tell us summat we don't already know! IMO this was no different at the beginning of 2010

take out the half backs and we have to shuffle positions making us hell of a lot less effective as a team

on a different note, i think we should either play washbrook at LF every week or release him. if whiting plays there then i'll be happy also, but i just wish agar would choose a ball-player LF and not a prop. if washbrook doens't play LF then i really don't see the point in keeping him

Ah yes well... lets not have that debate again, if you did then you have never finished top 4 in SL

I don't personally see why we keep stressing the Long/Horne partnership. We are talking about two players who are way past their best and even if they were to stay fit for even half the season, which won't happen, they would still be nothing more than an above average combo.

Long will have great games and go missing in others (the last derby) and Horne shouldn't be anywhere near a 1st choice pivot for a side that wants to win silverware.

Add that to the fact that we might be starting 2011 with the fantastic Radford/Dowes wrecking-ball combo and a squad that still relies on players like Yeaman and Washbrook in the starting 17. I don't even want to mention our so-called coach who just isn't fit for purpose.

I don't see anything more than a 7th/8th battle with Cas, Salford, Bradford etc. which, for a club of our size, is embarrassing.

Too many people on here are happy with mediocrity as long as it's black and white !

But hey, maybe we'll make the top 8 !!!

So where did you finish in 2009 again ??

No you never,the final league table says so.Play offs are play offs and it should be just that.

Can somebody tell me what a huge difference Yak and Hall gave to us this season, and what huge effect it will have on our coming season not having those two?

Otherwise, it is the same side which came 20 minutes away from finishing 4th in the league, along with an exciting winger and most probably more half back cover which will look to solve any half back problems.

Include beating Rovers and you've nailed exactly what 95% of the Hull FC fans want.

Mediocrity is a word I've been using for Hull FC and the fan base for years. 1 cup/final appearance every 10 years and the club/fans are happy. Not this fan though, we need to strive to be the best which means paying top dollar for a number 1 coach. It starts at the top and filters down. I'd settle for a few seasons of top 8 finish if a top coach was building a side to challenge for honours - but it wont happen.

Or 3 in the past 5.

It's not losing Yak and Hall that's the problem, it's that we have stood still while others have strenghed, I doubt we will bring in another halfback which should be our number one priority and I think the likes of Leeds, Hudds and possibly Rovers will have better seasons this time around.

I am pretty sure we will bring another half back who will probably end up more then just a backup player!

Pre-season training doesn't start for a good few weeks yet, so doesn't make a difference when the signings are made. I'm confident we will make more signings before then.



Why? I'm confident we will.



Why?

I see Saints have given Meli and Wellens 2 year extensions. I thought they had a 1 year only policy for players over 30?

Only if they have very little to offer

Intelligent.

Like Cunningham you mean?

Actually I prematurely submitted



I mean't to add at the end ......after that one year had expired.

In other words two years were offered because these players had still a lot more to offer. But hey who am I to argue, its not like Saints have had any success in the last decade is it, nor have they any idea on the capabilities of their players to continue to play at a high level throughout the proposed contract period and or beyond.

Do you beleive this is the case with Francis Meli?

Well based on this season yes. He was saints top try scorer with 21 tries, which is 7 more than our highest try scorer (Tom Briscoe), he has his weakness's but i'd be more than happy with a winger who could get me 21 tries a season, in fact many seem happy with Briscoe's 14 so Meli has quite a way to drop yet. He is still able to make 40 tackle busts in a season as well as 12 clean breaks and 15 offloads, although he did miss 7 games, although I may be wrong, I think some of these were due to his late arrival as a resuly of visa complications (or was that the season before?).

That was 2009, however, at the start of the 2010 season Meli was granted compassionate leave to return home to New Zealand to resolve family issues

You speak higher of Meli then most Saints fans do so fair play to you!



I think the 30 plus policy is a bit of a con really Saints seem to release players when they have a replacement ready to come through or bring in.

Long and Gilmore were replaced by Eastmond and Soliola last year whilst Hargreaves has been released on the back of Perry and LMS coming in.

I suspect Saints dont have full confidence in their younger outside back players coming through just yet to be able to afford to release Meli.

Cant help thinking had it been Hull signing Meli on a 2 year deal there would have been uproar!

Different coach different approach?

Wonder if Simmons had much say in the recruitment this year?

Anyway this is now off topic!

exactly my thoughts.he has or is about to come in and has insisted on total control regarding team affairs?? i also agree with knocker norton-if we had offered meli a 2 year deal,agar would have been slated-AGAIN.instead we have signed a young winger in sharp,which is a better option,long term.

I think you may be right there.

I also think he would have been a far better option than Sharp on the playing side of things but going against Melli is his age and the contract he probably wanted. Sharp is a decent player though.

We'll re-sign Dowes and that will be it imo. We will make a good start to next season, then we'll pick up several injuries to key players (Long, Fitz) and plummit down the table. Half way through the season talk of a 'top 4' finish will soon be replaced by 'we can make the 8'. Threequarters of the way through the season we will be struggling to make the 8, and the board will panic and reassure us all that 2012 is going to be 'our year'. Shortly after, we will announce the signing of a big name aussie for 2012 to keep us all smiling. Long will retire and tell us all that Hull is a wonderful club, the fans are great and we are destined for big things in the forthcoming future under Agars guidance. Thats my prediction.