Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jun 30, 2023 10:24 am  

Bentley might give us that bit of niggle/nastiness that we've missed since losing Connor, could be a good option if Smith can manage his discipline...one of the sky commentators mentioned last night he's one of those players (like Connor) you love if he's on your team but hate if you're playing against (unless he gets banned multiple times then the roles will reverse)

[Chris71]

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jun 30, 2023 10:24 am  

Just a friendly reminder, can all posters please try and stay on the topic of the thread and try and cut down on some of the petty stuff, I am not a killjoy by any means and enjoy banter myself but some of the thread drifts are tiresome for all users of the forum.

A number of users have commented about the thread drifts and asking for action in some cases, we are trying to clean the Hull FC board up so its enjoyable for everyone. This can only be done with your help as its all of you, the users of this board that make it one of the most active.

Thank you for your understanding

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jun 30, 2023 10:28 am  

Steve0 wrote:

Bentley might give us that bit of niggle/nastiness that we've missed since losing Connor, could be a good option if Smith can manage his discipline...one of the sky commentators mentioned last night he's one of those players (like Connor) you love if he's on your team but hate if you're playing against (unless he gets banned multiple times then the roles will reverse)

You actually believe that the niggle/nastiness of the kind displayed by Connor was a benefit to your club?

[Chris71]

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jun 30, 2023 10:46 am  

BESTY wrote:

Irregular Hoops wrote:

I love a new signing as much as anyone, but I’m ready for the change in philosophy it looks like we’re following. Promoting young players, supplemented by a bit of quality.

I’m ready for the change. Feels just as exciting as just signing players to plug holes in your squad.

Plus we’ve got a bloke in charge who will improve the players already here, and those he’ll bring in.

Smith, Shenton & Riding is the best recruitment we’ve done in years.

It's very refreshing and the right way to go. People moan about not giving young players a chance and then in the next breath want us to sign an Aussie journeyman. I'm excited to see where this approach takes us because we certainly look competitive at reserve and junior grades.
It's also funny how everyone wanted rid of Griffin last year and slagged him off, he now has 3 or 4 good games and they want to throw a contract at him. Our overall approach looks far more measured and balanced.

With regards to 2024 recruitment the club certainly seem to have a different approach under TS. I think he's mentioned a few time that players will only be brought in the add to the existing team or improve it and its unlikely we will see any short term deals to bring anyone in this season. In one interview he said clearly if anyone was to come in this season it would also be because they are part of the 2024 plans too.

When TS is quizzed about the recruitment he seems very calm and measured, so I can only take that as he had a plan and direction when he came on board as Head Coach to address the main issues of which recruitment was/is a massive one.

I think its fair to say that TS has made significant improvements in the majority of players that for the last 4 season at least have looked poor.
I'm sure he is very much aware of who and what we need to add in terms of the squad for 2024 to improve and to achieve success as evident by his track record.

As fans we all like to know or have some news particularly when the high number of OOC players has been a big talking point. Whilst having so many OOC may be a negative I do think that it is actually a bigger positive with us finally having an experienced guy at the helm during this process.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jun 30, 2023 11:17 am  

Thetalentboy wrote:

Problem is are the young players good enough? Cause the youngsters coming through last 10 years has been pretty average really for a club/city our size

Whilst we've picked up last 6 weeks we're still 9th

If we finished 9th under any other coach they'd be under pressure

I'm not saying smith isn't the man but people are rating him more than what we've done this season

Will be harder next 2/3 years with expectations he's expected to deliver

It will take Smith a couple of years to fully turn us around, with Hodgson we never looked like we have improved in ant areas from the latter Radford days, whilst under Smith we do seem to have improved in a few areas, whilst not perfect, our defence is alot better, you only have to watch games against Wigan, Saints and Warrington when we where under huge amounts of pressure and didn't crack.

Also the style of rugby, probably the most enjoyable I can remember in years.

[Chris71]

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jun 30, 2023 11:37 am  

Dave K. wrote:

It will take Smith a couple of years to fully turn us around, with Hodgson we never looked like we have improved in ant areas from the latter Radford days, whilst under Smith we do seem to have improved in a few areas, whilst not perfect, our defence is alot better, you only have to watch games against Wigan, Saints and Warrington when we where under huge amounts of pressure and didn't crack.

Also the style of rugby, probably the most enjoyable I can remember in years.

Indeed, when was the last time we beat teams like Wigan, St's and Warrington in the same season? That for me is quite an indication that whilst we still have big improvements to make we have already made big strides forward under Smith. I think it is fair to say we have seen more change/improvement so far this season under Smith than we have seen since the beginning of 2018 and we play a much more attractive & enjoyable style of rugby and that's despite those 7 games on the trot.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jun 30, 2023 12:10 pm  

Thetalentboy wrote:

Problem is are the young players good enough? Cause the youngsters coming through last 10 years has been pretty average really for a club/city our size

Whilst we've picked up last 6 weeks we're still 9th

If we finished 9th under any other coach they'd be under pressure

I'm not saying smith isn't the man but people are rating him more than what we've done this season

Will be harder next 2/3 years with expectations he's expected to deliver

You sometimes have to endure a bit of pain, especially when there is so much that needs changing, before you can move forwards. Smith inherited a largely disenchanted group of players, many of whom had entered their final year on contract. What he has done is put a smile back on fans' faces (for me anyway) and that squad is probably the third worst in the entire league, so how can you begin to judge Smith, just yet? If we finish ninth, so be it, we are in a huge rebuild, of staff and culture , with players adapting to their third coaching change in 3 years. You cannot yet form a judgement on the team or on Smith, other than to say he has certainly improved a lot of things and the togetherness of this squad feels tangible now, whereas previously it was non-existent . Throw in the fact that he will bring in youth, where Hodgson and Radford didn't , then it looks to me like we are heading in another direction, one which we have all asked for. for a long time. We have beaten the big four in Leeds, Wire, Saints and Wigan - again, to me, that is progress that can be measured.

[Chris71]

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jun 30, 2023 12:19 pm  

Interesting article in HDM regarding Savelio, think this shows the difference in having an experienced Coach that is also a good man manager. It seems he can certainly get the best from players and get them to respond positively to what is being asked/demanded of them. Hope a deal can be done with the club and Savelio.

Interesting article in HDM regarding Savelio, think this shows the difference in having an experienced Coach that is also a good man manager. It seems he can certainly get the best from players and get them to respond positively to what is being asked/demanded of them. Hope a deal can be done with the club and Savelio.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jun 30, 2023 12:53 pm  

Dan's latest Q&A confirmed what we already knew in Ashworth and Tindall but also touched on the club getting deals over the line both domestically and abroad. Sounds promising, id bank on one of them been an NRL hooker.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Jun 30, 2023 1:01 pm  

Smith is in charge, and everyone knows it now.
Deviate from the standards and you won’t last long.

Also think he’s got the fan base behind him. Even on the losing run he “held his nerve” (can maybe give Rishi lessons in that), and the supporters stayed united behind him. We’ve not had a coach in a long time, where nearly all the support base was behind him as much.