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Post by wolfmac on Dec 28, 2023 9:13:23 GMT
Steelers fan here.
I was honestly desperate for Panthers to get a couple over the series, and would’ve been on my feet had you won either. I think every player on your side deserves nothing but unconditional praise and support, JP and Strachan too.
It seems to be a heartbreaking combination of factors behind the slide since coming back, speaking as an observer. They are clearly all so courageous both in their return and their determination on the ice. They haven’t rolled over, or given up, or even changed their minds. They just seem exhausted and perhaps won’t ever have truly sufficient time to process what they each went through on the ice as they play on it beneath all the tributes to who was still a very recent teammate. I am so hopeful you can get something out of the season, and I think perhaps an old school POFW push could happen in a few months’ time if you can manage to bring in some reinforcements and rejig the systems. Honestly, maybe even give JP a few weeks and have RS run stuff while he rests.
As for us, I know a lot of fellow Steelers fans who are still dreading our signature January collapse (similar to your historic Christmas slumps in years gone by) but with our squad as it is, I fail to see where it would come from this time and it seems like Fox MAY have got it right at last. Cormier arrived discipline and pedigree, very fortunately, as a replacement for Petgrave (who incidentally seems to be doing a little better and was seen at our squad Xmas gathering last week), and our lines are working like a Swiss watch. That being said, Cardiff and Belfast, while the latter have had some hilarious losses, are putting it all together as expected and will not allow mistakes.
Ultimately, I think Panthers are a genuinely very good team and it is truly tragic that they are having to navigate this. If we’d swapped teams from the start of the season and Henbrandt, Lemay, Rok etc were in orange while Watling, Greenfield and Neumann pulled on the black and gold (budget notwithstanding), I’d actually be inclined to think we’d both be experiencing the same run.
Best of luck for the rest of the season, and rest assured you have 20,000 or so fans up the M1.
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Higgy
Les Strongman
Posts: 5,293
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Post by Higgy on Dec 28, 2023 9:16:59 GMT
This may not be popular but I thought that Panthers were dreadful tonight. They looked beaten from the start. Very little passion character muscle or determination in my view. I appreciate what has happened but they may as well pack it in for this year if that is what is on offer and a massive change is needed for next year. Crowd were great but let down in my opinion. One thing you cannot accuse this team of is lacking character and determination. I'll concede the muscle part as that has already been spoken about. We aren't as good as Sheffield but they tried their balls off as they do every game (unlike last seasons team)
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Post by panthersnation on Dec 28, 2023 9:22:11 GMT
I think questions now need to be asked of the organisation, you can’t fault the current set of players they are trying so hard but are clearly so broken, why hasn’t reinforcements been brought in to help them out, I haven’t paid £1500+ for me my wife and 2 kids on season tickets to see them play 3 broken lines in the busiest period of the season. I don’t see this current cop finishing in the top 8 for the playoffs, don’t want to be that guys that slates the current lads as we can’t do that with what they have gone through but we are still paying our hard earned money.
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Post by PantherTom on Dec 28, 2023 10:02:16 GMT
I think questions now need to be asked of the organisation, you can’t fault the current set of players they are trying so hard but are clearly so broken, why hasn’t reinforcements been brought in to help them out, I haven’t paid £1500+ for me my wife and 2 kids on season tickets to see them play 3 broken lines in the busiest period of the season. I don’t see this current cop finishing in the top 8 for the playoffs, don’t want to be that guys that slates the current lads as we can’t do that with what they have gone through but we are still paying our hard earned money. Exactly this! Pacha has been around long enough to know what a team needs and he has got it completely wrong again… Even before the tragedy we were 10-1 over 2 games against Sheffield and they were both home games too. Last regulation away win against Sheffield 1st Feb 2020, last home regulation win 19th March 2022…. We could all see in June that the team was massively un balanced, but the organisation couldn’t, and still haven’t
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deke
Robert Lachowicz
Posts: 422
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Post by deke on Dec 28, 2023 10:35:20 GMT
For me I'm split . I want us to compete and if we hadn't suffered an enormous blow losing our star player , not only that but on the ice during a game in a very visual fashion, I'd naturally be a lot more frustrated. I don't know how the players were even able to ice in Sheffield , be honest how many of us could have done that ?
