bbmitch
Rookie
Another shot from the point
Posts: 70
EIHL Team: Fife Flyers
NHL Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
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Post by bbmitch on Aug 20, 2015 5:14:55 GMT
So the last signing is announced. We have essentially a new team. Time will tell .... But what do we think? Based on Todd and Danny's FTV interviews - a wait and see is probably a good "ride the fence" view, but honestly, it seems a lot of homework has gone into this team; strategic selections ... and if they don't work out .... easy for changes to be made (no loyalties - which also cuts across the grain). What do we think? (For the 3rd time ?)
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Post by amazepux on Aug 20, 2015 6:11:49 GMT
Hungry Sklful Tough D unit...and exciting F....on paper looking very competitive
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Post by theflyinsheep on Aug 20, 2015 7:19:12 GMT
Cheap!
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Post by Dirty Lyle on Aug 20, 2015 7:24:17 GMT
Not cheap but like previous seasons a bit one dimensional, another dump and chase type team but probably more of a "team" than we had last year
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Post by happydaysdancer on Aug 20, 2015 7:28:57 GMT
I reckon we are going to surprise everyone. Really good bunch of signings. Brit pack maybe needs freshened up but well happy with the imports we have
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Post by daviejojo on Aug 20, 2015 8:42:47 GMT
Lets wait and see. Interesting to see Dutes claim it's our best team in the EIHL era, and yet, most other fans, and "pundits" expect us to really struggle.
Time will tell
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Post by swarfiga on Aug 20, 2015 8:50:54 GMT
Not cheap but like previous seasons a bit one dimensional, another dump and chase type team but probably more of a "team" than we had last year That's my fear, on paper and the way they're talking, although we have decent points throughout I wonder if there's enough creativity without throwing the puck in a corner like an 8 year old
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finchy
Pro
Posts: 1,567
EIHL Team: Fife Flyers
NHL Team: New Jersey Devil
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Post by finchy on Aug 20, 2015 10:01:55 GMT
Lets wait and see. Interesting to see Dutes claim it's our best team in the EIHL era, and yet, most other fans, and "pundits" expect us to really struggle. Time will tell Not picking on you Davie (for now!) but who are these pundits? Fans that have nothing better to do with their time than write blogs on twitter to makes themselves feel like they're hockey experts? If people can make accurate predictions about how we'll fare when we have 11 new players, 10 of whom have never played here, then they're doing well! Far too many games being played on paper in the close season IMO and really, fans of other teams surely don't have the time to look too closely at our players? My GUESS at the moment is that our defence will be far more disciplined and solid. We have more forward depth and having 2 imports on the 3rd line is a massive boost I'd imagine - we're basically replacing Wilson/Scoon with a 40 point ECHL guy. That's a fair upgrade. Like many,I'm dissapointed we dont have an enforcer but I fully understand Danny's reasoning. With our lack of Brit depth we need every import to be able to contribute a lot hockey wise, so if they couldnt find a fighter who was good enough to play special teams etc., so be it. Hopefully it won't hurt us. A lot of folk saying that the crowd only kept coming because of Matt last season and that may be true so we really need some results early on IMO. As far as the creativity thing goes it's true that we dont appear to have out and out playmakers but sometimes when these guys get across they can adapt. My hero Casey Haines wasn't billed as a creative type before he got here...
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Post by harlan on Aug 20, 2015 10:20:45 GMT
I think this team is a real change in direction playing wise for the Flyers.
