Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Feb 2, 2020 20:26:24 GMT
A win is a win is a win.
No, that wasn't the greatest game of hockey ever... but that's exactly how Fife wanted it. They came down to play a shutdown disruption game... they spent all of their energy in trying to stop anything we tried to throw at them, then just hoping to exploit any gaps that we may leave. That's a hard tactic to deal with... no matter how much 'better' a team is supposed to be than their opponents. Hence the less-than-exciting experience for us fans. But at least we did capitalise on the mistakes presented to us.
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Feb 1, 2020 15:18:45 GMT
Well, after the Lions and the NIHC have invested a load of time, effort & money into live-streaming games, providing video for training purposes, etc... the EIHA have well and truly shafted us all:- nihc.co.uk/2020/02/01/filming-and-live-streaming-ends-at-nihc-with-immediate-effect/Sorry, ladies and germs... but the Lions YouTube channel will no longer be able to show live home games. What an utter pile of <self-moderated>
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 22, 2020 22:11:59 GMT
According to the EIHL website, Ollie got 2 goals tonight! Nice one, lad...
And not a single point for Herr? One has to wonder if Cardiff spent too much effort locking him down.
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 22, 2020 22:10:57 GMT
Ben Bowns looks shot to pieces. By all accounts, Cardiff are overplaying him. Which - with my GB fan hat on - worries me somewhat.
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 20, 2020 22:53:47 GMT
Check out the replays at about 4:47:- <link>Late hit? - absolutely. Hit to head or neck? - absolutely not.
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 19, 2020 22:44:27 GMT
So, a low maintenance guy, who will fit right in, happy to play 5th D, possibly temporarily, who’s of sufficient quality to be just placed on waivers ( from the NHL?) or released (somehow that good he’ll be released in January?)? That doesn’t sound like a big pool. I’d be hoping for a competent body at this stage. Anything more would be a bonus. Did Tetlow play much tonight? I’d hope so. How did he do if so? Tetlow had quite a few shifts tonight, he played it simple and he was very composed on the puck in our own zone, he does have a good outlet pass imo. I still get a bit twitchy whenever he goes into a battle at the opposition’s blue line as he’s very easily knocked over, opening us up to the odd man rushes. Maybe if he strapped some weights to his legs it might help with his balance😂 Give him time... when Ollie was in his first year or two with us, he got skittled a fair bit when battling for the puck... now he eats it up.
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 19, 2020 21:05:10 GMT
What happened to their NHL beating team? It was a misprint... NIHL beating team...
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 16, 2020 23:05:23 GMT
Well that took a while to get sorted out! link
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 14, 2020 18:25:14 GMT
All I wanted out of the weekend was no injuries, the league is what's important. You didn't want to win it? The league is important, but it doesn't have to be mutually exclusive to everything else. If they'd got injured at a testimonial game or something I could understand the issue, but the CC is very much worth winning. This. Injuries could easily have been picked up in league games too. Its just the way it is And this.
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 11, 2020 22:21:05 GMT
We could genuinely end up in the situation tomorrow where we could both be playing with empty nets. Slight aside... I've actually seen that happen! 2018 IIHF World Championships, Div. 1A in Budapest, Hungary... the last day of the tournament, game 2 of the day (Italy vs Slovenia) was tied at 3-3 right near the end of the 3rd... first the Slovenians pulled their netminder, then the Italians did - 12 outskaters on the ice, it was insane! Then a Slovenian D-man made an oopsie and the Italians scored to eventually get themselves 2nd place and promotion up to the top level. Of course, game 3 that day was GB vs Hungary with Robert Farmer's famous equaliser in the last minute to take us to OT and give GB the point we needed for gold and promotion. What a day that was...
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 11, 2020 21:31:10 GMT
On the other hand... so far, the Poles have 0 points after 2 games. It could be a matter of serious pride for them not to remain completely pointless from the weekend. Who knows? Predicting motivations in this kind of situation is problematical at best...
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 11, 2020 17:38:19 GMT
On far far too many occasions over the past 20 years I've seen the Panthers fall victim to a last (few) second(s) winner... at times I've started to think that it was some kind of curse. But what a way to see it happen for us for a change! Beautiful...
Like the first game, we appeared to lack much offensive presence for large parts of the game - although to be fair, there was a significant minority of the time when the pressure the Panthers were putting on was laudable... just missing that final spear-tip to finish it off. Although the Poles were a damned sight tougher defensively (and physically) than the Danes, it has to be said.
But... they found a way. There have been seasons when the Panthers roster would have given up at 0-3 down... but not this one. that's priceless.
It has to be said, though... yet again, the officiating has been abysmal - an utter disgrace. Not so much for what was called, but for what wasn't. Thankfully, points-wise at least, it didn't cost us this time.
All to play for tomorrow... but it will be tough. Very tough. I just hope that Kevin Carr has a very good night's sleep tonight and gets plenty of rest - he's going to need it.
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 10, 2020 23:23:18 GMT
Bit of a scrappy game, that...
Don't think either team was clearly the better side - at some points, we seemed to be having all of the play, at others it was all them. The two main reasons that people seem to be focusing on are IMO about right... our offence was lacking somewhat (the defence wasn't) and the combination of the Danes' dodgy play & the abysmal officiating made it all that much harder. Neither reason explains it all IMO... the two combined was enough to defeat us.
Oh well, just have to suck it up and move on. It's still anyone's tournament.
