It would be interesting to find out (not from a player with an axe to grind) how this pre season has differentiated from previous regimes.

One of the Academy lads told my business partner that it has massively changed. More emphasis on hands on the ball, even during outdoor fitness drill. They have been told to play eyes up Rugby, throw the ball about - and a lot of emphasis on pass technique, and body shape when receiving the ball to get the ball away quickly

great to hear, we have been arguably the worst ball handling team in the league for some time.

Sounds good so far and a positive move going forward as ball retention/respecting possession has been one of our biggest downfalls alongside discipline for far too long. Hopefully our line speed will also be getting improved both in attack and defence as we must have been the slowest (or laziest) team in the past few seasons in this aspect and more often than not our line looking like a dogs hind leg.

Mitch and Sao being involved in the World Cup games and rightly deserve a few more weeks off. Has anyone heard when Hoy and Clifford will arrive? IMO they should be here asap, seeing they’re both integral to the rebuild, by all means let them return to Oz for the holiday break.

I thought with saucy sue arriving at Rovers the past couple of days that Hoy and Clifford would have been on the same flight.

Agreed I would have thought Hoy and Clifford (particularly Hoy) would have been here by now to start the process of getting used to new surroundings, team mates and get some training down on the field. As you say no issue letting them go back to Australia for the Christmas break.

Sheffield and Wakey away in our friendlies then

Quote ="Irregs#16"Taylor been given a testimonial so he won't be going at the moment'" Looks like Shaul has been granted one too. https://www.totalrl.com/hull-fcs-jamie- ... e-radford/

Quote ="Irregs#16"Taylor been given a testimonial so he won't be going at the moment'" Looks like Shaul has been granted one too. https://www.totalrl.com/hull-fcs-jamie- ... e-radford/

Strange choice of words from Houghton in that Humberside interview...

In what way?

We are a Top 4 club, but a bottom 4 team.

I have no problem with the players using that sort of mindset as motivation internally to be better.

It doesn’t however sit well with me having a senior player come out and openly admitting that he thinks we’re a bottom four side. All whilst the club is in the middle of probably it’s most vital membership campaigns in recent years. There’s a feel good factor round the club at the moment, all be it the usual pre season hype, but it is justified. There’s a time and place for comments like Danny’s and imo these where both wrong.

The club can't win then can they? They come out saying Top 4 is the goal, then we fail and the fans come out saying that it's all talk. Houghton comes out and says that the league position doesn't lie, we are a bottom of the table side. That is the motivation they need to use this year to perform better, and more consistently. Damned if they do, damned if they dont

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0dgw ... are-mobile Pretty open and honest stuff from Houghton. Obvious that Hodgson lost control of the dressing room. Especially when you hear Houghton talk about having a strong guy at the top.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0dgw ... are-mobile Pretty open and honest stuff from Houghton. Obvious that Hodgson lost control of the dressing room. Especially when you hear Houghton talk about having a strong guy at the top.

He was correct in what he said. As it stands we ARE a bottom four side. We finished the season ninth. He never said we will finish in the bottom four next season.

I can't fault Danny there, we might aspire to be top 4 but anyone outside the FC fraternity who chose to study our last three campaigns would put us bottom 4 because that is the reality of where we were form wise and no doubt as an outsider coming in, where our coach has pointed out we have been. Who knows how he will do, but for now from what I'm hearing Smith has the respect of the players which is already a distinct improvement..

The fact we’ve been crap the last 3 years may have a bearing on our “A” stream rating come the end of the season and franchise. I sincerely hope not.

To move forward you have to face the truth and the disconnect between the bullish rhetoric and harsh, unpalatable reality. Like Brexit you might say.

We’re a shoite bottom 4 team - fact.
Also AP hired and kept on Shoite coaches in
LR and BH

With TS we are currently at the hope stage

Apparently Danny Houghton thinks that with you finishing in the bottom 4 that makes you a bottom 4 team.!

Welcome back after your sabbatical. We’re you on a pilgrimage to The Holy Grail? A first major trophy in God knows how long

It's the hope that kills you though

Dwyer showing off his new apartment on Hull marina on instagram. Seems a big move considering he's only signed for a year.......

Probably rented, 6 months rent upfront seems the norm these days, then can give notice if he moves on

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/america ... r-AA14lBBa Good read.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/america ... r-AA14lBBa Good read.