Post by daviejojo on Dec 6, 2012 11:59:16 GMT
Just thought I'd get the topic of debate going in a single thread about what last nights result meant in terms of the season.
For me, it was one of those "must win" games, Clan on paper, appeared to be understrength, confidence with some players was at a well documented and published low, and after 12 days to get ready, I'd have hoped to hit the ground (or ice) running.
Alas, this is a very costly 2 points to throw away, and I don't mean to disrespect Clan in anyway here, but this game, if we had any aspirations of silver wear of any kind, was there for the taking.
So what's the answer? A change of coaching staff? Roster changes? Tactical changes? Or a combination of all 3 perhaps.
Now before I get jumped on, I obviously wasn't at the game last night, so I am only commenting on pieces I read both on here, and via twitter and/or facebook, but it sounds, like yet again, we didn't have the legs to see a road game out, and I really am struggling to grasp why this is. Again, it sounds like our 3rd line was playing, not always, but on more than 1 occasion against seasoned NHLer Drew Millar, and that just sounds like utter folly to me. Don't get me wrong, our 3rd line is massively improved on EIHL season 1, but there is no way these guys should be being asked to go up against folks of that quality, they're on a hiding to nothing, and I see little evidence to suggest by just throwing them in the deep end is improving their ability to get themselves into consistent goal scoring opportunities. So here I would suggest is tactical change Number 1 - We cannot afford to run with an all brit 3rd line, I have repeated this time and time again, and even the likes of Sheffield, with the cream of British talent, don't persue this continual persistence in "we must have a brit line". It is doing nothing to develop anyone (and let's not forget, this isn't even a development league anyway, this is pro hockey), and these guys needs to be broken up, and played throughout the roster, probably, if we can, into a 4 line offense unit. And that brings me onto tactical change Number 2 - We should run with 4 offensive lines. Splitting our player will give a far more even balance across the squad, and yes, I know to do it, we probably need at least 1 more body, but let me come onto that. I'd run lines perhaps something like this....
Haines, Pitton, Dolan
Hogg, MacKenzie (if we can nab him) Chaumant
Stewart, Hamish and Scoony/Gunn
Dutes, Wilson and Gunn/Scoony
I'd then look to run 3 lines constantly, with every second rotation, bringing in line 4. Now this ensures the guys are rested, it allows Dutes to stay on the bench for longer, actually watching the game, and taking in where we are slipping up during games, and also, ensures that Danny and Todd don't play on the same line, so you always have 1 or the other on the bench. And then we have tactical change Number 3 - We need to play with far more aggression in our hearts, we have players who have no problem in throwing the checks about, so let them do it, let them play their game, teams do not fear playing us as we're small, well use what we do have in our arsenal, or we'll just become a walk over team again.
So, as I suggested, I'd look to bring in Bari Mackenzie if we can, he is very good player, you wouldn't think too expensive, and I really think by his addition, we would see a far more balanced look to the team. Ideally, I'd also be seeking Import 11 for the roster too, and you can either mix up the lines to accomodate, or allow Dutes to be dressed, but spend most of his time bench coaching, which is something we clearly need.
And that brings me onto bench coach, we 100% absolutely need one. You can see the difference when Danny is on the bench, he communicates with the players, always talks to them, encourages them, it is such an important role, and I cannot believe we are now 4 months into the season with no further forward to an appointment. For me, this is absolutely key, especially as we end up in so many 1 goal games.
And what about these 1 goal games, we pull the keeper, we lose a goal. Its a pretty common thread. Don't get me wrong, it's the right thing to do, might as well lose by 2 as 1, but how is we cannot ever seem to put any real pressure on teams. I am sure the guys to train for this, but I'd certainly be looking to work on the puck retention, and also on the number of individual mistakes that are leading to turn overs, and goals against. Far too often we're seeing cross ice passes go straight to the other team, and they end up 1 on 1 with Bryan, who fortunately, is a diamond and keeps most shots at bay, but we shoot ourselves in the foot so often here.
And finally, we have constantly heard about the guys playing for their jobs, if they don't cut it, they'll not make the team. I'm sorry, I see absolutely no evidence of this whatsoever. There are players who I'm pretty confident would have been cut by other teams some time back, I'm not going into any names, as no doubt we'll all have different opinions anyway on who you would, or wouldn't keep, but come on Dutes, it's time to toughen up with the folks who are constantly making mistakes. If it keeps happening, this can't be an old pals act, they have to be told, told again, final warning, then it's either bench them or cut them.
Let me be absolutely clear, I am 100% behind the team, 100% behind the players, and want nothing more than to see Fife Flyers put wins on the board, so I sincerely encourage people to read this, and see I am not whinging or whining about player A, or player B, that is far from the case, but there are clearly some changes we need to make, it sounds from the fans I talk too, that they all see it, so, we just need to understand why the management either don't, or won't do what needs to be done, and make some fairly inexpensive changes that could radically change the produce on the ice.
