I wish i shared your optimism. But, time will tell.

I agree, I get the feeling he is playing 6, between that and signing Radford and Dowes again it explains why I haven't bought a season pass.

But does that mean, if Horne is fit, he won't be getting a game? I don't see the bench as an option. He's an expensive squad player, which is the only reason i still have a little hope.

Horne is screwed, mentally if not physically, he wants to retire from what I hear.

I've heard the same, but why hasn't he done it? I can only think that he wants one last year of pay.

From what I hear, the option isn't there for him, and maybe he doesn't want to admit it?

Why wouldn't the option be there for him?

Can't blame him. Got 2 children AFAIK and he'll be on a decent contract I'd think. With hindsight, the re-signing of Horne with his horrendous neck injury was perhaps influenced by some sentimentality and his contribution to the club over a decade. 3 years was probably too long for both parties given the doubts that existed.

do you think the club offered him £120k to walk away?

Can't really disagree. He doesn't seem the type to string the club along either. He obviously thinks he's got something left.

I don't see what you're getting at.

What do you get from your employer if you retire, on health grounds, from your job?

Well this I strange... When I was talking to James Rule on Tuesday, I mentioned about my concern at HB regarding Long and Horne's injuries and he said 'unfortunately their both under contract'.... Now I took that as a slip of the tongue but maybe we do want rid of Horne but he won't go without cash. And why would he?? Tbf.

Ah, I see. I think i've misunderstood your first post.

i think long was very unlucky this year and i think he might play a lot more this season and horne ,would love us to bring that lad from feth in as understudy ,thackery got great reviews as well in the championship ,a young player to learn from long and horne then a big name half back 2012 with the young uderstudy to play with him

Isn't Thacks at Widnes??? Can't see him coming back.

Or do you mean Briggs??

In my opinion Horne deserves a bit of time to get himself fit and build his confidence up, but to rely on a player so much who hasnt had a good full season since 2006 is madness, add to signing Long on a two year deal when nobody else would give him this contract makes it even worse, and Rule is the only one to blame in my opinion, his hands are somewhat tied in terms of bringing in a halfback, but he tied them.

I usually agree with the management and coaching staff over the views of the fans, but how they didnt see this coming baffles me, as soon as Long signed this was always going to happen.

I'm interested to know who you would have signed instead of Long at that time ? Myler didn't want to come to Hull. Maybe Orford - who struggled with injury and who has now run off home ? You are criticising Rule but who else would you have signed that was available and who wanted to come ? Everyone including the coach were crying out for a half after the previous 2 seasons. You cant magic good young scrum halves out of the ether - it is a marketplace and you can only get what's available at the time for the price you can afford. It's OK having a pop on here but Agar and Rule have to deal with the realities of the situation when recruiting not the hindsight based fantasy world of message boards.

In any case Long played pretty well in most of the games he did feature in, whilst not ripping up any trees, and was no more susceptible to injury than say for example Kyle Eastmond . As for Horne his early season form showed promise but he needs a massive off season and a good run early next year to silence the understandable criticism he has received.

Too right, also the fact that Orford didn't become available until about November.

Without Long last season we wouldn't have won games against Saints, Rovers and Cas to name 3, I think we might have finished out of the play offs without him playing for us last year.

Let's hope both players have better luck with injuries next season

We should hear something soon if what the above poster said was true, i suppose only time will tell.

I'm sure plenty of clubs would have offered him a two year deal - but would he have gone to them? Saints offered him a one year deal because that's their rule about players over 30. Quite how they are allowed to discriminate in such a way in the 21st Century is beyond me.

Plus haven't we got Long in some sort of coaching role when he retires? I'm sure I heard/read something about that...

plus its a lot of cash to lay out for to then only go to two games a season huh

from whom, because what the club hear he is absolutely chomping on the bit to get next season going so he can prove the likes of you wrong!!
but would love to know whom you heard that from because it was no one connected to the club or who knows RH

absolutely spot on, lets go back to Wigan away last year, whilst the team were pretty much put to bed by wigan the one thing that did stand out was RH and his so called show and go which he used to great effect and was FCs player of that night by a mile, and a few other games he actually managed to play in..

as for horne or long they are no more or less injured than any of the others in SL and nearly all the big names have had injuries to deal with
Both will be big playmakers next season