May19th...... : Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:15 am
I posted this half term report: updated thoughts
gutterfax wrote:
So, half way into the season, what do we all think of the season so far?
IMO, on the pitch we are as competative as we have been since we returned to TW2. SOMETHING HAS GONE VERY WRONG
The only two teams to put us to the sword so far this year are probably the other 2 most improved sides in the comp, with HKR deserving 2nd spot and Huddersfield being far better than their recent result against Salford would point to. EVERYONE IS NOW PUTTING 30 POINTS ON US
The Squad looks settled and with players signing contract extensions, the future is looking good. Big Mac said he wanted us to win the comp this year and on our day, we can beat any side....so why not. I doubted him when he said we could win SuperLeague......but not any more. I SHOULD HAVE GONE WITH MY GUT INSTINCT
The reserves are doing well, which points to strength in depth and that is definitely something new for us. THEY HAVE DROPPED OFF AS WELL
We are not conceding penalties and are cutting down on the error count, which points towards dicipline and concentration being at the forefront of Big Macs game plan and even better, we are grinding out wins where previously we would have lost games. WE HAVE BEEN GRINDING OUT LOSSES AND HAVE LOST THE TAPS
If we had turned up agianst Catalan and kept our heads against Wigan, we would be joint top of Superleage. AND WOULD STILL BE IN WITH A SHOUT FOR THE PLAY-OFFS
Off the pitch, we have a new General Manager and just as importantly, the offer of assistance from Mr Evans and the Union guys, so crowds will improve. The Wakefield crowd was out biggest since 2000 v the Wildcats and I am sure we will see more initiatives for future games. ALAS...THE INITIATIVES HAVEN'T BEEN PUBLICISED AND THEREFORE HAVEN'T WORKED
All in all, a massive improvement over the last couple of years in all areas (except maybe ticketing
) IT HAS GONE FROM BEING A GREAT SEASON TO ONE OF ABJECT FAILURE BOTH ON AND OFF THE PITCH
IMO, on the pitch we are as competative as we have been since we returned to TW2. SOMETHING HAS GONE VERY WRONG
The only two teams to put us to the sword so far this year are probably the other 2 most improved sides in the comp, with HKR deserving 2nd spot and Huddersfield being far better than their recent result against Salford would point to. EVERYONE IS NOW PUTTING 30 POINTS ON US
The Squad looks settled and with players signing contract extensions, the future is looking good. Big Mac said he wanted us to win the comp this year and on our day, we can beat any side....so why not. I doubted him when he said we could win SuperLeague......but not any more. I SHOULD HAVE GONE WITH MY GUT INSTINCT
The reserves are doing well, which points to strength in depth and that is definitely something new for us. THEY HAVE DROPPED OFF AS WELL
We are not conceding penalties and are cutting down on the error count, which points towards dicipline and concentration being at the forefront of Big Macs game plan and even better, we are grinding out wins where previously we would have lost games. WE HAVE BEEN GRINDING OUT LOSSES AND HAVE LOST THE TAPS
If we had turned up agianst Catalan and kept our heads against Wigan, we would be joint top of Superleage. AND WOULD STILL BE IN WITH A SHOUT FOR THE PLAY-OFFS
Off the pitch, we have a new General Manager and just as importantly, the offer of assistance from Mr Evans and the Union guys, so crowds will improve. The Wakefield crowd was out biggest since 2000 v the Wildcats and I am sure we will see more initiatives for future games. ALAS...THE INITIATIVES HAVEN'T BEEN PUBLICISED AND THEREFORE HAVEN'T WORKED
All in all, a massive improvement over the last couple of years in all areas (except maybe ticketing
) IT HAS GONE FROM BEING A GREAT SEASON TO ONE OF ABJECT FAILURE BOTH ON AND OFF THE PITCHSo, what has happened? I know we got a few injuries and suspensions, but surely as one of the best 14 teams in the country we should be able to cope. Reports from Hull FC were depressing and Mac can spin it all he likes, something is very wrong with the players.
Off the pitch, the green shoots of recovery seem to have been sprayed with weedkiller. The updates on the club site have become less regular and the marketing initiatives haven't been publicised properly and have therefore failed.
When I posted the above our average gate was 3,400 and we still had the visits of Leeds, Saints and Bradford to come...traditionally three of the best attended games of the season, but we still have the same average.
Ticketing and stewarding still seem to be causing problems and there has been very little (if any) activity to promote the Castleford game. This is the last game of the season and we mathamatically can still make the 8, so you would think that the club would be going great guns at this....but nope......nothing except letting vistors to the site know that Virgin Atlantic are the match sponsor and there are 4 tickets up for grabs at half time to any destination other than Australia
.
As for Brian Mac, I am still in the yes camp, but have doubts as to whether he has "lost the dressing room" as some say.....but something has gone very very very wrong. The lads have 2 weeks to get this sorted and I hope that they are given a couple of days off and are maybe taken on a jolly (go-karting/paint balling).
I agree with the massive clear out thread...we need to get rid of some and others need to up their games, but I really thought we had a good squad at the start of the season and to be honest, they are still pretty good. It's just something has gone wrong, either in coaching and/or conditioning and it needs to be sorted now.
Hull FC were worried about getting a sub 5 figure crowd last week, so gave away 5,000 + tickets. If one of the best supported clubs in SL can do it, then why can't we?
Harlequins RL have gone from a straight A student at half term to a potential C- one in only 15 weeks.
so yeah....let's post all our offers there...where they will be seen by millions 
