Start like we have again next week against a motivated wigan side and it could get nasty and there'll be much more gnashing on here.

Yep I found myself thinking on Thursday ‘Great, just in time for us to catch a Wigan backlash.’

Yup.

Remember Hull? After the first 2 games they went on a massive losing run. For many weeks only Wakefield were below them.

They are now 2 points behind us.

If you drop a frog in boiling water it jumps straight out. Put it in cold water and heat it up, it slowly boils to death.

After the end of last season, if you’d dropped us straight into this scenario we’d immediately realise we were in hot water, that Smith isn’t working.

Would you say Tony Smith is ‘working’ at hull or Paul Wellens at Saints?

You e just described a Hull side that looked clueless and far worse than us whi now seem to have turned that around, were 4 points of 4th place with over half the season to go, a lot can happen in that time.

Christopher it's not where we are or points were on its the glaring ineptitude of the performances. Ie we could have lost by the same margin last night but with positive signs.

That’s my point about Hull, who you yourself mentioned, things can change within a season.

Which is why I said after Thurs that I'd want to see that intensity from us, we didn't. And worse still it just looks like Smith fully believes in a way of playing that bypasses the rolling up your sleeves stuff and putting the opposition under pressure. That's why I worry that it won't turn around.

Interested to know Chris.
If we continue like we are and finish 9th this season.
Do you still think this is a long term project and we should continue with Smith?

It’s either his plan, or he’s not able to get the players to keep to the plan. Neither of which would be ringing endorsements.

it's definitely his plan. he is, like bielsa was, totally intrenched in his ideals, and refuses to waver or adapt, despite its obvious failings.

Who's our Allardyce equivalent, Noble?!

It is a long term project and yes we should continue with Smith, he hasn’t had enough time to A. Bring through the young players and B. Get the squad he wants.

As Ive said before I don’t like short term thinking in sport, I think if the club has brought in Smith with s long term plan in mind then they should stick to it.

Take Warrington last year, the easiest option to apease fans would have been to sack powell, the club stuck to his and their plan and I believe they will get the benefits. As we will with Smith.

Why do we need an Allardyce equivalent? Were not nearly in the same situation as Leeds Utd, nor will we be.

Talk about over reacting.

We get beaten up front in virtually every game , so how that is supposedly sorted i will never know

If smith had come in last season and taken them to the GF, and then they were tanking this season then yeah, I’d think something was up.

Context is different.