If negative comments are being heard on the Inferno, Twitter and at IAW (and not just by some posters on here), then I’d be listening to them instead of dismissing them out of hand. I hear the disappointment with this team from hundreds of fans on exiting IAW after every below par performance this season (and there have been a few), not just on social media. It’s very real and it’s not just about lack of toughness, in fact it’s usually about defensive cock ups and/or being outworked yet again, rather than toughness or any lack of it. Defensively, we've been dreadful at times with one, maybe two players clearly not up to this level which is effecting the play of others too. I don’t need to name the one or two, we all know who I’m referring to, so why they are still here is an absolute mystery to me. There’s one change that could be made immediately which could have a huge impact on this team and their defensive capability. Also, I don’t think anyone missed Hendo last season, he just wasn’t good enough on the big ice (although he did stick up for his team mates and I respected him for that) and I’d agree that Bordeleau didn’t live up to his billing (or his pay cheque!), particularly in his lack of response to the running of Bowns in the latter part of the season (don’t think he was here when Hendo jumped Lord), but I’ve seen plenty of cheap shots on the team so far this year, more so than last. That has to indicate that Bordeleau's presence had some effect, even if only by previous reputation. Bloody hell, even Guildford were running Martin and Richardson this past weekend! And our best player is answering the call. That’s not right, we need him on the ice.
Nobody is questioning the ability of the coach, MD or ownership group. That’s a fact and the gratitude and goodwill towards Lord, Kelman and particularly the owners has been made abundantly clear time and time again both on here, social media and in person during visits to IAW these past few years. That level of goodwill won’t change either as it’s crystal clear that the club is in great hands and our position far in excess of what we could have hoped for 4 years ago when everything looked so bleak. However, the danger in coming on here and being so close to the fan base, is that criticism inevitably comes the team's way when things aren’t going so well. It’s always been that way in Cardiff and always will be. Given the overly political nature of this club's history, everybody likes to have a say, in fact it was almost actively encouraged in the past and that's great when things are going well, but we're not shy to voice our opinions when things aren’t either. It’s been like that for as long as I can remember and I don’t see it changing. And you’re always going to get more negativity (some may call it realism) on here, that’s just the nature of public forums.
I’m looking forward to seeing the team give everything they’ve got on the ice for the rest of this season, as that hasn’t always been the case so far this season in domestic competition, far from it. If they do that, then that’s fine by me. We can’t win all the time, nobody expects that - but if they’re giving their all, then we can’t ask for any more.