Inevitable it was going to happen and when your down to bare bones and the bones are broken no surprises for me.

Wasn't able to go today, but judging by the commentary on twitter sounded poor, Grix's interview refreshingly realistic and honest. Worry for him must be that he doesn't have the option to make many changes - and while I'm not suggesting a lack of effort from the players - they know that. Tangata will presumably come in next week and Robinson must play.

Didn't go today. A totally predictable performance and result. Back on't hoss next week. Up The Fax!

1st Half went ok apart from conceding a Try bang on h/t i was still Confident 2nd Half we were absolutely dire dropped passes panic passes bad decision making no composure what so ever it was up there with the Oldham non performance . I dread to think what the error count was.
As others have said too many Journeymen in the Squad Swinton wont be easy next week going by their performance yesterday however still 3rd

Simon Grix was on't wireless this morning and his opinion was that we were dire and it was a comical performance. Let's hope it's a one off and we start another run to take us into the play-offs. Up The Fax!

Granted that my viewing is restricted but from what I view on the highlights, our attack is becoming so predictable. WBH just loitering at the back, looking for the wrap around. Just not dynamic enough. I think we looked better with Robinson, he does take it to the line more often than not. Wishlist is for an out and out centre also, Barber has the hands but for me, he's not quick enough. Needs to be playing second row along with hopefully, a new second rower as Garside doesn't bring enough threat to me. It's a shame we lost Grady and can go back as far back as Dane Manning. Feeling a little let down that we haven't brought anyone to replace Springer. As others have said, lazy or not, he's a strike player and we have no one of that Ilk. Early prediction is that we will finish fourth and get knocked out by Batley first round of the playoffs

That performance if you can call it one was bloody terrible by far the worst of the season at least against oldham we looked like we could defend today everything fell apart. We have been in my eyes getting away with too many poor performances for some time but sneaking wins from the jaws of defeat witch is great while it lasts but it also can cover over some cracks in our performances. Certain players have been poor for some time but when your winning and have a small squad it is hard to change a winning side. We have lost some of our best performers as the season as progressed and not replaced them which will ultimately cost us any chance in the playoffs for me this as been a big mistake and if this does happen the responsibility lies with the coach for not addressing this.

The question is whether or not it's a mistake or part of an overall strategy. Does the club want to get promoted? Yes or no?

You make an interesting point but when you say does the club want to get promoted do you mean they are keeping there powder dry for next season and then having a real crack at it or they don't want it full stop and if so why?.

If they wanted it surely this season above all others is the one to have a real go at it?

The real concern or me is that type of performance is only 1 game away at any time.
Yes we have had a good run but it's always there hovering in the back ground and most of the games we have got the result could have very easily gone the other way and just because we win doesn't make everything okay.
I go to every game wondering what to expect, thoroughly expecting to see headless chicken stuff in attack but never knowing if we will be outstanding or appalling in defense.

So the board don't want the club to get promoted does anybody know the reasons why?. I would be very interested to know.

I don't know any more than you. I presume a lack of money man is the root of all evil.

I'm fairly sure the board would much prefer us to not be promoted - they provided the finance originally for a competitive squad, albeit too small to be consistently good all season when inevitable injuries kicked in. In my view ridiculous to blame Grix for not replacing the 3 quality players we've lost - if the board had made funding available I'm sure he would have looked to bring players in. For those clamouring for promotion how many of the current squad do you think could make the step up to superleague - again only my opinion but with the possible exception of J W H if he could refind his early season form not one. If the board cant/won't replace the 3 players who could potentially have played superleague there's no way they could finance an entire new more expensive squad.. This does not mean I never want to see Fax in superleague again - but only when we have the finance either from wealthy backer or dramatically increased support to mean we have a chance of being competitive.

