No, I'm saying that long is carrying the team when he plays and we don't seem to be doing anything to be effective when he isn't on the pitch

Agree with you about Long carrying the team. Just don't think we have the player(s) with his skills available to replace him when he's injured. We didn't have those players last year either.

True, however other teams don't fall to pieces when they lose one influential player. Without getting into agar bashing, I don't believe anything has changed at all since last year other than long is good enough to run a game for us. Take him out and it's back to same old..

That team today was more than good enough to beat crusaders

Not without a halfback. If Witt had been on our team, or not played for them, we would have won. Other teams that will finish near the top do have better cover (ie at least 2 decent creative halves):

Leeds Burrow/Sinfield/McGuire
Hudds Brown/Robinson/Drew
Bradford Orford/Kearney
Wire Briers/Myler/Monaghan
Wigan Leuluai/Tomkins/Deacon

even Rovers have 2 influential players in Cooke and Dobson although they have pack problems.

So compared to around half of the league I think we are down on creative players who are accustomed to playing a half back role and all that it entails.

Which is why I said when we announced the signing of Long that its only a good signing if we sign a creative 6 to play along side him. Unfortunately that didn't happen.

In fairness apart from Orford who were the other creative halves who moved clubs ? Pointless signing a second rater we've done enough of that and failed before.

So what you're saying is that this massive team rebuilding agar did in the off season was completely skewed away from where it should have been and instead of having 7 back rowers he should maybe have signed another 1/2 back? Good job agar was in charge when horne was offered a new contract or he'd be using that as his get out clause for 2010

As I just posted which half that would fit under the cap would you have signed ? How many good ones were available and moved clubs ? Myler possibly although he will have been tempted by a big wedge and didn't have to move house.

Ratchford if we'd offered salford enough. Could have signed him instead of o'meley, moa or fitz

seems that way JTP, lose Long, it all goes t!ts up, I never went today, so cant comment as such, but by listening to radio, it just seemed like same old e that we witnessed the past two seasons, and that it a depressing thought!
where was Agars plan B?? hes the coach, the book stops at him, i really thought they would come out after half time and blow them apart, how wrong was i? wonder what he said at half time, to get them so motivated??
im not too depressed (much

) as its only 1 game, but its just a bit too much like de ja vu for me!!
AGAR OUT



( that was a joke, although it wont be if we lose on friday

)

We could have gone for a player like Ratchford. Anyone who can pass the ball with speed and accuracy would be an improvement.

Never takes long for you to start with groundless supposition. You have no idea that Salford would let him go, or indeed if we did try for him. If we hadn't and he was available then I think he would have gone somewhere else. So you think we should have signed another creative half but you don't know of an available one. Bingo

See above.

nail on head

would have loved to have signed Ratchford, instead of Moa (although i do like Moa, just dont think he was the right signing for Hull), dont think he would have cost a great deal, hes wasted at Salford

I'm sure ratchford was as available as myler as soon as someone offered enough cash.

Feel free to give me some examples of my groundless suppositions though

It's not my job to come up with options and scout out potential players. We have professionals for that.

could brad drew been a good signing or even james webster as back up . becasue when long is out i really dont think we have a clue in attack horney has never been able to orginise and never will and players like washy, turner, tansey and berro can fill in there but not natural halfbacks were as webster ok isnt great but would of provided great cover for halback and would be able to orginise the team. i still think that the club have room in the salary cap for another signing.
is there any young halfbacks out there who are realistic signings.

Here's one ...

Don't think Bradford will be near the top. Wasn't impressed on Friday, they played an out of sorts Cas and still let in 20 odd points. Think we'll be in the mix again for the play offs and have decent cover at half back in Brough/Jeffries/Obst. I always thought you'd struggle without Long who I believe is your only creative player. But if he stays fit then you should be in for a much better season as he has the ability to virtually win a game on his own. what would FC fans think to trying to prise Ben Black away from fax (quota spot dependant)? Been impressed whenever I've seen him play and he probably deserves a shot at the big time

james webster?

It's a start, let's have some more now. You did say:



So there must be plenty of examples or are you mixing me up with that guy who organises sit ins and has meetings down the boozer again

All in good time

Almost got you mixed up with the guy who claimed Rule wasn't good enough to run Hull FC. Not heard from him recently after we posted another profit though

rule runs Hull FC, now that's cheerd me up after today's result