Season analysis: what now...

[lovedenisvial]

Key for me for most of the season but espcially from the Cardiff CC hammering, is the fagility of our overall play!!
We dominate teams when in possession but don't score, we create very little around the net, we constantly jump into the play and then get caught without cover, and the biggest problem for me is we allow teams far too much space infront of our goal!
Teams know that they just need to fill the neutral zone, wait for a turn-over (which we provide numerous) and then catch us on the break! we always make the first mistake!!
Last night was the prime example, create loads of possession, but not many shots, then get the goals we deserve but then we make poor decisions and shoot ourselves in the foot, then allow the weaker team to take control and yes give them all the space they need to shoot and score! The same explanation to many many Steeler performances this season.
Injuries have been a major factor this season but the mineset of the players has been questionable. Ellerby for me has been slow, static and limited! Brust was at best average and looked totally unfit.
Hodgeman was skilled and capable but has lost his touch and energy. Sointu like Polak were very good players but just wern't consitant enough.
Armstrong never seemed to get going all season! so much ability but rarely used it!
I thought Todd was the best player we have seen in years in this league and it was a big blow loosing him. I also liked Baruta and would keep him, he got better as time passed. I don't want to see De Luca back!
I would keep the rest of the squad and build from there. I don't buy this 'Fox doesn;t know what he doing thing'

[Brian]

We can't keep Boruta as he was on loan and has a contract for next year at Innsbruck. I wouldn't want De Luca back for various reasons , some ethical, but mostly because he was doing very little before he went . I love Connolly's aggression but it would be a huge gamble as he would count as an import . Armstrong has been great for us but his game is tailing off and he seems to be slowing up .
As someone has already said on here ( well, written ) Aaron has recruited heavily in the past on players he has worked with in Europe, mainly Zagreb, but the years are passing now , can he find great players he doesn't personally know, especially Canadians ? Hope so.
Rok's stats are quite remarkable considering our defence of late , I am told he comes out as the third best goalie we have ever had !
We certainly need players who can last a season out. Some of our Brits, great though they have been are creaking at the seams. . Where are the replacements ? mmm… that is a problem for Aaron. Glad it's not mine.
All I would say is the traditionally weaker teams ( no offence ) have certainly upped their game this year and it has been a closer league than ever. These teams must have some good Brits, they can't all be imports. Can we tempt some away ?

[Sttrinian84]

I’d just like to say thank you to the people on this forum and the admins for allowing everyone to share their own opinion, have adult conversations, and not make people feel uncomfortable. Unfortunately other platforms (twitter), don’t allow the same respect, and again it appears there’s a bullying mentality from the chap that sits in the White House, pushes 50/50 tickets, and does not allow anything slightly negative to be said about the performance of the Team over the last season. We aren’t allowed to be “fans”, we are merely “paying customers” who can’t have or express an opinion.

[Brian]

Absolutely, hope we continue like this. It doesn't help labelling people as ,” Happy Clappers”, or , “ Keyboard Warriors “, either. Everyone is entitled to their opinion . It is also a good time to thank the Moderators who must do a lot of unpaid unsung work behind the scenes and posters who send us scores from games we cannot see.

[Sttrinian84]

Absolutely, hope we continue like this. It doesn't help labelling people as ,” Happy Clappers”, or , “ Keyboard Warriors “, either. Everyone is entitled to their opinion . It is also a good time to thank the Moderators who must do a lot of unpaid unsung work behind the scenes and posters who send us scores from games we cannot see.

[Ron 25]

I’d just like to say thank you to the people on this forum and the admins for allowing everyone to share their own opinion, have adult conversations, and not make people feel uncomfortable. Unfortunately other platforms (twitter), don’t allow the same respect, and again it appears there’s a bullying mentality from the chap that sits in the White House, pushes 50/50 tickets, and does not allow anything slightly negative to be said about the performance of the Team over the last season. We aren’t allowed to be “fans”, we are merely “paying customers” who can’t have or express an opinion.

