We have an awful record when we lure 'new' fans in, this stretches back to that time we could have won the League Leaders Sheild at home in front of possibly the most home fans ever at the MKM and we flopped completely. The amount of times I see new faces heading home looking perplexed that people pay hundreds of pounds a year for a pass is criminal.

Next new issue will be its £34 a seat in the East while it seems a stream will be £6.99 if bought in advance...I can see some being tempted to stay on the sofa.

Problem is why would Carlos agree to give up a significant amount of salary? And if he is 'pulling a sickie' thats hard to prove.

Id love to know how serious was the interest from other clubs to prompt such a long contract, he was a good player at the time but no player should be getting longer than 3 years.

I agree the second one was a joke, but he'll probably get a bigger punishment for having his face raked/gouged and brushing Parcell with a knee than Parcell will for instigating the whole thing.

What really stood out last night is that after struggling for so many years in the halves then finally getting Sneyd & Kelly and then Trueman & Clifford, going back to the square pegs in round holes just doesn't & won't work. We had two hookers and then a hooker and a FB and it showed, as we saw with Clifford last season there is simply no substitute for an out & out 7 especially when we have no other form of leadership or direction out there. I know we had some adversity with players missing but the reality is we had 3 FB's and 3 Hookers on the field all at the same time.

Even knowing from the off that there was a high probability that Clifford could well go back to the NRL after one season it would appear despite what has been said the club/Coach simply hasn't made any real priority or contingency to deal with such a loss adequately.

The kicking game last night as well was appalling. Rovers didn't really march us downfield, but they were starting sets on their 20/30, and then being helped with massive indiscipline. I thought Smith was starting in the halves to provide a kicking game, turn Rovers around, but it didn't happen. Instead, we had him kicking out of acting half which no player expected hence a shocking chase, we had Ashworth kicking (although that was a very late hand in the air by Liam Moore), and kicking out on the full.

We all bemoaned Clifford at times, but his kick offs and bombs were used as an attacking option, last night was back to standard kick offs and woeful last tackle options

That was pathetic from start to finish last night and has been for the majority of Smith's time in charge. What on earth have they been doing pre-season?!!

It's folly to read too much into the first match but you expect some improvements from the previous season and signs of a game structure. We had neither last night.

We were lucky Rovers weren't up to speed otherwise it would have been even messier.

If I'm Pearson I tell Tony he has got 5 games to sort it.

And you know where the 5th game is...Craven Park!

Pele banned until the Good Friday derby do we think?

Sao should get sending off sufficient as that was a joke. Parcell should get plenty as that was a neck-breaker/gouging!!

Think we’ll see big bans given it’s the start of new season and they’re trying to stamp out any and all head contact. Will be interesting how much we see from the fight after the Pele hit as there were several punches thrown on both sides it seems.

Probably a knee jerk reaction, but I'm wondering if the only coach that can truly sort us out is Shaun Wane. Hodgson & Smith seem to have had their ideas on cultures that they wanted to bring in to the club, but I feel we're in too much of a mess / the players don't have the intelligence/willing to buy into them. Someone like Wane with an absolute no nonsense approach who the players would run through brick walls for is what we need. (Obviously aware this won't happen due to cost and do hope Smith does get things right eventually)

Wane won't leave England/Wigan, he can't lose there. FC too much of a challenge.

I agree with all of this apart from replacing Smith. He's a proven first team coach who has improved every team he's been in charge of. We've been crying out for someone like him for years.

It's his team now and he needs to be given time to sort out the mess we've had to endure for years. Even in the unlikely event he is sacked I cannot think of anyone else to replace him so early in the season.

The biggest problem for me is the quality of the squad. Without doubt it's the weakest we have for years. Just about all of the new signings are cast offs. Yes, you can say Smith is partly responsible for recruitment but his hands are tied behind his back due to financial constraints.

All I'm asking for is a steady improvement but if Smith cannot achieve that then yes he has to go but only at the end of the season. God knows who will replace him.

Smith hasn't improved us though and we have got rapidly worse. He's had all pre-season to sort stuff out but we looked worse last night than we did for most of last season.

5/6 MATCHES EASILY anything less is a bonus. IMO, Ligi should be SOS but probably be 2 matches, Herman should be ok probably get 1

To add to the woes there seemed to be a disturbance in the East corner last night. Anyone witness what went on?

Yup and he's instantly earned himself a reputation. Easily wound up. This won't be the only red card or ban he'll receive this season.

Hull fans were trying to leave early probably!!

I agree he hasn't improved us but calling for him to be sacked at this stage is premature.

With the quality of the players we have I'm not convinced he or anyone else can do so but at least give him more time.

Disappointing because he looked decent against Wigan. They struggled to get him to ground and he played big minutes (granted with short 5 minute breaks thrown in).
Anybody who watched last night will now have a very bad opinion of him but didn't see the good stuff he did only 2 weeks earlier. Let himself down big time.

I waited until the end to avoid the crush !!.

Wasn't impressed with the new DJ by the way. What a bloody racket.

If he learns from his stupidity I think he could be a very good player for us. He probably has never played in a game like that before and the occasion got to him. I was surprised he started and the number of minutes he played. The Canterbury fans said he blows out of his ar#e after a couple of minutes.

They ran hard, tackled well, kicked well and had great line speed, we were the polar opposite aside from maybe our defense, especially given we only played about half an hour with a full team.

It was mentioned earlier about struggling to see where our points were coming from and nothings changed to ease that. Brown needs to play 9, he's an international hooker he needs to play there. Smith and Hoy in the halves, did Houghton fail a HIA?

Just like me mate you are getting old!

Thought the light show was impressive though. It went swiftly downhill from there though.