GAME THREAD: Cardiff Devils v Sheffield Steelers, Wednesday 3rd January 7:30pm

[mark]

No, No and No again , this is not the time to accept a loss, there is never a right time but not against the team closest to you in the league, this is where you step up and make a statement, you go for domination, you go to break their spirit and belief that they can compete with us

I refer the jury to my earlier statement on the matter and confirm they were better than good, they were great.

[Jayboy]

That was a complete performance . Even after going one down very early they never looked anything but confident in their own ability to turn it round. From Greenfield at the back to Neuman up front every player played his part to perfection , as the commentator remarked. He also correctly noted that the Devils didn't play badly , they were just second best to the most accomplished team he has seen in Wales this season.
They have a great team spirit and play selflessly for each other. Having said that it looked like Vallerand wanted to play every shift of the last 10 minutes so he could get that hat trick ! Just another example of how much these games mean to them.
Watling seems to wrongfoot defenders just by looking at them , but it would be unfair to pick anyone out tonight. They were all awesome, especially playing their 3rd game in 5 days.
I am so pleased for Foxy and hope we are not counting chickens but I have been very impressed so far. Keep it up lads !

We were excellent no doubt and that's our best performance of the season so far or in fact it's the best performance during any Fox coached side for me. A few of us had been asking for a statement win style game. We done 2 for 2 now against Cardiff. 4-0 & 5-1.

Taking off my orange tinted glasses for a moment though, and while Cardiff weren't bad, I'd be disappointed with their performance if I were a Cardiff fan. They reminded me of last season's Steelers team where there were too many miss-placed passes and they just couldn't get any momentum going.

Even Brandt tried to up the physical anti, unfortunately the mascots had gone home for the evening

Brilliant lads. This has got to be the best team I’ve seen so far only been watching 6-7 years myself.

Just pointing out think it’s 2 wins out of 3 against Cardiff ( not 2 for 2) they won us at home back in October.

I've been watching since mid 90s and I reckon this is one of our best teams ever. There's players on this team I think could have made it in to the 00/01 grand slam team.

They are definitely a great team, but upto yet that means nothing! we need to prove our potential and go on and win stuff again..

Out of interest what players would you place in our 2001 Grand slam team and who would you replace?
Because as good as this team is I would struggle to replace anyone with a current team member, especially like for like, maybe there is a case for Greenfield replacing Torchia or O'neill and has good as this current defence is, it's not going to replace the legendary defence - McCosh, Sebastian, Short ,Carpenter ,Smith and Dennis Vial!! that leave maybe Dale Craigwell, Steve Roberts, Paul Adey and maybe Brent Bobyck as the only forwards I would even consider not as good as our top line?

[ginger]

That was a complete performance . Even after going one down very early they never looked anything but confident in their own ability to turn it round. From Greenfield at the back to Neuman up front every player played his part to perfection , as the commentator remarked. He also correctly noted that the Devils didn't play badly , they were just second best to the most accomplished team he has seen in Wales this season.
They have a great team spirit and play selflessly for each other. Having said that it looked like Vallerand wanted to play every shift of the last 10 minutes so he could get that hat trick ! Just another example of how much these games mean to them.
Watling seems to wrongfoot defenders just by looking at them , but it would be unfair to pick anyone out tonight. They were all awesome, especially playing their 3rd game in 5 days.
I am so pleased for Foxy and hope we are not counting chickens but I have been very impressed so far. Keep it up lads !

We were excellent no doubt and that's our best performance of the season so far or in fact it's the best performance during any Fox coached side for me. A few of us had been asking for a statement win style game. We done 2 for 2 now against Cardiff. 4-0 & 5-1.

Taking off my orange tinted glasses for a moment though, and while Cardiff weren't bad, I'd be disappointed with their performance if I were a Cardiff fan. They reminded me of last season's Steelers team where there were too many miss-placed passes and they just couldn't get any momentum going.

Even Brandt tried to up the physical anti, unfortunately the mascots had gone home for the evening

Brilliant lads. This has got to be the best team I’ve seen so far only been watching 6-7 years myself.

Just pointing out think it’s 2 wins out of 3 against Cardiff ( not 2 for 2) they won us at home back in October.

I've been watching since mid 90s and I reckon this is one of our best teams ever. There's players on this team I think could have made it in to the 00/01 grand slam team.

They are definitely a great team, but upto yet that means nothing! we need to prove our potential and go on and win stuff again..

Out of interest what players would you place in our 2001 Grand slam team and who would you replace?
Because as good as this team is I would struggle to replace anyone with a current team member, especially like for like, maybe there is a case for Greenfield replacing Torchia or O'neill and has good as this current defence is, it's not going to replace the legendary defence - McCosh, Sebastian, Short ,Carpenter ,Smith and Dennis Vial!! that leave maybe Dale Craigwell, Steve Roberts, Paul Adey and maybe Brent Bobyck as the only forwards I would even consider not as good as our top line?

True they've not won anything yet, but in terms of sheer playing ability demonstrated there's a definite comparison.

In terms of players, Greenfield as you mentioned would for me be in over O'Neill. Tansey I honestly believe could have played in the ISL era no problem. He's a better skater and more than physical enough. He's better as a player than Vial, but obviously not on the same toughness level. Could probably swap him for Carpenter (although I did love Carps) and wouldn't have noticed much difference.

Forwards - Watling or Juusola/Craigwell, M Simpson/Bobber and then there's a definite argument for Dowd/Adey.

It's difficult because the game is very different now, and I absolutely loved that 00/01 team, but we've got some really special players this year

[wakefieldsteelersfan]

Any mention of wage caps yet?

