dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Mar 2, 2007 23:03:42 GMT
Absolute rubbish tonight.
No passion, no heart - all but a couple didn't look the slightest bit interested.
They were playing with 7 imports - why did we not throw a check all night? Why did we not get in their faces?
Part of me feels the reason is that we don't want to play Newcastle in the play offs, so will happily give up second place. The reality is, we may well struggle to make fourth. I just can't understand it.
One thing I do understand though is that Ellis as a player is completely out of his depth at this level - just can't decide whether he's out his depth as a coach as well...
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Feb 20, 2007 22:41:30 GMT
A good game and a good win against a good side.
Carson tried his best to ruin it with some outrageous calls against us (pick of the bunch against Stevens) and missed calls against them (pick of the bunch one of the most blatant and dangerous slashes I've ever seen on Petricko's arm - Carson even seemed to apologise to Petricko for missing it).
Paul Thompson needs to get a grip of that squad though - tonight they were a disgrace, from start to finish (with Ndur swinging for Carson with his stick after our winning goal - if Shmyr gets 3 games for what he did, then if there's any justice we shouldn't be seeing Ndur again this season).
I'm all for hard hitting play, and even some niggling and crafty play, but tonight from Coventry over-stepped the mark - and to add to that, the constant whinging every time they got a call against them (which wasn't very often, if at all) became boring to watch. I'm there to watch a game of ice hockey, not a load of should-be Premiership footballers moaning at every decision and going down like they've been shot every time the opposition goes within five metres of them.
They made Maxwell's Racers seem like good sports tonight. Thompson - you need to get a grip of them.
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Feb 17, 2007 18:20:32 GMT
Shaggy I agree...but then if the way you described it actually happened then there'd be no need for an import limit because clubs would choose to buy British.
Newcastle as an example - they've chosen to spend more on top quality British players, in preference to a full quota of imports, and it didn't do them much harm last season.
I'm sure if you could get a Weaver for the same price as a Rees, you'd go for Weaver - and hence the import limit would be irrelevant.
Problem is, there just aren't enough good Brits around to provide the required level of quality and entertainment, and there probably won't be for a long time (if ever).
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Feb 16, 2007 22:44:01 GMT
Totally agree Higgy - forcibly increasing the number of Brits is not the answer to financial stability - I think it's actually the opposite. The lower the import levels, the higher the wages people like Clarke and Weaver will command. They'll very quickly become the highest paid players in the league and force the lower spending teams out of the equation.
Obviously these two are very good players, even by import standards, but should they be earning more than Ruff or Tessier? Personally I don't think so.
If we reduce the number of imports again, the 10 or so top quality Brits there are at the moment will start a bidding war between the "has" teams, leaving the "has-nots" absolutely no chance. All in all this will just make an uneven league, which will reduce the attendances even more.
If the current state of players were to carry to next season, but with one fewer import on each team, I think Panthers would just go with a shorter bench, because there's nobody good enough to take the place of an import...but then Clarke would be wanting a bigger slice of the pie, and so the net effect would be the same wage bill for a lower standard of hockey.
(I don't mean this as an attack on Clarke - far from it. I think he's entitled to every penny he earns and he's every right to demand all he can get - just using him as an example)
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Feb 12, 2007 21:20:26 GMT
I saw the whole thing completely differently from where I was - and I could see it pretty well because it was right in front of us.
I got the impression (and I might be completely wrong) that Shmyr was wanting to have a few words with Darby for injuring Petricko. I think Shmyr's problem was that he was so determined not for us to be down another man even for 5 minutes, that he wasn't going to drop his gloves with Darby.
So he was actually really restraining himself...but then he gets a 10 minute misconduct for basically a light shove on Darby, which gives him a game misconduct - at which point he thinks he's out of the game anyway, so he may as well try and do what he had to control himself so well not to do in the first place!
I think he was actually very controlled - the only problem with the whole situation was that the ref made an absolutely shocking call - if people got 10 minutes for that every time, there would never be any players left.
Perhaps his reputation preceeding him.
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Feb 11, 2007 0:29:19 GMT
Without doubt the worst reffing performance I've ever seen.
He called Clarke and Shmyr and I know for a fact, because I was watching, that he didn't see either of them.
Thankfully Sheffield are so bad that they couldn't finish us off, which made it a close game, despite us barely having 2 lines to put out.
Johnson reminded me tonight why I dislike him so much. Went down like a sack of spuds when Clarke checked him, and then got up straight away when the penalty was called. Sutter in the first period as well CHEATED - went down like he'd been shot, then as soon as Steelers had the puck - hey presto, he was up and perfectly healthy again. Thought this was meant to be a man's game.
