First Preview of the year from me is online

ps All the 1945 to 1985 (and building the rest) years I've been working on for weeks will end up in a structured form for you all to view eventually. I only need to get to 1996 and then all post war matches will be archived. Been an enjoyable task for me to be honest. Eventually (will take months) every match from 1895 will have its own page.

Thanks Bilko for your preview. Good to see you back again for the upcoming season.
Agree with you re the need for Brian Barwick to sort out the season prior to the next round of broadcasting negotiations.

Can't agree with your comments about the squad. Sure we are missing a number of experienced players and that's a blow. Although now it's different from when Mo was in charge and it was like an end of season sale with all the young players he would kick out. Those days are gone thankfully.
We need a mongrel in the pack but the guys who are there are massive. Prescott, Mossop, Dudson and Taylor are all over 6'3" and around the 17st mark. They should be able to get on the front foot.
Halves wise not so sure again. I must be the only one who thought at the end of last season that this year would be one too far for Finchy. He was great until August then his season tailed off and I thought at the end he was poor. This would have been one too far for George although his form was very consistent.
Like you say Bilko if Green and Smith can sort out our kicking game we will be ahead of where we've been for some years.

Most are despondent about this year but not me I'm looking forward to it. I think we have a far better squad than most think we have.

I worry about the squad. Too many question marks not enough answers at moment, but it has the potential to grow.

Great review only thing wrong is you have ganson as video ref when he s really ref at the Leeds v hull game

But sadly it wont grow enough this season to be in the position to bring a (2013) trophy home..

I pray im wrong

Great read Bilko.

My only thought on the squad are this. We expected a transition season last year but instead we got a pretty decent season.

This will be the transition season and to be honest i am really exited to see how things pan out.

I have no real title, championship or cup winning aspirations, i just want to see the young lads really go for it.

If we do win anything then i will be even happier than i was in 2010 (maybe)

Bilko, agree with your comments re the timing of the Challenge Cup final being too close to the play offs. Personally I'd like to see cup rounds played every other week at the start of the season and play the final on Spring bank holiday weekend at the end of May. We could then bring back the "She wore a cherry ribbon" chant as well!icon_smile.gif

Agree with the majority of that pal.

i agree with that, especially the structure of the season and the cup, would it not be better all round to have a cup round from round 4 at the end of every month from either the end of February or March so the final falls in July or August and also gives some continuity to the coverage for the bbc rather than the stupidly long break before the quarters