Welcome to the first Hockey Soapbox of 2018.
The panel are back after the festive period and read to talk about questions that are the ones you would like to know the answers to. On the panel this week are your Editor-In-Chief Mark, Andy Roberts (aka the man with the vuvuzela), the well versed but equally opinionated Nathan, Junior FSB Member George as well as the glamour provided by both Sarah and Fay. So what's on their minds? Time to get on the soapboxes then...
1. Five words on Friday
Happy to get the win
Good In Conference Road Win
Very
good all round performance
2 points and a ban
Giants slain in good win
Jรคmtin
was on another level
2. Five words on Saturday
Poor Discipline Silly Penalties Defeat
Very
poor all round performance
Halas auditions for Right Guard?
Lost Discipline and the points
Enjoyed
my time in London
Early penalty trouble
ended us.
3. Have we turned a corner in our season with just
one loss in our last seven games?
George: Personally I think we may
have just done that, due to the amount of points we have managed to rack
up. However we must remember that the teams we have played during those 7
games excluding Belfast, aren’t the most scintillating to watch, neither
re they the strongest teams. However we have performed well during these
games, and therefore have deservedly got those points. Which is always a
positive.
Andy: Well
we have definitely played a little bit better recently and gained some
confidence in front of the net. Took us some time adapting to small ice in
Manchester and play a bit faster and more direct. Took a while but we got
there. Saturday in Belfast, however, we still seem to need to learn a bit.
Halas was going to put his hand up all night (and much like Giants the night
before) we walked straight into it and didn't adapt.
Mark: It's certainly a lot better than it was and nice to have some consistency to our play, proof that we can perform when under great pressure. But we need to keep at it, otherwise it will be viewed as just a sticking plaster covering the cracks. And that won't do.
Sarah: Well
we’ve won some games so definitely. Some players have turned up for games and
they seem to be working together much better. I love Westerling on the
power play! Let’s hope it continues, every game is just as important as the
next.
Fay: Yes. I think the Christmas games were a big test
and we stood up to it. There was a problem identified and coach has fixed it.
Nathan: I would say so but it all depends if we're going
to stay on the straight now or go off road again. The Nottingham and Manchester
games will have done the boys confidence the world of good irrespective of the
actual performances and a split weekend in Belfast isn't to be sniffed at but
we've got a lot of ground to make up and it might be a case of 'what could have
been.'
4. How much of a miss is John Armstrong due to
injury?
Andy: Big
John could be a big miss later in season as we go for a couple of trophies.
Personally the league has passed us again I think, but we thought that a few
seasons ago so I am holding out some hope still. Neiley looks a good addition
on limited team practice in Belfast. Showed he won't be bullied by likes of
Martinelli. If he is (or isn't) spare guy and we are still looking to cover for
Armstrong we are hopefully looking better. Be good to see John back late in
season just for his face off wins, never mind his timely goals.
Mark: A big body on the ice who when on point, can be unplayable whoever the opponents are. Scores goals and was well on course to better his stats from his first season. However to a few he's one of those who goes MIA when it comes to the crunch matches; a flat-track bully in their words. But he's an important part of the team, and his vision will be a noticeable absence. Hopefully by the time the season comes to the end, he'll be back and back to his best.
Sarah: He’s the goalie slayer so obviously he’s going
to be missed. He was playing very well so it’s a big upset. He’s a big guy and
isn’t afraid to protect himself and the team (which caused the injury). I do
like what I see about Neiley though.
Fay: It’ll be a big loss. I feel we’d just got our
lines settled and oozing chemistry. Just hope we let Army get back to full
strength before playing him again.
Nathan: He's a miss as anyone would be but he still goes
missing in far too many games for my liking. Time will tell I suppose but the
rest of the 'Claude Rains Fan Club' really need to step up now more than ever.
George: Like
a missing limb. He gives heart and desire and always puts 100% in. Even though
other fans don’t like him, no one can say he’s not very good. He’s an excellent
performer and will be badly missed without a shadow of a doubt.
5. Is
the £5 deal a great promotion by the Club to get fans to attend games they
might not have considered beforehand?
Mark: Superb marketing idea which will get more bums on seats, we should do this all the time for games which would normally be held at IS. A good sign that the club is willing to explore more initiatives to make hockey nights the best night out in the City.
Sarah: Oh yes, it’s great by the club. I probably
wouldn’t have gone to the midweek games due to travelling distance and work
but for a fiver I’ll be there. Hopefully it will attract newcomers to the game
too if it’s advertised enough.
Fay: Absolutely. A fair few
of my old work colleagues and friends are coming purely because it’s £5
(and I think they’re stuck for something to do on Valentine’s Day!)
Nathan: I
think it's probably more to do with them being midweek games ( I think ) but
it's still a great idea and especially against the bigger clubs like Cardiff
and not just the Scottish whipping boys.
George: Yes
plus it gets us out of Ice Sheffield which always helps us. Ice Sheffield is a
disaster!
Andy: The £5 deal is a great idea to hopefully make bigger mid week
crowds at the arena and bring in new faces that will hopefully pay full weekend
price. I would rather play all our home games at the arena as that is our home!
Thing that worries me is that we have to get X people in arena at normal price
to make money and I don't think the deal will bring enough in to cover the rent
(unless we are getting a deal). I am torn between playing at our home and
keeping us profitable and afloat. Profitable wins!
6. Ryan Finnerty calling us “drama queens”: great
PR or disastrous faux-pas? Discuss.
Sarah: If it had been the Steelers that had done the
article every club in the league would have been on top of it. It made
Manchester just look stupid and gave the guys more fire going into Manchester.
I really don’t understand why he called the club drama queens when it was his
dummy throwing team causing a delay of game penalty for constantly complaining.
I could discuss it for much longer but I don’t want to come across as a drama
queen.
Fay: Hilarious, took it and
ran with it. Shame other fan bases haven’t got a sense of humour.
Nathan: Disastrous
for him and his team cos they've shown themselves up and for Finner himself
he's come across as a bit of a mardy bum. I still think a lot of people take
things far too seriously though and the obligatory Twitter meltdown that
followed made for quite embarrassing reading. Beer
league though innit?
George: There’s
no need to discuss. Finnerty gave us our team talk for that Monday game! He
should’ve never said it. Just a very poor choice of words that gave us our team
talk, there was only one winner after that team talk. Enough said!
Andy: Could not care less what other teams call us and I am less
easily offended than a lot of EIHL fans on comments made from teams and
players. Not 100% sure Ryan was quoted right but either way he gave us our team
talk. We eventually used it.
Mark: It certainly raised a chuckle from me when I saw it, and helped galvanise us. Foot certainly in mouth. Can't see Neil Russell would have been happy about it if he had been GM at Storm still. If Ryan was being serious, and I doubt he was, he needs to take a long hard look in the mirror as it was definitely pot, kettle and black syndrome.
And that's this week's Soapbox for you; join us for more next time.
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