Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Feb 09, 2024 2:19 pm  

pmarrow wrote:

We seem to have a gap between the Youth and first team. For me that is represented by the 4 or 5 years of poor first team coaching and lack of opportunities given. If you look at the better sides in the League some of there youngsters are in there third or fourth pre season with the first team. This is a gap Cummins and Smith needs to plug, which looks like something they are doing. If you take into consideration the scoreline last time we sent a youth team to Bradford pre season to this season, seems some progress at least.

We seem to have 17 first teamers, a coule of fringe players and the rest is very raw and inexpierenced youth players. That gap needs plugging which im sure if given the time, patience and guidance can happen.

The club just need to stop being spin doctors, come out and say what the long term plan is we are where we are at and what our aim is. Instead of coming out with big statements and just creating unrest amongst supporters when we lose 5 or 6 in a row.

To solve this problem, Pearson has to back Smith till at least the end of 2025 IMO. Not think of pass sales and just the future.

Agree with all of this. Too much hype resulting in unrealistic expectations. Admit that we are a work in progress building for the future and must be patient. No more capitulations at home!

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Feb 09, 2024 3:15 pm  

It's a hard balancing act for Smith. He has to remain positive for this year yet I imagine it's gonna be next year before we can start to see the real benefits. Saying that I do expect us to be better this year although can't see us in top 6 ATM but stranger things have happened. Everyone writing us off so let's see ?

[Chris71]

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Feb 09, 2024 3:23 pm  

Marcus's Bicycle wrote:

Agree with all of this. Too much hype resulting in unrealistic expectations. Admit that we are a work in progress building for the future and must be patient. No more capitulations at home!

Whilst of course we all want the club to be competing for silverware I think most of the fans that follow the club and attend games will probably, like me just settle and want/be happy to see the team compete for 80mins win or lose and no longer see the towel being thrown in from mid July this season.

If we can see the club is genuinely making progress on the field from the past 5/6years then its a big plus. In reality we know we are a ways off yet and it will take another off season and recruitment cycle at least before we can genuinely consider a top 6 finish such was the state of the squad that Smith inherited.

Patience is key but its a commodity that is understandably in limited supply due to the seasons witnessed from 2018 to present day, which is why the fans need to see that things are moving forward for the better from the start of this season.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Feb 09, 2024 3:34 pm  

I just want to see us compete in every game and not get to the end of August and be desparate for the season to end.

A bit of luck too with injuries and fewer stupid bans and we can hopefully edge further up the table. Sixth looks highly unlikely but 7th/8th would be a reasonable finish given the task Smith took on and the limitations of the current squad.

As we've seen in recent years the Challenge Cup is a great chance for clubs other than Wigan and Saints to get to a final so fingers crossed things go our way in that competition.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Feb 09, 2024 3:51 pm  

pmarrow wrote:

A start would be having more professional and better first team players.

The onfield discipline has to be addressed otherwise we will burn out again in the second halfs of matches due to having to do more energy sapping defending

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Feb 09, 2024 3:53 pm  

ComeOnYouUll wrote:

I just want to see up compete in every game and not get to the end of August and be desparate for the season to end.

A bit of luck too with injuries and fewer stupid bans and we can hopefully edge further up the table. Sixth looks highly unlikely but 7th/8th would be a reasonable finish given the task Smith took on and the limitations of the current squad.

As we've seen in recent years the Challenge Cup is a great chance for clubs other than Wigan and Saints to get to a final so fingers crossed things go our way in that competition.

It also puts some much needed cash into the club if we can win the C/C

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Fri Feb 09, 2024 9:34 pm  

bonaire wrote:

It also puts some much needed cash into the club if we can win the C/C

We won't be handing it back over easily.

[Mild Rover]

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Sat Feb 10, 2024 10:04 am  

Chris71 wrote:

Patience is key but its a commodity that is understandably in limited supply...

There are broadly two types of patience. The one based solely on stoicism and the one where there’s also some hope, where you’re keeping an eye out for green shoots.

If (and that’s always a huge caveat) things go as some on here are predicting, I think Smith might not see out the season. Coming in around 8th, if part of that relative success were based on improved late season form, I’d be slightly surprised if he’s still around to oversee it. Unless there’s mitigation around bad luck with injuries or something like that.

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Sat Feb 10, 2024 10:28 am  

Worry about your team. We will worry about ours. Jeez season hasn't started and on about Smith going. . Rumours about Peters not being flavour of the month with some of the players with your lot. The way Dobbins are being talked up if he doesn't win anything this year will he be gone ?

Re: Shopping list for 2024 : Sat Feb 10, 2024 10:54 am  

Mild Rover wrote:

There are broadly two types of patience. The one based solely on stoicism and the one where there’s also some hope, where you’re keeping an eye out for green shoots.

If (and that’s always a huge caveat) things go as some on here are predicting, I think Smith might not see out the season. Coming in around 8th, if part of that relative success were based on improved late season form, I’d be slightly surprised if he’s still around to oversee it. Unless there’s mitigation around bad luck with injuries or something like that.

I think things would have to go really badly for Pearson to even consider sacking Smith. Radford is the only coach he's sacked during the season. You could argue his patience with certain coaches has been his downfall.

The majority of Hull fans know what we're in for this season. A long slog that will more than likely see us finish inside the bottom 4.

Be interesting to see how Rovers cope with the pressure. Must be the first time since the 80s since you've got genuine expectation?