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Post by spik on Mar 2, 2023 11:00:16 GMT
I'd probably go back to the two leg finals of old. If we're not doing the neutral venue, cup final day effort (which didn't work), then why play it as a one off game? Give both fanbases a chance to see some of the tie. Only option really because having it like this is too one sided. From the off with their group till the final. Our failure to get to the final lost a chance of the club claiming silverware and brightening our season.
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Post by ashfieldpanther on Mar 2, 2023 12:25:12 GMT
Think a few competitions could do with a refresh, all about getting the most money from fans than about the product. Same for the Playoffs, used to be a massive event at the end of the season and now feels very watered down and less of an event. The issue with having a neutral venue is, during the league fixture planning all teams (if you want it on a weekend) are going to have to block off a weekend date that no matches take place. For arena teams that's not an attractive option that they could be losing out on valuable weekend fixtures on the off chance they are in the final. The second issue is, let's imagine sheff and Notts get to the final. All the other venues close are too small, could sell Coventry out 2 times over for it. Perhaps belfast be a good option, but then fans are forking out a lot of money to travel over. Maybe each club brings 1500 travelling fans, some giants fans might watch your maybe looking at 4k tickets sold in a 7.5k arena. League aren't making as much and it doesn't look as good on TV. Guildford vs Giants in Cardiff wasn't sold out. Personally think the CC should be done by end of Oct, first 2 months is just CC and then final. Perhaps have the final over 2 legs. Cant see the neutral venue being a viable option. Glad we won it though, it's a trophy end of the day and we can only play what's infront of us. And no offence to Fife but they where totally outclassed I think having the final over 2 legs is the fairest and most realistic outcome but I think it would still require teams to reserve a weekend to get the most out of it The only drawback to playing the final home and away over the same weekend is that it gives an advantage to the team at home for the first game. The team playing away first have to travel to the game, then travel back - so (for example) Panthers drive to Cardiff, and don't get back until early hours, while cardiff only have to travel on day two. Even worse if they are going to Scotland or Belfast.
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Mar 2, 2023 13:15:43 GMT
No need to play it back to back, could still be a pair of mid week games, wouldn't really matter if they were a couple of weeks apart.
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yeti
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Post by yeti on Mar 2, 2023 20:43:26 GMT
I always thought the two leg final was good. Made the CC different to the playoffs. Also agree that it should become the same as the old Autumn Cup/Benson and Hedges Cup and be over by Christmas.
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Discoray
Robert Lachowicz
Simply Clantastic!
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Post by Discoray on Mar 3, 2023 9:45:29 GMT
I always thought the two leg final was good. Made the CC different to the playoffs. Also agree that it should become the same as the old Autumn Cup/Benson and Hedges Cup and be over by Christmas. While I completely agree with this, the problem is we as fans have been saying this for well over a decade and nothing has changed, other than having 2 more games by having the QF round introduced. Short of some league-wide fan coordinate boycott of CC games, I don't know what else fans can do after being discontent about it for so long.
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Post by spik on Mar 3, 2023 16:14:46 GMT
I always thought the two leg final was good. Made the CC different to the playoffs. Also agree that it should become the same as the old Autumn Cup/Benson and Hedges Cup and be over by Christmas. While I completely agree with this, the problem is we as fans have been saying this for well over a decade and nothing has changed, other than having 2 more games by having the QF round introduced. Short of some league-wide fan coordinate boycott of CC games, I don't know what else fans can do after being discontent about it for so long. I’ve stopped going because of club/league decisions or lack of. They avoid fan communication also, so much as only the odd guy bothers to reply ie) Todd Kelman and then he seems to not get the message. Money is the name of the game. However, even if you have a plan that changes the competition format with as many games still for each club ( near as) it’s still ignorance on their part not to even debate it.
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yeti
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Post by yeti on Mar 3, 2023 21:27:34 GMT
A lot of people have stopped going to CC group games. Even the quarter finals get a low turn out at most clubs. Surely as a league they can see it doesn't work and absolutely no chance of ever selling it to a sponsor.
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Mar 4, 2023 21:25:07 GMT
Top two both handing out hammerings. Belfast 6-1 over Coventry. Guildford going to in form Manchester and winning 9-2.
Devils been taken to overtime by Dundee.
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Post by bobness on Mar 5, 2023 8:11:37 GMT
Devils 30 seconds away from 0 points and manage 2.
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Mar 5, 2023 18:04:51 GMT
Giants losing to Coventry, in the third period.
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Post by Bagheera on Mar 5, 2023 20:24:16 GMT
Fife have scored 2 goals in the 3rd to take Cardiff to overtime.
