Wednesday, 6 December 2017

Hockey Soapbox - Season 3 Week 11 - Still Inconsistent


Welcome everybody to this week's Soapbox. It's been another of those weeks in Steelerland with another mixture of the good and the bad being dished out to the fans. On the panel this week are your Editor-In-Chief mark, Steel Talk co-owner Jay Smith, the hard hitting thoughts of Nathan as well as the popular thoughts from both Sarah and Fay.

Introductions done with, time to get on those soapboxes folks!

1. Five Words on Saturday

Another Conference loss yet again
Shining stars don’t shine tonight
Yet More Conference Points Lost
More of the same excuses
So frustrating to watch us

2. Five Words on Sunday

Nice to see Roy score 
Yet More Conference Points Lost
Better performance but still poor
A well needed big win
Win as Lightning pay penalty

3. Have you ever “won” a shirt in a jersey auction (eBay doesn’t count) and how much did it cost?

Nathan: Nope. I wouldn't entertain the idea either. They're not really worth the £50-£60 you pay for them new so there's no way I'd bid upwards of £200 for one even if it is game worn. Doesn't really interest me to be honest.
Jay: No, I wont enter such auctions, I don't have the amount of disposable income I would need to bid those silly prices.
Fay:  I haven’t - my parents got me Mark Thomas’ GB jersey a long time ago but not sure on the price.
Mark: Yes, I won both Ben Bowns Hull Stingrays goalie shirt in 2011-12 and also a blood jersey from the 2013-14 Play-Off Final from the Elite League Jersey Auctions. Think I paid £85.00 for each. The Bowns one is signed, and I've had a few enquiries from Cardiff fans wanting me to sell it to them which I've rebuffed every time.
Sarah: Hewitt £350, I had won the 50:50 the same day Hewitt threw me a puck so I was gonna get his shirt no matter what the cost. Marquardt (pre season game) £350-ish and Roy’s Continental Cup shirt £250. I’m surprised at how much the Conti Cup shirts went for, I thought they’d go for a lot more. I only had to put 2 bids in for Roy’s shirt so happy days. Oh and I got Bjorklund's Valentine’s Day shirt that he didn’t wear and left the club that night. 

4. (Written before his departure) Is Brady Ramsay under used by the Steelers?

Jay: Yes I suppose he is, but considering I don't reckon much to the new recruits other than Matheson it's hardly worth my comments.
Fay: Yes!!!! Not the most skilled player but he has that spark we sometimes miss when things aren’t going out way. Give him a shot!
Mark: Yes indeed. Whenever I have seen him play, he's shown commitment in spades and actually shown up some more illustrious names. He's not afraid of anyone, just ask Vojtech Kloz of Coventry who simply towers over him. It's obvious to me his face does fit with someone in our club, and that certain someone doesn't want him in the line-up unless it is absolutely necessary he has to ice. You get where I am coming from?
Sarah: Yes he is. I love the passion he has and always sticks up for his team mates. The idea of extra imports is to create competition for slots (and injury cover) but if it’s the same player not playing then it defeats the object. If a player doesn’t perform well in a game then drop them the following game. We need to do something different to bring out the best in the players. We’ve got a good team on paper but there’s just something missing this season. 
Nathan: To see him used at all would be a start. I'm no real fan of his but he can't really be any worse than the current crop we're being 'entertained' by. The V-N-D line aside we're missing a lot in the big games, so if he's healthy play him, if he's not in your plans Coach Thompson, get shut and free some budget up. This season is in danger of fizzing out so we need a spark from somewhere! 


5. Bears are looking decent so far, therefore can the dark side be stopped from running away with it and if so, who or what will derail them?

Fay: Probably not. It’s hard not to like their team this year! Depends on their fitness levels.
Mark: They are looking pretty good, solid in all departments. The signing of Patrick Galbraith is like they have signed a goalie on par with K-Wall. He is that damn good. Only injuries and over-confidence will stop them; the rest of us are having to play catch up with them.
Sarah: There’s still a lot of games still to be played but honestly I think they’ll win the league. Most teams are inconsistent but some of that is how competitive the league is. No teams go into a game anymore knowing they’ll get the win, unless that’s what Nottingham will start to do and slip up. Every team goes through an injury patch but with their depth I really don’t think it would have a massive impact.
Nathan: I'm not sure if they'll run away with it as such but I definitely think they'll be lifting the league trophy at the end of the season. Perhaps the only thing to derail them were that to happen would be Devils or Giants catching them or a huge injury crisis killing their momentum. It certainly won't be the boys in Orange doing it.
Jay: Nothing will, they are head and shoulders above any other teams and only their own ability to shoot themselves in the foot would stop them winning.


6. Giants on Sunday, what are your early thoughts on what might happen?

Mark: If Spiro gets a ban for his shenanigans in Guildford then it could be a damp squib when it comes to intensity. Giants though have a few players not afraid to dish it out, whilst we don't. We might have to beat them by using brains over brawn. A strong referee is needed as well.
Sarah: Goulash will probably be suspended thank god! What an absolute tool he is. 139 PIM! Although Deveaux would have given a run for his money with his tantrums. I think it will be feisty, both teams will obviously want/need to win but not in a fight at every stop in play type of game. 
Fay: Probably nothing. Both teams will want to win the game first. 
Jay: Nothing will happen, you may get handbags from Fretter and Spiro but the game will fizzle out into a ordinary game with little passion as always.
Nathan: Big weekend in general coming up so we need to step it up a few gears. We need points in our conference and fast so we need to be at our very best. A good performance and a win on Sunday might help to restore some faith in the Sheffield faithful but another loss against one of the 'big teams' and it'll be yet another nail in this campaigns coffin.




And that's your soapbox this week. If you have any questions for the panel then let us have them ASAP.




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