Definitely. Been a frustrating year. We've performed well, n fact there hasn't been really too many games where we've been very poor. No one can question our attitude, but the thing that has cost us this year is not having that ability or intelligence to close games down. Mainly falls on the half backs shoulders does this responsibility so i expect better from them next year.

Could be a crunch year for Gale next year IMO, it will be his third with us and another year of games where he shows nice touches, and then others where he fails to control won't cut it IMO. He has shown glimpses again this year of what he's capable of, but we can't have 3 years of that. Hope we kicks on next year.

The additions of Carvell and Ferguson will definitely improve us, Gaskell will provide more competition and George will provide much needed speed. Plus our young players such as Roberts, Mellor, Naughton and Wood will be another year old and much more ready for SL than this year.

Top 8 should be achievable next year.

Well the best we can do is match last year's finish and end 9th. If we can do it with more points than last year then we can call that an improvement.

I think our lack of squad depth, something that's been addressed well so far in the recruitment for next year, has seen us suffer defeats where we should have had victory.

I've been saying all year that this season was just for Cummins to get used to being the head guy. He's had some good results and, at times, had the team playing some exciting and entertaining rugby. If we can build on that next year then I think a return to play-off rugby is on the cards for Bradford

IMO next season will be the hardest yet, the top 8 will be stronger, couple that to the fact salford will be a lot stronger and cas/wakey and widnes will be desperate to avoid the drop as we will.

We cannot afford any slip ups, where it is "well, we played well for 60mins but we didnt have enough to win the games" if we have that mentality we could be relegated we have to fight for every point, if we are winning we cant sit back we have to go for the kill and show no mercy, we also need to wise up at the PTB, rush the play like hudds, wigan and wire do and cut out needless penalties.

Like has been said if Gale dosent show leadership and picks the wrong ball which costs us he needs to be dropped, in favour of addy (who has been more consistent i think) or gaskell, who i think maybe an unknown, same goes for sammut.

On paper we are looking stronger but we still have some players OOC who have not been signed up, hopefully this is being addressed but if its not i fear we could be in for another long season.

I do think cutting down to 12 teams is a mistake, lots of players could be put on the scrap heap so to speak, would rather see 14 teams with P&R.

Agree that next year will be the hardest yet as teams generally improve, which to my mind is testimony to how well the current system has worked, and yes, obviously there have been ups and downs along the way but I don't see any compelling reason to return to the old, failed system, of P&R. In fairness, I'd say that 12 would probably be the number of clubs which we could 'service' with sufficient SL quality players from our own devices, given the current difficulty of the old standby of recruiting from Australia.

Looking at the clubs at the bottom [ie under the play-off spots], we should be stronger and have more balanced squad as Franny has had time to recruit properly this time round, so whereas I'm disappointed, but not really surprised at us being ninth this time round [assumptions, eh! Love to be wrong] I'd definitely be a bit disappointed if we didn't do better next year.

Without knowing the ins and outs at either Cas or Wakey [though Cas seem set to lose Chase] it's hard to think how they'll do. Cas to improve, maybe, under Powell and Wakey to plough on as normal, I'd guess, but who knows?

Widnes constantly look to be improving but then fall back and for whatever reason just don't seem to be cutting it and I wonder how long Denis Betts is going to keep getting the nod, maybe a new coach would turn them round...

London look to be the in biggest danger of missing the cut at the end of next season as I can't see them improving anything like sufficiently - but will the RFL bite the bullet and let them drop out of SL, whatever position they finish? There has been no mention of any 'immunities' but the RFL are well able to make decisions on the hoof..

And, of course Salford which is, for me, the great unknown. I'm sure they'll improve; with Nobby as coach and seemingly unlimited funds, how could they not? but maybe next season will prove to be a bit too soon for them. They are the big imponderable for 2014.

Shall I lock it now?

I don't actually think Salford will be that much of a force next year. Not unless they actually manage to sign some players of note. I mean, yeah, they're making big noises about signing players yet no-one seems that keen to put their name in the hat.

That's not to be dismissive of Meli and Morley, however I don't think I'm wrong in saying their best days are behind them, for example Morley has only had 13 appearances all season and he's hardly going to be on peanuts.

Unfortunately MOS 2011 is joining them. They'll be better, but I'm with you, I don't think they'll be that good, don't think they'll make the 8.

Once the long hard look in the mirror is dealt with, I think priority number one is to drop/rest anyone carrying a knock, irrespective of whether we're short in that position, blood young kids, and anyone that needs an operation have it done ASAP. Nevermind leaving it until season end, do the necessary splicing and dicing and have everyone fit and raring to go for tackle practice come November. At the moment I'd probably only exempt our two stand out players in Kear and Scruton; Kear because he'll be playing for Wales (Lulia too for Cook Islands but he's leaving) and Scruton as he has a real chance for playing for England IMO. Platt and Evans I don't think will make the Ireland and Wales squads respectively.

However you to dress it up, last year we would have made the play-offs barring a points deduction. This season we won't make it, and didn't get one.

Therefore, not an improvement at all.

I think that would be a sensible idea.

True, but you need to remember what kind of squad FC inherited and how little time he had to secure some new faces. Elliott leaving mid-season didn't help either. I know those all sound like excuses, but they are legitimate reasons imo.
At the start of the season pretty much every poster on these forums highlighted how small our pack looked after losing Kopczak, Burgess and Hargreaves and replacing them with Sidlow and Evans. We all said that we would struggle against teams with decent packs, and that when the injuries came about we would be stretched to our limits.
This is exactly what happened.

In all honesty, with a bigger squad I think we would have made the eight.
Our signings for next season (so far) seem to be filling the holes that are most obvious - Carvell and Ferguson are great additions.
I'm still a bit weary about our backs - particularly the centres - but let's just see who else FC is bringing in before forming an opinion on 2014.

Usual bollox. last season we did not finish the season. And that was having (so the argument goes) overspent money on the team; which money the new broom has been compelled to underspend. We would have folded, and all results been expunged. It was only due to OK Bulls taking over that we completed our fixtures.

This season, we will finish the season without going tits. To me, that is a whole lot better than where we were this time last year, under Mr. Gilfoyle.

Fair points FA; the big picture is far more than just what happens on the field, though I guess Eddie won't be on his own in looking chiefly at the results.

One thing, we've demonstrated that we can still finish 9th on haqlf the money.

Now we need to do it again. 9th would actually do next season when you think what's at stake.