Those who constantly post negative comments about their favorite team on various message boards must be quite pleased today. Over the last few Ranger games a few points stand out. Not lost on these posters were the various things done wrong by Ranger players in games the team had won. They knew it was a matter of time before a few losses would come and that they would be prov-en right. You guys must feel great today.
Seriously, isn't it a proud feeling to know that you correctly predicted that this Ranger team would lose games for these specific reasons.....ones that you pointed out well before they became reasons for a loss. The poor play of Rosey and Redden, the lack of hitting and physical play, a less than stellar power play, and the need to rely on the keeper too often were all pointed out before these recent losses. So why do I not feel so good? I saw these things too yet I feel no joy.
Over the last eleven or so years I have posted on this very site on average over a post a day. That's a ton of column inches. Sometime prior to the lockout I decided that the constant negative spews could not only be found elsewhere....I no longer enjoyed it. I decided to take a more positive look at our favorite team. Lucky for me, the fire-sale and lockout returned the Rangers to the playoffs and for the first time in over a decade I was once again a happy little Rangers fan. Look, I'm not dumb nor blind. I see the same things you guys do. Because of my playing days i just might see a thing or two you don't. Regardless, I just don't have the energy or the mindset to hurl nasty-grams out to the various Ranger management team after each loss. In years past, they didn't listen anyway.
What I do post about these days are more a look at the team from a further away perspective. In my eyes, things are much better than I expected. That shades my view to a much more positive outlook than some. I'm not claiming right or wrong here, just different. It's true, I'm much older now and have lost some of that angry NY fan thing I once had. Hell, I haven't been back to NY in almost five years. I'm getting soft, eh?
Here's what you're looking for I guess. The things Renny needs to do to right this ship:
1. Fix the damn power play. I'd swear I was seeing movement with and without the puck as well as players in front of the net in advance of point shots earlier in the season. So what's changed? Fix it.....fix it now dammit.
2. Henke, we need you to be the top 'tender in the league. Allaire, whatever ails this kid, fix it. Any Cup team relies on the keeper. We'll need to be able to do the same. Few teams win with poor goal-tending and some like us need great goal-tending. Fix it.
3. Fix Gomez. OK, Renny isn't a doctor. But it's clear that without Scott we're missing that additional speed, that rush up ice that Gomez does so well. His presence make the 1st line draw the best from an opponent opening up ice for Moose and Nikki. Fix it.
4. Give a ways. Fix it. I don't know how a coach fixes this but I do know that not only are the Rangers giving way too many breakaways, they are giving up short handed goals. Fix it.
5. What happened to the aggressive fore-check....and the hitting? Pick that back up and watch the wins increase. Speaking of crease.....any chance that Renny can get the D to make a few less mistake in their own end? Watching the puck and not your man is never good. Mr. Renny, fix it.
6. Play Peter Prucha. Fix it.
Wait.....that's just something I want. At this point I don't see how this fixes anything as Renny has shown a lack of confidence in the kid. I still don't know why. When given a chance (longer than one or two games) the kid has delivered. What's not to like? It must be a relationship thing....Oh, OK...FIX IT.
There. Was that bitchy enough for ya?
No Beer For Me!
----}- Bird
Posted by Bird at November 23, 2008 07:30 PMeMail this entry!
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