Our team has some very good elements that we have much improved on last season . They have so much more heart and work ethic. We have picked up some really good players I hope we keep as well as some returning players and existing players . The ground work is there for next season . We have something to build on and honestly we haven't had that in years , it's normally been a case of "oh please gas about 90 percent of this lot " year after year
JP looks to be suffering and honestly needs a break and I'm not sure he will be back after the season ends . But if he does he will hopefully take the lessons learned from this season and we can improve a little more . That's what we have been missing we have had good players but we don't keep them and we don't build and improve we just essentially rage quit and bring in a new team . This team has the mentality and work ethic let's build from there .
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DMS
Robert Lachowicz
Posts: 579
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Post by DMS on Dec 28, 2023 10:47:02 GMT
Addressing mid season roster moves/balance under normal circumstances often comes with releasing players. This season the circumstances are completely different given what happened. It’s an unenviable task to try and keep this group together who are clearly struggling with the aftermath and the trauma anyway never mind then looking to split that group up to accommodate incoming players.
It is a dilemma that the coaches and off ice team (up to a certain level) are facing and there isn’t a play book for dealing with what has happened to them this year unfortunately so I don’t think it’s fair to look at it with the “usual” mindset.
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Post by bobness on Dec 28, 2023 11:18:06 GMT
Steelers are just really solid top to bottom,no weak links like Panthers,they have a very very good goalie and the best Brit in the league. I agree, in the idea that Steelers have no "weak links" seemingly (but not that the Panthers roster is "better" than theirs), but didn't realise Lewis Hook played for Sheffield. Steelers were simply outstanding last night, the best team performance I've seen at the NIC by an away team? Their passing and awareness was sublime. I don't think I can remember them dumping the puck into our zone all night. Panthers worked hard, as this team 101% does (and it looked to me like a few players are either gassed or carrying knocks), but Steelers showed (as have Devils before them) what good recruitment and keeping a core of quality players can do. No complaints re the score, but you have to feel for our team. They need unwavering support, from us as fans, and the owner.
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Post by bobness on Dec 28, 2023 11:27:20 GMT
If you have a look at big league quality experience of NHL,AHL, DEL,SHL,Liga etc then Panthers are well ahead of Steelers. That assertion really doesn't stack up. Some work, but others don't. And, as we all know, players are in the EIHL for a reason, and an NHL CV doesn't necessarily bring that quality/difference making at this stage in their career. Jon Rheault, for example.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2023 11:34:40 GMT
Steelers are just really solid top to bottom,no weak links like Panthers,they have a very very good goalie and the best Brit in the league. I agree, in the idea that Steelers have no "weak links" seemingly (but not that the Panthers roster is "better" than theirs), but didn't realise Lewis Hook played for Sheffield. Steelers were simply outstanding last night, the best team performance I've seen at the NIC by an away team? Their passing and awareness was sublime. I don't think I can remember them dumping the puck into our zone all night. Panthers worked hard, as this team 101% does (and it looked to me like a few players are either gassed or carrying knocks), but Steelers showed (as have Devils before them) what good recruitment and keeping a core of quality players can do. No complaints re the score, but you have to feel for our team. They need unwavering support, from us as fans, and the owner. Support from the fans yes but any support from the owner in the way of additional players won't really improve things I'm afraid.. hearing paredes he seems a broken man.. winning 2 in 11 since returning won't do anything other than harm things , no pro sportsman enjoys losing. They've been brave to return and apparently battle every game but it's just not happening. Because the tragedy happened 4 weeks into the season they have to endure the pain for pretty much the entire season.. Bjorkland had the right idea trying to separate himself from the situation and not get reminded of it everyday in training etc ..
