Mooney#16 said:
The problem is that the glories are exactly that. In the past. It's not that anyone is settling for mediocrity but being a mid table team is exactly the reality the Devils are in. Be realistic. They used to play in front of 2000-2500 in the WNIR in a rink which was a good venue (ish). Now it's 1500 in a tent. You have to be determined to go as a fan as the experience is cack.
Now comparing to glory days the WNIR would be rocking for most games before the puck even dropped and the fans were so overtly pro Devils it was ridiculous but the place was a fortress of all things Devils. They would play hockey with you but more than once when the time came players would take it to the trenches and just engage getting a bit cheap if needed but the supporters would back the boys irrespective.
Now a days it seems the preferred form of supporting your team is to generally pick it apart and slag it off. This fan base has some rotten elements incapable of supporting. Pay your money is to spectate but to support is something else. Rarely at the BBT is the crowd a factor. Away teams can silence the crowd quickly as the fan base is so quick to jump on its own guys. The support is aweful fact.
Yes the players are underperforming and some completely out of form but when that changes as it does in the cycle of a sporting season the devils will be on a winning track but it's no coincidence it seems harder to win at home than away. The BBT is not a supportive environment but a pressure one that hinders the guys not help them. If the fan base wants change they can look at themselves as much as accusing G and the players.
I know what I see on the ice and it isn't as bad as what people are saying. Fair enough Blight, Hill are hand cuffed big time at present but all they can do is try and play through that. The rest are building game shape not to badly. Slating G as a player is way off mark. He is playing quite well. The one guy who I do want to get a grip of himself is Franny and start running that bench and the game for the devils properly. This soft touch (disciplined) hockey has its place but also there are numerous times when there should be some response coming from the bench. That Belfast game needed a marker from someone physically. Keefe and Lloyd were taking a few runs and shots at guys and you can't fault them for that but it invites the focus to them and leaves Belfasts skill to work. You have to be shrewd and say to Adey and Stewart if your going down that road I'm letting my dogs at your skill guys. At home with last change you can pick match ups. Get your boys out there and respond against there skill. It neutral shifts the physicality and questions if the opposition really want to take the game in that direction. The Devils really need to except a zero tolerance to being questioned physically in the Tent. Hopefully with Conboys return steps can be taken but it shouldn't all fall on one guy and unfortunately this has been a contributing factor in his disciplinary record.
So fans you want change. You change. And Devils find your identity. And make it a mean one.
There is a lot of truth in this. The rink needs to be fortress from the fans - but the two walk hand in hand. The team need to give something for the crowd to get behind, there needs to be a buzz and a spring in the step of the fans, and that is something the team can build. Either by winning, or giving the crowd something to cheer about.
I remember double de-clutching all the way to Cardiff, and parking up before the match at the WNIR. I remember the buzz in the crowd on the way in. People mingling, and pushing to the shop and the cafe - really feel like you are building something. The tent is somewhere you get in and get out as quickly as possible.
Remember queueing in the car to get out of the multi-storey after the match? Remember the honking horns after the victory? Everyone use to have CDs (or even tapes) of the match night tunes to get in the spirit.
The tent seems to have robbed us of a lot of that. Then, when you watch the game the loss and look of defeat all combines to making you just wanting to up and leave.
So, the fans need to build the energy. They need to get behind the guys - but there needs to be a start somewhere. Something to cheer for. I just hope that we demolish the Caps on Saturday. A big, physical performance with a lot of goals. Normally I wouldn't want that - but the Devils need to get out there and put on the show they did in Hull for the rest of you.
Once you watch that, you'll see what this team can do - and once the fan pour confidence onto the rink, the team WILL respond. But the fans need that spark from the team.
WD Happy Hockey Days
