It’s put up or shut up time
October 3rd, 2007Giants 1, Devils 2
To many times throughout the years when the team has not been playing well we’ve heard about threats to make changes. Most of the time the players buckle down and sort out their game turning things around. That is until this season. A struggling Giants team came into this game on a winning streak of one game after a six game losing streak. It was one of the worst displays the fans at the Odyssey arena have had to put up with and it yet again had Ed coming out with axe threats. Clearly however these threats are not working and it’s time to put up or shut up with regards to changes.
“They now have two games, Saturday and Sunday, and they better start leading or they are done.” ~ Ed Courtenay
Where have I heard those lines before? Where indeed…
Why wait Ed? Have we got replacements ready to come in? It leaves the fans asking a lot of questions. I can’t help wonder if the team are giving up on Ed. It’s crossed my mind a few times the past week, could this man have lost his dressing room already?
According to Elite League rules a team is only awarded 15 — cards per season. We’ve used up 12 what with the inclusion of Kelman in a few games and the incoming Shaun Sutter. That means we can only make three changes the rest of the year. If Ed’s job isn’t already under threat the right choice on them three changes will certainly make or break his Giants future.
Unfortunately however you cannot replace ten players but you can replace one coach and right now, as much as I’ve admired what Ed has done for us in the previous two seasons, especially the Theo year, his job is under threat and he knows it:
“I told them after the game last Friday night that before I go I will take them with me and once again mistakes cost us the game.” ~ Ed Courtenay
Failing to replace the speed and scoring ability of Huppe, Hutchins and Skiehar as well as the breakout play from defense from Kelman and Morin has put the Giants into the position they are in right now. Guys like Huppe and Hutchins who together scored almost 70 goals last season between them where allowed to walk. This year I worry if we can score 70 goals as a team combined.
I mentioned earlier in the article about the one game winning streak, in jest, but it is becoming a sad state of affairs when we look to one win as a possible turn around in fortunes. What ever happened to the day when a winning streak was not a streak until we had four or five wins on the trot? In fact what happened to the days when a loss at the Odyssey was about as rare as a non-physical Giants game. Both of them appear to be few and far between and I cannot figure out where the passion in the team has gone. To be honest I don’t really care because it ain’t going to be found again in this bunch of players.
It was a small Odyssey crowd on a Champions League Tuesday, one of the smallest I can remember and for the first time in my memory the entire crowd booed the team on the final hooter.
There isn’t much point listing the players that need to up their game or move on - actually the ‘up their game’ opportunity has long since past. I’ll simple list the players
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