You have really set yourself up there pal

Anyone who doesn't therefore agree with your opinion is worthless then ?

Yet you put your opinions up first after telling everyone that no-one can challenge them.

I do reserve the right to query the opinion of anyone posting on here because it is an open forum. Sorry, but it's not your call to say it isn't !!!

(as it happens I do pretty much agree with what you say, except McDonnell is not an awesome fullback. Awesome catcher of the ball yes, but too slow on kick returns. There you go)

and no doubt someone else will have different views entirely, which they are also entitled to !

That's my point tho mate, anyone has the right to question it..

What I'm saying is you shouldn't be slagged off or called for your opinion.

1. Shannon McDonnell - fantastic signing, safer under the bomb and good kick return
2. Jason Crookes - wouldnt want him as 1st choice winger, decent back up
3. Joe Arundel - unfortunate with injury as he was finding some form, good back up
4. Kirk Yeaman - best defensive centre in SL - when Ellis' attack gets back to normal, i expect a lot more from Yeamo too.
5. Tom Briscoe - sad to see him go, but not been himself this year. Need a new winger to replace him
6. Daniel Holdsworth - very good when played, the general we have needed for years
7. Jacob Miller - looks a talent, excited to see him arrive
8. Mark O’Meley - took a while to get going but he has put in some dominant performances so far this season
9. Danny Houghton - defence is superb, distribution has got better as the season has gone on, scooting a bit more too
10. Andy Lynch - nowhere near what he was last season - his play the ball speed is appalling.
11. Gareth Ellis - what a presence, looking forward to his attack getting better
12. Danny Tickle - injured a lot so wont really miss that, kicking been a miss though
13. Joe Westerman - looked good this year, good line runner, and aggressive defender
14. Richard Whiting - Mr Dependable, been excellent this season
15. Ben Galea - not very impressed
16. Richard Horne - rolled back the years, dangerous with the ball and excellent defensively
17. Liam Watts - looks to have lost too much weight, not generating the same number of offloads as last year
18. THE 18TH MAN - not too bad, improved atmosphere recently
19. Jay Pitts - started slow but looks a solid player now he isnt being played as a prop
20. Paul Johnson - decent footwork just before the line, but not a hole punching prop which we lack
21. Chris Green - looks the bees knees, going to be a good prop - Peacock-esque
22. Josh Bowden - not been overly impressed, dont think he runs his weight enough
23. Ben Crooks - fantastic this year, sublime footwork and handling skills
24. Liam Kent - Can see him being released
25. Tom Lineham - going to be a star
27. Jack Briscoe - Release
28. James Cunningham - would expect to see a lot more from him next year
29. Jamie Shaul - looks good in broken field, needs to learn off Shannon
30. Dean Hadley - great reviews at York, overtaken Kent for me
31. Alex Starling - Another with good reviews in the 21's
32. Ryan Wilson - Would expect him to get 1st team exposure next year
33. Aaron Heremaia - still not seen an extended run at hooker but offers something different to Houghton

I like McDonnells kick returns, always make sure he secures the ball and looks to beat the first defender, his footwork ensures he gets a quick play the ball more times than not and that in turn puts Lineham & Briscoe on the front foot.

Each to their own I suppose, don't have a problem with fans not liking his style. What I do have a problem with though is the idiots that sit near me in the South Stand and constantly shout at him to 'Run ****ing forward' and expect him to run aimlessly and full pelt in to the oncoming defence when he's about 5'6" and 11 stone. If he ran this way he'd get absolutely dominated and probably would lose the ball a lot in the collision too.

He could show a bit more urgency when retrieving a kick but his returns are generally ok as you say.

Exactly the same in the East mate.

I think all our back three are guilty of that.

Re the 18th man - I think the atmosphere has improved greatly but am i the only person who gets annoyed when people start filtering out around 10 mins from the end of the game regardless of the score?

I must admit that in the first couple of games i was possibly guilty of this but once you get to know the way he plays the game then you realise just how intelligent his runs are.

Obviously with new players you have to get used to their style of play, especially at FB. But some are not even open to the idea that his style is effective. Not too long ago, some idiot, after McDonnell had been pushed back a couple of yards, shouted 'I keep telling you run forward you Red & White , he's ****ing useless him, can't believe he gets a game instead of that Shaw kid'.

And that is supposed to say Shaw too.

No, it's a joke. The carpark's bad but not [ithat[/i bad, where does everyone have to be rushing to at 10pm on a Friday?

Agree with most of the majority opinion, think McDonnell has been really good for us. I don't think we have seen enough of Crookes or Arundel yet to form an opinion either way, the little I had seen of Crookes playing for Bradford impressed me a lot.

We did try to sign a destructive prop last season, Lopini Paea we seemed close to getting. Hopefully we have better luck for next season.

Maybe his brother?

HAHA it's things like that that are irritating. I think we're all guilty of making snap judgements and giving out a bit of abuse but perspective can be a wonderful thing. and anyway 'Shaw' will be good for us in the future.

Exactly my point. At the Leeds game people didn't even stay to clap off the team. It's like they don't understand the significance of that result to the fans that have been watching them for years.

I haven't even been watching them for years and I get it, it's not like it was freezing cold either, people just inconsiderate of the team and the effort they'd put in.

Another good one is the group of elderly folk, of which 2 of the fellas are always on Briscoes back now, saying that 'he's had his head turned', 'His hearts not in it anymore' & 'his heads somewhere else'. Although they're not abusive about it, to be fair.

[size=50and they're probably right![/size

I do stay to clap, but is it really a big deal if some don't? I don't think it makes them less of a fan or less appreciative of the teams efforts.

I think it depends on 2 things; firstly the performance, and secondly the individual's behaviour/attitude.

IMO if the players produce a top-notch performance they deserve some recognition for that, and a few minutes' wait and applause is not a lot to give to show them.

On the second point, I think there's a large overlap of those who spend most their time whingeing (or at least most of the last few years) and the early-leavers. My view has always been that it's only fair that if you're going to hurl so much criticism, you should also be willing to provide appreciation where/when it's due. From your description of the South Stand moaners I might well not sit too far away from you (then again there seem to be plenty of them everywhere in the ground), and there are just so many who are impossible to satisfy and will vent spleen then leave early no matter what. These people genuinely are less appreciative of the team IMO, I consider their status as fans debatable, and I have little to no respect at all for their 'opinions' and their rights to hold them when they are pre-decided and unmoving.

It's more of the fact that people don't stay till the end that gets me, I think it's just the fact that i'm tight...I've paid for the full game so i'll stay for it all haha

Ah, I get it now !! yes totally agree mate, and many apologies if it came across wrong !

I'm still not 100% on Holdsworth. He shows some flashes of brilliance and has an excellent kicking game but he still makes some silly errors, plays some poor passes and, as a goal kicker, will cost us some points this year.

That said, his every move is being highlighted at the moment because he's exactly what we've needed and Miller will take some pressure off of him.

On the money with that mate.
Got one behind me in the East who does nothing but moan at the top of her voice and generally spout sh*t for 80 minutes. Makes me wonder why they actually bother going, because they don't seem to get any enjoyment out of it.