Stars Vs Devils - League - 15th Nov 25 - FO 19:00
- Thread starter James
- Start date
Well, this has been tragic. Stoever had a mare, he's 1st year pro so you expect an off night, but he should have been pulled after the third when he went walkies behind the net.
No fight, no compete. Only sporadic quality. Weren't we promised compete from Thommo? This is not a Devils team capable of winning anything and it hasn't been a horrible team to play against this weekend.
MacLean needs to be let go, he's useless. Probably a couple others as they don't have the mentality for it.
Tonight Stars were better than us throughout the game but especially when played around the boards, which was a lot. They simply wanted it more, which is inexcusable. A gritty, attritional game, and we broke down. Basic mistakes with turnovers when trying to be clever. Silly penalties creeping back into our game.
I actually had more time for the Stars fans than the Clan lot. Stars fans are an honest bunch - they wear their heart on their sleeve. They love their team and they don't have much else, so fair play to them. The 15 year olds at the front of one of the Devils blocks made me laugh, swearing and spilling their beer over the railings. I remember my first beer. Just think, those lads will be in the maternity ward soon enough questioning their life choices.
Hockey in Scotland is odd. Manufactured atmosphere - both Clan and Stars rely on their mic fella and the rest of the time they sit in silence - unless the Devils have given them 2 points of course. On the whole I have no time for hockey fans. This hockey family BS is rubbish in my opinion. And this weekend hasn't changed my view on that. I appreciate others disagree and will get on with fans from other teams....but it's not for me. If you aren't a Devil, you are the enemy.
If I had already been to Fife, rather than this being a first trip, I'd have said we are driving home tomorrow. This weekend has been dog shit hockey from start to finish. I hope the owners and management come out and call it as it is, because it's simply not good enough.
The fans who have come up here deserve so much better. Rather than 'don't take me home' I think most are wondering why we bothered coming. I've always said I don't mind losing as long as there's effort...
Yes it's November and we are usually bad in November. It will be interesting to see how future fixtures meetings go. Can't see triple headers being high on the To Do list. But as I said, we aren't tired, we are mentally absent.
Final moan: lager is awful, and Scottish stuff even worse.
No fight, no compete. Only sporadic quality. Weren't we promised compete from Thommo? This is not a Devils team capable of winning anything and it hasn't been a horrible team to play against this weekend.
MacLean needs to be let go, he's useless. Probably a couple others as they don't have the mentality for it.
Tonight Stars were better than us throughout the game but especially when played around the boards, which was a lot. They simply wanted it more, which is inexcusable. A gritty, attritional game, and we broke down. Basic mistakes with turnovers when trying to be clever. Silly penalties creeping back into our game.
I actually had more time for the Stars fans than the Clan lot. Stars fans are an honest bunch - they wear their heart on their sleeve. They love their team and they don't have much else, so fair play to them. The 15 year olds at the front of one of the Devils blocks made me laugh, swearing and spilling their beer over the railings. I remember my first beer. Just think, those lads will be in the maternity ward soon enough questioning their life choices.
Hockey in Scotland is odd. Manufactured atmosphere - both Clan and Stars rely on their mic fella and the rest of the time they sit in silence - unless the Devils have given them 2 points of course. On the whole I have no time for hockey fans. This hockey family BS is rubbish in my opinion. And this weekend hasn't changed my view on that. I appreciate others disagree and will get on with fans from other teams....but it's not for me. If you aren't a Devil, you are the enemy.
If I had already been to Fife, rather than this being a first trip, I'd have said we are driving home tomorrow. This weekend has been dog shit hockey from start to finish. I hope the owners and management come out and call it as it is, because it's simply not good enough.
The fans who have come up here deserve so much better. Rather than 'don't take me home' I think most are wondering why we bothered coming. I've always said I don't mind losing as long as there's effort...
Yes it's November and we are usually bad in November. It will be interesting to see how future fixtures meetings go. Can't see triple headers being high on the To Do list. But as I said, we aren't tired, we are mentally absent.
Final moan: lager is awful, and Scottish stuff even worse.
Someone's may be able to correct me, but I'm not sure the Devil's have made 20 hits this season so far - so much for PT's Devils competing every night.
Sporadic wins are the DNA of mid table mediocrity, and even the most ardent Devils fan should be realising that after two abysmal performances, mid table mediocrity is exactly where this team will end up. Zero silverware, and based on CC performances, not really challenging either.
I genuinely feel very sorry for the 300+ fans that have paid a lot of money to make the triple header. Not from the perspective that I expect the Devils to win every game (I've been around the game for to long to know that ain't going to happen), but for a side, we were assured was built to compete EVERY NIGHT, to turn in that sort of lacklustre performance, and in tonight's game throw away a three goal lead TWICE. Then For some players to then skate off the ice without even a token acknowledgement of the supporting fans is absolutely disgusting. I would have no qualms in benching these ignorant players for the next game - even if it does leave the team short. There are standards to live by when you pull on a Devils Jersey - some players attitude and actions this evening warrant some admonishment. I certainly don't think the owners in attendance would have been impressed.
Looking at results elsewhere, Fife, who are desparate for any win they can get, only lost by one goal against Sheffield tonight, so will be up for anything they can get tomorrow - have the prospect of playing team that is down on confidence (and some would say down on effort and certainly lacking the ability to close out games), is possibly exactly what the Fife doctor ordered.