For me, it was one of those "must win" games, Clan on paper, appeared to be understrength, confidence with some players was at a well documented and published low, and after 12 days to get ready, I'd have hoped to hit the ground (or ice) running.
Alas, this is a very costly 2 points to throw away, and I don't mean to disrespect Clan in anyway here, but this game, if we had any aspirations of silver wear of any kind, was there for the taking.
So what's the answer? A change of coaching staff? Roster changes? Tactical changes? Or a combination of all 3 perhaps.
Now before I get jumped on, I obviously wasn't at the game last night, so I am only commenting on pieces I read both on here, and via twitter and/or facebook, but it sounds, like yet again, we didn't have the legs to see a road game out, and I really am struggling to grasp why this is. Again, it sounds like our 3rd line was playing, not always, but on more than 1 occasion against seasoned NHLer Drew Millar, and that just sounds like utter folly to me. Don't get me wrong, our 3rd line is massively improved on EIHL season 1, but there is no way these guys should be being asked to go up against folks of that quality, they're on a hiding to nothing, and I see little evidence to suggest by just throwing them in the deep end is improving their ability to get themselves into consistent goal scoring opportunities. So here I would suggest is tactical change Number 1 - We cannot afford to run with an all brit 3rd line, I have repeated this time and time again, and even the likes of Sheffield, with the cream of British talent, don't persue this continual persistence in "we must have a brit line". It is doing nothing to develop anyone (and let's not forget, this isn't even a development league anyway, this is pro hockey), and these guys needs to be broken up, and played throughout the roster, probably, if we can, into a 4 line offense unit. And that brings me onto tactical change Number 2 - We should run with 4 offensive lines. Splitting our player will give a far more even balance across the squad, and yes, I know to do it, we probably need at least 1 more body, but let me come onto that. I'd run lines perhaps something like this....
Haines, Pitton, Dolan
Hogg, MacKenzie (if we can nab him) Chaumant
Stewart, Hamish and Scoony/Gunn
Dutes, Wilson and Gunn/Scoony
I'd then look to run 3 lines constantly, with every second rotation, bringing in line 4. Now this ensures the guys are rested, it allows Dutes to stay on the bench for longer, actually watching the game, and taking in where we are slipping up during games, and also, ensures that Danny and Todd don't play on the same line, so you always have 1 or the other on the bench. And then we have tactical change Number 3 - We need to play with far more aggression in our hearts, we have players who have no problem in throwing the checks about, so let them do it, let them play their game, teams do not fear playing us as we're small, well use what we do have in our arsenal, or we'll just become a walk over team again.
So, as I suggested, I'd look to bring in Bari Mackenzie if we can, he is very good player, you wouldn't think too expensive, and I really think by his addition, we would see a far more balanced look to the team. Ideally, I'd also be seeking Import 11 for the roster too, and you can either mix up the lines to accomodate, or allow Dutes to be dressed, but spend most of his time bench coaching, which is something we clearly need.
And that brings me onto bench coach, we 100% absolutely need one. You can see the difference when Danny is on the bench, he communicates with the players, always talks to them, encourages them, it is such an important role, and I cannot believe we are now 4 months into the season with no further forward to an appointment. For me, this is absolutely key, especially as we end up in so many 1 goal games.
And what about these 1 goal games, we pull the keeper, we lose a goal. Its a pretty common thread. Don't get me wrong, it's the right thing to do, might as well lose by 2 as 1, but how is we cannot ever seem to put any real pressure on teams. I am sure the guys to train for this, but I'd certainly be looking to work on the puck retention, and also on the number of individual mistakes that are leading to turn overs, and goals against. Far too often we're seeing cross ice passes go straight to the other team, and they end up 1 on 1 with Bryan, who fortunately, is a diamond and keeps most shots at bay, but we shoot ourselves in the foot so often here.
And finally, we have constantly heard about the guys playing for their jobs, if they don't cut it, they'll not make the team. I'm sorry, I see absolutely no evidence of this whatsoever. There are players who I'm pretty confident would have been cut by other teams some time back, I'm not going into any names, as no doubt we'll all have different opinions anyway on who you would, or wouldn't keep, but come on Dutes, it's time to toughen up with the folks who are constantly making mistakes. If it keeps happening, this can't be an old pals act, they have to be told, told again, final warning, then it's either bench them or cut them.
Let me be absolutely clear, I am 100% behind the team, 100% behind the players, and want nothing more than to see Fife Flyers put wins on the board, so I sincerely encourage people to read this, and see I am not whinging or whining about player A, or player B, that is far from the case, but there are clearly some changes we need to make, it sounds from the fans I talk too, that they all see it, so, we just need to understand why the management either don't, or won't do what needs to be done, and make some fairly inexpensive changes that could radically change the produce on the ice.