Quote:
Originally Posted by Textcritic
Such nonsense. The Flames are not taking their cues from the fickle theatrics of fans after a couple disappointing games. I guarantee you that their own expectations heading into the last two games were no different from game #1 of the season.
I will grant you that the team has looked like a ball of nerves the last two home games for whatever reason, but I don't think it has anything to do with expectations.
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Sorry but I do disagree. Guaranteed the Flames read this site, they hear and read what people say, they understand what the fans are thinking. The Flames aren't taking their cues from fans but it doesn't mean the fans are irrelevant. Francis tweets the other day about how the fans need to calm their tits. How does he know? Where is he getting that from? What other source is better than this website? Come on now, don't be so naive. If you were in the NHL, would you read this site? I sure as hell would. Fans matter.
As a very critical fan of the Calgary Flames it's sort of dawning on me how tough we as a fanbase really have actually been. It's obvious through their play to me. The team comes home, the Dome is quiet, you can feel the tension in the atmosphere and it's not a fun one. Fans are expecting results and wins, and you know what? You can call it BS you can call it whatever you want because it isn't quantifiable. It isn't understood well. It isn't something you can measure or really put your finger on.
Emotion means something in this game. Whether you like it or not. On the road, there's no expectations. There are no fans to impress, there are no boos to be heard, there are no wives or kids or distractions, there is no local media interviewing you after the game about what you did wrong.
Team goes on the road, and in these two games Gulutzan starts to show his human side. And whaddya know, the team reacts. Little things like his challenge or weird little cheer or even just when the camera panned to him during these two road games- he's showing his non-mannequin side. It was refreshing and you can tell that it is leadership that reverberates. If you don't buy it or you don't believe it or your one of these guys that likes to pretend that leadership doesn't matter or captaincy doesn't matter or the people in the dressing room and team and relationships matter than that's fine. You go believe whatever the hell you want.
But there's a reason why for years and years people have talked about these intangible qualities. I have read so much on this site about how these characteristics don't matter. F that ####. These characteristics DO matter. It's why Iginla, in his final 2-3 years, was a terrible captain. He didn't care anymore. It bled throughout the organization. It's why Gulutzan, if he showed his human side just a little bit more, would be the difference between an OK coach- good at tactician, but a horrendous leader- UNTIL these last two games...
So I think it all does matter and DOES include the fanbase. If the fans on Saturday night against Vancouver are welcoming, loud, supportive, the C of Red we usually are during the playoffs but maybe just maybe getting off our asses during a regular season game... yeah I think it matters. It creates an energy and a buzz that these HUMAN BEINGS feed off of. I think you're very wrong.