good to see Balmforth signed up long term....moral of the story, dont believe everything you get told

[quote="number 6":3q4dxvrc]good to see Balmforth signed up long term....moral of the story, dont believe everything you get told [/quote:3q4dxvrc] All that fretting for nowt

[quote="Dave K.":2w0lbwq1]Well you suggested it on Pete Riding post.[/quote:2w0lbwq1] did anyone actually say he'd signed for rovers?

Had Cartwright not come in, think Balmforth would be gone. On another topic, read an article about Connor the other day, said he wanted to stay long term at Hull and talks of a new contract broke down when Smith came in, wish we had him, think he would have been great for us playing at centre or 6 under Cartwright. Still can't believe the damage Smith did.

I was surprised myler spoke positively about smith in that interview. The guy has done a huge amount of damage to our club

[quote="Jake the Peg":6wp95766]I was surprised myler spoke positively about smith in that interview. The guy has done a huge amount of damage to our club[/quote:6wp95766] He spoke positively about the Smith of old. From about 10 years ago. Not the Smith that damages our club

Good to have Balmforth signed up, said it seemed like a big gamble for me letting him start the season able to negotiate with other clubs, if he started the season well we’d have been in a battle to keep him. Also been confirmed by Matt Shaw that clubs have been given quota dispensation to sign Salford players. Don’t think it’s that relevant for us, Cross was the target and if they do sell think it will only be Leeds now with the Sivo injury.

I think this shows that what is happening at the club is a huge improvement with this regime in charge. 6 months ago, there is no way on earth that Balmforth is staying at the club - and I hear he also had offers to move.

We can only go on what is being said Myler will bull the new owners up of course he will but Cartwright is a different kettle of fish for already we know that he deals in truths and is as transparent as a coach could be whilst just telling us how it is and not how it could be. Honesty (as one of the players told me a while back) is his watchword he doesn't pull any punches or deal in bull sh*t or fantasy stuff. He obviously believes that the tools are there to move us forward and lets face it I defy anyone on here to have actually ever have dreamed that we would be where we are on and off the field now, last April when the Giants of all people put 56 points on us at home. Two games in and two big defeats and some on here will be shroud waiving and wringing their hands and wanting a change of coach etc. etc. Personally I just get vociferous and agitated if the club I love is threatened as believe me it was around May time last year, otherwise I just want to know that we are all being positive. So, not wanting to take BP's Tombesque mantel from him, I think we just have to hold the line until any of this current rhetoric about the owners commitment the coaches ability and the players new found passion, is proved to be totally wrong. I'm looking forward to getting going this weekend and just praying we keep the injuries down!

[quote="Dave K.":1m5lpaiy]Had Cartwright not come in, think Balmforth would be gone. On another topic, read an article about Connor the other day, said he wanted to stay long term at Hull and talks of a new contract broke down when Smith came in, wish we had him, think he would have been great for us playing at centre or 6 under Cartwright. Still can't believe the damage Smith did.[/quote:1m5lpaiy] Disagree on Connor he was unfit and lazy in his last years here at a time when we needed our expensive players to step up and lead the team. Also in fairness to Smith I'd imagine you get earache listening to Jake all week.

[quote="DSJ1983":mym5xwk0]Good to have Balmforth signed up, said it seemed like a big gamble for me letting him start the season able to negotiate with other clubs, if he started the season well we’d have been in a battle to keep him. Also been confirmed by Matt Shaw that clubs have been given quota dispensation to sign Salford players. Don’t think it’s that relevant for us, Cross was the target and if they do sell think it will only be Leeds now with the Sivo injury.[/quote:mym5xwk0] Just quota or quota and cap?

[quote="DSJ1983":3vlrgop3]Good to have Balmforth signed up, said it seemed like a big gamble for me letting him start the season able to negotiate with other clubs, if he started the season well we’d have been in a battle to keep him. Also been confirmed by Matt Shaw that clubs have been given quota dispensation to sign Salford players. Don’t think it’s that relevant for us, Cross was the target and if they do sell think it will only be Leeds now with the Sivo injury.[/quote:3vlrgop3] I'd go all out for Marsters if it happens, still no cap exemption, so we would be a strong position. Still don't think Salford will sell anyone.

[quote="Jake the Peg":2zwp7lgf]I was surprised myler spoke positively about smith in that interview. The guy has done a huge amount of damage to our club[/quote:2zwp7lgf] He did a poor job but honestly think you'd have to be a miracle worker to get much out of the players, finances and facilities we had last year. Main thing in my judgement was who signed the players was it Smith or Clark? Or both in combo? Whoever it was they did a good job finding Ese Ese then lost use of their eyesight for the rest. But anyway that's the past, it's expensive spot on recruitment from now on

[quote="UllFC":2fjrq787]Disagree on Connor he was unfit and lazy in his last years here at a time when we needed our expensive players to step up and lead the team. Also in fairness to Smith I'd imagine you get earache listening to Jake all week.[/quote:2fjrq787] I disagree, I never saw Connor as either of those, he was a bit slow for full back and got frustrated, but I don't think you could fault his effort. His last season he basically stopped us from moe or less stopped us from having a season like last year, won us game on his own. I've also heard he is a great kid off the filed and liked by teammates.

