Are some fans seriously suggesting that the sudden upturn in performance is because of fan pressure changing Radford's philosophy? Jesus wept.

Hi 1865, im not sure you understand the mechanics of fan praise/criticism of a head coach.

Bad performances and results = all the coachs fault.
Good performances and results = any factor other than the coach is credited.

Expert analysis!!

I've not suggested that but I have questioned why we have shown more attacking flair, been promoting the off load, having dummy runners and angled runners and even support play in the last two games than in the entire 18 months of dire rugby under Radford?

It has seemingly changed very rapidly so the question is why? What has changed and why now?

This is why the fans are frustrated as we have the players capable in the squad to be able to compete far better than they have. If it is down to Radford then credit to him but it has been such a massive shift in the way we have played. For me I'm just not sure its all down to Radford as he's shown very little in the 18 month previously to show he is a capable coach.

Whether we like it or not we have been here before many times over the past 8/9 years and seen so many signs of promise disappear just as fast as they appear as we continually fail to progress and maintain any type of consistency.

Its not so much the fact we have lost games that bothers me more the poor performances and general lack of structure that has been evident in the games and even in games we have won at times its been awful to watch.

That for me is why even though they have improved things in two games they all as a group players and coaches included need to prove its not just another flash in the pan before we start hanging out the bunting.

Keep having to have my sides stitched up when I think about it.

A number of reasons no doubt. Mainly that the two brand new halves - better than we've had for many a year - are now settling in and have played a few games together. The rest of the team - some of them also new signings - have improved in the way they play around them. Sneyd got injured for a few games so the progress was definitely set back somewhat. Pryce was clearly playing injured for a couple of games during that period but was out there so that we at last had some experience there. In the last couple of games we also had a stronger pack with first Ellis and then Paea returning, Watts coming into form, and I also think Rich Whiting has brought something to the table off the bench. It wasn't long ago we were playing with three hookers because there were no other options.

Radford has made errors and continues to do so with the automatic selection of Yeaman who must be the weakest player in the first team in terms of performance currently. I also lost my rag with them all a few weeks back when I'd had enough of listening to the 'blokes not turning up' and 'out enthused' crap. There's no place for that rubbish in a pro environment and anyone using it as an excuse or reason in the club should be ashamed.

But mainly we've begun playing better because we've had our better players out there for longer in the creative and attacking positions. The test now is to see if it can continue if we remain injury free in the key areas and the key players.

The idea that somehow we wanted to play dour unattractive narrow-losing rugby until the fans pointed out an alternative could well be the funniest thing ever produced on that's saying something (and I know you haven't said that).

Didn't Radford admit himself in an interview that he's now asked the players to take the shackles off? Implying that he's been telling them otherwise, whatever the reason, its definitely an improvement

He's been talking about promoting the ball for a good while - not just recently.

That isn't what I said, but if you want to accept a coach whom criticises fans and his players at any opportunity rather than accept the fact, he the coach isn't up to much then knock yourself out. I've listened to his excuses and his accusations and the way he treats the players, that in itself tells me he isn't up to the job, the last 18 months performances seal that.

Yes, I'm happy we've improved these last couple of games, who wouldn't be, watching dire performances for 18months is enough to make you stop going and for some it was/has. I've given my nod to the results and these past two games the effort and performance (where we should be all along quite frankly) have been a world away from beforehand.
BUT I'm not so blind as some, there either an outside influence on how & why we've so rapidly changed what we were doing in attack or the coach has had an epiphany on the back of what fans have said


IF you want to believe Radford has made these miraculous changes overnight all by himself, more power to you.
As I said, we make the 8 and progress to make the 6 he stays, if we don't he goes. Because on the back of what our owner sacked the previous coach, Radford would be getting away with murder if he didn't achieve at least what Gentle did.

Go on, give Radders some credit, I dare you Bumpy.

Who has been suggesting everything's changed because of fan pressure?

Radford.

Is he one of the voices in your head?

He said he'd have his tooth done as well because the fans are sick of him hiding behind it.

I thought it was the gap he was hiding behind? Quite a feat

Some people just like to make stuff up. Not a single person has suggested fan pressure has played any part whatsoever. It's laughable really.

The way I see it Radford has allowed/empowered the players to take a few more risks with the ball in recent weeks. It looks like the players have really bought into it and confidence is growing. Whatever the reason for this change I welcome it and think Radford deserves some credit for making the change.

Maybe they are playing to win now instead of playing not to lose

Bumpy mentioned it as a possibility.

Really?

I'm wondering that, too.

Why? There's been two examples quoted so far.

Typical Hull FC: blame the fans when we are losing but can't give credit to the boo boys when we win.

I think what has happened is that the coaching staff have finally found a way to get us playing better. They have been watching the same dross as we have but haven't managed to do anything about it. Now they have. It wasn't the threat of a petition that suddenly made Radford realize that we were losing games. Its just that what he was doing wasn't working.

Now, fingers crossed that we continue to show improvements. I can't help but feel that our new confidence is fragile.

Nowhere does that claim that the first point influenced the other. In fact in the original post in full, it clearly identifies a team meeting as the likely reason, not fan pressure.

The original post was asking where the Radford critics are now that we've played well, in a goading manner possibly implying that those critics are/were wrong. It was the latest in a growing theme over the last 2 weeks seemingly wanting to have a go at the fans who are/were vocally unhappy with how we were playing. Robbo's post very sensibly pointed out the bizarre (non-)logic of questioning why those fans are no longer complaining now that things have changed and implying that change and improvement happening is somehow proof that they were wrong.

It's very simple, those unhappy with how we've been playing have had nothing to be unhappy about for the last 2 weeks. This doesn't mean they were wrong prior to that, it in fact (with notable exceptions) means that they are being entirely fair and rational in their assessments and not stubbornly ripping in when it is not justified. The fact that there isn't instant gushing praise is merely because 2 games is a very small sample size to be convinced that it is not just another false dawn.

See my post. One is not an example, one is, but is the notable example I alluded to.

I think that there's a bit of tarring with one brush going on. One stubborn lunatic does not constitute 'some fans' IMO.

Think we'll find out Friday night, usually good game against saints at the KC, might even suggest we've turned a corner if we win! Personally think the recent change in play is down to more than Radford realising what he was doing wasn't working! Surely wouldn't of taken this long to work that out. Whatever it is, long may it continue