I haven't seen the new training facilities etc for myself, but by all accounts it is streets ahead of what we used to have. It's not just the money though, there is a different attitude towards player development these days.

Crikey,these accounts are in a mess?

What's interesting is Gentle after the match saying the team simply didn't follow the game plan even after he spoke to them at half time. We have player site Ellis, O'meley, lynch, whiting, Holdsworth. These are seasoned professionals, do they not have the mental capacity between then to talk to each other and the rest of the team on the pitch to say we're doing this wrong, stick to the plan and take it from there. Gentle can only do so much once they get on the pitch, but if they don't follow plan even have a half time team talk what can he do?

I tend to agree. Didn't see any sort of leadership out there yesterday, just a bunch of disparate individuals doing their own thing (mostly badly).

Ellis appeared to go off injured early on, that can't have helped.

The conditions ruined it for me - ok, wigan handled it better than we did, but we had the same problems in France with that wretched rhino ball.

Surely, the ball should be designed to stick to the hands like glue, not be as slippery as a wet bar of soap.

When Ellis went off we lost any chance of re-grouping. There doesn't appear to be anyone else capable of leading the side. In the semi final he was the talisman - although he did come back on in the final he wasn't right and had no impact.

I don't think the lack of attacking quality is just about the individuals on the pitch, it's about structure and we have none. It's what should be sorted on the training pitch but doesn't seem to be being done

I think you're probably right. 7th at best

It was damaged ribs, apparently, and he went off after only 14 minutes and was off the field for nearly half the match.

Most of us a still pretty shocked and gutted, I have not watched the recording yet and maybe I won't for days.

No one said it was easy being an FC supporter, it hurts like hell at times but when its good the feeling lasts a lifetime. I saw many of our supporters wandering around in a daze yesterday all feeling pain and hurt, I also saw a number of Wigan supporters showing no passion at all. If we had won we would have been bouncing all the way home, there buses seemed very quiet. Its not that Wigan supporters are less pasionate then us or anyone else its just they have been there so many times it means no so much as it does to us.

The rollercoaster will be ready to run again come Friday and who is it again ?

COYH

I'm on the rollercoaster. We need a win next week at all costs. That means the players recovering their belief pdq. Can Gentle get them up? Big test for him.

We may well surprise a few next Friday in Wigan. I am expecting a big response (hope I am right). It has never been easy following Hull, but I do believe that AP was the best thing to happen to this club. It was always going to take time, but he is a good businessman, who is willing to invest in the right areas to move the club forward. The club needs to be built on young British talent wherever possible and progress has been made there.

I fancy your chances for Friday. We don't need any more points and I doubt anyone less than 100% will be risked!

Could you pick the Wigan team for us please. By the way, well done yesterday.

nice to see a bit of common sense on here, agree with most of what mr zuccini head says, still gutted but hey thats sport for you, right better get my shirt ironed for friday coyh

I'd get down your local bookies then b'cos you'll be heavy odds on and we'll be decent odds against.
Go for it.

I wouldn't be surprised if we don't win another match this season. It will take the players a lot to get over yesterday and the injury situation wont get any better. I fear we will finish 8th and lose our play off game.

cant see a win at wigan, but think we can beat saints, maybe time to give bowden green and johnson some gametime

I agree, we need to shuffle the pack a bit and add some freshness. These lads will be raring to go whereas the 'regulars' will still be licking their wounds so to speak.
A win at Wigan is possible as they may have been enjoying a pint or two this week!
Very hard to stay positive but the rocky road that is Hull FC is a usual route for us and some day that will change I feel. Grand Final anyone?? Taxi

Will be a least one change if the rumour of Jay Pitts dislocated shoulder is true

Not 100% but im sure he looked ok today

Think Wigan could field a team of their youngsters and still give us a game, they seem to be as well drilled as the first team and just seem to slot in easily

The players may be better for the experience but the attack is simply not good enough. From what I get told a lot of the players just can't get the attacking side of what Gentle wants onto the pitch.

Also the sheer amount of energy we use to defend means we are sacrificing dummy runners which ultimately is our down fall. The half backs will cop a lot of stick but they can't make players do dummy runs or take different lines. Yeaman only ever seems to try and power his way on the outside of a player, Tickle only ever runs on the inside and Ellis seems to just do too much defensively which is affecting his attack. Think we employ too many dumb players who all need to go before we will get better in this department.

The only way to change the mentality of this club is to wash away the old and nurse young players into a great squad, it will take time unfortunately. Regardless of the final we did well to get to wembley which is something to build on but we need more then great defence .

fair post, hopefully miller will blossom next year as think hes done well overall, sprinkle in some more signings , youngsters have another year under the belt, jobs a good one ,