: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:14 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Love your sense of humour

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:25 pm  

Well the game was worse than i hoped for but better than I feared.. especially after going 12-0 down after 6 minutes.

By the end of the game of the game I thought our attack actually showed some signs of gelling.

Trying to be optimistic I thought we showed signs that we may play like a team one day soon.

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:29 pm  

Firstly, unless i've missed it, not one post blaming the referee. Now that must be a first.

Hull have had a very good start to the season although we have been fortunate in the fact that yourselves, Wigan and Catalans have been in poor form.

I'm concerned in by the fact that we don't seem able to kill teams off but im sure that once the pivotals get used to each other and our new recruits arrive we'll see us get even stronger.

Like others have said apart from the first 5 minutes you we're in the game. Against other clubs you would have had 2 points, you're unfortunate in the fact that you played us in good form.

You're not a bad team and I think McNamara has recruited well. You're a team lacking confidence but it will come and you'll end the season wondering what all the fuss was about.

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 7:48 pm  

Adeybull wrote:

:roll: And that shout was meant to motivate Platt just how, precisely?

I didn't say it motivated him. I just found it funny that it comes to that.

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 8:32 pm  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Two things arising from that game -

First, we had two teams that were pretty evenly matched in most departments (more later).

Second, the Bulls will do nothing this year as our half-backs (even though Jeffries played far better than his previous efforts) seem to be a spent force, and this was the obvious difference.

The Bulls still made too many mistakes, but that is not unexpected when you are chasing a game, and have to try to force things, but in general, you would have to say that the pack more than matched Hull's pack, and while they did not beat Hull's pack, it was an entertaining 80 minute contest.

But the one shining beacon in this is why, given that we now obviously realise we need a creative halfback (Bird anyone?) did we lump ourselves with a Jeffries/Deacon partnership for 2009, when it just does not offer enough to be better than most of the other teams. As I keep saying, Jeffries never was a No. 6 yet we are persisting with that, and sadly at the moment Deacon is a busted flush. The things he used to be good at for many years, little dabs through, kicks for touch, into the corners, organising the pack and directing play, seem to be a memory now.

IF we knew we were short of some creativity then why the hell did we not snap up Thorman when he became available/

And therein was the difference. Chris Thorman, esq. Take out his brilliance, creativity and opportunism, pace, and balance, and it is an even game. Swop sides and we win easily. Thorman was majestic.

Sheriffe also proved he can't run, when a ball-carrying Yeaman pulled away from a "chasing" Sheriffe.

Enjoyed the game, loved watching Torman and the excellent Manu, and in general a fair performance by the Bulls. Just baten by the Thorman difference.

I disagree that Thorman was the only difference, I felt we looked much fitter than Bradford, and we really should have killed the game off.

as for Jeffries, at best he has always been inconsistent and at worst anonymous, he really wasn't the calibre of player a team like Bradford should have bought in a key position.

I think it is going to take a year or two for Bradford to sort your side out to be honest, the squad is far too geared towards the forwards with a poor backline, whereas in the good years you had the solid Withers, Hape, Vainikolo etc to score the chances. You had no problem matching our pack today, but soon as the ball went out wide to the backs it fell apart time after time.

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:04 pm  

af wrote:

Sounds like this could actually have been what happened. Was it?

Yes and no. The game was certainly more entertaining than last week, I enjoyed watching Yeamans and Thormans display of how to play Centre and half back respectively and at least this week we scored some tries. Also the Hull fans were a credit to their club today, as they get enough stick sometimes so today I'd point out the excellent and well behaved following.

On a positive note, two of the tries, the jeffries one following the break and the deacon kick for semi's try showed signs of life for the attack (as an aside - put those two relatively simple but effective pieces of play into the first two games and we have 4 points and the threads on here woud be a little different). It was good to see Lynch back, Nero is looking more like the Centre he can be and hopefully Crookes was paying attention and learning each time Yeaman was teaching him for the hour and he'll be better for the experience.

However, increasingly worrying - the defence was not good. Deacon looks a shadow of his former self. Jefferies was largely ineffectual, and I cant see us winning anything with that ineffective half back pairing. Crookes Vs Yeaman was a total mismatch and although it was a shame to pull him off, Yeaman was less effective having to deal with Sykes IMO. Also (small)sections of our crowd are a disgrace - why boo Platt whilst he is stood on the touchline waiting to come on???? how does that help him or the team? and this leads to my main thought from today;

KNOCK OFF NIGEL wrote:

You're a team lacking confidence but it will come and you'll end the season wondering what all the fuss was about.

Its clear we are a team with almost zero confidence and good players are looking worse due to panicing and therefore playing "dumb" rugby. I'm not sure how much blame for this dumb rugby and individual error needs to be placed with the coach or the players (even if its the players the coach is responsible for bringing the players together as a group)

My main conclusion is that three away games on the spin will probably be good for everyone. Ramble over.

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:33 pm  

It was marginally better than last week. The main difference was that Wigan had a major point to prove whereas once Hull went 12-0 up they were happy to revert to cruise control. Whenever we threatened to get close they seemed to score more or less at will.

There seemed to be more effort but the defense still looked loose.

I think the fundamental problem is that the squad just isnt good enough. But I'm at a loss as to why players such as Burgess, Newton & Deacon are playing at about 30% of their capability. I know all three have had knocks but that doesnt explain why their skill levels appear to have disappeared.

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:42 pm  

redeverready wrote:

Exactly the halfback's at Bradford are just another convenient excuse as we can't win games.

tbh i do agree with u ,ur halfs are poor at the moment but whats losing u games is your defensive effort ,you have no chance of winning a game when u let in more than 4/5 trys a match ,we where the same last year its proberly because some of your squad are playing busted and some are just not fit enough ,every time we got in your 20 we scored simple

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 9:44 pm  

Cibaman wrote:

It was marginally better than last week. The main difference was that Wigan had a major point to prove whereas once Hull went 12-0 up they were happy to revert to cruise control. Whenever we threatened to get close they seemed to score more or less at will.

There seemed to be more effort but the defense still looked loose.

I think the fundamental problem is that the squad just isnt good enough. But I'm at a loss as to why players such as Burgess, Newton & Deacon are playing at about 30% of their capability. I know all three have had knocks but that doesnt explain why their skill levels appear to have disappeared.

It happens in a team low on confidence and wins. We found it last year, otherwise excellent players appeared rubbish. I can only assume its a confidence thing.

: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:04 pm  

12-0 down so early is very difficult to recover from when you're already low on confidence. Agar was delighted with this win, Hull players apparently saying you were the most physical opposition we've faced so far. You've got a very tough pack and some decent backs. Problem #1 is your half-back combination IMO. Neither look up to the job in hand at the moment.