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Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Feb 6, 2007 17:47:03 GMT
I seem to remember David Clarke posting a message or two on here a couple of seasons back - his signiture was something about him being the top scoring Brit if I remember rightly.
To be honest, if players get upset by reading it, they should probably just be grateful they don't have to put up with the British press!
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Feb 1, 2007 19:21:15 GMT
Rumpole, it was Simoes I was referring to, not Moran.
I just can't help but think that this was the wrong time to make a change. If he'd have ditched Simoes during the losing streak, I'd have been surprised, but would have understood where he was coming from. Now though, he can only fail - if we win, people will say we'd have won anyway, if we lose, people will say it's because we've got rid of Simoes.
Ellis really impressed me at the beginning, in that he preached about the TEAM being important, not individuals, but he seems to have completely forgotten that now. The third line may not have got many goals, but how much did they add in terms of wearing down the opponents d-men with Simoes there? As a d-man you couldn't relax for a second with Simoes out there - how many times this season has a d-man given the puck away because he's been looking over his shoulder waiting for a Simoes check? I even remember Gerard Adams doing it, and he's not exactly an easily intimidated shrinking violet.
In my years of watching hockey, I've never known a team be successful with 3 out and out scoring lines, which is what it seems Ellis is after now. Even in the NHL, where they have the pick of the world's players, they only play 2 scoring lines. It's all about balance, and I think we're in danger of losing it now.
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Feb 1, 2007 17:23:39 GMT
Obviously only time will tell, but at the moment it looks like madness, and very bad man-management.
What message does it send to the rest of the team? "Do exactly as I ask of you, and I'll sack you".
Can't be good for team morale, confidence or the reputation of the club amongst players.
As Brian Clough always used to say:
"You never change a winning team".
I can't help but thinking this is a two fingered salute from Ellis to the fans more than anything. I think he's stamping his authority.
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Feb 3, 2007 20:31:10 GMT
Apparently a pretty lack lustre first period according to a text from someone at the game. Not much passion and pretty dull, but Panthers well on top. Seems like the players couldn't be bothered to go along with the hype.
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dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
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Post by dp on Feb 3, 2007 19:19:25 GMT
Just had a text from someone at the game - apparently a 5 on 5 fight, started by Moran going after Neilson.
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Feb 3, 2007 19:41:47 GMT
I just CANNOT BELIEVE that people believe this!! I find it amazing that people are falling for it and actually getting wound up!!
Why do you think Steelers can post such contentious statements and not worry about getting sued? Why do you think Panthers "forgot" that Ellis couldn't play tonight?
Seriously, please don't fall for it! It's all box office! The most embarrassing thing about the sport in this country is that all the fans fall for it -and that's why they do it!
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Jan 29, 2007 20:58:32 GMT
Axing Simoes when we were playing badly would have been a brave decision by Ellis. Axing him when we're having one of our best runs of the season just seems a very strange decision.
I can only assume something's gone on behind the scenes that we don't know about - I hope that's the case anyway. Otherwise all that's happened is we've axed one of my favourite players in years, and the entertainment value of Panthers will have gone down by 20 odd percent.
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Jan 27, 2007 22:44:49 GMT
Very nearly a frustrating game, but just sneaked it in the end.
I think this whole Payette thing is purely caused by the fact he'd absolutely LOVE to play for us...plus I don't think he likes it that Shmyr bullies him like a little kid! Bless him.
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Jan 22, 2007 21:41:52 GMT
Fully agree Nemesis! Pretty much exactly what I was trying to put, but you put it better!
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Jan 22, 2007 21:06:40 GMT
The way I see it - the import level is dropped, all that ends up happening is that David Clarke, Jonathan Weaver, David Longstaff, Paul Sample etc, end up getting paid more, because their services are even more sought after.
Good for them yes, but where does that leave the fans? Paying the same cash to watch a lower level of hockey. Reducing the level next season is not magically going to make another 10 players good enough for that level.
If you were a young Brit at school with all the other sports to choose from, what's going to inspire you to want to play the game professionally? Taking a pass from Sean McAslan to deke Trevor Koenig for a hard fought 3-2 win, or scoring the 15th past Geoff Woolhouse (no offence to him) in a 15-11 win?? I know which would inspire me!
I have a fundamental problem with all this, and I may be missing an obvious point here, so apologies if I am, but I really don't see why Brits in the league is so important. I'm assuming it's to make Team GB stronger, with the thought that it will encourage more media coverage etc.
