson to Nottingham, and suggestions are about that 1 or 2 more will follow elsewhere. The Big G will pick up a good quality EPL Brit later this week but will he fill the spot left by the bigger guns departing? Phil Hill is also rumoured to be heading back to Wales

Nottingham have Richardson, they may also have an agreement for Owen with the strong ownership links between Basingstoke (Where Owen has agreed to join) and Nottingham exist. David Clarke wants a move to Europe, and Matt Myers is also not yet signed and being talked about by several clubs.

Belfast also seem at a loss to attract the stand out Brit, both Tait and Weaver considered the move to the Giants but decided against it, the Giants loss of Colin Shields to Newcastle certainly raised the eyebrows of many.

Vipers continue to have a strong Brit Pack, but for how long. Last year Tasker, this year Weaver, and others could well follow out of Newcastle by September as Rob Wilson decides to spend his budget differently next season.

Hull have their strong young local group as do Edinburgh, that leaves Manchester who again don't seem to be in the race for many of the strong British forwards, then again they do have the old master in Tony Hand.

All interesting times on the Elite League Merry-Go-Round

Link to Steelers Story

[KimThePanther]

Steelers said:

Nottingham have Richardson, they may also have an agreement for Owen with the strong ownership links between Basingstoke (Where Owen has agreed to join) and Nottingham exist.

That doesn't make any sense at all.

[Steelersmith]

Weaver has officially signed for Blaze now on a 3 year deal.

[Rich]

Good signing for cov dependant on how much they had to cough up for him

We wont be holding any bathwater by the weekend!

[texpef]

what do you mean about the bathwater?

As for better british players, IF myers does return to cardiff (And there are far better players than him) and clarky goes abroad (and imho clarky isnt as good as people purport him to be) where does that leave the panthers then?
So much for ellis chatting them up on GB duty for all it good it did the club as if we are not careful we will be decidedly light on home grown talent (now british players are showing the same loyalty as their canadian counterparts).
It seems the better players are being snapped up early this off season and it seems the panthers either have been caught napping with their pants down or they are not matching what the other clubs are prepared to pay (if this is the case then i am seriously worried as i dont doubt both coventry and sheffield will be bringing in top notch import players as well as their so called british stars). It does show that teams like sheffield and coventry are serious about winning ....again (almost at any cost some might say) and to compete the panthers need to at least try to match their british contingent because these days it has proved that it isnt just the imports that go towards winning games and the league...

I guess the next couple of weeks things will become clearer but it only makes it more imperative and hence probably more expensive that the few better british players left are encouraged to come to nottingham with even more vigor....

One final thing said at the time steelers wont re-sign moran as he wasnt good enough and it was just a token gesture for a publicity stunt, who now thinks they will? and more importantly who would rate him against the likes of Tait, weaver and shields?

[Heanor Lair]

tex,

I think you are worrying unnecessarily.

So Steelers have signed Tait on a 2 year contract (hmmm didnt someone else sign a '2 year contract' at Steelers last season ;D). I think Phillips is a far better player than Tait, not really sure why Steelers wanted him.

Weaver to Coventry on a 3 year deal. I bet he didnt come cheap. It seems Cov are trying to sign/retain a few big names, and then will be made up of cheap and cheerful players to stay under the cap.

As for Panthers, remember Ellis knows the EPL very well, and there are some very good Brits in that League who would easily step up to Elite level.

I know Ellis doesnt believe in the same hype nonsense that comes from up the road, but next season is a big season for Shuff - they have won nowt of note for 3 seasons - no trophies next year and they will be playing in front of 1 man and his dog.

Keep the faith tex I don't think Ellis will let us down

HL

[matt44]

I have faith in Ellis unearthing a few gems from the EPL and also attracting some big names from overseas.

We had no signing news for ages then 3 came at once, so we cant start to panick guys.

Just because we dont announce someone is signing 3 weeks in advance, or say things like "we are on the verge of signing a superstar.................." doesnt mean we dont have things ticking away nicely and as Ellis wishes them to.

Finnerty "supposedly" signed for Sheffield before the playoffs and that hasnt been announced yet. He may get anncouned tomorrow but they've made a balls up of that one.

[Milkman™]

barnsleyfan said:

I don't quite understand where you're coming from though Tex

Remember BF that your team and Manchester killed the spot in this country all those years ago.

Attendances have never recovered and the standard is less than it was 8 seasons ago.

So dont come high and mighty with the 'Matsos wants British players', we know who controls the purse and the signings down there in the land of steel.

[cc77]

I`m a little confused here, and believeme it don`t take much ;D, but i`ve just looked on eurohockey.net and it says that Jonathan Weaver has signed for Steelers NOT blaze. Am i missing something here?

[BIG-BAD-TONE]

pantherrich said:

Good signing for cov dependant on how much they had to cough up for him

We wont be holding any bathwater by the weekend!

Indeed !

We will still be holding the cup full of champers and they will be drinking bathwater from an old boot

[Shaggy]

It's too early to panic, IMHO.

So the Panthers have only announced 3 signings so far... doesn't mean that there aren't already several more signatures on Panthers contracts already. And even if not... just because we haven't signed anyone yet doesn't mean that we've lost them either.

It's the old wait and see game....

Tait to Steelers? Good signing by Sheffield. Although I think he's dropped off VERY slightly in the past year or two, Ash Tait is still one of the top Brits around. Maybe a new environment (and playing alongside his brother?) could get him back up to 100%?

(Simms can burble on about bathwater etc all he likes... signing Ash Tait is a great coup for Sheffield, no question... but let's not forget that they've already lost Tessier, the only player who made at least half their wins last season. It ain't all going their way...)

Weaver to Coventry? Damned good signing that... Weaver is surely the best British D-man around right now (although we've got #2 in Danny Meyers, IMHO). Could even be a slight upgrade for the Blaze. As much as I dislike Thompson, he sure knows how to build a team...

Whatever the situation is right now - for any team - it's still very early days yet... anything can happen.