I don't think for the most part we are going to be a pretty team to watch, the buzz words all summer have been grit and dependable, as I think this is a team that looks like it will be capable of grinding out and protecting one goal games more often than not and if you are looking for a silky, skillful team I don't think you will get it watching the Flyers this year I still think that there a lot of goals in this team. For the first time it looks like we have in Dorr a guy who is capable of putting up the same numbers as Chaumont but will probably mostly do that from the second line and goodness knows what Caig is capable of doing, 30 goals from him would not surprise me
There seems to be a lot of fluidity within the team. It looks like all three centres will be capable of playing up and down the lines as will the four wingers and overall as a team we will not loose anything because of that
Dump and chase won't worry me as much with this team as I think we have guys that will go into the corners now, whereas before guys like Lukacevic and Chaumont would hardly ever chase a puck into the corners we now look as if we have guys who aren't afraid of doing the dirty stuff shift after shift.
We also look a lot more solid defensively with a lot more size and look as if we won't be relying on Brown as much as we relied on Regan or Pitton because it will be more a team effort every night rather than relying on individuals.
I also think we have a team full of guys who look like they aren't afraid to stand up for each other and we have quite a few guys who aren't scared to drop the gloves, again rather than relying on one person to do it.
I am not saying that I don't have concerns. I do but they might not last that long
Overall to me it looks a much, tighter, professional, hard working group and I think we will be very hard to beat every single night
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Post by daviejojo on Aug 20, 2015 10:30:27 GMT
Lets wait and see. Interesting to see Dutes claim it's our best team in the EIHL era, and yet, most other fans, and "pundits" expect us to really struggle. Time will tell Not picking on you Davie (for now!) but who are these pundits? Fans that have nothing better to do with their time than write blogs on twitter to makes themselves feel like they're hockey experts? If people can make accurate predictions about how we'll fare when we have 11 new players, 10 of who have never played here, then they're doing well! Far too many games being played on paper in the close season IMO and really, fans of other teams surely don't have the time to look too closely at out players? My GUESS at the moment is that our defence will be far more disciplined and solid. We have more forward depth and having 2 imports on the 3rd line is a massive boost I'd imagine - we're basically replacing Wilson/Scoon with a 40 point ECHL guy. That's a fair upgrade. Like many,I'm dissapointed we dont have an enforcer but I fully understand Danny's reasoning. With our lack of Brit depth we need every import to be able to contribute a lot hockey wise, so if they couldnt find a fighter who was good enough to play special teams etc., so be it. Hopefully it won't hurt us. A lot of folk saying that the crowd only kept coming because of Matt last season and that may be true so we really need some results early on IMO. As far as the creativity thing goes it's true that we dont appear to have out and out playmakers but sometimes when these guys get across they can adapt. My hero Casey Haines wasn't billed as a creative type before he got here... Pundit was very "tongue and cheek" :-) The likes of Simmsy, and it is bloggers etc I was referring too, as I said, we need to wait and see really. From my point, I'd say there are a couple of guys I'm looking forward to seeing, but I wouldn't say I'm too optimistic about the year ahead. Hopefully, I'll be proved very wrong though, and the team can compete. Going with a full quota from day 1 can only help us, and our 3rd line, should benefit significantly from having the extra bodies. I was disappointed not to see a new British player coming in and adding some extra depth, but, let's just see if the guys show in the ice, what Dutes says he's seen off the ice.
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Post by sparkymark75 on Aug 20, 2015 10:34:15 GMT
Lets wait and see. Interesting to see Dutes claim it's our best team in the EIHL era, and yet, most other fans, and "pundits" expect us to really struggle. Time will tell The main reason for this is not because of the imports we've signed, it's down to a combination of three things 1. They hate us - Well, there's nothing we can do about that. 2. We've retained the same coaching team - I was disappointed with this but it's time to move on until the season end, just have to support the team. If things don't go well this season, perhaps changes will happen next season? 3. No changes to the Brits - Another topic I was disappointed with and it's been discussed to death.
