Thoughts after the Belfast game - Call to arms!

Are there issues within the squad that are starting to rear their ugly head? After tonight's performance and initial reports from fans from both teams in attendance you can't help but think that things really aren't rosy in the locker room right now, especially with the coach apparently not hanging around for the post game handshakes.

A scoreline of 5-2 in the Giants favour that reports suggest somewhat flatters the opposition. Frank Doyle picked up another Man of the Match in what is rapidly becoming a stellar season from the netminder, who in my opinion gives his all every night and is quickly becoming more and more of a fans favourite in Sheffield.

That being said, there are a few stand out points for me from tonight's game.

The first point would be a report suggesting that during the 3rd period, at 3-1 down, we looked a beaten side. Looked like a team that just didn't think we would get back into the game. A team that looked like it didn't believe in itself and/or each other and/or the systems being used. If fans from both sides can see that, surely the coaching staff can see that too? The issue with the above is that this isn't the first time this season that that view has been expressed by the people in attendance. It's something I myself have even eluded too before. There are times when we are behind in games that we just look like we've given up hope and very few players then take it upon themselves to give the team a lift because once again reports seem to suggest that Doug Christiansen didn't. The body language just looks off. That's something myself and seemingly an increasing number of Steelers fans are starting to take more of an issue with. If the coach doesn;t do something, then a player needs to do something and if nobody does something, then what hope do we have?

Secondly, is the issue over pulling the netminder when trailing in the game towards the end. Whilst the Steelers haven't had much success with that this year, in a one goal game with over a minute to go, it's the norm in hockey for that to be done, so at 3-2 down I can understand Doyle being pulled in an effort to get the game tied up. The issue for me though is pulling Doyle for a second time at 4-2 down with 30 odd seconds left in the game. To score 2 goals with such little time left in my view takes a lot of luck and is a very big ask and to me is near impossible. Sure it has been done before, but the chances of it happening in my view are slim, very slim. That essentially to me gifted the Giants another goal and makes the scoreline worse than what reports of the teams performance suggests. That situation though is what leads me to the third and final point.

After the 5-2 goal, there have been reports emerging from fans of both teams that there was a bit of an incident on the Steelers bench, with Steelers fans suggesting that the team captain was having a go at Doug Christiansen. Now whilst that isn't necessarily what you want to see between player and coach, it does however potentially shed light on one or two things. What cannot be argued though is the passion it shows from Goertzen and I for one applaud that. It's good to see that somebody on that team actually cares about what is going on out there, but at the same time it again begs the question, are some of the players actually happy? Are they enjoying their hockey? If they're not enjoying it, then surely that then hinders their ability to perform. If they're not happy, that then makes you wonder why. Is it the results? Is it the systems they're being asked to play to? Is it the coach? Is it a mix of 2 or 3 or more things?

Granted all we can do is speculate but I don't see how based on what most of us have witnessed this year that things are ok because they're simply not. With the team we have on paper, we should be playing better than what we have done thus far. Yes any team can win on any given night nowadays in this league and no we don't have a right to win every game but the manner in which we have lost some of those games so far this season has become an issue for some people.

In closing, I'll make two more quick points.

Firstly regarding Tim Spencer. I've had it confirmed by fans from both sides that during his fight earlier with Adam Keefe that he stopped the fight when he saw that Keefe was badly cut. That to me is playing the game to the players code. Well done Tim. Good on you. It shows the class that you have.

The other point is basically to the whole team with regards to tomorrows game. I'll be in attendance tomorrow along with several other Steelers fans. Tomorrow is a chance for you to answer back and get something out of this weekend. The last time we played there we played very well and got a deserved 2 points. Tomorrow we need to do the same again.

Go out there and give it your all. Whatever frustrations you've got, take it out on the Blaze tomorrow. Run up that scoreboard just like you did up in Edinburgh and absolutely embarrass the opposition. Make them feel the wrath for what has gone on so far this season. Beat them on that scoreboard where it really hurts and if they start taking liberties, answer back. Show some team toughness, some team togetherness. Fight for yourselves and each other. Go into Coventry looking for vengeance for tonight's defeat and come out of there with 2 points on the board and your heads held well and truly high.

It's time to stand up and be counted. It's time to turn the corner.

You're more than capable of doing it, so go out there and do it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this folks. As always, feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions or comments. You can find us on our respective Twitter accounts.

@IAmMcCausland
@TomWalkeden
@AwkwardGinge
@FrozenSteelBlog

Thanks again.

Alan
@AwkwardGinge