GAME THREAD: LEAGUE: Steelers v Devils. Sun 1st Oct

[wakefieldsteelersfan]

Frustrating performance, everytime we looked to be building a bit of momentum we'd take a stupidly soft penalty.
Only positive I've taken away from tonight was seeing Juusola finally break his scoring duck.

[smbmetal]

Now that we've finished pre-season we've forgotten how to play physical in our d zone.
Main issue was stupid pens given away especially the neumann one early which gifted them the good start. Then sloppy on next shift and just like that 2 goals down.
Too many players had an off night, too many penalties, too much sloppy passing.
His line messing chasing the game was odd too. Simpson who's been one of our reliable, consistent forwards benched for most of third whilst a couple who had stinkers continued to ice. He makes a lot of bizzarre choices like that.

I thought Simpson was having a good game and caused Cardiff problems on each shift as well as his excellent face off winning skills. I assumed he’d taken a knock which is why we didn’t see him for most of the third period. My player of the game and one of the few bright sparks.

If he had been benched then that’s a very strange decision!

If there was anyone to be benched it would have been Vallerand for me for his selfish penalties alone.

[Brian]

Well aside from the two goal lead they were given in my opinion there was not a lot between the teams tonight . The devils were hanging on in the end . That's how this sport goes. Panthers looked useless last night and go and win in Guildford tonight….and Storm top the league ! I'm not pushing the panic button yet, but offensive zone penalties cost us a lot last season and I hoped we'd got that sorted.

[Doom]

I didn't go to this one, but it sounds like a fairly close game in the end which could have gone either way, which you'd expect between two of the title favourites.

Just a few concerns for me following on from last season:

1. It's a home loss following on from another difficult home game last week where we scraped over the line against an average Coventry team. Our home form last season was poor. If we want to put in a genuine title challenge it needs to be fortress Sheffield.

2. It sounded like the powerplay was fairly poor again. Plenty of huff and puff, but lacking the end product. It follows the same pattern as last season.

3. Taking penalties in the offensive zone is selfish and unnecessary, there was too much of that last season.

It's certainly not time to hit the panic button, but we need to get some consistency going, because you can be sure Belfast will put together a long string of wins at some point.

Does Kielly get his chance in the next game? Vallerand and Neumann aren't troubling the scorers and both took a couple of penalties yesterday.

Regards

Doom

[paul johnston]

Agree with it all.
I'd replace one of them just for taking the stupid penalties alone let alone the lack of goals. Was stupid and bone headed play.

[wakefieldsteelersfan]

Can't see Vallerand being dropped, he's our top scorer so far. 1+5 over the last 4 games.

[Doom]

Can't see Vallerand being dropped, he's our top scorer so far. 1+5 over the last 4 games.

I don't think Vallerand has scored in league action yet, but he did get the 6th against Nottingham on Saturday.

I'd be surprised if he was dropped, but I do think Fox needs to start doing something about selfish penalties and dropping players would make a statement. It's one thing taking a penalty trying to play physical or stopping a goal scoring opportunity for the opposition, but it's another thing getting one in the offensive zone out of frustration.

Regards

Doom

[Morpheous]

We looked a different team to the pre season games!! Really liked the grit, hits and not backing down from the pre season games, now looks like they’ve been told not to play like that?? Tansey especially is a different player to when he first iced for us.

[wakefieldsteelersfan]

Can't see Vallerand being dropped, he's our top scorer so far. 1+5 over the last 4 games.

I don't think Vallerand has scored in league action yet, but he did get the 6th against Nottingham on Saturday.

I'd be surprised if he was dropped, but I do think Fox needs to start doing something about selfish penalties and dropping players would make a statement. It's one thing taking a penalty trying to play physical or stopping a goal scoring opportunity for the opposition, but it's another thing getting one in the offensive zone out of frustration.

Regards

Doom

He's got 4 assists in the league, goal and an assist in the cup......I think. I do agree about the selfish penalties though, noticed Dowd has taken a few the last few games too. Something Fox will be keen to stamp out I'm sure

[Joesteeler]

I'm not concerned. Even with dreadful start, we stayed with Cardiff and last season we would have crumbled.

Dumb penalties and a lack of sharpness in the 1st 2 periods cost us. We were comfortably the better team in the 3rd once we had cut out the penalties.

On to Coventry. This team is built differently than previous. We will bounce back