5 Things - At Least No-one's Died

5 things makes it's return after taking a couple of weeks off for quiet reflection.

It's not so much as I haven't wanted to do one after the defeats, more that if I wrote in the heat of the moment, I'd say something I'd probably regret.

But, over the past couple of weeks we've learnt a few things.

1. The Panthers have our number.
Credit to Corey Neilson for working out a gameplan to beat us on a regular basis. Most of it involves Robert Farmer and Greg Jacina playing their natural games. We hate it, but I bet if they were in orange we'd be singing their praises. The Panthers have hit their stride.

2. Back to basics.
We've conceded 24 goals in the last 7 games - which also includes a shutout in Dundee. Take that out, it's an average of 4 goals a game. We're not going to win a championship with that. It's not Frank's fault. The defence needs to go back to defending and doing what they all do best. At present, it looks to me like they're all keen to jump into the action, leaving gaping holes at the back. Compare it to the Matsos years. Do you think Jody would have been as impressive if he had this defence in front of him? Alternatively, how good would Frank look if he had the double-winning defence in front of him?

3. We're not alone.
Each team has had a rough patch this year. Cardiff couldn't travel earlier in the season, and all of a sudden have just had a one point weekend after there was talks of breaking their own streak record. Belfast can't put two good weekends in a row together. Nottingham have been hit and miss all year. Coventry have been on one since late September. There's only really Braehead who haven't hit a bump in the road yet, but there's time.

4. For the love of Jeebus, shut up with the conference argument.
If Braehead were to win all their conference games in a season, they would have 64 points. 64 points will not win the league in a 52 game season. They would have had to beat Erhardt teams to win it - which they have. They're a damn good hockey team. The Gardiner being the easier conference argument would hold some strength if the Erhardt teams didn't keep on losing to those teams. I don't agree with the uneven games, but you can make the conferences mean something.

5. I'm still enjoying this season.
It's tight, everyone is beating everyone else, and it's great entertainment. Who'd have thought Hull would go two unbeaten against Belfast?

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