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    Saturday 29 December 2007

    On Arrogance and Money

    I was going to produce the Breakaway Awards today as promised, but my Update Christmas Special produced this very interesting post from Mark in the comments...

    We deserve to be were we are" is sounding more like a premonition than a proclamation. The Vipers need Wins and convincing wins. The vipers were always a club that worked its socks off on the ice and wore its heart on its sleeve which seems to be lacking this season. On paper it is the most skilled side we have had in years but the on ice product is lacking. This maybe because (up until now) we've always had a strong contingent of local Players, the like of Weaver Leach Trumbley come to mind. Petr Kratky must be looking over his shoulder with a smile looking at our last 5 games. Rumor has it former players are on there way back-Hinks and Robinson have been banded about the arena. Rob Wilson needs to look at his Hockey clipboard and start doing something with the circles and x's because it's just not working.

    This set me thinking somewhat, as up until a few weeks ago the general tone on Blaze forums was similar to Wilson's comment-"we're just that damn good" was the general theme. However, the recent injuries and several losses have provoked a similar reaction on Blaze forums to the above view from the North East...Barrie Moore is coming in for some stick yet again, there was a several page thread on who should be cut appearing on the Dragon's Den forum.
    This has set me thinking. Is there a culture in British hockey whereby failiure is an instant cause for panic, especially among clubs who might be used to winning? I've been comparing the reactions in Coventry and Newcastle to those from Manchester, as the Phoenix also started very well indeed but have slipped off somewhat, and there's simply not the same worries...the Phoenix fans appear to be far more tolerant of their teams' mishaps. So is it a question of fanbase expectations, or is it arrogance, or what? I'd be interested to hear views on this one...

    And now for the money section...It appears I'm on my own as far as the Christmas shirts go-all the comments thus far in response to my questioning their value have been fully in support of these special shirts. All the points made have been perfectly valid-however, I can't get past the old saying of "familiarity breeds contempt"...

    Anyway-that is enough for now...more to come tomorrow, I hope...

    Keep keeping your eye on the puck...

    1 comment:

    Becky said...

    Manchester fans hit the panic button incredibly quickly earlier in the season but are now content to sit back and bitch, whinge and moan. I guess they know changes are unlikely and would probably be harmful because of the budget but there's no end to the negativity in our fan-base, even when we win.

    KC was the target of a witch hunt for a while and finally went. Cloots and MacMillan have also been slated and Tony's always being told to hang his skates up. I think that money means you can and do make changes and smaller budgets work with what they've got. I guess if that's the way you deal with it, it's what the fans will come to expect rather than arrogance driving a constant need to win. That doesn't mean that doesn't grow as fans get used to it tho ;)