dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Dec 26, 2017 19:57:34 GMT
Also, I wonder why we're the only team who very rarely make changes to the roster. It's very hard to imagine any other team going on a run like this without making some changes. Is this a mandate from Black? Budget already gone? Realise there's no point because the arena will still fill up regardless of results? I've been wondering this too. Clan have also been very poor this season with only a small handful of changes, non of which have been massive. Clan have the potential to make a big impact on the league, yet once again they fail. Black allows them to sign a very rookie coach who can't be described as much other than sub standard too. You'd think if there was genuine passion to win trophies and dominate, both us and Clan should be a hell of a lot better than we both are now. I know it's the same old accusation but it continues to appear that money is vastly more important than success to Black, but I'd love to be wrong. I really, REALLY dislike Black.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Dec 26, 2017 19:55:47 GMT
You hear a lot of talk that Corey and GM are just so unpopular with the players that they're just counting the days until their contracts run out and they can get on with their career again. If that’s the case then why does a class player like Mosey re-sign for a second stint at the club. Like you say, you hear a lot of talk but if it’s unsubstantiated talk, then what’s its worth. I've always got the impression with Mosey that he's really good mates with our Brits so if the package is decent (probably better than he could get anywhere else), why would he not come back?
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Dec 26, 2017 19:03:18 GMT
If Caps lose 7 on the bounce everyone says they should be chucked out the league because we need it to be competitive.
When this team was signed I said they looked short on goals and not big enough at the back. I was never getting that carried away with the CHL results because, as impressive as they were, lots of people you speak to say the top teams just use it as a pre-season training camp and don't take it seriously. And it's not really important anyway - the league is.
Yet again you could pick the Elite league winners based on who they signed - and, sure enough, Cardiff and Belfast are out at the top. And I was told I was being negative for pointing out that no team has ever won the Elite league with an inexperienced team.
I do wonder what causes this same pattern every year. You hear a lot of talk that Corey and GM are just so unpopular with the players that they're just counting the days until their contracts run out and they can get on with their career again.
Also, I wonder why we're the only team who very rarely make changes to the roster. It's very hard to imagine any other team going on a run like this without making some changes. Is this a mandate from Black? Budget already gone? Realise there's no point because the arena will still fill up regardless of results?
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Dec 23, 2017 22:07:57 GMT
Is that 6 losses in a row now? I don't remember a run anywhere near that bad in 18 years or so of watching Panthers. "Laser focus"...
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Nov 16, 2017 20:49:13 GMT
Blimey, that assist from Farmer for Derlago's goal is just amazing. That is just pure talent, and not many players - either import or Brit - can do that. The little move he makes to open up the space is the difference between decent players and top class players.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Oct 27, 2017 19:18:41 GMT
The new ruling is spot on. Particularly in terms of exonerating Hicks - and it all explains why the Steelers bench and other players don’t react to the hit - because it was legal!
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
DOPS
Oct 26, 2017 20:58:21 GMT
Post by dp on Oct 26, 2017 20:58:21 GMT
One thing that confused me with that - it says “unprecedented”. Didn’t they do the same with the Marsh hit on Moran? Albeit that time because Kelman wasn’t happy the league had disobeyed him and the ban was too long.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
DOPS
Oct 26, 2017 19:03:38 GMT
Post by dp on Oct 26, 2017 19:03:38 GMT
OK, I’ll trust you. I was there but I’ll trust you over what I saw. You were at the Steelers/Giants game? I don't get your point to be honest. I was at the bench clearance game, but it was much clearer working out what happened after seeing the video afterwards. And if I'd been at Steelers-Giants I imagine my view in the arena wouldn't be as good as my view from the video that's freely available now. Unless you're saying the video has been manipulated and what actually happened was completely different and only witnessed by the people at the arena? (and DOPS presumably). Can you confirm?
