Season analysis: what now...

[paul johnston]

My mate brought some stats out last week comparing our roster with Belfast.

In defence there wasn't much difference, although as expected Belfast were a long way ahead on +/-.

Difficult to say if this is because they were better defensively or their forwards put the opposition under so much pressure the defence didn't have as much to do.

In terms of points our wingers matched theirs, I certainly don't think that is where we had an issue.

Centers.....oh dear! Belfast were miles ahead of us on all accounts. I think it was obvious for all to see that this is where our biggest issues were last season.

Swap Conway with Armstrong and we win the league. He scores goals, gets assists and wins faceoffs.....and he's British.

If I was Fox I'd be on the phone to him right now with a big offer. It might not be enough to tempt him, but if nothing else it would force Belfast to offer more.

According to Finner we have the biggest budget. If true, let's not waste it on ancient has beens from Europe, but tempt the best from our league who are known quantities.

That's what Blaiser did....McCosh, Weaver etc.....that didn't work out badly.

Regards

Doom

A lot of great points there Doom. Agree about the getting players that have been successful from other teams the year before. It seems to have gone out of fashion these days especially for us.

[Doom]

My mate brought some stats out last week comparing our roster with Belfast.

In defence there wasn't much difference, although as expected Belfast were a long way ahead on +/-.

Difficult to say if this is because they were better defensively or their forwards put the opposition under so much pressure the defence didn't have as much to do.

In terms of points our wingers matched theirs, I certainly don't think that is where we had an issue.

Centers.....oh dear! Belfast were miles ahead of us on all accounts. I think it was obvious for all to see that this is where our biggest issues were last season.

Swap Conway with Armstrong and we win the league. He scores goals, gets assists and wins faceoffs.....and he's British.

If I was Fox I'd be on the phone to him right now with a big offer. It might not be enough to tempt him, but if nothing else it would force Belfast to offer more.

According to Finner we have the biggest budget. If true, let's not waste it on ancient has beens from Europe, but tempt the best from our league who are known quantities.

That's what Blaiser did....McCosh, Weaver etc.....that didn't work out badly.

Regards

Doom

A lot of great points there Doom. Agree about the getting players that have been successful from other teams the year before. It seems to have gone out of fashion these days especially for us.

I just don't understand why in recent years we haven't signed more players from other EIHL teams.

They know the league, our coach gets to see them at least 6 times a season and perhaps most importantly, our coach can ask his own players who they hate playing against the most.

Obviously it would be tougher to attract players from the other arena teams because they also have the budget, but there must be players at Manchester, Dundee etc who it would be worth taking a punt on.

I've just had a look at the EIHL stats site. I must confess I've never heard of Nathanael Halbert at Coventry. Apparently he's a British defenceman who got 7+24 from 51 games last season and was 2nd on the team for +/- stats.

He sounds like just the sort of player we should be looking at if Davy Phillips leaves.

Regards

Doom

[Grizzly65x]

My mate brought some stats out last week comparing our roster with Belfast.

In defence there wasn't much difference, although as expected Belfast were a long way ahead on +/-.

Difficult to say if this is because they were better defensively or their forwards put the opposition under so much pressure the defence didn't have as much to do.

In terms of points our wingers matched theirs, I certainly don't think that is where we had an issue.

Centers.....oh dear! Belfast were miles ahead of us on all accounts. I think it was obvious for all to see that this is where our biggest issues were last season.

Swap Conway with Armstrong and we win the league. He scores goals, gets assists and wins faceoffs.....and he's British.

If I was Fox I'd be on the phone to him right now with a big offer. It might not be enough to tempt him, but if nothing else it would force Belfast to offer more.

According to Finner we have the biggest budget. If true, let's not waste it on ancient has beens from Europe, but tempt the best from our league who are known quantities.

That's what Blaiser did....McCosh, Weaver etc.....that didn't work out badly.

Regards

Doom

A lot of great points there Doom. Agree about the getting players that have been successful from other teams the year before. It seems to have gone out of fashion these days especially for us.

I just don't understand why in recent years we haven't signed more players from other EIHL teams.

They know the league, our coach gets to see them at least 6 times a season and perhaps most importantly, our coach can ask his own players who they hate playing against the most.

Obviously it would be tougher to attract players from the other arena teams because they also have the budget, but there must be players at Manchester, Dundee etc who it would be worth taking a punt on.