Take no notice. The man is a bully and a charlatan.

[Jayboy]

I’d just like to say thank you to the people on this forum and the admins for allowing everyone to share their own opinion, have adult conversations, and not make people feel uncomfortable. Unfortunately other platforms (twitter), don’t allow the same respect, and again it appears there’s a bullying mentality from the chap that sits in the White House, pushes 50/50 tickets, and does not allow anything slightly negative to be said about the performance of the Team over the last season. We aren’t allowed to be “fans”, we are merely “paying customers” who can’t have or express an opinion.

Take no notice. The man is a bully and a charlatan.

I prefer this descriptive sentence.. A Megalomaniac with a Napoleon complex

[BontSteeler]

Needs a complete rebuild imo, age is catching up with certain players.

I get sick to the back teeth of not having a Desbiens/Fitzy/Allison type player who Marshall's the teams finer players & steps up the minute any other teams take liberty's, the amount of times teams have gone after Eberle, Vally, Conns, Dowd frustrates the hell out of me, I can't stand it, especially when the likes of Springer (love or hate the guy) Billy's them.

Stop signing players who are in their mid 30s, I'm sure once a time they were cracking players but this season I felt like a lot of them were coming over for "1 last pay day" before they hang up their skates.

I wont be too harsh on Fox as I'm sure he will get it right next season, give the guy a chance, he will be as frustrated as us, especially giving up a 3 goal lead in Dundee.

We had some ups this season, we led the league for a long time, imo we would've won that title if we hadnt competed in the European game, especially with losing Conns.

We'll be back - sometimes you just have to take your hat off to teams like Belfast & say this is your year, well done but we'll be back next season.

[smbmetal]

Needs a complete rebuild imo, age is catching up with certain players.

I get sick to the back teeth of not having a Desbiens/Fitzy/Allison type player who Marshall's the teams finer players & steps up the minute any other teams take liberty's, the amount of times teams have gone after Eberle, Vally, Conns, Dowd frustrates the hell out of me, I can't stand it, especially when the likes of Springer (love or hate the guy) Billy's them.

Stop signing players who are in their mid 30s, I'm sure once a time they were cracking players but this season I felt like a lot of them were coming over for "1 last pay day" before they hang up their skates.

I wont be too harsh on Fox as I'm sure he will get it right next season, give the guy a chance, he will be as frustrated as us, especially giving up a 3 goal lead in Dundee.

We had some ups this season, we led the league for a long time, imo we would've won that title if we hadnt competed in the European game, especially with losing Conns.

We'll be back - sometimes you just have to take your hat off to teams like Belfast & say this is your year, well done but we'll be back next season.

Yes, the days of Desbiens and Allison type players certainly seem a distant memory. Whilst the modern game has certainly changed and maybe in the real top leagues, those types of player are very much on the decline, I still firmly believe they are still a very important part of the Steelers identity and still required in the lower standard leagues. In fact I was hoping to see more of that type of player now that there's isn't as much demand in the top leagues.

I'm a firm believer in that you learn more from a losing team than you do from a winning one. I still also think that Fox is the right man for the job. My main concern is whether he can adopt a plan B or C as when the fast skilled (for our league) style hockey isn't available with injuries etc, we appear one dimensional and teams figured us out pretty quickly in the second half of the season.

Whilst losing Connolly was a blow we had ample time to find a replacement and we recruited the likes of Sointu and Traversa (neither are good enough I'm afraid). I don't think playing in Europe cost us the title, it was in our hands and we blew it. Belfast as you say were simply better.

I am very much looking forward to see how Fox has learned from this trophyless season.

[BontSteeler]

May I add, it's not always the fighting I want to see (I do love it though) but it's just sheer frustration that when the likes of Springer etc push Eberle etc around, we've nobody to say Oi, watch it sunshine, not on my watch.

Can't stand it in our own building.