Tbh I didn't get to watch many reserve games last season, was more a point that it looked as though there wasn't much chance of any u20 players getting a look in under the old regime.
Would explain why there have been some very lacklustre performances from the 1st team in recent seasons if they know that they would never be replaced regardless of form.

I don't understand the obsession some have with throwing youth players in.

Personally I couldn't care less the age or origins of a player providing we have a winning team.

Its not that long ago there was a clammer for Lee and Washbrook to be promoted to the first team, apparently they were going to beat all comers. In reality the clammer came from them being young lads who were from Hull and they were nothing more than decent, solid players at best.

Clubs need to develop their own players, if everyone decided not to then they game would collapse. So at some point they have to be tried, no one is saying they will be amazing talents but we won't know how good or bad they are until they are given a chance.

"We have new ideas, new faces and when you throw that into the melting pot hopefully we can come up with the recipe that will take us to the top of the table in the next few years." www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... story.html?

"We have new ideas, new faces and when you throw that into the melting pot hopefully we can come up with the recipe that will take us to the top of the table in the next few years." www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... story.html?

I kinda see where your coming from and I also couldnt care less where they come from.

The problem we have had recently though is having 19/20 senior players instead of 16/17 which IMO has lowered the standard of players we are able to attract due to salary cap restraints.

STOP !! THIEF !!!

As stated before,wasn`t one of the reasons behind no relegation a chance to give the youngsters a chance ,without fear of relegation?
I agree with you about age,if the player performs I couldn`t give a monkeys how old he is.

That's not what I was saying, more the point that we haven't promoted the younger squad players when 1st team players are injured. Instead we have shuffled 4 or 5 players around to accommodate 1 injury, unlike Saints for example who have brought in a younger player of the same position as that of the injured.
As you say it doesn't matter their age, if they're good enough they're old enough but we have to have the faith in them when the opportunity comes.

When you don't develop your own players you end up having to pay over the odds to get them from elsewhere and you get a poor squad for your spend like we have in recent years

Spot on. The thing we don't really know is to what extent our poor record in recent years of bringing academy players through is due to underinvestment, and/or not enough quality in the players themselves, and/or Agar's reluctance to give them any gametime unless absolutely forced by injuries. A combination of all three, certainly.

Quote ="tommyfromhull""We have new ideas, new faces and when you throw that into the melting pot [uhopefully we can come up with the recipe that will take us to the top of the table in the next few years."[/u Blimey, a few is after 3 and before a lot! Still, no pressure then. www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... story.html?'"

Quote ="tommyfromhull""We have new ideas, new faces and when you throw that into the melting pot [uhopefully we can come up with the recipe that will take us to the top of the table in the next few years."[/u Blimey, a few is after 3 and before a lot! Still, no pressure then. www.thisishullandeastriding.co.u ... story.html?'"

I agree mate, even when he has a quiet game there is something about his game and ability that stands out. I've absolutely no doubt he'll make the transition to SL. I did say that about Jack Briscoe, too, though. I think our youth system has failed him. He may get a shot under the new regime, but I think his development has stood still for the last 2 seasons.

The fact he kept getting moved from wing to full back killed his development.

Reece Lyne is heading the same way too by getting moved from wing to fullback and in some games even at centre, no continuity at all for him.

All clubs need to develop and giving youth which is ready and good enough an opportunity, no problem.

However our forum is littered with calls for the likes of Green, Nicklas, Crooks, J Briscoe etc to be chucked in. No so long ago it was Lyne, earlier than this I gave the examples of Lee and Washbrook. This increase in expectation is just heaping pressure on these kids before they have set foot inthe first team.

Lee was on a hiding to nothing by having to step in after the fallout from Judas jumping ship & Washy is a 13 but has rarely been played there.
Loose forward has been one of our more secure positions & so his chances have been rare there, otherwise I think he would have developed into a good 13.

You're absolving Last from any blame then?

I don't know much about him but if he's the cheap option that would be "underinvestment", wouldn't it? Seems to be well liked but so was Agar.

I don't know much about him either, apart from that he's local (which is mightily important, of course).

Much like Agar, Last is a symptom of "underinvestment" and not a victim of it. Only difference is that we've retained Last, which concerns me greatly as, despite the demotion, he's still in an incredibly important role.

If you don't know much about him (and by extension how good he is at his job), surely the fact that he is the only member of the coaching staff to be retained by those who presumably do should be a very reassuring sign?

Personally I find it difficult to believe that [ieveryone[/i involved in the club was/is not any good. It doesn't have to be everybody underperforming for the club to do so, which is what plenty on here seem to think. The broom has well and truly been swept, so I'm now willing to give the survivors the benefit of the doubt and a chance under the new regime.

Wasn't he in charge of the Reserves last year? Thought they finished about 3rd after Warrington and Wigan, but could well be wrong.

Demotion? Somebody better let Andy know it was a demotion because he hosted a family party a fortnight ago to celebrate his promotion!!!!!
Very highly regarded at the KC and rightly so.

And he has been for several years. What are his main attributes?

That's the common mistake though, his primary remit isn't to produce a fairly successful reserves side, it's to produce players for the first team. As CS said, there's grounds to have faith simply because he's one of the few coaches to be retained, and if the likes of Crookes and Pearce thrive next season then I'll take it all back.

Yeah they ought to let him know, 'cos the way you tell it it makes him look really thick.

More likely, he was celebrating the relief of maintaining his employment amidst a massive cull.