: Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:21 pm  

Asim wrote:

Bird is obviously just following the well worn path of illegals by heading to France first.

Can we not get him onto a lorry at Calais?

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:27 pm  

af wrote:

I hear Bulls had to let some office staff go this past week. I wonder if a bumper crowd against Hull KR to see Greg Bird's debut would have made any difference.

Sadly I suspect you'd not have seen the "Bumper Crowd". At least not if much of the opinion on here was representative, given how many were saying he "wasn't the sort of signing we wanted" or whatever. As if we are in any position to pick and choose, eh?

For my part, his signing could have been crucial to addressing the problems that were plain to see these last two games, and I supported it wholeheartedly.

Would I be surprised to find anti-RL elements at work in the FCO? Would I hell.

And as for the staff comment - well if that's the case (and I'm desperately depressed if it is) maybe the Negative Tendency can explain where the cash for paying this Great Salvation of a new Head Coach is coming from?

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:40 pm  

Sales of haggis, carved from the McHaggis mines found in the lowlands of Scotland

The highlanders won't have anything to do with them

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 9:54 pm  

Adeybull wrote:

Sadly I suspect you'd not have seen the "Bumper Crowd". At least not if much of the opinion on here was representative, given how many were saying he "wasn't the sort of signing we wanted" or whatever. As if we are in any position to pick and choose, eh?

For my part, his signing could have been crucial to addressing the problems that were plain to see these last two games, and I supported it wholeheartedly.

Would I be surprised to find anti-RL elements at work in the FCO? Would I hell.

And as for the staff comment - well if that's the case (and I'm desperately depressed if it is) maybe the Negative Tendency can explain where the cash for paying this Great Salvation of a new Head Coach is coming from?

Better still why don't certain people explain what effect the dwindling crowds will have on our finances when we draw crowds of 7k for the home games against Catalans, Celtic and Harlequins if we continue to perform like we have.

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 10:15 pm  

redeverready wrote:

Better still why don't certain people explain what effect the dwindling crowds will have on our finances when we draw crowds of 7k for the home games against Catalans, Celtic and Harlequins if we continue to perform like we have.

Or better still, why don't people who sung 'Bradford till I die' then scuttled off when things get tough do just that, die?

Not me, obviously. I don't go any more but I have my reasons.

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 10:32 pm  

redeverready wrote:

Better still why don't certain people explain what effect the dwindling crowds will have on our finances if we draw crowds of 7k for the home games against Catalans, Celtic and Harlequins if we continue to perform like we have.

Edit on assumption you don't own a crystal ball.

But you already know the answer to your rhetorical question - it would be catastrophic. No brainer. So why ask it? Unlike yours, my question was seeking an answer to the problem.

So given that you have only answered my question with a rhetorical question, how about a plausible answer? How about: if more people would maybe try to be a bit less negative, and spend a bit more time trying to give wavering or potential supporters reasons to turn up rather than sit at home criticising, then maybe - just maybe - that would give the club more funds to take some of the steps the Negative Tendency are crying out for?

And if that means having to temporarily suspend the extreme scepticism and disenchantment with the performances so far, and get off some players' backs and get behind the coach and the team for a bit - and suspend keep saying its just a continuation of last year - is that too high a price to pay? Is that too much for some on here who seem more interested on being proved right than in the team doing well? (And you know I do not include you in that category).

A big ask for some of the dwindling number who still post on here I know, and indeed a big ask for me on Friday night when I came scarily-close to joining the Negative Tendency. But I fought it off. Again.

Do we really want to be seen as the most fickle "fans" in the competition? Thats how we are looking to those outside, I suggest?

Do we really want any potential recruit, any potential supporter, to read this board and say "nah, they are in the do-dos, thats not for me"?

I said in another post: if after we are well into the season the performance has not improved, then the club will need to do some straight-talking - especially after all the positive noises they have been making.

But it seems to me that if too many of the "supporters" carry on like this, then indeed we will satisfy the self-fulfilling prophecy your question implies.

: Sun Mar 01, 2009 10:39 pm  

I've found the rarity of any 'Get behind the side' sentiment on here rather sad over the past couple of years. Supporting any side in any sport is an activity driven by emotion rather than logic, and some of you lot make me think of the Grinch, born with a heart two sizes too small.

Not you red. You already know what popular children's book character you remind me of.

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:24 am  

Adeybull wrote:

disenchantment with the performances so far, and get off some players' backs and get behind the coach and the team for a bit

You mean like people did against Hull KR even though we were shocking and like people did against Huddersfield till it became evident that we hadn't improved and a full 2 weeks had passed since the last game.

Adeybull wrote:

I said in another post: if after we are well into the season the performance has not improved, then the club will need to do some straight-talking - especially after all the positive noises they have been making.

The fact that since Big Les depature we have won only 20 out 36 games and lost in the first round of the play offs 2 years on the trot. This is the thing that sticks in most people minds if you then add the start to this season people are finding it very hard not to be disgruntled. Also it's becoming more and more noticable that people are questioning whether we have the right man for the job as their isn't anything to convince them other wise. I truly do hope Macca is able to turn things round and I will galdly eat a huge peice of humble pie if he does but you can't get awy from the fact's of the last 18 months.

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:25 am  

af wrote:

I've found the rarity of any 'Get behind the side' sentiment on here rather sad over the past couple of years. Supporting any side in any sport is an activity driven by emotion rather than logic, and some of you lot make me think of the Grinch, born with a heart two sizes too small.

Not you red. You already know what popular children's book character you remind me of.

I bet he's from a Mr Men book.

: Mon Mar 02, 2009 7:48 am  

redeverready wrote:

The fact that since Big Les depature we have won only 20 out 36 games and lost in the first round of the play offs 2 years on the trot. This is the thing that sticks in most people minds if you then add the start to this season people are finding it very hard not to be disgruntled. Also it's becoming more and more noticable that people are questioning whether we have the right man for the job as their isn't anything to convince them other wise. I truly do hope Macca is able to turn things round and I will galdly eat a huge peice of humble pie if he does but you can't get awy from the fact's of the last 18 months.

Yes you can't deny the facts. Unfortunately neither can you get away from the financial realities as I keep saying, nor the way the competition has leveled-up so much such that no team should now expect to have the dominant runs we saw in the past when we really had a competition within a competition. After all, this is the same Hull KR who beat Stains on their own midden last week, and the same Hudds who beat Cats on theirs - both teams who finished above us last season - so maybe - as their fans rightly point out - people need to recognise these are much-improved teams?

As I said, why can't we give the team some space for them to demonstrate they can indeed perform the way we continue to be promised?

When you reflect on Friday, this lot from the T&A - and Morro elsewhere in the report fully acknowledges shortcomings elsewhere but does also emphasise the disruptive start to the season - may have some bearing:

Glen Morrison wrote:

...It looked after the match like (Deacon)’d been bottled. Deacs had a real gash around his eye and he’s got some healing to do. Burge (Sam Burgess) did his ankle while Tez (Terry Newton) thought he’d broken his arm in the first half.

He couldn’t straighten it at all and had to get jabbed up to go back out because Wagga (Wayne Godwin) was injured, so we had a few walking wounded.

At least that helps answer my question regarding why we seemed to be losing it in the hooker department. Maybe those who took issue with Newton on here will take note?