Didn't go today, oh well



Kept up with the score and listened to bits, but was always going to be tough with 8 new players, a large squad playing, first game together and some massive changes in the off-season. By the sounds of it we didn't sound too bad For a first game and I expect us to improve for Sunday, my first game of the season so looking forward to it.

Think McKinnon will improve this greatly from previous seasons. He was buzzing round the back of the play the ball similar to the way Brent Webb does. He was on Manu's shoulder when he broke the line in the first half but whether Willie was able to see him or not with all the white shirts around him I don't know. (Complete joke btw. How was that allowed happen?)

A couple of things that I'll be keeping an eye out but will only really judge them when we're 10 games into the season or so.

pattern of play - has it really changed under a better who wants us to play an expansive game.
Will we have a plan B when our first plan of attack isn't working.
Support play - will we back up breaks or even see Mckinnon sometimes hanging around the PTB ready to be on the shoulder of the hooker/HB. I expect McKinnon to do this tbh. But would expect plenty of support play from now on.
Kicking game - With Seymour, Ellis and Heremaia in the team it should be hell of alot better than previous seasons.
Quick PTB and winning the tussle on the floor. This shouldn't of needed to of been a problem as it should of already been happening.

Like I said these are things that I'm hoping to be improved throughout the season, it's just unbelievable that we are poor at all of the above.

FC lose a game of rugby to some banjo players?... your season is doomed!!!

You started like a house on fire! We were caught in the headlights a bit and seemed to struggle when you got back to back sets. Think the errors both sides made will be cleared up over the next couple of weeks. Glad we have a week break to recover from that hit out because it looked pretty bruising!

O'Meley looks to have put more bulk on and Lynch didn't look as trim as he did at Bradford. Not a pop about recent stories this just some of your posts about being a bit small in the forwards, maybe these two have been told to bulk up so this isn't a problem?

Mentally I think the fact your fans were leaving early and didn't exactly stay in numbers to clap them off could effect your side. When they saw how jubilant the Rovers fans were and staying well after the final hooter I would be surprised if they were not a tad envious of that. Not that they'd want to come play at Rovers (naturally they'd love to haha!) but that they'd want that feeling of joy and not being walked out on by the people who pay their wages.

Our pre-season has been costly but encouraging to be honest. Fev showed our youngsters have some rough diamonds among them. Wigan we saw a glimps of what we could expect but only 40mins of first team action then today we saw that we are a bit rusty but have a good level of skill in there. My point here is that 3 friendlies were a must for us reguardless of injuries, especially because of how many new staff both on and off the pitch there are. You will see more from your side at the Bradford game and I think you'll look much better by round 3 or 4 where combinations really will stick.

One other minor thing, we are not celebrating like we won the grand final, we are celebrating like you do when you beat us because it does mean something to the fans, "friendly" or not! If it didn't mean anything why did a large portion of your supporters walk out in disgust? Yet it is wrong for our fans to celebrate?!

Think you might be [islightly [/iover-analysing it.

Winning supporters happy, losing supporters a tad cheesed off. I think all players understand that.

Don't worry, they'll soon see that's normal behaviour at your place

I wouldn't be too despondant if I were a Hull FC fan. It was the first time a lot of the players have touched a ball in anger tbh. The rovers first team had a minimum of 40 minutes last week so were that bit sharper. Hull FC started the game well and had a 10 minute spell in the 2nd half where they looked good. The errors and the penalties will reduce with match sharpness and I expect Hull to give a better performance next week.

Here's hoping both teams have a good season.

More cheap shots in this than a team full of Cockaynes.

Or Radford's.

hornes place in the team will be under threat from ellis as the season progresses

I think your being very generous using the word slightly

Today Hull were out played, out enthused and out coached.

No change there then.

Joking aside, the player's do notice the fans. Con Mika has tweeted that he was impressed with the #RedArmy today.
I can see what Nick is getting at, even if there is a little tongue in cheek in his post.

Indeed, I recall a certain cracking 'trial' performance against Leeds a few years ago with a great showing from a Mr Thorman, funny how things turn out isn't it.

Yeah, JJB's testimonial I think. Horne and Thorman were brilliant that night - kicks going into danger zones and runners everywhere. Best performance of the season, unfortunately.

hornes place should be under threat after today never mind as the season progresses

Not at all. Coaches often use other teams success as a motivational tool.

If I was in that Hull side seeing your fans walking out well before the final hooter I'd want to work harder and get better to stop that happening. There is a massive usage in sports now about the psycological approach and this kind of thing can and will be used in some way. Players may accept there are going to be disapointed fans and jubilant fans but how a club uses those thought processes can significantly improve how a side play.

No cheap shots were intended what so ever. I think you've got a lot to be upbeat about. Your club has had a major overhaul over the past 6mths and it is going to take time to get everything working the way the fans want. It is just a shame a big portion of your fans can't accept that and want instant success.

Success, it was a friendly!!! our first one of the season



Regarding the rest of your post is that why you won nothing last year? as a lot of your supporters were walking out before the end of a game on many occasions!

Wasn't that also our last win against a Leeds side?

Look at Leeds last season, people were questioning if they would make the 8 at one point, yet they somehow managed to make both finals on offer. Not saying we will do that but it is something for people to bear in mind.

Our first "friendly"win in 19 years,wow.

I would like to see Ellis start against Bradford.

It actually may benefit Horne to start on the bench and fight for his place some-thing he has never had to do in his career at FC!!

They was probably glad we feck'd off early so they didn't have to take as long walking around the pitch clapping seeing as it was artic conditions

Yup, saw that on Sky. Easier to sneak out of Craven Park than the likes of the KC or DW