Great post

I don't see the point in either of those signings. I'd rather see us try some of these academy players that we keep being told about but that Agar kept well away from the first team.

I honestly expected much better than these two signings after AP's statements. Not world stars or marquee nrl players but "quality additions" as AP promised.

Any improvements next season will have to come from the fact that we have a coach that is hopefully fit for purpose, unlike the last one

Totally agree. Big words from AP, followed by much smaller actions when it comes to the squad.

Really don't see what the problem is with the Aspinwall signing. I think the only problem is Pearson in a bid to please the fans has built up an early expectation he cant deliver yet. Suspect at the time he thought it would be easier to sign players than the reality of what is available is.
We needed cover in the backs or someone solid and we got Martin who was available. Everyone on here identified we now had a glut of halfs and a shortage in the second row so we have got rid of Obst and brought in Aspinwall. Both are on one year deals. Realistically we where never going to win the league next year. Lets hope the plan is to bring in a couple of 1 year players to help build the foundations for the years after. Looking at the recruitment we should be stronger than last year and most people said Agar was the problem anyway. If our coach lives up to expectations we should still be looking to push the back end of the top 4. Personally I would be happy with that improvement if its a foundation only.

Cas have signed Grant Millington.

Mary's son?

Jesus there are some depressing people on here. I think we should pull out of Super League.

. Lets see what happens next season and then we can all judge.

Showing you're age their fella

Piggy's ?


Oink-Oink!

tweet from Richard Mathers a few minutes ago.........

"Chuffed Martin Aspinwall has sorted himself out at hull, one of our best players last year massively underrated..."

Trying to get a few to google her at work!

So what's your point?

I satnd by that he should have been sacked and jailed. However I would not have then denied him a second chance to come back inot RL with another club. He would have served his time. Aspinwall has done wrong and has paid the price. Does he deserve to be continually punished, no.

Most teams have a troubled player or two.

Leeds - Bailey
Warrington - Monaghan
Wigan -Hock
Saints - Pryce (now Cats)
Rovers - take your pick
etc etc

Andy Hay will know how big a risk he is having worked with him last season and i;m sure Gentle has talked to him about this.

I think the aspinwall and martin signings are a symptom of the mess rule, hetherington and agar left us in. Years of under investing in our youth development have left us with a massive hole which should be filled by 4 or 5 club trained players in the 1st team.

As has been said, there is no quick fix and we just have to trust that pearson is here to make money and the only way he can do that is by making us successful. Having watched Hull for around 35 years, I can wait another 2 or 3 to see us really challenging as long as I can see that we really are making progress towards that.

I don't think we know even half of the problems which were left when the old administration walked out of the door

This sums things up perfectly

Very good post.

Last season we weren't too far off 5th, with a better coach and better team, we have a chance to challenge the top 4 next year, but a couple of years of challenging Wigan and Warrington.

Interesting - lets try and compare like for like.

Tony Martin v Martin Gleeson - Gleeson everytime but he was never going to play for us again and hardly say anything of him last year

Jamie Ellis - Danny Washbrook - Ellis for me, offers way more potential whilst not neccesarily a starter

Andy Lynch v Lee Radford - Lynch, no contest

Eamon O'Caroll v Ewan Dowes - Probably similar players, O'Caroll has yout on his side despite injuries

Wade Mckinnon v Cameron Phelps - Mckinnon better than phelps but age certainly not on his side

Aaron Heremia v Sam Obst - NRL Grand final Hooker although Obst had lots going for him

Brett Seymour v Sean Long - as good as longy was, he never plays, so Seymour has to be the better option

Martin Aspinwall v angry 'ead Lauaki - Anybody would be an improvement on him

So that leaves us with Burnett who didn't play for us last season and Fitz, who would prove impossible to replace but I think we did that bit of business last year when buying Westerman. Think he'll look to fill his boots

So my two-penneth. A definite improvement on last year, without being awe inspiring.

Good post

I agree. Lets break the rules of the cap & face a big fine maybe even a points deduction

To be fair, I think he's talking about showing ambition by offering clubs transfer fees that they find difficult to turn down. (from AP's pocket)

Can't say i was happy when i first heard, but after reading his interview on the club website and with what Andy Hay has to say about him im feeling more positive about this signing now.
Im looking forward to seeing him play and proving the doubter's wrong.
Welcome to Hull FC Martin.

Like signing Lynch.

Money's only good

If you can fit a player under the cap
They want to leave
The club want to sell.

Not much quality available this year.

Leeds signing Moore 3 year deal
Wigan signing Lauaki 3 year deal.

At least ours are only 1 year.

Nice one! I feel better now.
Looking at it from that point of view we have improved our squad

I think with Pearson coming in shouting about he intends to spend money etc has brainwashed a few people. At the end of the day there is a quota and a salary cap to compete with.

In all fairness I am looking forward to seeing what Aspinwall can offer us. I just think it was a wee bit dissappointing initially.

Initially surprised by the signing as I said on page 2 but I'm fairly confident he will be a far better and more effective player than Lauaki and an initial one year deal suits well.

The biggest problem we have had at the club still remains.

Forget about the rights and wrongs of various signings, the big issue as I see it is the communication from the club and the management of expectations.

The statements of strategic intent that AP made when he took over about repositioning the club as a genuine contender and investing in top quality talent were designed to lift the club and its supporters, and set out a grand vision for the future.

As we all know, we were all genuinely enthused and looked forward to the delivery of signings and success as set out in his statements.

The problem is however that the signings that have been made do not live up to what was promised, and so we all feel cheated. Just like when you buy a branded peice of clothing or consumer goods you expect a certain level of performance that you associate with the brand, and if it doesn't live up to the brands promise then you feel robbed, and lose trust in that particular brand.

This is where I have always disagreed with the opinion that Rule was such a great marketer. He built a brand that didn't deliver on what it promised, and for that he lost a great deal of respect and trust from the fans.

AP should have come out and set out his vision for the future, but at the same time outlined a timetable and explained that consolidation was necessary and getting to the top 4, then top 2 would take time, and require a rebuilding process.

If he'd done this there wouldn't be half the negativity on here that there is today.

The risk is that he's raised expectations too far too soon, and his honeymoon period could be over before the seasons even started.

Is this the royal "we" ?
Speak for yourself - I'm very enthused about the new season and everything that has happened/is happening in and around the club. Just because a message board rumours thread suggests Sika Manu is signed and sealed doesn't mean to say that "we" all believed it.