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Post by daviejojo on Aug 20, 2015 10:40:44 GMT
Lets wait and see. Interesting to see Dutes claim it's our best team in the EIHL era, and yet, most other fans, and "pundits" expect us to really struggle. Time will tell The main reason for this is not because of the imports we've signed, it's down to a combination of three things 1. They hate us - Well, there's nothing we can do about that. 2. We've retained the same coaching team - I was disappointed with this but it's time to move on until the season end, just have to support the team. If things don't go well this season, perhaps changes will happen next season? 3. No changes to the Brits - Another topic I was disappointed with and it's been discussed to death. How annoying....I agree with all 3 bullets
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Post by harlan on Aug 20, 2015 10:46:49 GMT
Lets wait and see. Interesting to see Dutes claim it's our best team in the EIHL era, and yet, most other fans, and "pundits" expect us to really struggle. Time will tell The main reason for this is not because of the imports we've signed, it's down to a combination of three things 1. They hate us - Well, there's nothing we can do about that. 2. We've retained the same coaching team - I was disappointed with this but it's time to move on until the season end, just have to support the team. If things don't go well this season, perhaps changes will happen next season? 3. No changes to the Brits - Another topic I was disappointed with and it's been discussed to death. Your third point is not of a big concern now as it would have been if we weren't starting with 13. I am not too concerned with our Brit D as I think they are all very reliable and can all do a good job. It was the forwards that did concern me but now that it looks like both Wilson and Scoon will be used as cover or very sparingly as fourth line my major concern comes with if we have long term injuries or suspensions and we have to use either Wilson or Scoon over a long period of time
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Billkmc
Pro
Posts: 1,383
EIHL Team: Fife Flyers
NHL Team: Calgary Flames
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Post by Billkmc on Aug 20, 2015 11:03:26 GMT
I'm really looking forward to the new season starting! I wasn't convinced we had as good a team as some thought last season as the season before we proved we had some streaky players. When we played well like the run at the end of the season we were almost unbeatable but on other nights we just didn't turn up at all. Last season We just never got going some good results but overall to many player going missing in games, and not just luka and Bobby who are often the main targets but most of our guy were guilty of it at times. Also discipline broke down at time too yes Matt had his red mist moments but the players taking silly pens for mouthing the ref getting caught with cheap shots after play and silly hooking pens when caught out of position. This season looking at the type of players we have I feel we will have less of these issues. This is obviously all guess work as I haven't see them play as a team yet but if they play as they are described then we have a team that matches the old fashioned cliches hard working two way team that won't take nights off and with play for 60 mins get in the dirty areas. Isn't that what we have been asking for for the last couple of years? Well now we have it and I think there's a few goals in there too. If I'm honest I think the clan will be the favourite for the conf but after that I think with the new style and or coaches In Dundee and Edinburgh it could be tight between the rest of us and that will make for a great season. Surely it's time for the negativity to end and get right behind the guys and if things don't work out then complain about what's actually going wrong and not just complain about things that we don't know will even happen?
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bbmitch
Rookie
Another shot from the point
Posts: 70
EIHL Team: Fife Flyers
NHL Team: Toronto Maple Leafs
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Post by bbmitch on Aug 20, 2015 14:22:53 GMT
Key for me having seen other comments will be the discipline within the team. I have the same challenge every year with youth teams I coach. Setting expectations of the players need to be communicated up front - with zero tolerance for deviation. We do simple things with kids with the big rules being - School comes 1st. Discipline at home, school and the rink. You get homework for school, there is homework for hockey. Specifics being, be at the rink an hour before practices and games, get a good off ice warm up before you put equipment on, do your warm up routine every day at home, practice stick handling for at least 15 mins a day .... and so on. The discipline aspect is as much for the parents as it is for the kids (especially getting to the rink on time).
Based on what i've read over the last few seasons - training needs to be done on the rink and at the gym - not Boggarts. As I mentioned in my leading post, given its a new team - with loyalties yet to be established - players not pulling their weight should be let go and replacements found.
I'm genuinely supportive of the player selection process (but certainly not the club communications) and the team selected on paper so far, so I remain hopeful that this becomes a worthy bunch that put consistent performances together (winning preferred). A sense of optimism is prevailing at this time.
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