Hello, and welcome to another week's Hockey Soapbox.
We've a fair few things to discuss this week, and before we do it's time to meet the panel. On their soapboxes this time out are your Editor-In-Chief Mark, the well opinionated Nathan, Junior Member George and the glamour provided by Fay and Sarah. Are we ready? If we are, well it's time to get on those soapboxes everyone...
1. What were your hopes prior to the Super Final?
Sarah: It would have been a tough ask to win it with
the way we saw Minsk play in Denmark. As long as we played well and had the
passion then no matter where we ended up it would have been fine.
Mark: I just wanted us to compete and give it our best shot as we were clear underdogs.
George: I was hoping to win it. I thought we were good enough to win
but sadly that was not the case. I thought we would play the kids, and I
thought we would avenge Minsk for hammering us.
Fay: Winning
it!
Nathan: To come out of it unscathed with absolutely no
interest at all in the outcome of the games.
2. What were your thoughts after the Super Final?
Mark: A bit unlucky. We could have two wins out of three and who knows what that might have meant. But the downside was losing players to injuries especially Dowdy who is a Premier quality Brit and probably the best Brit in his position in the EIHL.
George: I’m reasonably disappointed really. I’m happy for Mark
Matheson getting defencemen of the tournament, it also sounds like the team put
a lot of effort in. But quite frankly, I don’t think we really had much of a
game plan going into all three games. Hats off also to the fans who travelled
down. As I’ve said before, you guys are the best, and help spur the team on.
Fay: What
we achieved was incredible in its own right.
Nathan: That it was a complete and utter waste of time
and it's cost us injuries to key players.
Sarah: Fridays game meh, Saturdays game was great. Both
teams played well. We gave up stupid penalties again though which caused us the
game. I didn’t watch Sunday’s game but it sounded like we played well short
benched. It’s frustrating that we’ve come out of it injured, particularly Dowd
whom we may not see play again this season.
3. Which team has surprised you the most this season?
George: Fife. They are a pain in the arse but good to watch. They
play great hockey and I wish we were them.
Fay: Guildford and MK. Everyone had already written
them off at the start of the season.
Nathan: Probably Fife. Although considering the
conference they take part in its no real surprise. I'm also slightly surprised
at how utterly awful they are.
Sarah: Asked me that at the beginning of the season and
it would have been the panthers, they looked unstoppable but now it has to be
Fife. Seeing Fife near the top of the table is good, it shows that it’s not
just the “big 4” anymore.
Mark: Milton Keynes and Guildford have surprised a few but I'll stick with Fife, a team usually found at the wrong end of the table. They've recruited superbly and Todd's done well getting them to gel, considering he was been talked about before in relation to being replaced. I just don't hope they are one season wonders.
4. Will injuries to key players cost us silverware this year?
Fay: Definitely.
But we will power through. Look at the injuries we had last year and still came
out with silverware :)
Nathan: No.
Poor recruitment and uninspiring dull hockey will cost us. With
the players we have at our disposal we should have more than enough to pick up
a pot this term but I highly doubt it.
Sarah: The
injured guys are certainly going to be missed both we’re having a good season
but we showed on Saturday and Sunday that we can still play short benched
against good teams. Brits are obviously harder to replace so are we gonna play
short benched for the rest of the season?
Mark: It's going to make it hard yes but if we show the resolve that got us the play-off last season then there's gonna need to some space made in the cabinet down at Rhino HQ. Nothing is impossible.
George: No.
I still think we will win the playoffs, when everybody is fit again. The
challenge cup will be tough, so I think we will exit that. The league is gone.
5. Are you going to play-off weekend?
Nathan: (Nathan didn't answer this so we assume it's a no - Editor)
Sarah: Not too sure this season because of the dog,
might go to the games but won’t be staying in Nottingham.
Mark: Yes, more than likely unless work screws me up again. Even if we don't make it, it's a reyt good laugh with folks around the country who love hockey.
George: Can’t drive, would love to go but I guess I need to get
there in the first place. I also Referee a hell of a lot, which makes weekends
clogged up most the time.
Fay: Of
course! Always a good time regardless.
6. What would you think is everyone's issue with us as a Club; are we too successful for our own good?
Sarah: Everyone’s
main issue is because of that 1 person who is very opinionated and is
responsible for the clubs media. He isn’t the best at it but is an unliked
person so no matter what he does then it’s wrong. Other teams will say things
and it isn’t a big deal for example Finner calling Sheffield drama queens, had
it been Thommo who said that there would have been an uproar. You’d have to ask
the other teams fans why maybe they are jealous of our trophy cabinet or maybe
they just don’t like traffic cones.
Mark: We're the Manchester United of UK hockey aren't we? The most successful team in the league and everyone hates a team that is successful. Jealousy that's all it is.
Fay: I
think it’s absolutely ridiculous. Players saying they “hate” us on camera to
get crowds in doesn’t help! But yeah, no one likes the most successful team in
any sport do they..
Nathan: Bitterness
towards the early days of coming in all guns blazing and winning everything is
one theory. Another theory is to the seemingly endless 'getting away with
things' due to our chairman also being the EIHL chairman and possibly the
constant gaffs and all round annoyance of a certain estate agent might have
something to do with it.
George: I just think no one likes us because we are good and we
should stick by the saying, “no one likes us we don’t care”.
And that's this week's Soapbox for you; join us for more next time.
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