There's defo problems down the lane!

I made this point on the Casforum what on earth do we do pre match training sessions the last thing we should be doing should be kicking to Richards if I was Matterson I would be pulling my hair out at this ploy during the match

This should focus what if any is happening, if anything, by our coaching (sic) team at Cas





Everthing is so regimented everytime we kicked off after the numerous Wigan tries the ball went to Tomkins who gave it to a forward, we tried the short KO when we we 18 points behind, something needs to be done to address our regimented approach to games or is it beyond our forward thinking coach

I don't think we ever looked like winning in all honesty. It was men against athletes !

It's disappointing and frustrating, as I think there's an apathy setting in, especially amongst the supporters. Our problems could be identified 3 months ago. We had a 'good' season last year in relation to finishing position, then for whatever reason, the club decided not to kick on and try and reach the next level. It's obvious to all and sundry (supporters), that our squad hasn't been big enough for a couple of years. Yet the club decided not to recruit to improve the quality and squad size. It's obvious to all and sundry (supporters), that we have players that aren't up to SL standard. It's obvious to all and sundry(supporters), that the general physical condition and fitness of the players isn't up to the standard of other SL teams. Therefore, we were behind the 8 ball 3 months ago and now we are behind it even moreso with injuries.

We analyse each defeat to see where we went wrong, yet the fundamental reasons why we are losing were 'put in place' 3 months ago. We are 'nearly' good enough. We are scoring 20 pts a week, yet we concede more. Time and time again, our defensive weaknesses are exposed. Look at the league table and compare other teams defensive stats. Facts. We can't tackle.

We get tired in trying to understand and make sense of another defeat. The reasons we are now losing, were foreseen by all and sundry (supporters) 3 months ago.

Yet, some will get out their season tickets or £18s on Friday night and go through it all again. Some will stay at home. What will you do...

Good post^^^^^

I wont be there friday because of work,but fear some will vote with their feet.

The loyalty of the fans will be tested to the limit this season,take notice B.O.D

Bought a season ticket in december, so i have to be there or i will lose money.

I think alot of problems lie from the top. The board went with a small team for whatever reason. We get injuries and then we suffer. For me it's the same problems we see week in week out. Poor defence, missed tackles, poor kicks and we suffer. For as much as i know it isnt all Mattersons fault he must take some blame. I dont know what is happening down at Cas but it doesnt seem good. Rumours of fighting amongst players and fall outs, rumours of no new stadium etc It seems nothing good is coming out of Cas atm. I think we as fans just need to stick together and TRY be positive, get behind the team as best we can. Saying that, i cant see it being too long before some fans get annoyed and turn away...

Heard rangi chance and brent sherwin dont get on at all.
Maybe that is part of the problem.

Like as been said , there's deffinatly something going on down at the club that as a negativeness around the club.

Thats what i heard today. I knew there was a rumour about it going around but i heard today about the reason (if true) behind it. Not good at all if true :/

I'm not one for knocking the team/TM/BoD but there is wrong within the team. Again, I'm not one for listerning to rumours but there was no chemistry between Chase and Sherwin what so ever when Sherwin finally made the field. If there is a problem with our half back pairing and it can not be fixed then one should be taken out of the equation. If Sherwin is only good for a spot on the bench I'd rather look to the future for that spot and but Brierly there if he is seen as the clubs future 7.

On a positive note from yesterday, I thought some players are starting to hit form. Hudson has played really well since his shocker at Bradford. When he went off in the second half Wigan ripped us to bits down the middle. The pack in general are playing well. I just think we are missing Widders and Ferres. Evans was a big lose yesterday too because we could have put Dixon on Richards to stop the high ball threat. Although Thompson had a cracking game against one of the best wingers in SL in certainly a player I'd like to see more of this year.

Not a great performance...but not an altogether bad one either!

Wigan are one of the current form teams, they had a near full strength team out yesterday, yet didn't blow Castleford away.

I agree....a lot of our players were in unfamiliar positions, and mis-matched in terms of size and experience against their opposite numbers, and also the rotation of players from the bench was again odd to say the least. However, IMO we took our eye off the game, and lost composure by re-acting to the wigan wrestling and lying on at the tackle. Yes, the ref penalised them plenty for doing so, yet penalties alone was not enough to get the message across!! On the fifth or sixth offence, the captain should have been warned and a player should then have been sent for a 10 minute cool off!

As this didn't happen, Cas players understandably yet wrongly, started to react and we lost composure. Wigan ran in 2 or 3 quick tries, and we had an up hill battle from that point on.

Must say....Fieldens dive was one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time!! Proper girly dramatics!!

