Like the Moneyball analogy.



Early days, but adding some more basic facts, compared with last season's regular fixtures we a have won two, lost two but improved our points difference.
Salford (H) Won 42-20 (2015: Won 24-20)
Cats (A) Won 38-10 (Lost 14-20)
Cas (H) Lost 23-31 (Won 40-14)
Wigan (H) Lost 25-26 (Lost 12-4icon_cool.gif

So same points achieved, but with a points difference of +42 v -12.

I agree that it's too early to call for Radford and have said before that we should have an initial view after Easter Monday, which is 8 games in and is close to tying in with the above forecast.

Out of interest, two key themes of frustration appear to be our defence and the ability to close a game out. Defence can be partly mitigated by attack and so far this season we have demonstrated an improvement in our ability to score tries.

However, the real key to improving our season will be the ability to close out games. Last season we 7 out of our 27 league games finished with a +/- 6 point result, of which Hull won just two of those games. Converting games like those five narrow defeats into victories will be what determines our league position.

Ironically, one of those 5 defeats last season was a 13-12 reverse at Wigan. Whatever you think of Wigan, they have always had the ability to win a game, regardless of their performance and in part, means they usually end up competing for honours at the business end of the season.

My car has this new fangled thing called a radio with bluetooth and mobile has this amazing witchcraft called mobile internet!!!

So you're admitting you posted on here whilst driving or did you pull over to post messages?

The points difference is much bigger as you have quoted the Cup Cas game, the league was much closer.

I said beginning of the season I just wanted to compete and be entertained. Well up to now we've achieved that . disappointed to lose last 2 but could of just as easily won them and a lot of people on here still would be in hiding. I find it amazing all the doom n gloom merchants was quick to state you don't win anything after 2 games but can access were we will finish after 4 games.super league much like the premier league this year with good teams having poor starts and lower teams flying.i thank god some people on here have no influence on our club as the knee jersey reaction to every defeat or victory is embarrassing .

The next three games are ones we won last year I think.

Agreed. However the concern on closing out close games is justifiable in the context of the last couple of seasons.

Yeh I agree in most parts, no shame in losing to wigan by a point. I just think its got a very familar feel tobthe last few seasons, a lot frustration, inconsistency , and not really making any strides forward. I think it was jake who said it, that if our tactics off not just dominating teams easily with how forwards, then we've no idea, I agree. With the squad we have, no way should we have to just rely on that. Personally think Radford will have to go, and with the right coach we could do something with this squad. Hope im wrong and radford can get the consistency issue sorted and start turning close games into wins

Correct, my mistake. The home league result was a 21-18 win. Therefore, the current points difference is +42 this season v -35 in 2015.

Therefore, same 4 points from 2 wins, but 77 points difference better off.4

Yes, we won at Widnes 25-12, home to Wakefield 31-24 and at Rovers 22-12.

We lost at home to Warrington 6-7.

Next 5 games which takes us to 9 games played are

Widnes A
Wakey H
Rovers A
Wire A
Saints A

Can see us winning 2/5 leaving us in 8th place probably. Meaning chances are we will finish 7th based on history of where youare after 9 games.

We MUST win absolute minimum 3 of the 5 and we can. Radfud is the X factor for next 5 games.

I think you'll find Warrington is at Home!

8 points from 10 out of those last season and we only scraped into the 8. Any less this year and with widnes looking better things will start to get tight

Great player recruitment, good depth and team spirit. Turns out not everything is perfect, our defensive decision need refining which is a shame because no other team in the league has any problems! We had good wins against a very good Salford side, outstanding performance against Catalans away, a close losses to Castleford and a 1 point loss to Wigan. We've had some brilliant attacking Rugby.

Yep, I can see the reason we should be calling for Radford's head... hmmm, no actually, I can't, could somebody point me in the right direction? You know, with facts rather than just the usual sense of despair, not actually linked to any perspective or indeed reality that our now embarrassingly famous "boo boys" seem to get every time we lose a game.

Thankfully Mr Pearson, I suspect has his heart a little more connected to his brain and not to his sleeve.

Absolutely spot on. We must have the biggest bunch of bipolar "fans" in the league. Two great wins and two very narrow defeats and all of a sudden the Samaritans are on standby.

A thread on Lee Radford, 4 games in . Crazy.

Totally agree .absol unbelievable. Imo I honestly believe some don't want us to do well.

Don't think anyone is judging him on the last 4 games, people suggesting otherwise are the stupid ones

Well the thread was started by Barista after only 2 games so yes I agree, it was crazy.

You used to get a wide variety of opinions on this board. Now it's just cheerleaders & doom-mongers. Shame.

I don't think a single poster has suggested Radford should go as of 4 games.
What has been discussed is that similar mistakes/frailties have cropped up that ultimately led to the two losses. That we need to improve our defence and discipline because that is two of the main areas of concern.
That we have improved our attack overall is clear but some aspects are still replicating previous seasons.

There's no panic yet but fans are edgy, another poor season and that could ultimately do untold damage to the club and the faith of the fans, I think most fans can appreciate that so react with concern when things slip away disappointingly

Sorry Marvin.

We actually won all those fixtures last year before the super 8's split,
it was in the super 8's when we lost to Wire away but beat Saints away again

I have mixed feelings of the last 2 games. On the one hand we managed to dig ourselves out of a hole in both games, taking the lead in situations that many times last year we woud've just folded and lost by more. That shows that the squad isn't quick to give up the go, will still fight till the end and, eventually, find a way back into the game.

On the other hand, the mistakes that occured, at key times in the game, in the worst position in the fields are things we have seen many times before. Syned's kick that hit one of our guys that gave Wigan the handover on halfway against Wigan, Michaels' forward pass in our 20 against Cas being two examples.

EDIT: the post had Wire Away when we have them at home, which we lost, my bad

I know what you mean.i just wanted some decent entertainment back and up to now the 3 home games have given me more than the last 3 seasons.yes I was gutted to lose last 2 but it happens to all teams now and again .Wigan are paying well within themselves and still winning and everyone states how that's a sign of a good team.well given a couple of ref calls and player brain farts we could be unbeaten as well.would the same moaners be saying that was a good sign or calling us lucky and on Radfords back.this is a genuine question.i'm not for or against radford.i hope he's the man to do it but I hope that about every hull coach because like most fans I want us success.

It's not, it's just some people are unable to accept others views without labelling them as overtly positive or negative.

Hence all the arguments that ensue,