Re: Onto Magic Weekend and Warrington. : Mon Jun 05, 2023 11:16 am  

Heaven knows I should be used to this by now, having been a black & white since the mid seventies, but I sure am confused this morning.

Is this really the same team that looked utterly disinterested two months ago? The about change in attitude from Easter is staggering, even by our topsy-turvey standards! The same group of players have gone from seemingly not caring one jot to playing as if their very lives depends on the result!

The change in attitude since the Huddersfield game is incredible, particularly our defence in the second half against Wigan and the first half yesterday, absolutely outstanding effort by all. We still look a little hit and miss in attack at times, but we are definitely moving in the right direction in that aspect also.

I was perplexed early in the season as to why we were SO bad, really bad, amongst the worst I've witnessed in all my years of following the club. But, I'm now as equally flummoxed by the turnaround, in a good way of course.

The next month is now crucial for our prospects for this year. If we can win the away games at Leigh and rovers, and win at least one of the Saints/Cats games then we will put ourselves into the mix for potentially nicking a play-off spot, which would represent at least a modicum of success coming off the back of that dreadful losing run in March/April.

As the saying goes; It's never dull in 'ull (Fc)! and that sure is true this morning for all long suffering emotionally drained black & whites everywhere!

Re: Onto Magic Weekend and Warrington. : Mon Jun 05, 2023 11:27 am  

mean_machine wrote:

Tbf it was just an anecdotal comment at the end of me giving you two paragraphs of praise. You’ve explained it, no need for the bitterness you’ve just won and got to heady heights of 9th, enjoy it.

This took a swift dark turn. Does somebody need a hug?

Re: Onto Magic Weekend and Warrington. : Mon Jun 05, 2023 11:32 am  

BP1 wrote:

Heaven knows I should be used to this by now, having been a black & white since the mid seventies, but I sure am confused this morning.

Is this really the same team that looked utterly disinterested two months ago? The about change in attitude from Easter is staggering, even by our topsy-turvey standards! The same group of players have gone from seemingly not caring one jot to playing as if their very lives depends on the result!

The change in attitude since the Huddersfield game is incredible, particularly our defence in the second half against Wigan and the first half yesterday, absolutely outstanding effort by all. We still look a little hit and miss in attack at times, but we are definitely moving in the right direction in that aspect also.

I was perplexed early in the season as to why we were SO bad, really bad, amongst the worst I've witnessed in all my years of following the club. But, I'm now as equally flummoxed by the turnaround, in a good way of course.

The next month is now crucial for our prospects for this year. If we can win the away games at Leigh and rovers, and win at least one of the Saints/Cats games then we will put ourselves into the mix for potentially nicking a play-off spot, which would represent at least a modicum of success coming off the back of that dreadful losing run in March/April.

As the saying goes; It's never dull in 'ull (Fc)! and that sure is true this morning for all long suffering emotionally drained black & whites everywhere!

Completely agree about the next month but seriously can't see us getting anything out of it, and typically we face Saints as they run into brilliant form. However with relegation concerns now eased and some unexpectedly improved performances it feels a bit brighter for now! Hopefully we can get Griffin signed up and some quality in replacements for the players we're losing.

Re: Onto Magic Weekend and Warrington. : Mon Jun 05, 2023 11:57 am  

Mrs Barista wrote:

Completely agree about the next month but seriously can't see us getting anything out of it, and typically we face Saints as they run into brilliant form. However with relegation concerns now eased and some unexpectedly improved performances it feels a bit brighter for now! Hopefully we can get Griffin signed up and some quality in replacements for the players we're losing.

Because of that seven game losing streak, we've left ourselves with a good deal of catching up to do. Looking at the table as it currently stands, I reckon we need another seven, possibly eight, wins from our remaining fixtures. That doesn't give us much room for error. Our horrendous points difference is also a potential factor.

Like I said earlier, if we can win at both Leigh and rovers (neither of which will be easy) then we could haul ourselves onto their coat-tails and put pressure on them as we enter the season run-in. It's still asking a lot for us to claw the deficit back, and I'm not entirely convinced we have enough to put a run together so that we elbow our way into the top six and a play-off spot. But I think we're all a damn sight more hopeful than we were two months ago!

Either way, it's never simple being a B&W is it? Talk about an emotional roller-coaster! I'm getting too old for these nerve-shredding games. I swear blind that supporting our club has probably knocked twenty years off my life!!

Re: Onto Magic Weekend and Warrington. : Mon Jun 05, 2023 12:18 pm  

UllFC wrote:

Rally up all your family and friends for Saints in the Cup, let's get all those who have understandably drifted away from the club in the stands, a shock win and we're suddenly in a Semi final.

And yes I do know it's Leigh next but the Cup is a bigger chance than scraping into 6th offers.