=#0080FFIf the rumour is true and they don't get on then they should both grow up. They're paid to play rugby in a team, not to let personal differences get in the way of performances.

If it's over a lost game of monopoly then you may have a point. However, there are some issues that can't be so easily swept under the table. Something needs to change though.

They were getting on last night in the Smawthorne Hotel, along with Westerman and Mcgoldrick

What a suprise

I know we always have this debate each season

However, i am still all for banning the players from drinking throughout the season (not just our club but the league as a whole)

If true that Matterson is a soft touch then we need rid and someone who will be respected by the players. We had the same problem with Steadman, he wanted to be "one of the lads" and look where we ended up

I can't see where the "we've worked on defence all off season" comes in to it because it certainly doesnt look like it!!

We showed some good signs in the first half yesterday, yes fair enough Wigan weren't anywhere near what they have been, but 8 second half minutes completely killed us off. We got frustrated and went for the man rather than the ball.

Rangi will probably be banned when he appears in front of the RFL tomorrow night and i would imagine McGoldrick will get at least another warning over his conduct (how many more is he going to have?)

Something needs to change, we need to get rid of the dead wood, including coach if needs be. Sherwin is a crock who is very well paid for not much work. Higgins and Wainwright put 110% in week in week out but are not SL standard and the less said about Clayton the better!!

Ridiculously Thompson was one of our best players yesterday, I just hope we keep hold of him unlike Boyle, Knowles, Gledhill and the rest of the list that seems neverending in terms of quality youngsters leaving our club.

I fully expect Crusaders to come and do us over on Friday night and would not be suprised to see them make the play offs this year, unlike ourselves. The urgency and desire of other teams does not appear to be something of ours. The "we'll get by" attitude needs eradicating from top to bottom

As for future development and the stadium, don't be suprised to see us kicked out of the league and back in the Championship next time the licenses are given out

Agree with most of what you say mate however can't for the life of me see why Rangi will cop a ban for thowing and missing with two punches (nothing about the RFL surprise me anymore tho!!) and as for Goldy i wish a few more of our guys had the same 'Fire in their bellies' spirit that he has,we let far too many teams boss us for my liking.

Delboy66(aye of the tigers fanzine)

I thought striking/punching with intent carried a couple of games ban

I agree with the fire in the bellies part but McGoldrick must already be on 3/4 warnings over his conduct this season alone. I just wonder how many they will take it to before something more is done

I reckon he's got a decorating job on the side and needs all the warning letters he can get to finish it



Your probably right about the 'intent' bit carrying a possible ban ,as i said nowt surprises me bout them tosspots at the RFL



Delboy66(aye of the tigers fanzine)

We were well beaten by a side that was bigger, faster and more skilful.

Many of the more realistic supporters predicted we would fail to make the play-offs and probably finish about 10th on prior to the season beginning. We're currently in 11th and if we win on Friday will be up to 10th.

Last season a number of sides that looked better on paper finished below us because they underperformed (Warrington, Bradford) or were hit with loads of injuries (Hull).

Unless Matterson has been given the money to improve the squad in the off season and chose not to do so I can't see how you can blame him for the current position we find ourselves in.

The only bugbear I have with TM is discipline. This is something that has been lacking for a while and is probably a reflection of his 'buddy' approach to coaching. I think many of the other factors effecting our progress are out of his hands.

He comes across as a nice bloke. As a result, he probably hasn't the personality to clamp down and erradicate a lot of the ill-discipline that has seen us on the wrong end of 1-5 point winning margins (more so last year).

Can/will this change while he's in charge? I'm not so sure. Is it reason alone to go a different direction? Tough one.

Blame cannot completely lay with TM there are other factors, like the ones mentioned with whether he was given the money to improve the side or not.

Defence and discipline are our biggest faults, and possibly not killing games off when we have the chance (Wire and HKR are prime examples of this)

The biggest problem i have with TM is letting personal battles and his unknown dislike for youngsters dictate the squad, Damien Blanch, Keith Mason, Ben Gledhill, Michael Knowles, Ryan Boyle etc etc etc, the list is never ending

I love this:

On the one hand: Terry is to much of a mate with players.

Yet the evidence of Mason etc shows that he's firm on who's in charge.

Oh, that's because he lets personal dislikes get in the way.

=#8040FFWell falling out with players isn't the same as disciplining them is it?

And there you have the problem. The mentality of our fans are unreal.

We're 11th thats ok, bradford and wire should be above us while the likes of wakefield, hull kr, huddeersfield etc. etc. make big strides at overtaking the big 4. Lets be happy with 11th though