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Mar 5, 2023 20:40:46 GMT
Cardiff won in OT. 4 point weekends for them and Sheffield, 3 for Flames and 2 for Giants.
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Post by Bagheera on Mar 5, 2023 20:42:40 GMT
Cardiff won in OT. 4 point weekends for them and Sheffield, 3 for Flames and 2 for Giants. It's going to be an incredible run in. Plenty of games between them all. Still a 4 horse race. Need to get these games played evened out asap. Not sure if it happens any time before the last weekend.
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Mar 5, 2023 23:18:38 GMT
| Belfast Giants (P46) | Guildford Flames (P44) | Cardiff Devils (P46) | Sheffield Steelers (P45) | 08/03/23 |
| v Coventry Blaze (45) |
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| 09/03/23 |
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| v Manchester Storm (47) |
| 11/03/23 | @ Sheffield Steelers (47) | @ Dundee Stars (46) | v Coventry Blaze (48) | v Belfast Giants (46) | 12/03/23 | @ Manchester Storm (48) | v Sheffield Steelers (47) |
| @ Guildford Flames (47) | 15/03/23 |
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| v Dundee Stars (48) | 18/03/23 | v Cardiff Devils (49) | v Glasgow Clan (48) | @ Belfast Giants (49) | v Nottingham Panthers (49) | 19/03/23 | v Cardiff Devils (50) | @ Sheffield Steelers (49) | @ Belfast Giants (50) | v Guildford Flames (50) | 22/03/23 |
| @ Coventry Blaze (50) |
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| 24/03/23 | v Sheffield Steelers (51) |
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| @ Belfast Giants (51) | 25/03/23 | v Manchester Storm (52) | @ Dundee Stars (51) | v Fife Flyers (51) |
| 26/03/23 |
| v Dundee Stars (52) | @ Sheffield Steelers (52) | v Cardiff Devils (52) | 01/04/23 | v Guildford Flames (53) | @ Belfast Giants (53) | @ Coventry Blaze (53) | v Glasgow Clan (53) | 02/04/23 | @ Dundee Stars (54) | v Fife Flyers (54) | v Sheffield Steelers (54) | @ Cardiff Devils (54) |
Guildford have maybe got the easier run in? But Belfast at home a lot. One thing of note - we must have some absolute rubbish coming up on the fixture list, only on here once! Shame we're not still in it, we'd walk it.
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Post by Spooks on Mar 6, 2023 9:20:04 GMT
Went to the Squealers/Storm game last as had some colleagues over the states.
Storm played really well tbh and was unlucky, a goal seemingly disallowed for reasons I cant work out and a very unlucky bounce on the keepers glove they popped up and flew over his head. They were 10 times better than the panthers the night before against the squealers.
I forgot how much i hate that venue as well, horrible tin shed needs some money spending on it big time.
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Post by bobness on Mar 6, 2023 11:32:13 GMT
Cardiff won in OT. 4 point weekends for them and Sheffield, 3 for Flames and 2 for Giants. It's going to be an incredible run in. Plenty of games between them all. Still a 4 horse race. Need to get these games played evened out asap. Not sure if it happens any time before the last weekend. As of 22 March, all teams have played 50.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 6, 2023 15:28:19 GMT
It might just about be a 4 horse race but the quality of hockey overall is still crap! I guess it's the best you can hope for eh
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Mar 8, 2023 20:07:20 GMT
Coventry leading by a goal in Guildford.
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Mar 8, 2023 20:55:17 GMT
1 apiece with 20 to play.
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Mar 8, 2023 21:24:31 GMT
Blaze 3-1 up.
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Post by spik on Mar 8, 2023 21:27:28 GMT
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Mar 8, 2023 21:43:01 GMT
Blaze have won, 3-2.
Got to win your home games.
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Post by bobness on Mar 9, 2023 7:29:23 GMT
Blaze have won, 3-2. Got to win your home games. Indeed, that’s a big chance fluffed for the Flames. They can’t afford to that much more.
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Post by spik on Mar 9, 2023 8:38:11 GMT
It’s in Belfast’s hands because of the RG win column. Guildford and Belfast match up later should be a barn stormer.
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Yotes
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Post by Yotes on Mar 9, 2023 11:51:53 GMT
It’s in Belfast’s hands because of the RG win column. Guildford and Belfast match up later should be a barn stormer. Hopefully it's still in the balance when that one comes around. Belfast's run in does look reasonably difficult, so you'd be surprised if they didn't at least drop a few, but Guildford need to be beating the bottom six - 2 defeats this week already.
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