Agree with most of your points but one in particular is way off the mark......... off field problems

Barrow have a disruptive chairman... their own fault
Fax have had stanley gene to contend with .... fair point
Windnes have had the coach's wifes ilness and death to deal with.... fair enough
One of the fev players was killed and another critically injured........ i'd say it (rightly) affected his colleagues for a few weeks after

As for fev's lack of injuries we have an excellent conditioning and fitness team who have done a massive job in keeping players fit and fresh... its not all down to luck

I'm well aware that Bowman wasn't playing the other night... i was making an observation from when i have seen him over the last 2 seasons

the fev fitness training on the tv programme tuesday night was funny, how things have changed.

Them were the days lol...... my dad used to play for Rovers in the 70's and 80's his conditioning was to do a days work at the pit, train midweek winter nights(well a game of touch and pass) then he said he had to have 8 pints of tetleys on a saturday night or he was poop on a sunday lol

That'd be Mick yes?

I remember coming to your house one afternoon in about 1987 to measure up for some fitted wardrobes (I worked selling Kitchens and bedrooms then) and seeing your dad's Challenge Cup winners medal in a cabinet in your front room.

Thought it summed everything up when your mum was left with instructions because your dad was at the club!

When I worked for Halifax much later I mentioned this to David Hobbs, who played in the same team. Happy memories for him!

Fax have had more than Gene- Loss of off field staff, loss of money from sponsors going bust etc. Death to a colleague can actually strengthen a team and the team go out of their way to put extra effort in than maybe normal. So I take your point but am not too sure it could be a negative thing, although obviously it does effect people.

Having an excellent Conditioner and fitness team goes so far but I doubt it can compensate for a lot of the injuries that occur. Tearing a Bicep muscle for example. The other thing for Fax-and I was disappointed by the decision-was to run with just one team. I can understand partly the reason but to try and run on a small squad of 22 or so players is for me not a good idea.And how can you properly bring through youngsters and give them a chance with no Academy or reserves? How can injured players especially long term like Tamghart properly get back match fit? It showed he was not ready sadly against Fev.

Also I am of the opinion Powell is a Quality coach who knows the game in defence and attack. Calland for me is miles away from Powell and has plan A then little else. His teams play nice footy but then have no Plan B, struggle to get back to basics and cant defend.

I am sure MC would love to revert to a plan B but if you only have the players to implement Plan A then how can you?

MCs brand of rugby is entertaining and good to watch it also get us results, unfortunately it's this brand or being dull, you can't do both in this league with the limited resources.

If this is being dull never let me get excited again.
I've spoken to several people, not all fev fans about fev's season as a whole and thursday night in particular.
Dull is not a word that's being used to describe the efforts from Fev.

Exciting, unpredictable, unforseen, and at times subliminal are words that have been used. But not dull ironically enough.

I suppose that's your opinion GFB and I'm unlikely to change that. Fair enough like. C'est la vie.

I don't share your opinion, but likewise I'm assuming that you'll get through the day easily enough regardless of that!!!

yup - guilty as accused! Mixed you up with wyt87!! Pill?ock I am!!

But for the doubt of confusion - I'm not especially offended about owt on here really. It's a RL forum not the UN assembly or the General Synod of the C of E!! and long may it continue!

Keep smiling GFB!!

fair do's!

On a positive note - the last 2 years in this league I personally have found far from dull! I've found the competition to be one of the closest contested of the three and the rugby exciting and oft unpredictable to watch!
Batley winning with a minute to go in the NRC was a contender for the game of the decade was it not??

I love our league and all in it - well, I'd happily watch Widnes lose every week like, but that's just bitterness from too many 70's tonkings at Naughton Park!!!

I'll be in the 3 pigeons thursday evening. Big ginger bloke the size of a tree! I'd be happy to continue this over a jug!

Well I think its pretty poor if a coach at this level,does not have a couple of different game plans and strategies, especially with the quality and experience Fax have been blessed with this past couple of years. How you play against Widnes is probably going to be slightly different to Leigh or Fev etc. You target a certain teams weakness and adjust your game plan accordingly. You use the interchange bench differently as well. Some teams you know you can bring in a youngster and try and blood him when there is not so much pressure. You would never try and debut a kid against Barrow, Fev or Widnes for example. If a Coach just basically has one way of playing then thats poor.

Fax coached by MC are great to watch and entertaining. However Calland cant coach his teams to defend or just build pressure first-they have to score at any given time. That is great to watch and I do enjoy the way we are. But I also am of the opinion that it will probably see us never win a trophy. You cant play against the best team this year or last that way. Throwing the ball about when it comes off is good and causes damage. However the loss of possession against a team like Barrow last year and Fev this is a killer. You can get away with it against many teams-but not teams who are strong in defence and are well coached. Fax have to decide what they want-a successful team winning trophies or a team that competes well but does not usually have the knowledge of how to win a trophy and adapt its tactics accordingly.

I would say very few teams in this League are dull. And most games are more entertaining than the SL ones whether it be Fev, Keighley, Widnes, Leigh or whoever playing. If you want dull watch Bradford, Huddersfield or Salford from SL.

as a TO13 regular I can't recall any 'negative' visiting teams this season - all,without exception have tried to play open & positive rugby - Toulouse have probably been the most frustrating because of their inconsistency