I've just had a look at the EIHL stats site. I must confess I've never heard of Nathanael Halbert at Coventry. Apparently he's a British defenceman who got 7+24 from 51 games last season and was 2nd on the team for +/- stats.

He sounds like just the sort of player we should be looking at if Davy Phillips leaves.

Regards

Doom

I don’t think he qualifies as Brit for EIHL purposes unfortunately.
He may be GB eligible after another year along with Ruopp and Gerrie

[19Steelers]

He problem is that when we sign young brits they get no ice time and so do not develop their potential. We go for end of career veterans who have no long term interest in the club. Short sighted tactic.

[Jayboy]

He problem is that when we sign young brits they get no ice time and so do not develop their potential. We go for end of career veterans who have no long term interest in the club. Short sighted tactic.

We do that in the most part because they tend to be the affordable option when it comes to import players, up and coming imports or imports on top of their game at this level dont want to play in our league because they can normally earn a great deal more in the European leagues.

On the flip side to the same coin young brits dont get the chance of much ice time because this is not and can never be a development league, coaches for the top clubs (and by that I mean the clubs with a budget to put together a team expected to fight for silverware) do not have the luxury of developing a young brit on the fly.. With very very few exceptions.

Lower financed clubs can gamble and develops their young brits only for the top budget teams to come along and snatch them up..
When your trying to put a product on the ice and under pressure to do it, then in most cases you give your import scouts and agents a ring, not your contacts in the NIHL.
Roster sizes would have to increase significantly in the EIHL for young brits to be included in many teams and this would have to be on many two ways deals as they still would not be getting Ice time with the likes of Sheffield,Cardiff and Belfast...

[smbmetal]

Whilst it does sound harsh, I’m from the school of if the British players are good enough they’ll play.

I’d be happy if there was no import rule and we were able to sign a team full of em if that meant I was seeing a quality product on the ice. I’d love to see a return to the quality that was played in the ISL days. Night and day different to what we see today IMO.

In the days of David Longstaff in the ISL, he was easily as good as any of the top imports and I guess cut his development in the lower leagues first.

I want to see the very best hockey available in the EIHL and don’t believe we should be a development league or club for the British players.

[BontSteeler]

Whilst it does sound harsh, I’m from the school of if the British players are good enough they’ll play.

I’d be happy if there was no import rule and we were able to sign a team full of em if that meant I was seeing a quality product on the ice. I’d love to see a return to the quality that was played in the ISL days. Night and day different to what we see today IMO.

In the days of David Longstaff in the ISL, he was easily as good as any of the top imports and I guess cut his development in the lower leagues first.

I want to see the very best hockey available in the EIHL and don’t believe we should be a development league or club for the British players.

Longstaff - along with Tony Hand are the best British players I've ever seen play, both were absolutely incredible.

[Jayboy]

A shout out for Nick Chin, now he was 18 carrot gold entertainment that guy..

Jayboy

[Sttrinian84]

A shout out for Nick Chin, now he was 18 carrot gold entertainment that guy..

Jayboy

Class bloke off ice too….lived on the same road for a while lol

[Firefox1001]

So what next?
For me.
-stud nettie with Rok as back up.
-less offensive d men and bring some size and physical around the crease d men.
-reduce the overall squad age.
-look to change/mix up the systems. The style hasn't worked (league success wise) for two years, what's to say that it will if carry on.
-instead of three balanced lines look to heavily front load a first line a la Belfast this year.
-create a role line.
-whistle, Jones to be the future. Will be a disaster if Brandon moves to other EIHL team.
-A lot will depend whether we have the quite ludicrous 19 match night squad size.

I've got a lot of time for Aaron and do hope he brings success in the league to the club.

How are we doing on this checklist at the moment?

- Stud Nettie - To be Determined. (I would've kept Rok as a back-up).
- Less offensive D men - Nevalainen probably replaces Todd. Around the same so far with 2 to announce (see next point). Agree that a physical D man or 2 is needed.
- More physical D men - To be Determined. Allen will likely be more physical than Armstrong was. Depends on who Ellerby's replacement is.
- Reduce overall age of the squad - tick.
- Change of System - Too early to tell. Was very close to working last time around though.
- 1 top-heavy line - No. Fox has said he will go with interchangable top 9 forwards.
- Create a role line - Whistle and Phillips are likely to be 2 of the 4th line so far..
- Whistle/Jones to be signed up - tick.
- Match night roster. Set at 20. Better but still not great. Would prefer 22.