Moving forward, we need to drop the notion of land players for the season. I think it's a little naive of Grix to have them as part of the 17 at the start of the season. A loan to cover injuries here and there but when you lose 2 or 3 back to parent clubs, that has a destabilising effect. I think a lot of the reason why York has underwhelmed is that they have Mikey Lewis and Riley Dean in the halves! Neither of them is their player. No doubt next year though we will see a reversion back to that DR BS and a skewing of performances.

Good points. I do hope you're wrong about the DR rubbish though.

Still dont understand why other teams like york, fev, bradford are getting loan players in and we have not botherd to replace what we have lost.

This is just a theory. Maybe the club know we will make the play offs but not necessarily get promoted. Therefore why get loan players in when we have young players who train week in and out and never get any game time. This is a perfect time to blood our younger inexperienced players. There has to come a time when these lads are given their chance over a few weeks even if that means losing some games. Getting loan players in would keep them out of the game day squad. As many of you know who have played at any level if you don’t get picked there comes a time when you say sod it I’ll go to another club or bin the sport off altogether.

Makes sense.

Riley Dean has been on Loan at Dewsbury for the last 2 weeks

I have a suspicion that the last thing the BOD want is promotion this year.

if rumours are correct and next season will be the last with twelve teams in SL, it would mean that two teams (if no promotion) and three teams (if one club is promoted) would be relegated at the end of it. promotion this the year would make avoiding relegation even harder and cause major financial drain as next year in SL as
- that the cost of securing players to avoid relegation will be even higher - and goodness knows where they would come from.
- on field performances would not be good with the probate team that could be built and this will inevitably result in reduce attendances - and less cash through the gates
- limited additional SL income to sustain these costs, as TV money reducing.
- clubs like Fax who have taken loans from government schema will need to start to pay them back, causing drain on cash flow.

Even without a reduction in SL, as we have seen it is very hard securing the right players when promoted, and the cash issues will continue.

It's common sense that either way a consequence of promotion is the team would be exposed to severe financial pressures, without a strong cash reserve or a backer. If even Wigan are now making a substantial loss its very very tough

Whilst its hard to admit, with crowds around a 1000, no investor the Club will not return to the top table soon....if ever.

I know what i am about to say would not solve all of the money issues but if we did get promoted we would get more money from sky. Also just a guess our crowds would go up to what extent i don't know but surely they would. And then there is sponsorship would we not be able to get more money through sponsorship if we were in super duper league. I know we would still need other sources of income but it feels like we are peeing into the wind at the moment and a real crack at super league as got to be better then this.

The only reason i said grix was to blame for not replacing the players we have lost is. when springer left he said that we should have a replacement for him in the next few weeks and it doesn't look like there will be one which in my eyes weakens the side for the run in. surely we should of kept him while the end of the season and then get rid if thats what simon wants. It is simons job to put out as strong a side as possible to give us the best chance of success and this decision as done the opposite. While hoping and waiting for hewitt and bourouh to be made available again he should of looked elsewhere just in case they don't come back so to not leave us short which is were we are. So for me he made those decision not the board.

Terry,

I normally try and leave internal club discussions alone, but how do you know that the Fax board haven't said to SG that you need to save £xxxx off the wage bill this year to allow us to balance the books, which then resulted in Springer leaving and SG looking to get one or more loan players in to cover the gap? It would not be unreasonable that SG had got loan players lined up to come in only to find that their club(s) give back word at the last minute due to a Covid outbreak, etc.

From an outsiders perspective I think all in all SG has done well managing the Fax squad this year.

Hello fevgrinder i have got my ticket for next week and even thou i think we could be on the end of a good hiding i am looking forward to the match next week. As for the points you make you could well be right i don't know if that is what the board have done if they have i will hold my hands up and say i got it wrong. But why would they sign the players mentioned and then within months force simon to get rid of them and tell him he cant replace them. And it is not just springer its brearley/ hewitt/ bourouh too surely we could of replaced at least one them by not doing so it as weekend the side and looks like wasting a good opportunity to finish the season as strongly as possible.