Sporadic wins are the DNA of mid table mediocrity, and even the most ardent Devils fan should be realising that after two abysmal performances, mid table mediocrity is exactly where this team will end up. Zero silverware, and based on CC performances, not really challenging either.
I genuinely feel very sorry for the 300+ fans that have paid a lot of money to make the triple header. Not from the perspective that I expect the Devils to win every game (I've been around the game for to long to know that ain't going to happen), but for a side, we were assured was built to compete EVERY NIGHT, to turn in that sort of lacklustre performance, and in tonight's game throw away a three goal lead TWICE. Then For some players to then skate off the ice without even a token acknowledgement of the supporting fans is absolutely disgusting. I would have no qualms in benching these ignorant players for the next game - even if it does leave the team short. There are standards to live by when you pull on a Devils Jersey - some players attitude and actions this evening warrant some admonishment. I certainly don't think the owners in attendance would have been impressed.
Looking at results elsewhere, Fife, who are desparate for any win they can get, only lost by one goal against Sheffield tonight, so will be up for anything they can get tomorrow - have the prospect of playing team that is down on confidence (and some would say down on effort and certainly lacking the ability to close out games), is possibly exactly what the Fife doctor ordered.
We’ve kept too many inconsistent performers from last year, who have clearly demonstrated over several years actually, that they don’t have the stomach for the fight over a league campaign where you just can’t take nights off. Combine that with injuries which haven’t helped and some questionable recruitment in the summer - and you get what we have now. A team that can beat anyone in this league on any given night when at their best, but can also lose to anyone and go down with a whimper, with a distinct lack of effort, desire and fight. The latter is happening way too often this past few weeks. I feel for Thommo actually - he needs to be allowed to make some decisions on personnel and get rid of one or two, to send a message to the others that they’re not safe. Whether TK allows him to do that is a different matter though. We’ve become too soft as a club. I applaud the organisation for looking after players well, but some of this lot are taking the piss.
Full Thommo interview; https://x.com/dundeestarstv/status/1989816251477004353?s=46&t=FVdJ3rByn2cuxRbrRH0CLQ
It's disappointing when you recruit a roster that forfeits goals and offensive firepower for character, that then capitulate in that manner. I'm all for adding physicality and personalities from last few years but it's not gonna win you games on its own.
I heard on the podcast along the lines of that we haven't had a proper 'Cardiff Devils team' since Lord, and we were looking to get back to that. If we look at Lords best roster, yes we had Louis, Bordeleau and Lord himself for the physical side, but we more importantly had Asselin, Ulmer, Benti, Culligan, Doucet, Morissette, Joey Martin and Haddad in the forwards. That is night and day with what we have now, and that's what's required to win the league.
I understand that was a few years ago, but the league hasn’t changed in that sense you still need genuine top-six quality to compete over 60+ games. Grit and work ethic are great, but they’re meant to support your skill players, not replace them. Right now it feels like we’ve flipped that balance completely on its head.
What frustrates me most is that the blueprint is already proven. The best Cardiff Devils teams, like Lord's above, have been with genuine scorers backed up with depth scoring, speed and skill, and guys who can create something out of nothing. We have often looked at this current side scratching our heads wondering where a goal is coming from unless it’s off a scramble or a lucky bounce. Character is important, but in this league talent still wins. Right now we’re miles off that balance.
As I did with Skalde, Dupont and Russell, I'm happy to give Thommo time to build and not expecting to win anything in the first year. At the end of the day, inconsistency is expected with a first year coach. He needs to be building for 2-3 years down the track, figuring out who he wants his core to be for these years and build around them.
I heard on the podcast along the lines of that we haven't had a proper 'Cardiff Devils team' since Lord, and we were looking to get back to that. If we look at Lords best roster, yes we had Louis, Bordeleau and Lord himself for the physical side, but we more importantly had Asselin, Ulmer, Benti, Culligan, Doucet, Morissette, Joey Martin and Haddad in the forwards. That is night and day with what we have now, and that's what's required to win the league.
I understand that was a few years ago, but the league hasn’t changed in that sense you still need genuine top-six quality to compete over 60+ games. Grit and work ethic are great, but they’re meant to support your skill players, not replace them. Right now it feels like we’ve flipped that balance completely on its head.
What frustrates me most is that the blueprint is already proven. The best Cardiff Devils teams, like Lord's above, have been with genuine scorers backed up with depth scoring, speed and skill, and guys who can create something out of nothing. We have often looked at this current side scratching our heads wondering where a goal is coming from unless it’s off a scramble or a lucky bounce. Character is important, but in this league talent still wins. Right now we’re miles off that balance.
As I did with Skalde, Dupont and Russell, I'm happy to give Thommo time to build and not expecting to win anything in the first year. At the end of the day, inconsistency is expected with a first year coach. He needs to be building for 2-3 years down the track, figuring out who he wants his core to be for these years and build around them.
Seems like we only turn up for the so called bigger games, and just turn up with not a flicker against bottom clubs no disrespect to the lower teams but we deserved the spanking last 2 nights .think the lge will go to Nottingham or Sheffield, belfast gone downhill from last season as with us..4th or 5th placed team at best for us, anything else a bonus
