physical presence on the ice - is it missed

[Doom]

I clicked the game has moved on option.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's for the better, like many supporters I loved to see the physical side of the game with big hits, pushing and shoving players on the boards and a few fights.

However, these days any sign of trying to physically intimidate a player usually results in a penalty and possibly even being kicked out.

I personally think that the balance has shifted too far from brawn to skill, but that's the way the league has gone and coaches have to adapt to this.

I do wonder how someone like Dion Darling would cope with the newly sanitised game.

Regards

Doom

[smbmetal]

I clicked the game has moved on option.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think it's for the better, like many supporters I loved to see the physical side of the game with big hits, pushing and shoving players on the boards and a few fights.

However, these days any sign of trying to physically intimidate a player usually results in a penalty and possibly even being kicked out.

I personally think that the balance has shifted too far from brawn to skill, but that's the way the league has gone and coaches have to adapt to this.

I do wonder how someone like Dion Darling would cope with the newly sanitised game.

Regards

Doom

For me though Doom whilst the game has supposedly shifted from brawn to skill, I don’t believe we are seeing any better skilled player than we did in Dion Darling’s team for example.

Mosienko is probably one of the most EIHL skilled players I’ve seen and that was in the days of the Colt Kings and a more physical game. I still believe the game has room for both skill and physicality.

Rick Brabant, Tony Hand, David Longstaff, Paul Beraldo had far more skill than ANY recent Steelers players or teams have since the game has supposedly shifted to skill bias. Perhaps budgets were bigger then, but my point is, if the game has shifted to more skilled players, then we must not have the budget as I’m not seeing the skill I’m afraid.

[paul johnston]

There is a reason why Giants and Devils won silverware last season. Obviously the skill level was there, but they also had the other side of the coin balance of the more hard nosed gritty physical players to keep the opponents honest, obviously they help the general defensive side of their game but also gave them an alternative tactical option when the skill aspect of their game wasn't working.

We have the plan A of the silky smooth skating passing game which is ok when offensively goes well; but when not no plan B tactical option. Let alone a more limited ability to clear the net in front of our netties.

The problem is too many confuse a more hard nosed physical player with a one dimensional goon. They are two different things.

Unless our skill level is so much higher than our opponents when our team is fully assembled then I suspect we will miss out on silverware with our continued absence of enough tough hard nosed gritty physical players.

I see it more as a reluctance on Foxy's part to sign these type of players. I dont believe that he wouldn't have the contacts or abilities to get someone like that. I think he's stuck in that mindset and is stubborn and only wants to play that one way.

[Jayboy]

There is a reason why Giants and Devils won silverware last season. Obviously the skill level was there, but they also had the other side of the coin balance of the more hard nosed gritty physical players to keep the opponents honest, obviously they help the general defensive side of their game but also gave them an alternative tactical option when the skill aspect of their game wasn't working.

We have the plan A of the silky smooth skating passing game which is ok when offensively goes well; but when not no plan B tactical option. Let alone a more limited ability to clear the net in front of our netties.

The problem is too many confuse a more hard nosed physical player with a one dimensional goon. They are two different things.

Unless our skill level is so much higher than our opponents when our team is fully assembled then I suspect we will miss out on silverware with our continued absence of enough tough hard nosed gritty physical players.

I see it more as a reluctance on Foxy's part to sign these type of players. I dont believe that he wouldn't have the contacts or abilities to get someone like that. I think he's stuck in that mindset and is stubborn and only wants to play that one way.

which is getting him close and over the line once, so maybe he could see that and see what he was missing on those occasions over the course of a season.. many of us feel it's the lack of a no nonsense big tough guy that can play.. we all said that Fox looks to be the type of coach that learns by his mistakes and the evidence has been there so far with his choice of younger player, but he doesn't look like he is convinced about the addition of King type player..

[Morpheous]

I’ve seen Brandon McNally linked with us on a couple of the twitter rumour pages. He’s no heavyweight, but he’s a bit of a gritty forward that doesn’t mind dropping them if needed.

[paul johnston]

I’ve seen Brandon McNally linked with us on a couple of the twitter rumour pages. He’s no heavyweight, but he’s a bit of a gritty forward that doesn’t mind dropping them if needed.

Err for me let's hope not.

[smbmetal]

However Fox recruits I doubt we’ll see a physical team that is prepared to stick up for itself regularly. The never says die in your face Steelers identity of old I’m afraid has gone for me, only the winning mentality seems to be understood by the coach, oh and the non-existent rivalry with the Panthers.

I can guarantee they’ll be posts this next season from people fuming that we were bullied in our own rink and let the opposing teams take liberties against our skilled players.

Like a stuck record I will continue to say that Fox (for me) doesn’t have any free passes left and if we don’t win anything again this season I don’t see how his style suits the league or the Steelers with probably one of the biggest player recruitment budgets available.

Proof will be in the pudding.

[Morpheous]

Connolly’s comments copied from this mornings Sheffield star article about Fox recruiting a more physical/gritty team this season…



Connolly said Fox will have recruited players to add a more dominating style of hockey.

"Foxy maybe looked at the team and thought he could improve in some areas, grittiness being one of them

"I thought we were good enough to win the league last season but we ran out of steam, so he could make us a bit more physical and grittier and hopefully that transpires to the end-of-season games that are critical," said Connolly.

"Physicality and passion can help you win those games and he is trying to get guys to fill that void."

[paul johnston]

Connolly’s comments copied from this mornings Sheffield star article about Fox recruiting a more physical/gritty team this season…



Connolly said Fox will have recruited players to add a more dominating style of hockey.

"Foxy maybe looked at the team and thought he could improve in some areas, grittiness being one of them

"I thought we were good enough to win the league last season but we ran out of steam, so he could make us a bit more physical and grittier and hopefully that transpires to the end-of-season games that are critical," said Connolly.

"Physicality and passion can help you win those games and he is trying to get guys to fill that void."

So he's essentially saying what we think and have said then! I will wait and see, because he said that after his first season and I'm not sure we changed in style or the style of players recruited.

[raetiamann]

I can't square the circle where the club's marketing pushes the physical side of the sport, whilst at the same time we have a chairman and a coach who really don't choose to play that more bump and grind style of hockey.