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 8, 2020 22:19:35 GMT
A lot of people are talking about who we should sign back and build for next season....you know who no one has mentioned...Tim Wallace. I was fully sceptical of his appointment. I was calling for his head in October. But for me, he’s proven his skill set as a coach, as a tactician and for us playing entertaining hockey. Fact is after an 10 plus game losing streak and a horrible start, were still in the league hunt in January is excellent. He’s really turned us around. Yes Wallace should be retained for another year,he’s done ok so far. Not quite sure what exactly Doucet has brought to the party though,I’d much rather see his £30k a year or whatever he’s on spent on players. There’s a £1000 a week extra you could chuck at keeping Sam Herr for a start. So... you're "not quite sure", and yet on that basis you'd ditch Doucet? Not on clear information, but just uncertainty - guilty until proven innocent? That's ridiculous... The plain and simple fact is... no, us fans don't know what Gui Doucet does. Nor are we likely to unless the club decide to fling open the doors and reveal the inner workings of the organisation. Maybe they should, maybe they shouldn't... on that one, I'm "not quite sure" But without clear and confirmed information, it would be insanity to make sweeping changes. Wallace is the 'front man' of the on-ice management... doesn't mean to say that he's doing all of the work. Maybe, as it is on the ice, it's a team effort - Wallace & Doucet both. Right now, although things are far from perfect, we appear to be on an upward swing. Perhaps we shouldn't risk scuppering that by making random changes, eh? Quite frankly, I'd say that the team of Doucet & Wallace need to be given at least this season & next to prove themselves before we even think about calling for heads on the block. Or we could end up with another "let's-make-changes-and-bring-in-fresh-blood" situation that doesn't quite work out and we're back at square one with another season wasted *cough* Chernomaz *cough*. No thanks...
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Jan 5, 2020 0:08:38 GMT
Did my eyes deceive me or did we play it back into the crease for the equaliser?? No deception. Might has well have just had a shot and scored it ourselves. That one was horrific... I literally held my head in my hands after that one... TBH, I think that Jackson Whistle is coming in from a bit more stick than he really deserves (and I say this as someone who has never really rated him). Dundee's 3rd goal was IIRC mostly down to Whistle, but the first (a well set up cross-crease pass and shot - where was our D??) can't really be put down to him, and the short-handed breakaway is every goalie's nightmare... not really putting that one down to him all that much. And as mentioned above... our own outskaters virtually conspired with the Stars to put the 4th one past him! There was some flopping about and inelegant play on Whistle's part, and some (not all, by a long way!) of his rebounds could have done with better control... but he made some key saves, and at least two crucial poke-checks which saved our bacon. And then, of course, he did pretty well in the penalty shoot-out. The biggest downsides for me in this game were:- - our passing... which was absolutely abysmal for most of the game. Too hard, too long, too short, or just plain bad... it was excruciating to watch at times. - the face-off winning... or lack thereof. No idea of the stats on that one, but it seemed that again and again and again we just lost out in the face-off circle. Which puts us on the back foot immediately. Bright points were Perlini coming back, and Wallace keeping Malmquist on the Hanson/Herr line where he's been blossoming... looks like the chemistry is right there. Alternately excruciating and entertaining to watch, but at least we came out with the 2 points... if only ruddy just! Definitely need to do better, but it goes down in the books as a win, so there you go.
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Dec 31, 2019 10:35:20 GMT
Steelers are the only team (I think)we haven't beaten in the league yet. You are correct, sir...
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Dec 30, 2019 22:04:05 GMT
What a way for the Belfast Giants to close out 2019... losing 3-6 AT HOME to bottom-of-the-table Dundee Stars! I think that calls for another drink... cheers!
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Dec 28, 2019 22:53:00 GMT
It has to be said... Ollie Betteridge is steadily getting better and better... he has a lot of potential and so far is looking good for achieving every bit of that potential. He gives 100% every single shift. Absolutely... his effort levels are consistent - consistently 100%. Fast skating, good physicality, and you can see his skills improving all of the time. Not so sure about being "the" (singular) heartbeat... but certainly one of them. Somewhat to my surprise, Sam Herr does seem to be showing obvious leadership out there on the ice. Wearing the 'C' is a leadership function, but quite often it isn't totally apparent to us fans - as I understand it, most of a captain's work is done out of our sight. All too often, a good captain gets criticised by many fans because they just don't see what he does. Sam Herr, on the other hand, definitely leads by example... not just skills, but effort as well. In a very real sense, if we had to narrow it down to one player, I would definitely say that Herr appears to be the heartbeat of the team (from what little we can see).
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Dec 28, 2019 22:31:36 GMT
Very well done Panthers and what a great goal by Ollie too It has to be said... Ollie Betteridge is steadily getting better and better... he has a lot of potential and so far is looking good for achieving every bit of that potential.
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Dec 28, 2019 12:09:48 GMT
Is there going to be a stream for this game? Apparently you can get to it via this link:- <link>
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Dec 26, 2019 17:24:01 GMT
And we've come out in black jerseys for the second period... Did it really take them a whole period to realise there was a colour clash problem ? No, it was obvious right from the start, and the refs had discussions with both coaches before the puck was dropped. It looks like they said to carry on as is for the first period and then change. Absolute drivel.
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Dec 26, 2019 16:52:22 GMT
And we've come out in black jerseys for the second period...
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Dec 26, 2019 16:36:35 GMT
White shirts with dark blue shorts vs light grey shirts with black shorts... no, absolutely no chance of confusion there!
What a balls-up...
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Dec 26, 2019 16:34:16 GMT
And what a surprise.. just as you say 😂🙄 Told ya Lol 🤣🤣 They’re so predictable ! Yes, you are...
|
|
Shaggy
Forum Moderator
Am I a cynical idealist or an idealistic cynic?
Posts: 10,995
|
Post by Shaggy on Dec 26, 2019 12:21:52 GMT
Ticket prices have been reduced for this one:- <LINK>I presume that it means to say "£10 for adults and £5 for concessions"
|
|