Rumours - Season 24/25

[southernsteeler]

The rumour on THF suggested Tremblay would be on a two way with Dogs and Steelers, although I'm not sure how that would work with an import.

If it's Allen instead of Tremblay, would that be on a two way?

There's going to be an interesting few weeks coming up. The main thing I want to hear though is that Balmas is back for next season.

Regards

Doom

Balmas is back for another season.

[ginger]

Not sure if accurate - very much hearsay, but rumour is Joe Morrow may be the final import D (alongside Betker).

Very happy if true, as that would be a ridiculous stacked D.

[Morpheous]

Not sure if accurate - very much hearsay, but rumour is Joe Morrow may be the final import D (alongside Betker).

Very happy if true, as that would be a ridiculous stacked D.

I know you don’t play at the level he has all his career without being good but can’t say I noticed him that much when we played last season. And I always thought Manchester was a strange place for him to end up. How good still is he?

[ginger]

Not sure if accurate - very much hearsay, but rumour is Joe Morrow may be the final import D (alongside Betker).

Very happy if true, as that would be a ridiculous stacked D.

I know you don’t play at the level he has all his career without being good but can’t say I noticed him that much when we played last season. And I always thought Manchester was a strange place for him to end up. How good still is he?

Obviously not seen him week in week out, but I always thought he was very solid against us, and he's got an excellent shot. Whilst I don't think he's the quickest D around, his positional sense is very good. If it looks more solid rumour, I might re-watch a couple of games and focus on him a bit

[ginger]

If true on the current rumours, we will line up something like this:

Ciampini/Watling/Balmas
Juusola/Dowd/Leavens
Janutainen/Simpson/Shudra
Miceli/Whistle/Ulrick

Spare fwd: Allen

Tansey/Cormier
Sauce/Diffley
Betker/Morrow

Greenfield
De Fillipo
Warburton/Crowe

Plus 2 ways

Shudra I think could well take line 3 minutes this year. Was so good at the Worlds.

Looks a very healthy roster, and definitely challenging for titles

[wakefieldsteelersfan]

Not sure if accurate - very much hearsay, but rumour is Joe Morrow may be the final import D (alongside Betker).

Very happy if true, as that would be a ridiculous stacked D.

I know you don’t play at the level he has all his career without being good but can’t say I noticed him that much when we played last season. And I always thought Manchester was a strange place for him to end up. How good still is he?

Think the reason he ended up in Manchester was him being close friends with Finner.

[Doom]

Not sure if accurate - very much hearsay, but rumour is Joe Morrow may be the final import D (alongside Betker).

Very happy if true, as that would be a ridiculous stacked D.

I know you don’t play at the level he has all his career without being good but can’t say I noticed him that much when we played last season. And I always thought Manchester was a strange place for him to end up. How good still is he?

He's obviously had a fantastic career, but clearly now rapidly on the down slope.

He finished well down the Manchester +/- last season.

For me he'd be a clear downgrade on Nev, but maybe he could forge a good pairing with one of our d.

Whilst I think it's reasonable to question any signings, we've also got to trust the judgement of Fox.

If he signs, I can't say I'd be excited, he'd be very much a wait and see.

Regards

Doom

[ginger]

Not sure if accurate - very much hearsay, but rumour is Joe Morrow may be the final import D (alongside Betker).

Very happy if true, as that would be a ridiculous stacked D.

I know you don’t play at the level he has all his career without being good but can’t say I noticed him that much when we played last season. And I always thought Manchester was a strange place for him to end up. How good still is he?

He's obviously had a fantastic career, but clearly now rapidly on the down slope.

He finished well down the Manchester +/- last season.

For me he'd be a clear downgrade on Nev, but maybe he could forge a good pairing with one of our d.

Whilst I think it's reasonable to question any signings, we've also got to trust the judgement of Fox.

If he signs, I can't say I'd be excited, he'd be very much a wait and see.

Regards

Doom

-7 in league play, -1 in CC. Worst offender -16 (Garcia - who loads of people seem to rate). Their top points scorer scored 43 points. Mancs problem wasn't necessarily their D/NM, it's the fact they couldn't score. I also expect Morrow was facing everyone's top lines so playing on a team that hardly scores it doesn't shock me he's in -ve.

Decline? Maybe a bit but he's only 31 so I would suggest as above that his numbers are more to do with Manchester basically being a poor team, who due to others inconsistent play finished higher than they probably should have.

[Doom]

Dallas Ehrhardt +12
Chase Harrison +6
Zach Sullivan +3
Matt Murphy +3
Joe Morrow -7
CJ Garcia -16

That's the Manchester d who played most of the season.

I've no idea if Morrow always played against other top lines, but on the face of it, the above doesn't inspire enthusiasm from me.

I couldn't care if he once played NHL....I used to climb trees, but I'd look a silly sight if I tried it now.

Regards

Doom

[ginger]

Dallas Ehrhardt +12
Chase Harrison +6
Zach Sullivan +3
Matt Murphy +3
Joe Morrow -7
CJ Garcia -16

That's the Manchester d who played most of the season.

I've no idea if Morrow always played against other top lines, but on the face of it, the above doesn't inspire enthusiasm from me.

I couldn't care if he once played NHL....I used to climb trees, but I'd look a silly sight if I tried it now.

Regards

Doom

Pretty sure Morrow was paired with Garcia. So if your D partner is terrible, and your forwards cannot score, your +/- is terrible regardless of your contribution.

I'm not saying he's on par with Tansey, but Manchester conceded roughly same amount as Cardiff in the league. But scored 70 less goals. And were negative goal difference. If they scored even 40 more goals across the season he's probably at least even on +/-

Whilst I've never played in a league where +/- is tracked, I've played on lines that conceded very few goals, but didn't score. Was probably -ve on +/- over a season because forwards could not create and score. I've also played on lines with players way better than me and hardly left the offensive zone each shift. +/- was probably great but that was absolutely nothing to do with me.

This is why it's useful to help add context, but why you need a lot of other metrics plus eye test to really work out what you're getting.

Again, I don't disagree that he's not NHL quality now (he'd be there if he was), but I just don't feel it's one to be negative about either. Especially as a potential 3rd pairing D