Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Fall Again

The state is failure.

No advanced stats needed. When you can't generate any shots on net and the opposition has a firing squad on your net minder, you won't win any games.

I think it's been forever and a day when I am more concerned about the offense than I am the D.

At this point, G, Jake and maybe just maybe B Schenn could skate top 6 minutes on any other team.

I say the Flyers hire Jeff Gillooly as an adviser, and maybe he can arrange some injuries for certain players, who then can be long term injured

The state is failure.
- LJF

This could get worse on the road trip. I can't see them winning any of these games. What a mess .

What does the coach have to loose by sitting

R.J. Corpseburger and his partner Vinny LeCADAVERlier

I can't get my head around that. These two must be in the press box during this road trip..if not then there has to be something else going on. I can't see any other team or coach putting up with this pathetic trash. MR Snider should approach them and
"Tell" them to retire...or else...sleep with eye open

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Fall Again
- bmeltzer

Bill, I'm really starting to think that the loss of Hartnell and especially Timonen has really cut the heart out of this club. I'd be interested in your take on that.

Bill, I'm really starting to think that the loss of Hartnell and especially Timonen has really cut the heart out of this club. I'd be interested in your take on that.
- BiggE

The top line is trying to lead by example, but no one else is taking the hint.

In the middle of a poopshow like this, it's easy for guys to try too hard - gripping the stick too tight, forcing passes, etc - and it takes the fun out of the game. They need to find a way to put a modicum of fun back into it and loosen up a bit. Maybe on the road trip in Cali they can find a way.

the players arent responding to berube, i think its a textbook move what to do. we have too many guys regressed/not progressing.

Berube is clueless, but at least his last year as coach will get us a really high draft pick. Benching MacDonald and Bellemare was laughable.

What an eerie feeling that blog gave me. It so closely echoes my thoughts, that it's as if I wrote it myself.

The top line is trying to lead by example, but no one else is taking the hint.

In the middle of a poopshow like this, it's easy for guys to try too hard - gripping the stick too tight, forcing passes, etc - and it takes the fun out of the game. They need to find a way to put a modicum of fun back into it and loosen up a bit. Maybe on the road trip in Cali they can find a way.
- tangent_man

Maybe they should start drinking before the games?

Bill Meltzer: Meltzer's Musings: Flyers Fall Again
- bmeltzer

Berube does take a lot of heat. But to absolve him fully of blame doesn't sit with me. He has been dealt a bad hand, but he is the one that practices selective accountability. He's the one the consistently playing Umberger 12-15 minutes a game. He's the one who chooses the line-ups.

So far this season, much like last season, it's the fringe guys getting benched. The bigger names and bigger salaried guys have remained in the line-up, at least prior to yesterday's benching of Andrew MacDonald.

I give Berube full credit for finally scratching a big salaried guy who was playing poorly. I also give him full credit for slashing Lecavalier's ice time. This mess is not all Berube's fault. Nobody has said it is.

He has a handful of guys playing at or near their capabilities. He's juggled lines, he's ripped guys, the GM has ripped guys. I give Berube a ton of credit for trying. I'm not even calling for the Flyers to fire him, at least not right now, even though I disagree with a lot of his choices, because he's working a lot harder than the majority of his roster.

Bill came out swinging with this blog post...

Berube does take a lot of heat. But to absolve him fully of blame doesn't sit with me. He has been dealt a bad hand, but he is the one that practices selective accountability. He's the one the consistently playing Umberger 12-15 minutes a game. He's the one who chooses the line-ups.

So far this season, much like last season, it's the fringe guys getting benched. The bigger names and bigger salaried guys have remained in the line-up, at least prior to yesterday's benching of Andrew MacDonald.

I give Berube full credit for finally scratching a big salaried guy who was playing poorly. I also give him full credit for slashing Lecavalier's ice time. This mess is not all Berube's fault. Nobody has said it is.

He has a handful of guys playing at or near their capabilities. He's juggled lines, he's ripped guys, the GM has ripped guys. I give Berube a ton of credit for trying. I'm not even calling for the Flyers to fire him, at least not right now, even though I disagree with a lot of his choices, because he's working a lot harder than the majority of his roster.
- Jsaquella

he definitely gives an effort but i think hes in iver his head. for hartnell to ask for a trade and see this season going the way it is doesnt sit well with me as far as betube goes.

he definitely gives an effort but i think hes in iver his head. for hartnell to ask for a trade and see this season going the way it is doesnt sit well with me as far as betube goes.
- JoeRussomanno

Hartnell didn't ask for a trade.

