“We’ve been looking at a different dimension in our recruitment and we’ve had to allow some players to leave to give us the capability to change the outlook of the team, but we're pleased with how things are taking shape."
The above is a quote from Radford's article on the FC site. What does it mean? There doesn't seem to be a strategy with the recruitment , certainly there doesn't seem to be a common denominator for either the players going or coming in. Rankin is going largely because he's waiting for a chance in the NRL , Sa because he's been poor , Paea got a better offer at home so none of those fit the comment above. Perhaps Lineham was "unprofessional" in Radford's eyes? Are others going?
Our recruitment for years and years has been based on who's available that we can afford "now" rather than looking to deal with deficiencies in the current and future squad which has resulted in imbalance between youth and experience and a surfeit of talent in some roles and none in others. Radford is now saying there's a plan but what is it? I'm not saying that the individual players signed won't succeed and am happy to see if Carlos can make it over here but as with so many other things at the club the strategy doesn't make sense and things are said that are not seemingly representative of what is actually happening.

Agree with pretty much all that, apart from the Shaul point. Clearly something's going on here; at its most simplistic it appears he's unhappy to be dropped and his compliance and attitude have been less than expected. I don't think there's a sweeping generalisation that we may as well give up on young players. Crooks and Shaul's (if rumours are to be believed) departures seem to be in the same category though and not the first time young players in Hull have got ahead of themselves. You'd have hoped playing alongside professional role models like Ellis and Mini would help but you can only lead a horse to water. Whether things could have been better managed is obviously debatable, but Radford wants a teamcentric, hard working, good attitude group of players and suspect those who don't comply don't make friends.

I think young players are given chances, although only on a one game at a time basis. Radford's pretty quick to drop players after errors, but if you want players picked on form, maybe that's the consequence. Hopefully the current crop of Logan etc will know the expectations from the start; I wouldn't be writing off any/all future hope they'll be successful.

You can't just keep shipping out talented youngsters because they show a bit of immaturity. It's up to the club to address the reasons why it's happening, not just move the players on because turning them around is beyond the capabilities of the current set up.

Don't disagree at all, but given Radford went out on a limb to keep Shaul when Gentle was here I'd be surprised if there hadn't been attempts made by Radford, Last, Horne, Ellis to guide him/offer second chances first.

I could attempt to run a 4 minute mile but it's beyond my capabilities

Did nobody listen to both Pearson and Radford recently when they both went out of their way to mention that Shaul featured heavily in their future plans?

I didnt read to much into it either way. Not much of a game to be able to. At 6.1 and 94kgs id disagree at too small. His 94kgs are very ripped carries no extras.
speed hard to tell. When made the intercept I thought same but replay noticed widdop had ten yrds head start on him and he was always looking for his wing.
did notice that when he took a couple of straight runs at defenders he bent the line and popped offloads out.
Hard game to analyse a player though. Odd game really

I agree , so if he is staying who are the players we're having to offload to get this "new outlook"? The ones going apart from Lineham are model pros so are our issues all down to Lineham's disruptive influence? Or are some more on their way?

I don't believe the weights that are attributed to players half the time. My eyes told me he's pretty skinny. Ripped no doubt but no real bulk in there. Also interesting that he's a kg lighter than ben crook if weights are to be believed and he struggled with the physicality in the centres

Ben crooks doesnt remotely carry his muscle. Check his twitter profile pic ive seldom seen a player carry so little body fat. Combined with a 6.1 height hes not skinny by any means. Looked defensively ok too. Had a lot of work today.

HTW is contracted for next year, BTW isn't

My only concern with him is his defense. I'd read that he winces in the collision and needs to toughen up. I'll wait and see how he gets on before I lose any sleep over it though.

I'd still like another back and a hooker. Carlos T. may well end up in the halves before the end of next season.

Don't think either is likely

Can't remember his exact words TBH but my takeaway from the interview was that it was more about matchdays than off the field. So players with different skills/roles rather than different levels of professionalism.

Am pretty exited about our signings plus hopefully naughton Lancaster and shaul will get more game time and bring lots of pace to our game, COYH

Quote ="Kosh"Can't remember his exact words TBH but my takeaway from the interview was that it was more about matchdays than off the field. So players with different skills/roles rather than different levels of professionalism.'" I didn't hear it , just read it here www.hullfc.com/article/41084/sa- ... -of-season so context is difficult. Just need someone to say "what do you mean Lee?" 'cos I can't figure it out.

Quote ="Kosh"Can't remember his exact words TBH but my takeaway from the interview was that it was more about matchdays than off the field. So players with different skills/roles rather than different levels of professionalism.'" I didn't hear it , just read it here www.hullfc.com/article/41084/sa- ... -of-season so context is difficult. Just need someone to say "what do you mean Lee?" 'cos I can't figure it out.

Here's a novel idea,let's see how they play in a Hull shirt in the positions they was signed for before all our resident experts offer opinions.

I'm inclined to agree Jake. I think the squad would have a more balanced look if we did though.

I think some people had their hands over their ears and were humming loudly when those interviews were on.

Pryce struggled a bit this year at times with his fitness and it's possible that Carlos will be in the mix for a position in the halves at times as well as centre.

yep wouldn't be surprised to see him get some game time at stand off

The ins out weigh the outs so far for me . Pritchard , Fonua and Taylor are unbelievable signings for me !!!
Taylor as good as Paea and gives us more minutes ....
Fonua .... A starting nrl back can only be a plus can't it ??
Pritchard .... Well no words needed I shouldn't think !!!
Carlos T .... Well who knows but certainly knows how to finish and create try's from what little ive seen of him (time will tell ) !!!

But sod, that id rather concentrate on the possible washbrook signing ( I'm not renewing my pass)

Coyh

Big gaps in the current squad which needed addressing for me were:

1. Interchange hooker
2. Quality 3rd prop
3. Experienced "strike" centre
4. Replacement quality winger for lineham

Now for me, with current recruitment we have only done number 4. There is potential for ellis to be our 3rd prop but I'm concerned he won't make it back. Lack of a 2nd hooker and a decent centre are big gaps in the squad IMO

1: agree, but Houghton is wasted only playing 40 mins, so is it worth have a interchange specialist hooker if 20 mins?
2:props are fine, certainly if Ellis if for fir next season and we keep Feka, made 2nd most metres in SL.
3 &4 Surley Fonua covers one of these he either plays centre or on the wing.

I don't think houghton is wasted playing 40 minutes. His game would be enhanced IMO. What happens if he gets a season ending injury in the first game?

We've struggled all season when paea and watts were off together. Personally I don't think we're fine. elis may be an option if he comes back but how many games will we get out of him? His body is shot

As I said, we've sorted out the wing position. If you want to use founua in the centres it addresses point 3 but leaves us short in point 4.

Like I said, we haven't addressed the problems IMO