Here I go again, that same feeling of another season where I had so much optimism. Then injuries affect us. Adversity hits us. Players leave or loose interest, and we limp towards the play-offs clinging to our place, knowing we will do very well to win a play-off match, and knowing, in our heart of hearts, a 7th or 8th spot is probably reflective of our ability demonstrated over the whole rounds. I loved the win on good Friday, beating saints at our first visit to their great ground, hammering Leeds at the kc and spanking rovers at caravan park. I accepted defeat following injuries since good Friday. I watched in despair as we threw wins away at Millenium, Wakefield and against St Helen's at KC. And now I am wanting to be put out of my misery, draw a line under 2012 and believe next year will be the one. I still believe in Gentle, I think McRae gives us something. I believe Pearson is the foundation of my hope and belief for the short term, and cannot fault any aspect of his contribution todate. So today, after 2 years off this site as a poster, I have returned with my first post. In the hope that from today, I start to build my enthusiasm for next year........

maybe we might hear some positive news regarding signings in the near future, to soften the blow

Completely agree on all points.

But there is only so many years that the club can do this 'wait til next year' act and get away with it. This year the Pearson effect and the hype of the new signings will get them the season pass sales they want & need, but what happens if in August next year we mid-table and limping towards the playoffs?

at some point the players need to release that not turning up for several games a year just isn't acceptable, or the fans will turn away in droves.

I agree my friend. My enthusiasm dropped this year for the first time since we got back in Super League. I have not attended all matches as other things have seduced me away. We are completing and playing some more attacking football since Agar, but if I lack desire, our gates will plummet without some change in fortunes next year.

Who did you used to post as?

Most on here predicted to finish 5th-6th this season, looks about right now. Never expected any more.

not sure, forgot my password, and my email address I set up up as.........so been a reader only for a few years

its a far cry from 2008 and 2009 (the worst season since i've been going)

yes it was a horrible display but the overall the season leaves more hope for the future and hopefully the signings will do that, people were saying after were quick to complain when we lost to Salford back in Feb,

after something like that today generally we feel negative in our reflections

we should finish 6th, and unlike 2010 the team is being built for the future and not just a short term fix (sean long) with a coach who has shown on many occasions this season that he can get the result and play better stuff than we have seen in a while.

thats what i thought, and that we would win at least one play off game, still think we can do this

Our league position is where I expected us to be, but our form is far from what I expect. This season feels like 2010, where we finished in a decent position and won some good games, yet it all fizzled out early.

Fair enough, welcome back anyway.

As has been talked about previously, we have dropped around 8 competition points this season by losing games in the last 10 minutes of matches. It's all ifs and buts, however sort them out with some better players and momentum and we're up there.

Gosh the number of lapsed FC posters suddenly resuming posting on here tonight is unbelievable. Literally.

And it would appear most of them were anticipating a grand final appearance come the end of the season!

Never expected anything from this season. There's been games we have looked great, and games where it's the same old FC. With the new owner/back room staff I fully expect us to really kick on after this year.

That's it, jam tomorrow. Roll up roll up.

BTW McRae DOES give you something, mouth trousers and serial failure.

Pearson will have to suss him out, maybe he will sometime. On average Pearson stays at a club for 3 years. But of course he loves Hull so much more than all the others.

Good to see you back, Babness, been a while. Perhaps understandably since your detailed critique of both sides' first half of the season fixtures and how Rovers greater proportion of home games in the second half would inevitably even things up and see Rovers finish above FC. That went well.

Jam tomorrow, fair call, we've had it for years. But it could be worse. We could be further down the table. We could have a board talking of making significant cuts, of making backward steps. We could have our premium academy breakthrough player having a dialogue breakdown with the chairman as he can't see the potential at the club. A question. Hull will likely finish 7th this year, Rovers 8th. Where do you think each will finish next season, and why?

Last week we were awesome. This week we were sh7t.

Not a lot else to add, apart from the players need to take a long look at themselves.

Tonight was awful and the players should hang their heads in shame. However it's maybe not a bad thing, it's a big kick at the right time and may act as a spur for the playoffs.

His Bobness seems to have gone "offline"



He's probably gone off to put together next season's under budget squad in his little scrapbook !! LOL

Sorry but it's that sort of stupid comment that I believe must reflect the way the players see it. We were not awesome , we have never been awesome , for at least 7 years and probably 30. We have had a handful of reasonable performances this year but often it's been the poor opposition performance that has given us the win. Our points difference is testimony to that. Tonight our players seemed to think that they had indeed been awesome last week when in fact Catalans were proportionately as far off their pace as we were off ours tonight. It worries me that we seem to constantly believe in our own publicity and the supposed quality of the opposition instead of simply working hard on our performance. It seems to matter not whether the pkayers are experienced , young , local , antipodean or english journeymen , they all think they are great if they win , have the wrong attitude the following week and play like a park team when they come up against "inferior" opposition. This is regardless of who wears the shirt , who is coaching and who is the owner. It looks to be a malaise of Hull FC and God only knows how we get rid of it. I hope Gentle does.

Been wondering , to myself for a few weeks , whether PG is the man for us to bring silverware ?
AP will give him all of next season unless we struggle in 1st half of the season

I can understand the disappointment however for me the season is not over yet I think we can win a play-off game and that is progress.
I like Gentle and I have been impressed with some of his additions to the team this year, Pitts & Watts and how he has blooded the youngsters. The crux of our problems is the same as it has been for years no decent h/backs, if we get Holdsworth & Chase next year I believe our fortunes will change and we will see how good Gentle really is, the bloke is having to coach and play some players this year who simply are not good enough and are unlikely to feature next year.

Agree with most of that although I can't see us winning a play-off game. Of the first choice back line at the start of the season, ie McKinnon, Sharp, Martin, Yeaman and Briscoe, only one played last night, and out of position. Whilst that's absolutely no excuse for the performance, which was diabolical, the point is that, these absentees, coupled with the losses of Moa and Tickle, IMO mean that we simply won't have the experience or quality available to deal with the intensity of a play-off game. If it ends up being against Huddersfield, for example, they've got far, far more recent play-off experience and as Leeds showed last year, that counts for a lot.

As you say, looking at next year, the rumoured half back signings would be a huge step on from anything we've had for years. I think Houghton and Heremaia both look very good, rumours of bringing in a full back too. A starting pack of Lynch, Houghton, new prop, Ellis, Tickle, Westerman would be strong. Concerns would be depth of squad, but we do have Bowden, Green, Crooks and Lineham breaking through this year and their development will be greatly improved by the experience they've had.

Looking forward to hearing what Gentle has to work with next year. Hopefully we'll get our half back targets and kick on from there. If you'll pardon the pun.

If Rovers were in a lofty position looking down on us I could understand your smugness,but your lot are even worse than us at the moment,so may I suggest you look at your own team before having a go at ours?
Our dip in form is temporary like Achilles.