Challenge Cup groups

TheStub

Active Member
#4
Looks like they are doing a North South split, but group B is a group of death (like last season).

So Giants through in group A though. Group B is up in the air, probably a tie breaker again.

Whilst there is such disparity in the league names from a bag would be fairer.
 
#5
Its obviously been done this way to reduce travel as much as possible but it does seem pretty unfair.

Its also telling that, despite this, the Devils still have an awful long way to travel to a lot of those games.
 
#6
DevilDan said:
I bet jester will come on and claim there group is much harder than ours.. :lol:
Well obviously it is :lol:

I suppose its done to reduce teams travelling so much, but as stated above does seem "a bit" unfair :cool:
 

ASHIPP

Well-Known Member
#7
TheStub said:
Looks like they are doing a North South split, but group B is a group of death (like last season).

So Giants through in group A though. Group B is up in the air, probably a tie breaker again.

Whilst there is such disparity in the league names from a bag would be fairer.
We could optimistically presume nothing is set in stone.....Braehead and Dundee will be giving it everything in these matches - a home win for them against the Giants might cause an upset in the points. ;) It can be done. :cool:
 
#10
'Swings and Roundabouts' Whilst on paper it seems an easier group for the Giants and i'm not saying it isn't, financially its not the greatest for the organisation in respect of the paying public.

I would much rather watch games against the likes of Devils, Blaze, Panthers than running up the score against the Edinburgh/Fife teams who may only have 7/8 imports on the night. As a result nearly all the Giants cup games have been doubled up as league games meaning that DC will have them thinking of the league rather than the cup and therefore less likely to ease up or play within themselves.

Travelling as the Devils know is massive so by doubling up these games they cut out having to go back and forth another 4 times saving a few bob, the Devils on the other hand will more than likely see bigger gates against the so called bigger teams which can only be good for your club and don't have to worry about travelling all the way to Scotland on a Tuesday night or waiting on the Caps coming down midweek for an home game that no one would likely want to watch anyway.
 

Lloyd

Active Member
#11
TheStub said:
Whilst there is such disparity in the league names from a bag would be fairer.
I AGREE.It seams that the giants will be sailing through the group stage and we will be in the toughest group I have ever seen. :roll:

And yes why cant they just pull names out of a hat.It would be so much easier in the groups.




Lloyd :twisted:
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#12
if they have split it North/South then they should not allow games to double up as league/cup.There is no way that Belfast wont finish in the top two,they may even be qualified with a couple of games to go allowing them to rest players.Names out of a hat is the only fair way to do this,it's a joke that's not funny.
 
#13
But by picking names out of a hat Devils could have ended up with all the Scottish teams and then fans would be complaining about the travel schedule, the Devils represensitive at the league meeting surely agreed to this as the league is run by the clubs and they all want to look after their own interests.

The winner of group A will play the runner up in group B and the winner of group B will play the runner up of group A, of course we beat the Devils last year but went to lose at home to the Panthers in the final so any easier group is certainly no guarntee of success overall.
 
#14
But the point of the North/South placing of teams is to reduce travel.If teams are going to double up and not travel anyhow they may as well put everyone into a hat and give everyone a fair crack.
 

ASHIPP

Well-Known Member
#16
V important game coming up at the weekend when Panthers play Steelers for the first time in this competition.
Over on Steeltalk they reckon that the Steelers have had 'the more difficult schedule' so far and whilst they are above Panthers in the League standings (at the mo ;) ) opinion divided over the result of this upcoming game.

Quite clearly some Steelers' fans haven't bothered comparing the schedules :roll:
So far this season:
Steelers have played 10 games, over half have been at home, 5 successive home games.
Panthers have played 13 games, over half have been away games

Panthers are an exciting team this year, who look like they could do well in the League. And, as usual, will probably qualify for the CC next round. Hope they do themselves (and the Devils) a MASSIVE favour in the CC match over the weekend and give the Steelers the pasting our guys couldn't. :twisted:
 

ASHIPP

Well-Known Member
#18
Panthers won comfortably against Steelers 4-2 and have now virtually qualified for the semi-final stages ...and it's not even November yet!

But the Devils are in with a REAL CHANCE here.
2nd in the table with Steelers away cc game to play next weekend. This is such an important game. :shock: :twisted:
Perhaps the Devils can watch the game video of how the Panthers made it look easy.

According to forums, the Panthers never even broke a sweat. :shock: Finnerty is furious by the lacklustre Steelers performance - no passion, no aggression, no connecting play. It's 'GroundHog Day' again! :lol:
 

ASHIPP

Well-Known Member
#19
Crucial CC game for the Devils away in Sheffield this Sunday. A positive result for the Devils will help make their possibility of qualification even stronger....and effectively make it VERY difficult for the Steelers to get into this competition.

Only one down side.....check out who is reffing the game. :evil:
 
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