Whereas a coach, for example out of work or in a lower league, may "relish the challenge".

I'm happy to stick with FC to be fair, but if there were to be a change, Kear is just the sort of man-manager who inspires his troops to run through brick walls for him, similar to the way of Peter Fox. I don't know what his "donnin' oil" talks are like, but if they could be bottled they'd be worth millions.

Oh, absolutely -they've little to lose, to be fair. I mean they're hardly going to get the flak if we go down.

That said, I'm far from sure that there are many obvious candidates though, Kear excepted. Funnily enough, I'd guess [ihe[/i would [idefinitely[/i 'relish the challenge' as being right up his street - us against the world, up and at 'em, let's go get 'em - last one out is a cissie....

One of the biggest differences between Mabanana and FC is that, at the time, the majority of Bulls fans wanted rid of SM. This was the feeling for many a month, before the board finally realised and stood him down.

Where as if we look at FC, the majority of fans are happy for him to continue. Yes we may not be overly impressed with some of the antics that goes on for 80 minutes of a game, but look at the crap he has dealt with.

He has stayed through [iall[/i the recent administrations, and managed to build a squad of players that genuinely don't want to leave the Bulls.

I have no doubts as to his persona with the players (regarding him as a Mr nice guy), as we have seen many players shown the door for not agreeing with his methods (Whitehead, Sammut, L'estrange etc.)

Would we be at the foot of the table with the squad he recruited over the summer? Personally, I don't think so. Losing his best 2 props, with little ability (out there) to replace them, is none of his own doing.

In my opinion, FC will not be the next Mcbanana, and even if we are relegated, I would not hold him responible for the Bulls demise. I'd be happy for him to continue his work in the next division down, but unfortunately, I think he may have bigger aspirations.

I agree with all of that, and couldn't have put it better myself. The one "advantage" McNamara had was the lack of relegation, this time we don't, relegation is looming and I think Cummins' inexperience at times has been glaringly obvious. So I'd like to see some 'short term pain, long term gain' type management decisions to pull out every stop to stay in Super League. Going back 12 months it was this time last year we lost to Wigan (April 14) and only won one game - Salford - until Hull FC came to Odsal on July 19. We can't afford that run again.

For the record, I'm never discounting the turmoil faced by the squad over the last few seasons, that is simply impossible to do and the effect is immeasureable; but the world keeps on turning and come September two teams will go down, I would hate that to be us because we didn't exhaust every available avenue.

Think davy, you're maybe judging the T&A rantboard to be the arbiters of public opinion?

There was a vocal minority on here who wanted Macca out..well OK it was fairly even, to be fair, but it wasn't the majority - neither did the board "stand him down", he left to take up the job of England manager, IIRC.

I doubt FC would be in any real danger, for the reasons you mention and partly for similar reasons to Macca; ie, the club doesn't have the money to waste paying people off - particularly when the problem is much deeper rooted - cash.

From what I remember, the players had also lost confidence in his ability, many experienced pro's could not understand his (constant) selection choices.

He was stood down (mutual consent of course

) with a number of games left in the season. LSH took charge of these, until the board announced the capture of Potter.

In his early days, I thought he would do okay at the Bulls, but his transfer dealings were terrible. Towards the end of his reign, I was definitely looking forward to his departure.

I don't think FC has had a fair shake of the stick, however you want to look at it. He's the guy who's had to carry the can over one of the harshest times the club has had to endure.

An offseason with no financial meltdowns, getting to the end of the season with the same players he started with. These are the things FC has yet to experience in his tenure.

Judge him once the playing field is level

Therein lies the problem with relegation. Financial panic.

Ironically that may be while playing Batley next year...

True. But then again I don't know what the Bulls can or can't afford, if we don't have the funds then we'll die by the sword as it were, and I can understand that, but if we find the money for someone else then it should be looked at. This isn't Gray Viane we're talking about here. One man's financial panic could be another man's shrewd move.

Personally i think its clear to see Castleford are better this season due to Chase leaving as they now seem to be playing some exspansive rugby and not trying to build the team and play around one man,

That being said it seems to be the case with Salford, and if Chase is closed down each game they wont get anywhere IMO (just like Cas in previous seasons) just a shame we didnt seem to be able to do that.

It's splitting hairs but Cas improved, or were less abysmal, in the second half of last season with Orr at the helm for a bit and then Powell taking over.

I thought I'd heard the Batley ground had been levelled..?

but he got what he could with the funds available and also revived the junior set up.

It clearly wasn't any 'golden era', and that is a fact, but people are buffeted by things going on around them and just do their best and sometimes they are just overwhelmed by all the negatives, and that was the situation for Macca, imo. I very much doubt, in those circumstances, it would have been any different under another coach.

Not unless someone lends us one!

In his final season, he did go for the 'almighty' star which backfired. Orford was reportedly on about £300,000 per season.

I also think Mcnamara had quite a bit of cash to spend compared to the current manager. In his last season, we were paying for Glen Hall, Orford, L'estrange, Scruton, Kearney, Lynch, Langley and Menzies. If the rumours were true, Platt and Sykes were also on very decent wages.

I'd imagine the list above of 10 players above would probably equate to more than what we are currently spending on a squad of 25(ish).

Looking back at the 2010 team, we actually had some really decent players, and we still failed to make the top 8.

Don't think it was so much. The Aussie press consistently claimed a deal worth $1.5m over 3 seasons, the exchange rate at the time was roughly $2 so nearer £250k but the "worth" will no doubt have included a signing on dollop so the annual pay would have been proportionately less. Whatever, a helluva lot of money but had all things been and stayed equal, probably worth it for the NRL's premiership winning halfback and Dally M holder.

Orford was outstanding during his short stay. He almost single-handed turned around the Bulls. What followed was a devastating blow.

Remembering Orford, what would a top class play maker be worth to us right now. If a player came available for 6 months would we pay to get him like London did last year with the state of origin half back. We probably can't afford a big short term signing but also can't afford not to make some signings / loans. Catch 22 I am afraid.

Even if a top class play maker was available, and we could afford him - doesn't guarantee he would slot into the rest of the team. If we had the cash to splash you would want someone who could help us win sufficient games to get above 10 points to give us even an outside chance. I think we should finish above London, the question is can we catch Wakey?

Even if he didn't slot in straight away would e do any worse than Luke Gale?

Shhh you can't say a bad word about him.

I'd forgotten about Awful, to be honest. I think as TT said, he actually played quite well whilst he was here [in the top 4 IIRC, when he went homeand the club was more than fair in allowing him to go home to recuperate.

Oh, what might have been - I guess that was a decision they would like to have re-visited. Ultimately it killed not only that season but also the next as we couldn't recruit with him hanging on to his contract whilst playing around trying to get an Aussie deal.