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Post by spik on Dec 28, 2023 11:37:25 GMT
Addressing mid season roster moves/balance under normal circumstances often comes with releasing players. This season the circumstances are completely different given what happened. It’s an unenviable task to try and keep this group together who are clearly struggling with the aftermath and the trauma anyway never mind then looking to split that group up to accommodate incoming players. It is a dilemma that the coaches and off ice team (up to a certain level) are facing and there isn’t a play book for dealing with what has happened to them this year unfortunately so I don’t think it’s fair to look at it with the “usual” mindset. It’s this point I could only have added. The new team that started so well this term and it’s now a bewildering thought of how/if/should players be able to continue or muster for next season also.
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Post by Bagheera on Dec 28, 2023 11:45:14 GMT
I've spent this time backing this team 100% amd I will continue to do so. I said also that Blacky had done a lot right too. The tragedy caused him to spend a fair bit extra out i'm sure and i'm greatful for that. We are now though at a point where we are desperate to give these guys more support. It'll have to mean spending a bit more than normal, but I guess it just needs adding to the long list of things that need to be done in this unprecidented time. The only 2 players that I would find reasonable to cut are the 2 that came in after the incident. One of those should be ansoloutly going nowhere, the other can go tomorrow. Yes, this team had a good start in the league(with AJ in it) but that start was with 4 wins v Scottish teams, a win against a Flames team having a terrible start and a great win v Cardiff at home. Then the loss to storm. In all of the other games against Sheffield we already looked way off them. So I do think it's fair to say it's been obvious what we've been lacking from the start to compete with the best. As also mentioned a million times, this team isn't far off though. It isn't a write off. Realistically it really needs 3 quality aditions(with 1 release) to the forward lines. A face off winning centre and at least 1 big body. So much of the pressure we get put under is because of how easy we are to push off th puck or blow past down the boards. It's even where our defensive problems come from. Our D personel themselves arn't the problem. It's our ability as a 5 to defend. It was most noticable against Coventry & Manchester of late how their bigger boddies find it easy to make space in our zone.
Please just give these guys the help they deserve.
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Robbie Nud
David Clarke
I really do look like this.
Posts: 3,101
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Post by Robbie Nud on Dec 28, 2023 11:57:56 GMT
Agree about back to back games and Christmas,long overdue time for a change. Have you seen what’s coming up versus Belfast ? An away double header and then home….3 in a row ! 🙄🙈 Followed by the same against Coventry in Feb, Guildford in March 3 days apart, Sheffield a week apart also in March and to wrap it up a season close in April against Manchester.
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EMB
Randall Weber
Posts: 4,045
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Post by EMB on Dec 28, 2023 13:11:00 GMT
At the end of the day its the same old. Pacha has a budget and NB signs everything off. One of the telling statements when we signed JP was "he did extremely well with a small budget" (last club) and that must have been music to NB's ears.. You have to look over the last few years probably since the league title win and we have actually gone backwards we are nothing more than a mid table club who spend just enough to keep the fans onside. We weren't brilliant before Adam's passing. I can't fault the lads or coaches, some obviously more 'broken' than others and while there is no respite in matches when do they grieve? Its a hard scenario and Neil / Pacha need to do something to help this bunch out because the injuries and everything else is crippling us and its heartbreaking to watch.