Berube does take a lot of heat. But to absolve him fully of blame doesn't sit with me. He has been dealt a bad hand, but he is the one that practices selective accountability. He's the one the consistently playing Umberger 12-15 minutes a game. He's the one who chooses the line-ups.

So far this season, much like last season, it's the fringe guys getting benched. The bigger names and bigger salaried guys have remained in the line-up, at least prior to yesterday's benching of Andrew MacDonald.

I give Berube full credit for finally scratching a big salaried guy who was playing poorly. I also give him full credit for slashing Lecavalier's ice time. This mess is not all Berube's fault. Nobody has said it is.

He has a handful of guys playing at or near their capabilities. He's juggled lines, he's ripped guys, the GM has ripped guys. I give Berube a ton of credit for trying. I'm not even calling for the Flyers to fire him, at least not right now, even though I disagree with a lot of his choices, because he's working a lot harder than the majority of his roster.
- Jsaquella

I would imagine Hexy had some suggestions about who to play, who to try to get going, if only to try to make them worth something by the TDL. Or maybe this team decided it wants a top pick in next year's draft since nobody would be foolish enough to call them a legit Stanley Cup contender.

he definitely gives an effort but i think hes in iver his head. for hartnell to ask for a trade and see this season going the way it is doesnt sit well with me as far as betube goes.
- JoeRussomanno

Hartnell was apparently shocked he got moved.

Berube does take a lot of heat. But to absolve him fully of blame doesn't sit with me. He has been dealt a bad hand, but he is the one that practices selective accountability. He's the one the consistently playing Umberger 12-15 minutes a game. He's the one who chooses the line-ups.

So far this season, much like last season, it's the fringe guys getting benched. The bigger names and bigger salaried guys have remained in the line-up, at least prior to yesterday's benching of Andrew MacDonald.

I give Berube full credit for finally scratching a big salaried guy who was playing poorly. I also give him full credit for slashing Lecavalier's ice time. This mess is not all Berube's fault. Nobody has said it is.

He has a handful of guys playing at or near their capabilities. He's juggled lines, he's ripped guys, the GM has ripped guys. I give Berube a ton of credit for trying. I'm not even calling for the Flyers to fire him, at least not right now, even though I disagree with a lot of his choices, because he's working a lot harder than the majority of his roster.
- Jsaquella

Finish the season with Berube, then throw HUGE bucks at Babcock

Berube does take a lot of heat. But to absolve him fully of blame doesn't sit with me. He has been dealt a bad hand, but he is the one that practices selective accountability. He's the one the consistently playing Umberger 12-15 minutes a game. He's the one who chooses the line-ups.

So far this season, much like last season, it's the fringe guys getting benched. The bigger names and bigger salaried guys have remained in the line-up, at least prior to yesterday's benching of Andrew MacDonald.

I give Berube full credit for finally scratching a big salaried guy who was playing poorly. I also give him full credit for slashing Lecavalier's ice time. This mess is not all Berube's fault. Nobody has said it is.

He has a handful of guys playing at or near their capabilities. He's juggled lines, he's ripped guys, the GM has ripped guys. I give Berube a ton of credit for trying. I'm not even calling for the Flyers to fire him, at least not right now, even though I disagree with a lot of his choices, because he's working a lot harder than the majority of his roster.
- Jsaquella

Let's discuss selective accountability, and what that means. It means the coach decides who to play, and who not to play. How many minutes each player plays, and with whom. So whether Berube scratches, or limits any players icetime, it's selective. Whether he makes decisions that you agree with or don't agree with, his decisions are going to be selective. So how does criticizing him for selective accountability, make any sense whatsoever? With the way this team is playing, he can't hold everybody accountable at the same time.

I would imagine Hexy had some suggestions about who to play, who to try to get going, if only to try to make them worth something by the TDL. Or maybe this team decided it wants a top pick in next year's draft since nobody would be foolish enough to call them a legit Stanley Cup contender.
- wolfhounds

It's very possible. Hextall deserves blame, too. He was in the front office when they traded two relatively high picks for and then signed MacDonald to a huge contract. He was the GM when they traded Hartnell for Umberger.

Finish the season with Berube, then throw HUGE bucks at Babcock
- 3flyerkids

They could have Babcock now and not be a lot better. It's not as simple as replacing the coach.

Hartnell didn't ask for a trade.
- Jsaquella

ok my bad... i just skimmed through a few old articles on the subject... thought i remembered something about him asking to be traded... well thats even worse now.. what in the (frank)

Finish the season with Berube, then throw HUGE bucks at Babcock
- 3flyerkids

I'm on board with that. I'll even chip in.