I'd start Lee and play Houghton on the bench. Drop Berrigan.

Don't think we can risk moving too many players about, but we are certainly once again lacking ball players in the side and impact from the bench. For that reason, Whiting has to come in somewhere and Thackerey should be back in the 17.

I'm afraid we are once again having to get used to the fact that the club has not sorted the issue of scrum half out once again. They may say they got their fingers burnt in bringing Dykes over, but he was our only creative force and class player when fit. Every other side in SL has a dominant no 7, maybe not the best no 7s ever but nevertheless out and out scum halves. We haven't. Therein lies the problem. Not a dig at Thorman personally, simply a fact.

I did see the first team on Sunday tho

What it will be / =redwhat I'd like it to be:

Hall
Calderwood
G. Horne =redDrop, Whiting in if fully fit
Yeaman
Briscoe
R. Horne
Thorman
Does
Berrigan
Cussack
Tickle
Manu =redBench
Radford =redPut to 2nd Row, Lee in.

King
Moa =redDrop, Thackray in
Lee =redStart at 13
Houghton

when is the squad announced ?

Hall
Calderwood
G.Horne
Yeaman
Briscoe
R.Horne
Thorman
Dowes
Berrigan
Cusack
Tickle
Radford
Washbrook

Houghton
Manu
King
Thackray

Is how i hope we line up on Friday, Agar really needs to put his hand up and say Radford at 13 simply isnt working.

He also needs to put his hand up and stop blaming the players and admit his tactics down the middle all the time arent working too.

I know but i dont think he will do and i fear the worse for Friday.

Yup, im normally positive but unless Agar changes his ideas i'd simply be clutching at straws.

1. Hall
2. Calderwood
3. G Horne
4. Yeaman
5. Briscoe
6. R Horne
7. Thorman
8. Dowes
9. Berrigan
10. Cusack
11. Radford
12. Tickle
13. Lee

14. King
15. Thackray
16. Manu
17. Washbrook

Hall
Calderwood
Whiting
Yeaman
Briscoe
Horne
Thorman
King
Berrigan
Dowes
Radford
Tickle
Washbrook.

Manu
Cusack
G Horne
Houghton/Lee

Play with three props and spell Radford there, start with King as when Cusack and Dowes go off our ruck defence suffers.

Whiting at Centre as it gives us more attacking threat.

Washbrook LF to give us an extra pivot.

Whiting was run round 3 times by a 17 year old that ive never heard of on Saturday and is no where near the first team yet imo.

Washy to 13 i agree, but he has to step up big style from Sunday.

Agar has to take some blame for our boring rugby but regardless of tactics the players need to shoulder a huge chunk of blame, they are the ones showing the wrong attitude, being lazy and looking disinterested.

Should they players be given a new attacking structure that is not going to make them suddenly pass better, run faster and harder and not miss tackles etc.

Why don't we play with the same philosophy we did at Odsal, they tactics were good and the players seemed committed?

fom what i hve seen off maloney he is no were near gud enuff i would go with king

Aint it strange we have had our best start to a season for years (For whatever reason !) yet we come to our first derby and fear we are in the worst state possible !

I really dont think there will be many changes at all from Sundays Masterclass (Heard it all before Agar !) but even if he made big changes I still cant see anything positive coming out of the weekends rugby !


Agar wants us to play down the middle with no flair so why does it matter which personel he picks to do this !!

I dont think the players have looked lazy and shown the wrong attitude. I new attacking structure that takes 2 drives and then ships left and comes back right is all im asking for. Watch the season review 2004. We had a back line of Briscoe, Best, Whiting/Barnett, Yeamo, R Barnett/Raynor and they looked devastating as they actually saw the ball other than scooting away from our own line. Its no coincidence we finished 3rd!!

Didn't you go on Sunday?

I'm certain that they have.

Nothing gives away a poor attitude more than defensive line speed and collision. Unlike the first few games we recently have been hanging around the referee's 10m mark waiting for the opposition to reach us letting them run at pace and bust through the collision. In attack we're too busy marshalling the next play to be d to support up through the runner who himself fails consistently to show intensity in trying to regain his feet at the play-the-ball. On 4th and 5th plays we're not creating any options for Thorman and Horne by off ball running. I'm with the previous poster. At Bradford we did all these things and at times were a real joy to watch. I refuse to believe that the coaches have put a stop to it. Instead I think the intensity has gone from individuals' performances and we are taking the easy option.

Sure Agar has cocked up the interchanges and possibly selection and deserves the criticism for that but some (most) of the professionals out there wearing the Hull shirt have stopped putting it in. In particular we are being owned by the opposition pack of forwards because we are out enthused and lack intensity. That is the realm of the players out on the pitch not the coaches.

I just think something has gone on with Either Agar or Sharp and the players.

There seems to be 'trouble at mill' !

Sugar Mill????

Yup

We are shattered, that has the biggest impact on things like line speed. As a result of that fatigue we are probably told to conserve some energy where possible. I dont blame the players for them being shattered, i blame our coaching and conditioning.

Ah, you must be talking about the Salford players then?

Seriously, i didnt see a great deal wrong with our players other than the odd missed tackle. I did see an awful lot wrong with out tactics both on the field and the interchanges. The players are being wrongfully targetted imo.