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Joe
Lorne Smith
Posts: 760
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Post by Joe on Dec 28, 2023 15:39:09 GMT
I've spent this time backing this team 100% amd I will continue to do so. I said also that Blacky had done a lot right too. The tragedy caused him to spend a fair bit extra out i'm sure and i'm greatful for that. We are now though at a point where we are desperate to give these guys more support. It'll have to mean spending a bit more than normal, but I guess it just needs adding to the long list of things that need to be done in this unprecidented time. The only 2 players that I would find reasonable to cut are the 2 that came in after the incident. One of those should be ansoloutly going nowhere, the other can go tomorrow. Yes, this team had a good start in the league(with AJ in it) but that start was with 4 wins v Scottish teams, a win against a Flames team having a terrible start and a great win v Cardiff at home. Then the loss to storm. In all of the other games against Sheffield we already looked way off them. So I do think it's fair to say it's been obvious what we've been lacking from the start to compete with the best. As also mentioned a million times, this team isn't far off though. It isn't a write off. Realistically it really needs 3 quality aditions(with 1 release) to the forward lines. A face off winning centre and at least 1 big body. So much of the pressure we get put under is because of how easy we are to push off th puck or blow past down the boards. It's even where our defensive problems come from. Our D personel themselves arn't the problem. It's our ability as a 5 to defend. It was most noticable against Coventry & Manchester of late how their bigger boddies find it easy to make space in our zone. Please just give these guys the help they deserve. I agree we’ve definitely got the foundations of a successful team but can anyone confidently say those foundations will be back next season. We’ve got a coach who clearly needs a break and a group of players who may not want to come back regardless of what happens this season. It’s clear we've got a lot of players who are carrying on in Adam’s name, it’s just a shame the club don’t share the mindset of doing it for Adam
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Post by Bagheera on Dec 28, 2023 15:45:09 GMT
I've spent this time backing this team 100% amd I will continue to do so. I said also that Blacky had done a lot right too. The tragedy caused him to spend a fair bit extra out i'm sure and i'm greatful for that. We are now though at a point where we are desperate to give these guys more support. It'll have to mean spending a bit more than normal, but I guess it just needs adding to the long list of things that need to be done in this unprecidented time. The only 2 players that I would find reasonable to cut are the 2 that came in after the incident. One of those should be ansoloutly going nowhere, the other can go tomorrow. Yes, this team had a good start in the league(with AJ in it) but that start was with 4 wins v Scottish teams, a win against a Flames team having a terrible start and a great win v Cardiff at home. Then the loss to storm. In all of the other games against Sheffield we already looked way off them. So I do think it's fair to say it's been obvious what we've been lacking from the start to compete with the best. As also mentioned a million times, this team isn't far off though. It isn't a write off. Realistically it really needs 3 quality aditions(with 1 release) to the forward lines. A face off winning centre and at least 1 big body. So much of the pressure we get put under is because of how easy we are to push off th puck or blow past down the boards. It's even where our defensive problems come from. Our D personel themselves arn't the problem. It's our ability as a 5 to defend. It was most noticable against Coventry & Manchester of late how their bigger boddies find it easy to make space in our zone. Please just give these guys the help they deserve. I agree we’ve definitely got the foundations of a successful team but can anyone confidently say those foundations will be back next season. We’ve got a coach who clearly needs a break and a group of players who may not want to come back regardless of what happens this season. It’s clear we've got a lot of players who are carrying on in Adam’s name, it’s just a shame the club don’t share the mindset of doing it for Adam That is one big concern for sure. For the first time in a long time we have a core group we'd like back, but we may end up starting all over again. Just have to wait and see with that
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2023 17:16:42 GMT
I agree we’ve definitely got the foundations of a successful team but can anyone confidently say those foundations will be back next season. We’ve got a coach who clearly needs a break and a group of players who may not want to come back regardless of what happens this season. It’s clear we've got a lot of players who are carrying on in Adam’s name, it’s just a shame the club don’t share the mindset of doing it for Adam That is one big concern for sure. For the first time in a long time we have a core group we'd like back, but we may end up starting all over again. Just have to wait and see with that I'll put good money on they'll be a whole new roster... Again next year
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iginla
Chick Zamick
Posts: 13,422
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Post by iginla on Dec 28, 2023 17:42:32 GMT
That is one big concern for sure. For the first time in a long time we have a core group we'd like back, but we may end up starting all over again. Just have to wait and see with that I'll put good money on they'll be a whole new roster... Again next year So would I….perhaps the Brits and maybe two or three imports back at most. Will JP return ?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2023 18:01:55 GMT
I'll put good money on they'll be a whole new roster... Again next year So would I….perhaps the Brits and maybe two or three imports back at most. Will JP return ? Personally it's doubtful mate . Can't see it
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iginla
Chick Zamick
Posts: 13,422
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Post by iginla on Dec 28, 2023 18:21:55 GMT
So would I….perhaps the Brits and maybe two or three imports back at most. Will JP return ? Personally it's doubtful mate . Can't see it I’d be surprised if he was back,not sure he should be there now as he’s obviously really struggling. I certainly wouldn’t be putting him in front of a camera again for a good while.
