I agree, just because seem negative doesn't mean they can't have an opinion. What I would like to see a lot more of, is peoples solutions. Very easy to criticise. I have been there and done that for the club sometimes with money but mostly without! I've seen so many players who came to the club with no reputation and be some of the best signings ever (Steele, Dennis, Purdo, Sykesy, Tony Martin etc), also big names come and do very little for one reason or another (Spud Carrol, John Timu, etc). In 96 the squad wasn't a team of allstars but under TC's encouragement they became a good team. It's more about the team spirit than the size of your scrapbook. Hell when we went to Oz for 3 months at the end of 96, Andy Wilson wrote a long piece after being out at the camp, about the guys being on a " BIG" holiday! You ask any of the team if it felt like a holiday!! Team spirit had them finishing 2nd. So from what the staff tell me about BM I'll be watching with interest if they have the team spirit and emulate the 96/97 squad.

A winning team is always far better to watch than a losing team, but until the league adopts NRL style salary cap, the winning teams will always bring in more money, more money = better quality players. Chicken and egg. You can't compete with the likes of Saints, Leeds, Wigan etc until, the playing field is levelled up. The only way to do this in our positon is with players playing at their best every week. (i.e playing for each other).

Having been a supporter since 86, I'm still not sure if it will work! Living in Perth I've seen how big a sport can become, even if it is planted there (AFL from Victoria). It has always been a AFL place but not at the elite level until Eagles & Dockers came here. Now, a player or even ex-player of these two clubs only has to sneeze in the off season and it is still headlines news! Unions Western Force and Soccers Perth Glory would kill to get the coverage that AFL gets. Just like we would kill to get the coverage of an Arsenal or Chelsea. Ain't gonna happen even though I believe it is a better sport. The problem I see is that there is very little community support. Londons fans are some of the best in the game, but when you go to the teams up north, their supporters can be so one-eyed, but you have to remember that the majority live in the community. London is so spread out and has so many other distractions, that you have to be a devout fan to be at every game. Hell most of our supporters live further from the ground than most fans furthest Northern neighbours. That shows what great fans they are, but is it enough? Barry Maranta always believed that he just had to bring the game to London and everyone would fall in love with it! Having said that, the man plowed so much of his money and time into it (along with David Hughes) that he deserved for it to work!! But it didn't, even with his friend Mister Murdoch doing his best to help. Hence I'm not sure if it will. Having worked with a number of guys still at the club (Steve Magee, Dom Fenton & Phil Jones). I can honestly say that no one could try harder. The effort these guys put into the joint is unbelievable. I'd swap anyone of these for my staff anyday, so passion and effort isn't enough. Answers. I'd be a very rich man if I had them! However I will never stop supporting the club or hoping and wishing for the best. And if I get any ideas, I have no hesitation passing them onto Mr Hogg.

That's my version of realistic but hopefully not negative. I still stay up and listen live when it's an afternoon game and still pray that it will be a huge success.................. Go you Quins Rugby Lads (or was that lessons)

And the real concern is that we have seen nothing yet to address this issue. Season ticket renewals came out fairly early this year. In mid October both I and my son received an email from the club saying

"If you are not planning on renewing your season ticket, please could you let us know so that we can keep a record."

I responded 4 weeks ago to say we would not be renewing fully expecting something back to enquire as to why or maybe to try and persuade us differently. I have had nothing at all from the club.

I assume therefore the club have accepted I will not renew and do nothing to convince me otherwise or to even try to find out why I haven't

Good job we can afford not to bother progressing these really

How can you judge that when you haven't actually seen them collectively in action yet?

The fact that last season we had the smallest crowds in Superleague by some distance is my main concern.

I agree totally that this is the No 1 and possibly only priority the club should have

And their response to that desperate situation so far is to close three quarters of the ground for next season

Sorry but that is NOT the action of a club who thinks it can change that situation

I do wonder whether now we have a 3 year franchise there is a realisation that there is no chance of another one and therefore lets not try too hard. A very negative view and I am not saying that is the view but the cynic (and maybe I am one) could read that into it

I cannot imagine the RFL are particularly impressed by it

On paper it is the worst looking...

on paper England have a good national RL team.

Whats your point? International rugby is completely different to club rugby. They don't play for 27 rounds for starters. England can't even get it right with a quality coach, proven at the top level.

In all honesty, I don't think the Club can change the situation. The bottom line is that sport doesn't attract enough people in London to make it viable at the highest level and has managed to struggle along in spite of the odds - and with enormous credit to everyone involved.

Regrettably, this then results in a policy of signing players who no-one else thinks are capable at this level, which in turn is not going to attract crowds.

If we manage to emerge with another franchise at the end of the next 3 years that will be great, but at this time, I'm at a loss to see what we bring to the table, other than allowing a few local youngsters a chance - which they could get through a beefed-up version of the Skolars before going full-time up north.

I really hope someone can prove me wrong on this.

On paper Hull City might as well not have bothered turning up for any Premiership matches this season.

You people are priceless. You never stop biting!

So I suppose according to you its not possible to make a prediction for anything? Can you predict what you are going to have for tea? On paper you might have beans on toast, but then this evening you might decide to go out. What will you do then? You must lead a frustrating life.

I'm looking forward to the next 3 years of quality rugby league at the Stoop and the progression of Rugby League in London.

I don't think we should start playing on paper, that's a terrible idea.

Why not, England have been using a " paper" thin defence all through the World Cup campaign!

I'll get me coat!!

Woolly hat for the chrome dome in that sun may be a better idea

I don't lead a frustrating life at all, I lead an optimistic life and enjoy it to the full. We can all make predictions, I just don't understand what anyone gets out of predicting the worst case scenario <b>every bloody time</b>. If we were all as optimistic as you in 1940 this country would be ruled by Germans by now. (Why not just give up and not even bother?)

If we can stay at the stoop for three more years people might start to think that we are actually gonna stick around this time and be worth bothering to come and check out.

Team wise, its the most balanced we've had for some time with players who have been together for a long while.

3 more years! 3 more years!

Listy is Human......if a little bit odd.
Sorry to get the thread back on topic

I do not believe You. Anyone that negative has to be from a different solar system

Where's your proof - next you'll be telling us that there was actually a moon landing

WTF

October?

Because I'm ace.