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A replacement for Phillips?
Hey everyone I saw something yesterday that mortified me. Somebody put a link on the Steelers fan forum to my latest blog. For me this was quite scary. I am not a fan of the forums. The problem I have with the forums is this. Most people go on there under a user name that hides who they are and say things that at times are quite simply out of order and damaging to their club and the game in my opinion. They say things that they know they can get away with because people don't know who they are. Now not everyone who goes on there is like this but many of them are. I write what I think on this blog I don't hide that. You see my name as for who I am well I sit in block 108 and I wear a game worn Ash Tait shirt I'm easy to find if you disagree with what I say.
Another thing that was said was that my blog lacked a theme. Ok now perhaps that's a fair point so today I will talk about who I would pick to replace Jonathan Phillips should he be out for the rest of the year. Well you would have to realistically get someone from the EPL. So who in that league has the quality to step up? Here are a few options. Now these players could be approached on a two way contract or the Steelers could try to sign them on a permanent basis.
Firstly i would look at Andrew Hemmings. A 22 year old forward who plays for Basingstoke. He has played in the EPL for 6 years with Guildford, Bracknell and the Bison. He is in my mind at the right age to possibly step up and have a go at the Elite league. He had a career year last season with 33 points. I have seen him play several times against the now defunct Scimitars and i was always impressed with him. He reminds me a little bit Doug Sheppard. He shoots right and has played for Great Britain at u18 level.
Another option a bit closer to home would be Tom Squires a Sheffield born, Sheffield bred guy who leads the line at Ice Sheffield for the Steeldogs. He has 9 points from the opening 9 games this year and at only 19 has plenty of time to get better and better. Even if the Steelers don't pick this guy up i think he will play in the Elite league one day. Like Hemmings he had a career year last year with 36 points but he only played in 44 games. Squires is a fast small forward who to be honest is similar to Ryan Lake. He has played for Great Britain at u18 and u20 level. Keep an eye on this guy he is a real prospect for the future.
The next guy who Ben Simon could look at is Playing in Manchester this year for the Great one Tony Hand. James Archer another Sheffield Lad could very well be the best option to replace Phillips. He has played for several clubs in the EPL and has twice had 50+ point seasons. He has played for Coventry and Hull in the Elite league. He scored 4 points in 7 games for Hull last year and was a part of the 07/08 league winning side in Coventry. Archer like Hemmings has played for Great Britain u18's and like Squires has played for the u20's. The thing i like about Archer is he has that grit which you really need to play at the top level and would still be there if they didn't keep upping the import level. He reminds me a little of Cardiff Captain Ryan Finnerty. A player like Archer may have a shot at the National team if he can play Elite league hockey but that is unlikely if he stays in the EPL.
The 4th and final player i would consider is yet again a Sheffielder. Hey what can i say we have a great junior system in this city. Matt Towe is a player who i first saw several years ago for the Scimitars alongside Robert Dowd. They worked well together and both earned their shots at the Elite League. Having played for the Cardiff Devils the last 3 years he moved to Guildford in the off season and has started on fire down there with 13 points in 9 games. Like the others he has played for Great Britain at junior level but he is the only player i have chosen to play for the senior team. He made the National team for the world championships earlier this year.
So I have given you four options the Steelers could go for. Who would you go for?
Personally I take Matt Towe. He has experience that non of the others have and he is the only one who has being a Elite league regular. The biggest reason however is that i was at the playoffs this year. I saw the Giants beat the Devils. I saw the biggest game in our calendar and I saw Matt Towe look the part.
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| Club | GP | W | L | OL | GF | GA | Pts |
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- Adam Walker
- Alex Birch
- Andy Pierce
- Chris Gent
- Christopher Beal
- Craig Simpson
- Dave Simms
- Elliott Stanley
- Gareth Chalmers
- James Broughton
- James Gordon
- Katy Madgwick
- Luke Catterson
- Mark Briggs
- Mark Duell
- Mat Young
- Patrick Smyth
- Promotion
- Russ Morrell
- Seanna Murdock
- Stephen Dowson
- Stewart Roberts
- Tom Forster
- Vicki Smart
- William Lyon