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
DOPS
Oct 26, 2017 18:53:48 GMT
Post by dp on Oct 26, 2017 18:53:48 GMT
Thank god they've realised how stupid the decision is and what a laughing stock they're making the league, BUT.... - asking for an independent review completely undermines DOPS, and surely it just can't continue after this - what sort of precedent does it set? If a club's not happy with a ruling, they can just request an independent review can't they? - the independent panel will almost certainly work on a different scale to DOPS, so if Fretter gets, say, 20 games (which I'd be surprised with but isn't out the question if this panel is truly independent) then that resets the par for the Elite League from the current very lenient levels - I find it difficult to believe that whoever is DOPS is not under pressure from "the league" to favour Sheffield and Cardiff in particular (Marsh being the proof of the Cardiff bias a couple of years ago) All very strange. But, as I say, whatever happens, DOPS can't carry on after this. The check from Goulakos which started this wasn't pretty, but it was Game at worst. Definitely not the sort of check that doesn't happen very regularly, and it didn't have a lot of force behind it anyway.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
DOPS
Oct 26, 2017 14:12:04 GMT
Post by dp on Oct 26, 2017 14:12:04 GMT
As a couple of people say above, the lack of reaction from the Sheffield bench (which it was right in front of) and the other Sheffield players, tells you that the original hit wasn't that bad. I can't help but compare it to the Allison on Nieckar incident. And what did he get for that? 14 games?? Trust me, there was absolutely no comparison with the events in that game! OK, I’ll trust you. I was there but I’ll trust you over what I saw.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
DOPS
Oct 26, 2017 12:51:43 GMT
Post by dp on Oct 26, 2017 12:51:43 GMT
As a couple of people say above, the lack of reaction from the Sheffield bench (which it was right in front of) and the other Sheffield players, tells you that the original hit wasn't that bad.
I can't help but compare it to the Allison on Nieckar incident. And what did he get for that? 14 games??
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Oct 24, 2017 18:35:43 GMT
It does actually - the first line has awful punctuation so it's a dead giveaway. If a sentence has "shall we" in, then it's a question, and therefore should be followed by a question mark. I've been reading that sort of amateurish drivel for years on the official website.
If I were Rob, I'd be contacting a "no win, no fee" solicitor pretty sharpish. I still remember why the Cage became log in only in the first place - because apparently "libellous" posts had been made about Scott Allison after an incident in Belfast so legal threats were made to the moderators - you know, the moderators who were just Panthers fans and were doing their best to moderate the forum in their spare time, basically to provide a service to the Panthers free of charge. It's no exaggeration to say that when I first started watching Panthers nearly 20 years ago I didn't know many people who were interested in it, and coming on the Cage was the only way I could find info and discuss games. If it hadn't been for The Cage I'd have lost interest very quickly, so this place is responsible for literally thousands of pounds of revenue for Black and the rest of the league - and that's just from me.
I've absolutely no idea who Rob is, and no reason to believe him - except I've heard this sort of thing many times coming out of the club over the last few years from people I DO know, and I KNOW aren't lying.
The Panthers are an awful organisation in my eyes - and I say that as a Panthers fan - and it's exactly why I, and many others I know, no longer give our hard earned cash to this set up; they make Fawaz look like the management team at Apple.
If Black or any of his boys are reading, it's time to make some changes. As long as the Panthers aren't selling out every single game, then they're being badly run - that's your benchmark...
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Oct 22, 2017 19:37:52 GMT
If the Panthers side of the story ever came out you'd stop your bleating. I'd love to hear it. Please can you tell us? I'm not saying this as a big fan or member of the supporter's trust. From what I can make out they haven't been perfect and have made mistakes; but they're a supporter's trust - they don't have to be perfect. The club should be helping them rather than trying to humiliate them. I always think it's very telling that the chairman of the Forest Supporters trust, who are getting such huge credit throughout the football world, is a chap who was a massive Panthers fan and regular poster on here, but lost interest largely because of the way Panthers were being run. To me that says it all.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Oct 22, 2017 19:02:29 GMT
Is anybody surprised? I, and many others I've spoken to, no longer go to Panthers (apart from the odd visit) because of precisely this type of thing. I'm a Panthers fan but the current owner and management make me sick.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Oct 14, 2017 20:30:11 GMT
Used to have a lot of respect for Fitzgerald but he's not what he used to be. Gagnon stopped tonight because he'd knocked him down - Fitzgerald jumps back up and catches him after he's stopped. That's not being a "warrior" as everyone seems to like to say he is, that's just cheap, plain and simple.
And after his avoiding Big Ern last season he's shown he's a spot picker anyway - so anything but a warrior. And on top of that, I don't remember him having won a fight for about 2 seasons.
