It took us a while to get to the stage we were, we were well above Warrington at one point, we were happy to exist in SL and we didnt spend enough to replace Cooke properly which was the catalyst for a massive downfall, as it stands we are not doing enough to get back to this stage, probabally becuase of the franchise system and the fact that Hull fans will buy season tickets and turn up regardless.

Im not saying that this isnt a sensible approach, and there is a very good argument that living within your means is much better long term then going for broke in the hunt for throphies, but we will just gave to face up to not being able to compete with the likes of Saints, Wigan, Wire and Leeds, becuase we simply cant.

well hindsights a wonderfull thing...i think the club would cover there ars-s a bit better these days.i disagree with the ..not doing enough.. bit i honestley believe we are not that far off competing with the big four on a regular basis.a couple of quality signings and injury free run and ive no doubt we,d be up there.what we lack compared to sts etc is strength in depth.thats what we really need to work on.and im sure the club have this in hand.

I gotta agree with ya there..
SImple thing is we were in a bad state and whether we like it or not JR nd RA have improvemed the situation on the field massively in a short time while still keeping financial stability..
The fact is a lot of people are expecting far more, to soon..

Thats apart of the problem, another problem is some fans seem to think we have a god given right to win everything, have the best coach the best players, fans and beer!. If the cap keeps kicking in as it is doing, there is going to be alot of dissapointed people. One week you may win and1 you may lose. Finish top one season then bottom the next.

True..
Even if we did have the 'best' of everything mentioned above, you could guarantee some people would still find the negative points...

You + expro messages are very similar ????

HAha and is there a point you are making bud..

It's odd, isn't it, how one thread about an ex-player is allowed to run for five pages without being locked, yet another one about a different ex-player is locked as quickly as possible. Seems the refs aren't the only ones who struggle with consistency.

You cooking up trouble?

double standards, you are surely not suggesting so?

Not really, I just find it odd how mods sometimes fall over themselves to exert their little bit of power by locking one thread, then leave other very similar threads open. It seems a little illogical.



Wouldn't dream of it.

Is this the Paul Cooke thread?

The one that was locked? Yes.

There was a similar situation a few weeks ago when an off topic thread appeared on here about John Prescott and it was locked because it was 'nothing to do with FC'. On the first page of the forum alone there were about six other threads that were nothing to do with FC, and yet they were allowed to remain open. One was about a chippy in one of the East Hull villages, FFS.

A good point well made.

Although this thread has drifted off the carvell topic I think there are some valid points made about what is and isn't a BIG club.

Undoubtedly FC are (in relation to the rest of the league) finacially,business and support based a big club. Probably 2nd or 3rd behind Leeds and Wigan

Success wise over the last decade they have been more successful than a fair few clubs (1 trophy and 2 other finals) and this will put them behind clubs like Leeds, Saints, Bradford and more recently Warrington. So you could say putting both these criteria together Hull are the 2nd biggest club behind Leeds.

Where this criteria starts to fall down is that although Leeds and FC score higher on the on field and off field side of things Wigan are still the biggest club in SL. Wigan have a 'brand' built on years upon year of success (although until this year it was pretty barren) I find this relates quite well to the Football comparisons that have been made.

Wigan are the liverpool of SL. A team steeped in heritage and history, based on bringing through local lads and a past full of dominance that has since waned.

Wire are the Chelsea of SL, seen to be be buying there way to the top and this has now with the introduction of a talismanic manager reaped rewards.

FC are the Newcastle of SL. Big ground, big crowds of passionate fans who got to a position where everyone thought they would dominate but self destructed before reaching the goal. In some ways the downfall is the expectation and the knowledge of being a big club but not achieving. The constant clamour for success that just undermines the coach and lack of patience that finally undoes any progress that may be made.

Just a few notes for discussion, that are in no way a dig at fc, wigan or wire all sport has it soap operas (and the characters involved) and thats what keeps us going week in week out.

With the right administration we could be the Man Utd of RL!

Come on you ullllaaaa!!!!!

No

I did want to comment on that thread though and it was locked, yet we can discuss Carvell

That's the most disgusting thought I've ever seen on here. I f'ing hate SCUMchester United.

Yes I totally agree. Well, apart from we're a little more succesful than Newcastle (who have won nowt! for ages) but in the main totally agree.

Biggest most succesfull club in PL history.

You either follow Liverpool or Leeds Utd

Who ??

We're a small club

You wouldn't want to be the Man Utd of RL? You're an idiot then.

Think this one is done.