Re: Pre-season. : Thu Dec 21, 2023 10:12 am  

I really don’t understand the doom n gloom on here.
We finished outside of the top 6 for how many seasons?.
We’ve suffered countless batterings.
Yet I keep reading posts about we shouldn’t have let this player go etc
Those players were part of the problem
( apart from swift ).
2nd row ? The last 5 seasons apart from the occasional game , our 2nd row struggled as did the team.
The team are younger and bigger this season.
A number of the “kids” are now 20yrs old. That’s old enough to be playing 1st team.
Apart from Wigan and Saints., there’s nothing to fear.
Leigh, Salford and the dobbins have shown it’s possible. Those teams aren’t exactly packed with internationals.
Most fans i speak to are looking forward to watching how the team go this season.
It surely can’t be any worse, can it.
Cheer up and don’t let it spoil your Xmas.

[Chris71]

Re: Pre-season. : Thu Dec 21, 2023 11:36 am  

Must be one of the few that feels we may well get a surprise from the squad assembled for 2024.
Whilst there's little doubt we are a long way of in terms of the quality/star players we had in 2016/17 seasons, we have still squads that looked good on paper and took us to the limits of the cap yet they failed miserably and continually.

I'm looking forward to a fresh start in 2024. I do wonder if one of Sao or Ashworth play in the SR alongside Okunbor whether the club have high hopes for the likes of Brown and Diakhate to step up in the forwards.
Think Walker will start as FB with Hoy in the halves alongside Nu until Trueman returns, then its anyones guess who plays where if they've all been on top form. Can see Nu Brown going at LF if Hoy going well in the halves, Walker the same at FB, Houghton/Balmforth/Smith the same at 9.
We have some young players also the mix that do seem to be genuine contenders to be top SL players.

Considering the complete mess that the whole squad was in this time last season I think the club have done remarkably well in the recruitment with the constraints. In all honesty the only two I am really gutted we couldn't retain for 2024 were Clifford and Swift.

Re: Pre-season. : Thu Dec 21, 2023 11:45 am  

Chris71 wrote:

Must be one of the few that feels we may well get a surprise from the squad assembled for 2024.
Whilst there's little doubt we are a long way of in terms of the quality/star players we had in 2016/17 seasons, we have still squads that looked good on paper and took us to the limits of the cap yet they failed miserably and continually.

I'm looking forward to a fresh start in 2024. I do wonder if one of Sao or Ashworth play in the SR alongside Okunbor whether the club have high hopes for the likes of Brown and Diakhate to step up in the forwards.
Think Walker will start as FB with Hoy in the halves alongside Nu until Trueman returns, then its anyones guess who plays where if they've all been on top form. Can see Nu Brown going at LF if Hoy going well in the halves, Walker the same at FB, Houghton/Balmforth/Smith the same at 9.
We have some young players also the mix that do seem to be genuine contenders to be top SL players.

Considering the complete mess that the whole squad was in this time last season I think the club have done remarkably well in the recruitment with the constraints. In all honesty the only two I am really gutted we couldn't retain for 2024 were Clifford and Swift.

A lot comes down to attitude, our 2012 season is a good example the squad was put together last minute with some random signings (Tony Martin, Aspinwall, McGoldrick etc) but as I recall we had our best home form for years, finished 6th and won a playoff game. Whereas some of our more expensively assembled squads didnt deliver.

Ive said it before and ill say it again im happy if we are in with a shout of the top6 with a round or two to go. If we just miss out then it is. What I cant stomach is anothet season of downing tools at the end of July.

Re: Pre-season. : Thu Dec 21, 2023 11:56 am  

UllFC wrote:

A lot comes down to attitude, our 2012 season is a good example the squad was put together last minute with some random signings (Tony Martin, Aspinwall, McGoldrick etc) but as I recall we had our best home form for years, finished 6th and won a playoff game. Whereas some of our more expensively assembled squads didnt deliver.

Ive said it before and ill say it again im happy if we are in with a shout of the top6 with a round or two to go. If we just miss out then it is. What I cant stomach is anothet season of downing tools at the end of July.

Was 2012 when Seymour and McKinnon were released during the season too? We did well getting to 6th that season! Think it was also when we had Jamie Foster and Matty Russell?

Re: Pre-season. : Thu Dec 21, 2023 12:31 pm  

Steve0 wrote:

Was 2012 when Seymour and McKinnon were released during the season too? We did well getting to 6th that season! Think it was also when we had Jamie Foster and Matty Russell?

Yes very chaotic on the ins and outs! Andy Lynch was a good signing though, had Ellis not signed the year after he may have been at the club for years.

Re: Pre-season. : Thu Dec 21, 2023 2:00 pm  

UllFC wrote:

Yes very chaotic on the ins and outs! Andy Lynch was a good signing though, had Ellis not signed the year after he may have been at the club for years.

Pack was top class
O Meley
Houghton
Lynch
Manu
Tickle
Westerman

Moa off the bench too

Re: Pre-season. : Thu Dec 21, 2023 2:15 pm  

A lot of people full of doom and gloom.

2023: Tag, Houghton, ligi, lane Savelio, Cator - Satae, brown, Fash Dwyer

2024- Ese’Ese, Houghton,Ashworth, ligi, Okunbor, Cator - Pele, Brown, Fash, Balmforth/smith

Don’t think you can say 2024 pack isn’t better and the further depth out of the match day squad is much improved. Bigger, better quality and seems to have a better attitude. I also think Nu brown will find his was to 9/13 when squads fit.

2023: Litten, McIntosh, Carlos/Scott, sutty swift, ben Mac (Truey when fit), Cliff

2024: Walker, McIntosh, Carlos/Scott, Sutty, Tindall, Tex, Brown (Truey)

Backs definitely weaker in parts losing swift and Cliff but there’s an argument we should be more exciting this year. Fit Tex is like a new signing, Scott gets better every year and just look at Nu browns instagram. He’s not coming to play. Jack walker is just a Rolls Royce of a player if they can keep him on pitch

Re: Pre-season. : Thu Dec 21, 2023 7:46 pm  

Mrs Barista wrote:

Weakest squad in many years. If we retain an A grade it will be nothing short of miraculous.

I preferred you when you wrote this poop to wind Dobbins fans up and played down our chances in league to wind FC fans up You’re scraping the dregs from the bottom of the barrel now. Never thought you’d be one to write the club off. I well remember your arguments with Burnsy and Gollum on Humberside. Get a grip, Coffee girl!!!!

Re: Pre-season. : Thu Dec 21, 2023 8:09 pm  

Armavinit wrote:

I preferred you when you wrote this poop to wind Dobbins fans up and played down our chances in league to wind FC fans up You’re scraping the dregs from the bottom of the barrel now. Never thought you’d be one to right the club off. I well remember your arguments with Burnsy and Gollum on Humberside. Get a grip, Coffee girl!!!!

Such unnecessary abuse. U OK? x

Re: Pre-season. : Thu Dec 21, 2023 10:38 pm  

Mrs Barista wrote:

Such unnecessary abuse. U OK? x

Have you gone all woke on me? Where pray tell is the abuse?