thats not quite how it happened tho is it really ??
we needed a new pack and the cash was spent there with a fit and solid shaun long to boot, no one forsaw the injuries he had that were all non age related

just for you I will add pictures too

No. I think if you look at some key measures which i stated last year and hoped he'd change:

1. His half time team talks. We are dire in the 2nd half of games
2. Playing a prop at 13. Stifles our creativity. Massive negative points difference with Agar in charge
3. Subsitutions. Not as bad as he was last year but still makes some really bizarre calls, like keeping unused subs on the bench
4. Doesnt appear to be able to motivate a team. Games like the Saints ones the players motivate themselves because of the occassion. Games like Salford away and Crusaders away Agar again proved he cant motivate a side when they most need it
5. His signing of Long doesnt appear to have paid off yet and he overplays other signings like Fitz
6. He still doesnt use players in their best roles, like Manu off the bench
7. Tactically if he cant play up the middle he doesnt have a clue. Evidenced by Rovers beating us in the playoffs through better tactics as well as more motivated players

He's got his own squad and he's not made moves forward for me.

6 different offers in fact!!YES!!

I suggest that just for me as i'm obviously uneducated and rather unintelligent you use smaller words and write what you mean!!

Some well thought out points made Dave most of which I agree.

Take Agar out of the equation completely from the year just gone and replace him with any other coach of note - Noble, Morgan, Bennett, Potter, etc, etc do you think the Hull squad would have done better, finished higher or even won some silverware?

Yes i do. Out of all 7 points i made (and i could make more with more time) Agar is pretty much solely responsible for each point. Put Justin Morgan in charge of our side and we'd be nearer to the top 3 and could well be in contention.

I agree style of play wise I think other coaches would make us a far better team to watch but I guess my point is that I think we still have a fair few players who we rate higher then there actually worth both because they are not as good as we think and maybe because we rate players on what they once were and not on the present.

For example a Horne - Long half combo would have been first class in 2006 but do you think they will be devastating going forward? I dont.

A fit Horne and Long will still be good enough IMO for us to be in contention if they are playing to a decent gameplan with dummy runners etc. Paul Deacon looked a world beater in the Wigan side and he's nowhere near as good as Long.

I agree though that we have some players that maybe aren't up to it. Guess we'll only properly see when we get a decent coach, if we ever do.

My expectation is that we all buy our season passes, turn up in great numbers home and away and continue to be bored rigid by some of the most tedious rugby in SL. Our coach will point to injuries to our 75 year old half back and the fact it is not yet his side, our aging but formidable pack will ensure a top eight finish and a couple of lucky wins against St Helens will paper over the cracks. Mid season we will sign Paul Cooke on a pay as you play contract, but he will be dumped after three weeks for being a poor influence. In the play offs we will timidly go out to whomever we face. Coach will maintain progress has been made and will be awarded another 3 year contract extension.

Hope you are right about the halves and time will tell I suppose. I can only hope that we recruit strongly in this position for next year and by that I would sign 2 half backs now, one using the quota spot on the other a Briggs, Moore type player from the Championship and dual register them back to their club.

Our second away game of the season at the Crusaders with Long missing showed us that playing Washy at 6 is not and never will be the answer for a team with ambitions of top 4! As the season progressed with the injuries my opinion never changed.

everyone except saints and wigan presumably? And leeds, wire and maybe hudds

No

Most fans I spoke to before the season started forsaw the fact he'd miss plenty of matches injured. Presumably we know more about the game than you and our coach?

I think that's an unfair comment TBH. A lot of people (myself included) consider 2 years enough time to form an opinion of Agar. I don't see why we would need to see a hefty chunk of the season unfold before commenting if it quickly becomes apparent that we just continue as we have been for the duration of his tenure so far.

What are my expectations for next season.

1, Position - Pretty much the same as this year maybe dropping a place or 2
2, Style of play - very little change from the past few years
3, CC - Law of averages says we will get a lower league opponent so i reckon 2 wins and then a close defeat to knock us out
4, Coach - I expect we will stick with the one we have who will throw out the same tired excuses for poor performances.
5, Season pass - I expect i will be thinking why the hell did I talk myself into buying another one.
6, Sean Long - I expect he will make at most 50% of our games


That is pretty much what I am expecting for 2011 and the only thing that keeps me going is the hope that Agar does not get to see his contract out because I hope our board will not stomach another season of poor on field performances.

You only have to look at these boards to see what I mean. We could win the first three game but if lose the 4th people will want him hung, drawn and quartered.

If we beat Leeds, Saints and Wigan then lose with an (another) abject performance at Wakey, you can understand it

The same Morgan that could only manage 7th this season?

You make some good points Dave but suggest that their has been no improvement when we very nearly finished 4th this season is not fair to Agar.

Our style of rugby needs to be better and we need to recruit some halfback cover but if we can sign a half/hooker/fullback then we will have a more than capable squad. It will be harder next season to improve as other teams have recruited well but this is where we see if RA is upto the job or not.

No I can't as every other side lose these games too. Leeds lost to Wakey, Cas and Crusdaers. Saints lost a few daft ones as did Wigan.

We are not the only side that gets beat.

I agree with that.

My point about the 3 wins 1 defeat was that in some games this season, we've either not turned up or been so terrible when we have that an average team, playing no better than "OK" has taken us to the cleaners. The inconsistency needs to be addressed (and stopped) and that's Agar's responsibility.

I agree about the consistency, I don't mind being out played on the day by any side, I do mind being outenthused.

Depends on the performances for me. If you sort that, you tend to get the results you deserve in time. I have been on here criticising us after wins and praising us in defeat, as have others, so I still consider it unfair to lump us all in as reacting only to individual results.

I was not lumping everyone on here in the same boat but the board in general goes off the wall when we lose with anti Agar thread etc. Just as it does when we win and people go overboard. There are times when the players and coach deserves a good roasting from fans but the mentality on here at times is a touch ridiculous. That is not saying everyone is like that but it does represent how this forum looks after a defeat.

My comment was I hoped for a more sensible reaction to results and less kneejerkery.

This is RL Fans Paul!