fergie's crisis

As the deadline looms and his team sinks down the table, Fergie Light has some tough actions to take.

#1 - Trade Belfour. Cross your fingers, grab on to that bar table in your perch in the ACC, and pray that Telquist can play on some hot streak that will allow you to save your job with an 8th place finish.

#2. - Send Pat on a holiday, and bring up Maurice. This skid shows the players aren't listening any more, and besides isn't this exactly the situation that Maurice was brought in to pinch for?

#3. - Sign McCabe. yes he's spotty, and if I'm not mistaken, maybe a graduate of the Theo Fleury school of sef-control. Still, he and Kaberle are the only items worth shelling out for a ticket to see on this squad.

#4 - Write down your underperforming assets. O'neil, Antropov, Allison...its true you might only get a cup of coffee for these three. Take the coffee.

#5.- Inform Maurice of the new philosophy - the team will take a chance on youth and possibly fail this year, in order to impove down the road. The fans in the $300 seats would prefer seeing an enthusiastic effort from some kids going out in a blaze, than the last stand for some slow footed sloths with a past reputation.

As I advised last week to another executive with an underperforming team - act now - next week will be too late.

The Opinion Blog of Tapedknuckles

What to do?

Alright, like every paranoid canuck I'm convinced this Team Canada squad is doomed. Either that, or Wayne's playing the under with his buddy Tochett.

So what's to do now? Wayne's stuck with Quinn, who's loyalty to past performers is maddening to the point of homicidal rage for most Leaf fans. It explains the lofty perch of ice time enjoyed by Pronger, Blake, St. Louis, and Richards - despite what their current performances warrant. It also explains why Staal, Boyle, and Spezza are enjoying the Alps right now when they should be lighting up that red light behind the net - you know, the one that Russian referees ignore?

Before its too late - which means the quarterfinal game - Wayne needs to interfere and insist these taxi squad players get inserted. This means having some heart to heart discussions with Pronger, Richards & St Louis. Thank them for their contributions to this point, and in the past. Impress upon them that something about their health is not quite right, and that they should go on injury reserve( in Prongers case there's no stretch - he's playing on a broken pedal).

Its now or never. No one will blame Wayne if he interferes - he'll be damned if he standbys and simply spouts cliche-ridden speeches.

The Opinion Blog of Tapedknuckles