Regards

Doom

Yep, on the Inferno forum, but to be fair so far its just 1 posting suggesting the Steelers have been dishonest and ignored it.

Seen a few comments on twitter/Facebook too.....anyone would think Cardiff's roster is dirt cheap the way they speak.
I'm sure the likes of Cox,Sandford,Daniel,Martin,Bowns,Richardson,Crawford,Ully,Arniel etc came dirt cheap and play for peanuts.

[mark]

Any mention of wage caps yet?

Regards

Doom

Yep, on the Inferno forum, but to be fair so far its just 1 posting suggesting the Steelers have been dishonest and ignored it.

Seen a few comments on twitter/Facebook too.....anyone would think Cardiff's roster is dirt cheap the way they speak.
I'm sure the likes of Cox,Sandford,Daniel,Martin,Bowns,Richardson,Crawford,Ully,Arniel etc came dirt cheap and play for peanuts.

Our bigger income from attendances is balanced out by the fact that we pay a fortune to hire the arena, unlike Cardiff. Sport is cyclic and the stars of the old Cardiff team have mostly moved on and not been replaced, hardly unusual in professional sport, there was even a time when Manchester United used to be good

[ginger]

Any mention of wage caps yet?

Regards

Doom

Yep, on the Inferno forum, but to be fair so far its just 1 posting suggesting the Steelers have been dishonest and ignored it.

Seen a few comments on twitter/Facebook too.....anyone would think Cardiff's roster is dirt cheap the way they speak.
I'm sure the likes of Cox,Sandford,Daniel,Martin,Bowns,Richardson,Crawford,Ully,Arniel etc came dirt cheap and play for peanuts.

Our bigger income from attendances is balanced out by the fact that we pay a fortune to hire the arena, unlike Cardiff. Sport is cyclic and the stars of the old Cardiff team have mostly moved on and not been replaced, hardly unusual in professional sport, there was even a time when Manchester United used to be good

Hilarious when you look at the rosters and league experience. Cardiff have more AHL, Czech, DEL and Allsvensken experience than us, we have more Liiga experience.

To suggest there's massive differences in budget is laughable. Weren't we rumoured to also have been in for Arniel?

[Doom]

Our 2000/01 team is the best I've ever seen in this country, the current team wouldn't live with them.

It's difficult to compare individual eras though because the game is so different now. I wouldn't take Vial over Tansey in the present, but in 2001 I would suggest Vial's special sort of talent would make him an essential the way the game was played back then.

I wouldn't take Greenfield over O'Neil in either era, although I'd take Laing over both of them.

I think someone like Juusola would offer more than Bobyck and maybe Tansey instead of Short back in 2001.

It' shows we're in a good place that we're having this debate.

Regards

Doom

[ginger]

Our 2000/01 team is the best I've ever seen in this country, the current team wouldn't live with them.

It's difficult to compare individual eras though because the game is so different now. I wouldn't take Vial over Tansey in the present, but in 2001 I would suggest Vial's special sort of talent would make him an essential the way the game was played back then.

I wouldn't take Greenfield over O'Neil in either era, although I'd take Laing over both of them.

I think someone like Juusola would offer more than Bobyck and maybe Tansey instead of Short back in 2001.

It' shows we're in a good place that we're having this debate.

Regards

Doom

Yeah I should have been a bit more clear that it's difficult to compare given the nature of the game changing so much. I do think Tansey could have played in that era with no issues. I think he'd struggle with the physicality back then, but Cormier looks almost on the McCosh level of the transition and offence he brings.

Ahhh it's so good to be able to talk like this!

[mark]

As much as I liked him Vial wouldn't be needed in this team, the requirement to carry a heavyweight enforcer just isn't there anymore although the thought of Denny picking up Riley Brandt and teaching him a lesson.... jeez that would be a long ban, Bobyck didn't produce as much as some of our present forwards can although on pure speed he'd scare teams to death, different times mean different requirements.

[Doom]

Any mention of wage caps yet?

Regards

Doom

Yep, on the Inferno forum, but to be fair so far its just 1 posting suggesting the Steelers have been dishonest and ignored it.

Seen a few comments on twitter/Facebook too.....anyone would think Cardiff's roster is dirt cheap the way they speak.
I'm sure the likes of Cox,Sandford,Daniel,Martin,Bowns,Richardson,Crawford,Ully,Arniel etc came dirt cheap and play for peanuts.

Our bigger income from attendances is balanced out by the fact that we pay a fortune to hire the arena, unlike Cardiff. Sport is cyclic and the stars of the old Cardiff team have mostly moved on and not been replaced, hardly unusual in professional sport, there was even a time when Manchester United used to be good

Hilarious when you look at the rosters and league experience. Cardiff have more AHL, Czech, DEL and Allsvensken experience than us, we have more Liiga experience.

To suggest there's massive differences in budget is laughable. Weren't we rumoured to also have been in for Arniel?

We probably do have the highest wage bill in the league, but I doubt there's much in it and certainly not enough to make a fuss about.

Looking at my pre season goals prediction, I had Belfast top followed by us and then Cardiff and Nottingham just behind.

In Tedesco and Barriga Belfast added two of the top goal scorers in our league to an already strong roster....They won't have cost peanuts.

They also managed to retain the top netminder from the previous season.

Unfortunately for Belfast Besko is having a stinker this season and Tedesco has failed to fire, whereas the players we signed who struggled last season have really found their feet in our league (Juusola, Simpson etc.).

I think it's good recruitment by Fox, but also there's an element of luck in it. The stars seem to have aligned for us and maybe this year it's our turn.

Regards

Doom