[quote="Dave K.":1drgigat]I disagree, I never saw Connor as either of those, he was a bit slow for full back and got frustrated, but I don't think you could fault his effort. His last season he basically stopped us from moe or less stopped us from having a season like last year, won us game on his own. I've also heard he is a great kid off the filed and liked by teammates.[/quote:1drgigat] We will have to disagree, he did nothing at Huddersfield after he left us and is now in last chance saloon at Leeds in terms of big contracts.

Agree on the last chance saloon. He has undoubted talent but he needs to mature on the pitch. That try he gave away in the giants v saints match just summed him up, too busy moaning at the ref. He had years at fc., it’s time to move on. Wish him well at Leeds but can see it going ti*s up.

Chan going to Salford is an interesting move on a few levels.

[quote="Dave K.":35fxoth0]Chan going to Salford is an interesting move on a few levels.[/quote:35fxoth0] Might suggest that the Salford ‘Trading’ of players has commenced…..

[quote="Jake the Peg":228iq7cd]Just quota or quota and cap?[/quote:228iq7cd] Only mentioned quota in the article.

The Salford situation is making a mockery of the sport.

[quote="Dave K.":2rfg27t4]I'd go all out for Marsters if it happens, still no cap exemption, so we would be a strong position. Still don't think Salford will sell anyone.[/quote:2rfg27t4] Agree, I’d love us to make a big play but I don’t think we will, we’d only be in a strong position if we could offer him a multi year deal and that depends on who we’ve got our eye on for our likely only quota place next season. Also agree with Salford not selling, I think they’ve got something sorted and don’t think they’ll be a ‘fire sale’ as predicted, but it will depend on if the new owners are willing to run at a loss for a couple of years or want to steady the ship straight away. It was always said that they’d prefer to sell the overseas players hence why they pushed for quota dispensation and have rejected bids for Sneyd and Cross. I reckon eventually they’ll try and move on one of the big earners in Marsters or Macdonald like they did with Croft last year but keep the bulk of what’s a good squad together.

[quote="UllFC":1f0veybh][quote="Jake the Peg":1f0veybh]I was surprised myler spoke positively about smith in that interview. The guy has done a huge amount of damage to our club[/quote:1f0veybh] He did a poor job but honestly think you'd have to be a miracle worker to get much out of the players, finances and facilities we had last year. Main thing in my judgement was who signed the players was it Smith or Clark? Or both in combo? Whoever it was they did a good job finding Ese Ese then lost use of their eyesight for the rest. But anyway that's the past, it's expensive spot on recruitment from now on [/quote:1f0veybh] Think in regards to Mylers comment he was referring to Smith from when he was coached by him. Don't think it was a coincidence in timings that Smith was sacked and Myler came in. Smith in the most part did well early on but is certainly now one of those coaches that has let the game pass them by as its evolved. You have to wonder how much he really was committed to the cause given the level of training the players did as financial aspect aside players should have still trained under a head coach full time not just a few hours a day. At the end of the day what is clear is that with the new owners in Thirkill & Hood backed by RM & JC they are all very much in it for the long hall and on the same page. What was also telling from some of RM's comments are the club is now staffed with good people in the relevant areas and he's just a conduit is getting the best out of all the people, not running every dept himself, which is how it should be. It does genuinely seem as though the attitude and atmosphere with the club as whole has also lifted and maybe the lack of this in previous years was part of what was often referred to as a cancer in the club. I like, Wilf certainly believe the club and all involved have earned some time and patience from us all, even if we don't get off to the most positive of starts they at least deserve our support and the time for the club to adapt to the raft of change that as swept through. Said it before but I don't think I've looked forward to a season more since we signed Gaz or the 2017 season after coming so close in 2016 & the CC win, I just hope we finally see the breakthrough in terms of improvement and the structures in place.

[quote="Rugby Raider":2cd7m8zx]Might suggest that the Salford ‘Trading’ of players has commenced…..[/quote:2cd7m8zx] I didnt think they where allowed to register anyone..

[quote="Blackandwhitebigdog":8cwokvg6]The Salford situation is making a mockery of the sport.[/quote:8cwokvg6] To be fair I don’t think anything’s really changed in the last week or so. All that’s happened is that clubs have agreed for quota dispensation if the situation arises that they need to sell, Salford still seem pretty insistent that they won’t need to sell.

[quote="DSJ1983":284tfcp9]Good to have Balmforth signed up, said it seemed like a big gamble for me letting him start the season able to negotiate with other clubs, if he started the season well we’d have been in a battle to keep him. Also been confirmed by Matt Shaw that clubs have been given quota dispensation to sign Salford players. Don’t think it’s that relevant for us, Cross was the target and if they do sell think it will only be Leeds now with the Sivo injury.[/quote:284tfcp9] Wouldn't that put us in a better position if we decided to make a move for Lafai, McDonald or Marsters? We need a centre and have cap space unlike a few other clubs. The dispensation allows an extra quota signing on a 1 year contract. Lafai is only on a 1 year deal at Salford so I guess he might accept a similar contract if we offered him one. All hypothetical. I'd rather Salford secure the investment sort the mess out and avoid a fire sale.