I'd be interested to see how many fans actually care about GB - I'm sorry, but I'm not really bothered, above reading the results to see if any Panthers players have scored. And I know a hell of a lot of people think like that - you only have to look at the attendance of the GB games a couple of years ago when they were held in Nottingham to see how few people are interested.
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dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
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Post by dp on Jan 23, 2007 22:21:54 GMT
Just got back.
Another good performance, and another entertaining game.
Did anybody see what happened with Petricko? I'm intrigued as to how he can get 5+ game when he didn't even seem to drop his stick, let alone his gloves - and he certainly didn't "Fight" like he was called for.
I assumed his stick caught the linesman's nose, which is why he was bleeding, but, if it did, it's a very harsh call as it must have been unintentional.
The other players certainly looked a bit bemused by it all.
I'd be happy if we signed Campbell next season - annoying, chippy...but also a very good player who posts a lot of points - the complete hockey player to me!
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dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
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Post by dp on Jan 19, 2007 21:38:04 GMT
From everything I've read (and seen of him so far) Simoes is very much not a fighter. McAslan has a far bigger reputation for fighting.
Everybody seems to think that just because he checks hard it means he's a fighter - but he's not. The hardest checker and probably one of, if not the, toughest players I've seen for Panthers was Eric Charron, and he never even came close to fighting.
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dp
Jim Keyes
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Post by dp on Jan 18, 2007 22:43:32 GMT
Cracking game and a good win against a good side.
To be honest even though we outshot them I think we were hanging on at times - Coventry seem to have so much pace all through the team, and we found it hard to cope with when they broke.
Anyway, positives - some cracking forward play from just about all our forwards, and Shmyr seems to be really improving, to the point where he's almost justifying his place on the team even without his fists.
Our defence though...less said the better. Krajicek apart (who just happened to have one of his first off games of the season) they were all poor - at least 2 of the Cov goals could have been prevented.
When thinking what separates a Championship winning team from a mid table team - well, swap Martin, Simonton and Nasreddine for Neilson, Meyers (no offence because he's very good for a British d-man) and Rees, and you've got the answer...
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dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
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Post by dp on Jan 11, 2007 22:24:45 GMT
Dave Simms piece on Ice Hockey League.tv this week is interesting. I have to say I agree with most of what he says.
Something which stood out...he reckons that reducing the imports from 11 to 10 is something which could kill ice hockey in the UK, as it meant the teams don't have enough import spots to allow for somebody to fight.
He uses the example of Clouthier (as you'd expect!) and how he wanted to fight Ndur. Ndur said no because Thomson had told him he couldn't as they were short on d-men. So he asked Gomez, who said he wasn't allowed to fight because he was needed to score goals.
Simms reckons this is killing the entertainment level, which is driving fans away and could ultimately lead to the death of the sport in this country...and I have to agree.
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dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
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Post by dp on Jan 4, 2007 18:04:28 GMT
Obviously really bad news, but the story on the BBC Website sounds encouraging for the longer term:
"Something had to give and now we can be sure the Devils will finish the season in a strong position"
So at least it sounds as though this decision is one which safeguards the future of the club.
Patterson to Steelers as a "Sorry for having to do that" from Phillips??
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dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
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Post by dp on Jan 6, 2007 23:30:05 GMT
Agree with everything you've said Kim.
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dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
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Post by dp on Dec 30, 2006 22:38:59 GMT
Not being funny but please can we keep this thread talking about the game, not flirting?! Surprised the mods haven't stopped it already actually.
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dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
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Post by dp on Dec 30, 2006 22:32:48 GMT
Surprise, surprise! According to the Panthers website we didn't get a bounce all night and came up against a hot netminder, hence being unable to score!
And this "Greg" Adams character who keeps on turning up for Cardiff in Panthers match reports - if he's an import than Cardiff have got 11, so we should be given the points!
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dp
Jim Keyes
Posts: 966
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Post by dp on Dec 17, 2006 20:42:00 GMT
The long and short is we've lost to a very poor team tonight - they're bottom and I can see why because they're the weakest team by quite a way. People were annoyed about losing to Hull and Edinburgh at home, but they're both far better teams than Newcastle.
Again Krajicek was a legend and McAslan also played a blinder though.
Good on Shmyr too for doing the whole team's rough stuff. Payette as usual didn't fight, just got in tight to avoid a battering - if he's going to go after players like he did on Simoes, he needs to be man enough to take the consequences. I think Payette has lost fewer fights than anyone else I've ever seen...but he's also won the least - he can't fight for toffee and he knows it, so he just tries to avoid getting a pasting by getting in close.
We huffed and puffed a lot tonight but we should be beating teams like that with ease - Belfast would have done, and that's why they're top and we're not.
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