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Post by wgray on Dec 28, 2023 20:33:23 GMT
We can only focus on the here and now, continue to support the boys to try and lift them. If they can turn things around, and start to pickup more wins than defeats, then their spirits will lift.
The people in power need to bring in some additional players though to take some physical load off and to raise morale in the locker room
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Post by jd on Dec 28, 2023 20:49:12 GMT
Personally it's doubtful mate . Can't see it I’d be surprised if he was back,not sure he should be there now as he’s obviously really struggling. I certainly wouldn’t be putting him in front of a camera again for a good while. Blimey, you’ve changed your tune. Said you couldn’t understand him and compared him to GG and Eric Cantona. Make your mind up
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iginla
Chick Zamick
Posts: 13,422
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Post by iginla on Dec 28, 2023 21:20:28 GMT
I’d be surprised if he was back,not sure he should be there now as he’s obviously really struggling. I certainly wouldn’t be putting him in front of a camera again for a good while. Blimey, you’ve changed your tune. Said you couldn’t understand him and compared him to GG and Eric Cantona. Make your mind up No I haven’t changed my tune. I didn’t like his last interview,he seemed not right at all as if he didn’t want to be there and what he said was really not very good, all jumbled up muddled and repetitive stuff. I thought it was very unfair of the club to even put him in front of the camera if he’s struggling that badly. Seems like the point was realised though hence Kevin and Rick doing the next two Steelers game interviews.
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Post by jd on Dec 28, 2023 21:52:27 GMT
Blimey, you’ve changed your tune. Said you couldn’t understand him and compared him to GG and Eric Cantona. Make your mind up No I haven’t changed my tune. I didn’t like his last interview,he seemed not right at all as if he didn’t want to be there and what he said was really not very good, all jumbled up muddled and repetitive stuff. I thought it was very unfair of the club to even put him in front of the camera if he’s struggling that badly. Seems like the point was realised though hence Kevin and Rick doing the next two Steelers game interviews. What you actually said was “ that interview is appalling, as with several others he’s done, he gives the impression he hasn’t got a clue where or what to do next. No plan just nonsensical waffle” And also - what is he on about. He sounds more like Eric Cantona talking about “sardines and trawlers” every week
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iginla
Chick Zamick
Posts: 13,422
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Post by iginla on Dec 28, 2023 22:11:50 GMT
No I haven’t changed my tune. I didn’t like his last interview,he seemed not right at all as if he didn’t want to be there and what he said was really not very good, all jumbled up muddled and repetitive stuff. I thought it was very unfair of the club to even put him in front of the camera if he’s struggling that badly. Seems like the point was realised though hence Kevin and Rick doing the next two Steelers game interviews. What you actually said was “ that interview is appalling, as with several others he’s done, he gives the impression he hasn’t got a clue where or what to do next. No plan just nonsensical waffle” And also - what is he on about. He sounds more like Eric Cantona talking about “sardines and trawlers” every week Yes I know,I did think it was appalling,his latest few interviews haven’t been too good at all and I don’t think he knows what to do next. Not that it’s his fault,I’d say the best thing they could do would be let him take a back seat and let Kevin and Rick run it this year then as long as he wants it bring JP back next season. If JP wants to carry on this year then I’d just say fine but don’t put him in front of a camera unless he’s ok with it.
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Post by jd on Dec 28, 2023 22:21:01 GMT
So you’re happy to keep him as the coach for next season?
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