Incredible goal from Farmer - like something out of training.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Sept 10, 2017 20:03:39 GMT
I don't think many people are actually making judgements, it's more disappointment after the strong showing in the CHL. There were plenty of people getting very excited after the CHL games. It's the Elite League that matters.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Sept 10, 2017 19:43:51 GMT
It's way too early to judge this team. We'll get a decent idea of how good they are after 20 EIHL games, not after a few CHL games.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Sept 6, 2017 18:47:52 GMT
I'm sure I've read two different stories of why UK ice hockey doesn't get any funding.
First one is that it's because it's a professional sport in the UK (which others aren't) generating millions of revenue, and therefore doesn't qualify.
Second is that the people distributing the money don't trust, or want to give money to, the people running UK ice hockey, and want it reformed before they give them anything.
The two are probably related. Why should ice hockey be given funding which will ultimately just line the owner's pockets? If not directly, then at least by taking costs they currently have to cover away from them.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Sept 3, 2017 7:27:00 GMT
Blimey!
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Aug 15, 2017 17:43:41 GMT
One thing though, if he was on a 3 month visa, surely Panthers wouldn't use up a few weeks of that time with pre-season? They'd get him in as late as possible to maximise the number of games he plays wouldn't they?
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Aug 8, 2017 21:00:15 GMT
It could also be pure speculation that both Russians got signed very early doors......likely because Panthers knew they would have visa problems. In which case,why sign Russians when there are thousands of other non Russian hockey players out there ! 🙄 I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see a Russian signed up for a while after this season, unless they're a real quality player. From how Corey spoke about it, it sounds like he didn't realise how strict the Russia-UK Visa Process is, which is definitely a mistake he's learnt from. Probably assumed it would be similar to North American's system. I doubt it's as strict as the requirements Russia have in place for Brits and NA's heading to Russia, we'd have to receive an actual invitation before we can go to Russia I'm sorry but do you seriously buy that? And if he genuinely didn't know, does that make it better or worse?? Shouldn't somebody have told him? Maybe the GM or something?? Does anybody not think it's coincidence that the Clan fans have exactly the same groans with their club getting players in on time that we do? Is there a common denominator?? Given you don't pay the players until they arrive, is there an incentive to them not arriving on time?
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Aug 7, 2017 21:43:46 GMT
Well, the league is often decided by not many points. If you start the league season an import or two short and drop 2 points you'd have won with a full squad, then getting players in late has cost you the league.
I see it season after season with Panthers and it's just massively boring and inevitable now. Just such a badly run club it's laughable - so amateur.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Aug 7, 2017 20:29:09 GMT
Seriously, is anybody surprised? This is Panthers.
If we start the league season short of any imports (including the yet to be signed) then we're pretty much giving up on the league before it's even started - same as we do every season. Even if we play just the first 2 league games an import short, we're yet again conceding defeat before the end of August.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Jul 18, 2017 7:28:19 GMT
Well that depends what you think the wrong or right reasons are. Like with most businesses I would guess that NB wants to invest as much money as it takes to gain maximum profit and not a penny more. Your right reasons and his right reasons are more than likely two very different things. I guess that's the major difference between it being your money on the line or not. We always seem to find the money after Christmas when we have to in order to try and save the season after things have gone tits up. Not so good at finding it to start with though are we. There is always going to be a compromise line between making money and winning. But for a team that could blow all the others out the water every season if it wanted to.....we don't even come close to that line ! Black has gone on record as saying the business model for Panthers (and what he suggests for all clubs to follow to stay afloat) is that up until Christmas you only spend the season ticket money. After Christmas you can top up by spending other income.
|
|
dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
|
Post by dp on Jul 13, 2017 6:37:34 GMT
The thing is, it's all about balance. And Corey's (or is it Black's) problem is that they just get obsessed one way or the other - it's either young with potential or old with big resumes. The teams that win it have a bit of both.
I was just having a look through the grand slam winning team for comparison. And in that you've got quite a few players of the calibre we've signed this season - Gallivan, Francis and Graham were all mid-20s with not much above ECHL level behind them and similar stats to some we've signed this season.
But alongside them you had Ling, Beckett and Wilson who had played most of their careers in the AHL, and also known, experienced, proven players in the EIHL like Benedict and Fox.
On top of that you had Weaver - plus Clarke in his prime.
One hope I'm clinging onto this season is Mathieu Roy. Not an amazing resume when they signed him, but a perfect EIHL player in many ways. Although, he WAS coming off the back of an 89 point season in the ECHL. And he'd been captain of his ECHL in his mid 20s so maybe he wasn't so much of a great discovery!
|
|