Re: Pre-season. : Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:08 pm  

Hmm.
My verdict after the first half was quite positive. Stood up to Wigan physically, defended pretty well and definitely promising from the forwards. A bit concerning in attack but new and slightly makeshift halfback combo, missing Trueman etc so I can live with it for now.
My verdict at full time is...oh dear. Strap in for another long year

Re: Pre-season. : Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:10 pm  

No need to be so dramatic. We went well in first half and in second smith decided to take off a lot of players.

Charles must’ve got 25-30 mins
Litten got 40

Having them next to each other was our downfall. Think that edge conceded 4-5 tries in the second half.

Did Gardner even come on?

Wigan are the bench mark and we have 15-16 players who can compete. After that we’re in trouble

Re: Pre-season. : Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:10 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Only pre-season but sadly I thought that was a very worrying performance from Hull. As I've said previously when on this board Hull are my second team and I want them to do well but it looks another tough year. A pretty good opening 20 led by some fresh, powerful forwards but a lack of direction in attack and too many losses of concentration. Wigan were very poor with the ball in the first half - French looked particularly sluggish. But in the second half, Wigan's depth and superior fitness clearly told and the way Hull fell away would have to be concerning.

Brown looks quality but Hull in this game looked to have similar problems to recent years - a lack of resilience when things start to go wrong, lack of concentration and discipline, limited squad depth and now with Clifford gone there's no clear organiser in the team.

All fair comments. Wigan look the team to beat on paper this year.
I don't think you'll anything but weary resignation from Hull fans these days, we've seen it all before too many times.

Re: Pre-season. : Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:11 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Only pre-season but sadly I thought that was a very worrying performance from Hull. As I've said previously when on this board Hull are my second team and I want them to do well but it looks another tough year. A pretty good opening 20 led by some fresh, powerful forwards but a lack of direction in attack and too many losses of concentration. Wigan were very poor with the ball in the first half - French looked particularly sluggish. But in the second half, Wigan's depth and superior fitness clearly told and the way Hull fell away would have to be concerning.

Brown looks quality but Hull in this game looked to have similar problems to recent years - a lack of resilience when things start to go wrong, lack of concentration and discipline, limited squad depth and now with Clifford gone there's no clear organiser in the team.

Very fair summary. I quite enjoyed the first half but it was clear you guys hadn't got into gear, 2nd half massive gulf in quality. For us I thought that Ashworth went OK and Ese Ese, but our lack of depth was starkly exposed. No point in listing Carlos and Trueman as players to come in either as unlikely they will play much. If we need to finish 8th to maintain an A grade it looks a tall order

Re: Pre-season. : Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:13 pm  

Thought we did well in the first 40. Ese'ese will be a big player for us. Ashworth, Pele and Brown positives too. Cator had a decent stint at 9 as well.

Our end of sets and attacking in the Wigan 20 was pretty bad though. Thought we really lacked a cutting edge.

While Wigan ran away with it in the second half, a lot of the tries went through Charles Edge. Maybe I'm clutching at straws on that.

Re: Pre-season. : Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:15 pm  

Only a friendly but that's a concerning scoreline in terms of both defence and attack.

Re: Pre-season. : Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:16 pm  

Mrs Barista wrote:

Very fair summary. I quite enjoyed the first half but it was clear you guys hadn't got into gear, 2nd half massive gulf in quality. For us I thought that Ashworth went OK and Ese Ese, but our lack of depth was starkly exposed. No point in listing Carlos and Trueman as players to come in either as unlikely they will play much. If we need to finish 8th to maintain an A grade it looks a tall order

One mitigating factor perhaps would be the 8 man bench for us - due to the differences in squad depth that was always going to benefit Wigan. (I assume there were unlimited interchanges as well but I didn't count).

Re: Pre-season. : Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:25 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

Only pre-season but sadly I thought that was a very worrying performance from Hull. As I've said previously when on this board Hull are my second team and I want them to do well but it looks another tough year. A pretty good opening 20 led by some fresh, powerful forwards but a lack of direction in attack and too many losses of concentration. Wigan were very poor with the ball in the first half - French looked particularly sluggish. But in the second half, Wigan's depth and superior fitness clearly told and the way Hull fell away would have to be concerning.

Brown looks quality but Hull in this game looked to have similar problems to recent years - a lack of resilience when things start to go wrong, lack of concentration and discipline, limited squad depth and now with Clifford gone there's no clear organiser in the team.

Good summary but a couple of things…yes a limited squad due to players still having contracts given by Radford,a Covid loan payment restricting us and sheer lack of youth chances by Both Radford and Hodgson has held us back as well…Trueman will make a difference when he comes back and your squad depth is frightening….we are going to be ok but will take a bit pain getting there

Re: Pre-season. : Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:25 pm  

Also a random point - I know I'm getting on a bit but, with every font in the world to choose from why pick one that makes the player names illegible lol?

Re: Pre-season. : Sun Feb 04, 2024 4:26 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

One mitigating factor perhaps would be the 8 man bench for us - due to the differences in squad depth that was always going to benefit Wigan. (I assume there were unlimited interchanges as well but I didn't count).

Plus we lost 4players during week as well so had to bring 4tpungsters in and your squad depth is deep .