Look I know you love these long drawn out arguements but I really can't be bothered. I'll just assume you either didn't actually hear the interview or your just upset I didn't read your post how you intended. Either way forget it and move on.

Great post Nev.

I listened to an interview with Brett Seymour, he indicated that a few players hadnt trained all week, but then were selected for first team duty.

Maybe, Gentle needs to give youth more chances, ie Kent,Green,Nicklas,Pearce,Briscoe, to create more competition for places, thus reducing the complacency factor.

Fans dont mind losing if the team has a 'dig', but they cant stomach lack of attitude.

I think that's fair enough, but the nature of the performances over the last four games has been the biggest issue for many. If your squad just isn't good enough and you get beat by better teams, most people will accept that. But scraping by against London, coughing up a 14 point lead against Rovers and not being able to beat Saints with an overwhelming possession/position advantage upsets folk a bit. Add yesterday's utterly woeful display into the mix, and it's easy to see why some are vexed.

On a personal note, I've got a lot of things I need to spend my money on at the moment. I couldn't really afford the outlay for yesterday's game, but I went because I wanted to support the team. To make that extra effort just to see them throw away a 20 point lead in just over 30 minutes was absolutely depressing. It certainly won't help Pearson's attempts to increase the home gates, either.

Completely agree, yesterday was unexceptable and I understand why people are upset (me included).

I aren't upset in the slightest. I just found it amusing how you said that what I said was a myth, but then said exactly the same words in a slightly different order but with the same meaning and it no longer became a myth!

I heard the interview on the way home. He mentioned "there are some issues but we are going to keep these in-house". This led me to ask "I wonder what he was referring to when he was talking about the in-house issues?"

But apparently "issues in-house" and "in-house issues" are different things.

Could you just tell me what the difference is, and then I'll move on...

I made that point about Pearson to Clarkey on twitter yesterday, I explained that whilst fans loyalty will always be there the current financial climate means more and more decisons on money are having to be made and rugby won't always be first choice. I was in the same boat as you yesterday and very nearly said sod it I am going to rugby but decided against it. Glad I did now. I've also decided I won't be going to Wire as that's even more expensive due to the extra travel.

Getting the fans to stay/come back is as bigger challenge for AP as getting a quality side is to PG.

IF AP wants the fans to return to the KC, he has to sign a player that captures the imagination
of the fans.

Guys such as Kearney,Holdsworth wont do it - IMO Chase would. - but AP has to get his chequebook out - question is, will he??

They don't come much bigger than Gareth Ellis.

I think this is a fair point. AP has publicly stated that we can't have top players in our team unless the crowds return. But we're faced with something of a chicken and egg situation, aren't we? The crowds won't be reaching 15,000 averages all the time games like yesterday (and the previous three, to some extent) are occurring with any frequency. So if AP wants the crowds back, there's going to have to be some serious investment in the playing side - possibly at a loss - before that can become a reality.

I must have missed the announcement, when did our next 11 games get cancelled and the season declared a write off?

He's class, but he can't do it on his own. I think its more the creative players that put bums on seats, as well. Sign a class halfback, or a Jamie Lyon (yes, yes, I know), and watch the crowds rise.

One won't happen without the other, IMO.

Wouldn't disagree with that. The worrying thing is that of those you mention as "keepers" Lynch is 32 , Manu is gone , Moa and Tickle look likely to go and Briscoe will no doubt go if things don't improve and may go anyway. That's alot of work to do in the recruitment department and seemingly with a dearth of talent available.

To RL purists - yes. Ellis is in the top 5 backrowers in RL today.

But, the fans are crying out for better attacking expansive play, and to be entertained.
our attack has been dormant for too long, fans have become bored with our style.

What is needed is a player , is somebody who is capable of getting fans on the edge of their seats,
eg Matty Bowen, Jamie Lyon, etc etc.

These players are not available, but Chase is.

Be a big problem getting the crowds up without some more top signings like ellis, Money is tight and the signings mentioned even though decent players wont necessarily put bums on seats.

How is Chase available? He's under contract and Cas don't want him to leave unless someone offers something stupid like 500k.

I wasn't saying he could, just pointing out AP had delivered what he said he wanted, big name players. Of course we need more but quality creative players are hard to find. Maybe Holdsworth would be better than we think, maybe someone like Myler is worth a gamble, who knows?

I haven't seen enough of Holdsworth to form an opinion, really. What I do know is that he's not going to convince those who are wavering to buy a season pass. A Seymour/Holdsworth partnership might work well, and bring the crowds back gradually through the season, but it won't cause a huge surge in support initially.

chase isnt available and cas would want a hefty fee to lure him away and a big wage demand but contracts mean nothing nowadays it always comes down to money and if the right amount is agreed that contract is ripped up and in my eyes its wrong if you sign a four year deal you should see that contract out

I don’t quite agree with that.
Whilst it is nice to have big names, fans are more interested in big performances.

I don’t expect any more fans are going to drop off, but to get the absent fans back, then they have to start genuinely and consistently be competing as a top team, and start winning things.

Imho, that is going to take some time.

And maybe that is why Person brought McRae in

THe daft thing is, we should be top 2/3 at the moment, if not for several brain implosions!

Castleford wont say no to any 'serious' offer for Chase,like they did for Westerman,also Kevin Brown was under contract, but was lured away by a fee.

There is only a small handful of SL clubs, who can reject cash offers,for their players.

hull smallears wrote
My thoughts exactly.

The table - played 16 won 9 drawn 2 lost 5 points difference +70 - looks ok particularly given our injuries BUT we have p*ssed away 5 points in our last 3 games.

We seemed to be making solid progress and if anything overachieving but at the moment you wouldn't back us to reach the play offs never mind be competitive.

Agree it's not ideal, but it's too early to be worrying.