Totally agree cup is priority this season for me

So much easier to win cup than league esp this season

Re: Onto Magic Weekend and Warrington. : Mon Jun 05, 2023 12:25 pm  

Sebasteeno wrote:

Great performance today. We are starting to look like a decent rugby team again after the way we ended up after Hodgson had absolutely destroyed us.

Hope Griffins got another year

No it was the players they threw radford and Hodgson under a bus 100%

The players tried to do it again start of season but then realised Pearson and the fans aren't falling for it anymore

So the players had no where to hide

Re: Onto Magic Weekend and Warrington. : Mon Jun 05, 2023 12:30 pm  

BP1 wrote:

Because of that seven game losing streak, we've left ourselves with a good deal of catching up to do. Looking at the table as it currently stands, I reckon we need another seven, possibly eight, wins from our remaining fixtures. That doesn't give us much room for error. Our horrendous points difference is also a potential factor.

Like I said earlier, if we can win at both Leigh and rovers (neither of which will be easy) then we could haul ourselves onto their coat-tails and put pressure on them as we enter the season run-in. It's still asking a lot for us to claw the deficit back, and I'm not entirely convinced we have enough to put a run together so that we elbow our way into the top six and a play-off spot. But I think we're all a damn sight more hopeful than we were two months ago!

Either way, it's never simple being a B&W is it? Talk about an emotional roller-coaster! I'm getting too old for these nerve-shredding games. I swear blind that supporting our club has probably knocked twenty years off my life!!

The closeness of the league is against us this year aswell. You can usually rely on Wigan/Saints to keep winning against teams around 6th, 7th, 8th, which gives opportunity to match them up. but so far any team can beat anyone. Makes it harder to catch up when all teams are constantly picking up points. Could do with Cas to get their act together and keep picking up wins against the likes of Leeds, Rovers, Salford.

Re: Onto Magic Weekend and Warrington. : Mon Jun 05, 2023 12:31 pm  

Hullrealist wrote:

Never understood the Hoy hate. Constantly runs over 100m and a lot of his Carries are back line Carries which show a ton of commitment.

Also has the ability to slow breaks down like Chris has alluded to. Without his ability to get in the middle and put some doubt in the attacker swift doesn’t make the tackle yesterday. Also worth noting Hoy also made the right decision and probably made the tackle if swift hadn’t been there.

It’s fair to say litten is probably the busier fullback but I think a lot of that is because of how green he is. He wants to be involved and make something happen when a lot of the time he should just pass. (At times like hudds game it does work for sutty try but not often enough)

For now Hoy is undisputed #1. Let litten spend a season of two on wing to gain experience and he’ll then be ready to replace Hoy when he succeeds him or Hoy moves on.

Got to remember Hoy is also 23, is there a younger first choice fullback in SL?

Think people expected him to be French/field type impact soon as he stepped off the plane that was the issue

Re: Onto Magic Weekend and Warrington. : Mon Jun 05, 2023 12:35 pm  

Thetalentboy wrote:

No it was the players they threw radford and Hodgson under a bus 100%

The players tried to do it again start of season but then realised Pearson and the fans aren't falling for it anymore

So the players had no where to hide

Whilst I agree to some extent that some players let Brett down, he has to take most of the responsibility you sign the likes of Gale, Evans, Reynolds, who will have been three of the highest paid players you are going to struggle.

Poor tactics, use of bench and team selections were also poor, I just don't think he was ready for a first team job.

[Chris71]

Re: Onto Magic Weekend and Warrington. : Mon Jun 05, 2023 12:45 pm  

Mrs Barista wrote:

Completely agree about the next month but seriously can't see us getting anything out of it, and typically we face Saints as they run into brilliant form. However with relegation concerns now eased and some unexpectedly improved performances it feels a bit brighter for now! Hopefully we can get Griffin signed up and some quality in replacements for the players we're losing.

To be quite honest I'm not sure about St's, granted they had a good win and played some good rugby against Huddersfield but think a good part of that was down to how poor Huddersfield were. Don't get me wrong they are still one of the best sides in SL but they have shown they are not invincible and can be beaten, plus they are now in a position that they haven't been in for a long while in terms of not having most games their own way.

You could also say the same about our own form that we are now improving week on week and yesterday played some attractive attacking rugby whilst also being resolute defensively against the then table toppers. Think the team as a whole have shown that they do have the ability to compete and whilst we are unlikely to do much this season in the race for the GF which I think we've left too much ground to make up we certainly have a shot at the CC.
Then in saying that when you look at the table and some of the inconsistency of teams above us we are somehow only 6pts off the team in 3rd despite our 7 game run of defeat. All I'll say is it bodes well for what TS is building moving forward at the club which we haven't seen for a very long time.

Leigh this week is another key game and test for me as to our ability to be able to back a good performance. We now need to be able to show that we can put in another performance like Sundays and be consistent with those levels.

All thoughts on the next game against Leigh for now.