I'll tell you what we have to play for - not being in the bottom 4. Unless things pick up I can see us in that mix. Shudds will have a new coach and get a lift, Catalan are improving, Salford are a bit hit and miss but could still string a few wins together. Now where does that leave us?

if we don't win this Friday we are in massive trouble

When we were on the losing run against the top teams it was frustrating but I consoled myself with the thought that at least we beat the teams below us, but now even that seems to be beyond us. The same issues occur week in week out and not be addressed and that team spirit so evident previously no longer appears to be there.

If we lose on Friday, I am not sure where the next win will come from and if the giants beat Salford which is a distinct possibility, they will only be a point behind us and with them on an upward curve in terms of form and us totally the opposite

I'm really puzzled if Johnstone was dropped . He's one of the reasons I go to watch Trinity!
I really feel for the likes of Jowitt, I don't think he's going to be the complete full back unless we play him and that's not happening. I would feel particularly snubbed if I was him, when a half back was chosen to play in the FB position in preference to him. Obviously not in Chester's plans. Crowther seems to be also forgotten.
Batchelor in and out.Does make you wander what the point of a youth policy is.

I'm not in the 'Chester Out' camp, at least not yet, but one thing that does concern me a touch. Didn't Mr Carter state on here when Chester out was being discussed that he would go before Chester went - or was this taken out of context?

I assume it was Carter just showing a united front in public, hopefully not meaning Chester has to be worried about being judged by his results.

As I see it othisthis thread, the Chester Out group is very very small. The We Are Not Happy group is pretty big but to be fair Chester is probably in that group himself.

For me a coach who has shown he has something doesn't get dropped at the first sign of trouble.
Stability is a big thing for this club and something we haven't had much of for a couple of decades.
I certainly want something to change in team selection and performance but it isn't an overnight fix. But I do want Chester to stay. Even if we are in the bottom 4.
He has a history of recruiting well from down under.....let's hope he's looking at scrum halves.
And if we have some more money to throw around....let's see if Kear is still enjoying Bradford or whether he wants to come back a hero again and save the day.

As a Castleford supporter I can not understand why TJ is not playing !!!!
I would imagine he is already looking for another club as we speak and I would imagine there will be plenty already in touch with him

I thought the same when MC made the comment. Really is concerning as this is a results business unfortunately. The comment to me came across as his job his safe no matter what. I am too not in the "Chester out" camp however this is concerning attitude for a chairman to have. Wish I had a boss like him

I thought if you were to miss something from Kear it would be defensively (he's really sorted ours out) Always got the impression Kear worked on your defence and Chester worked on your attack (which as a neutral, was very good to watch the past two years) Weirdly, it seems your attack is stuttering. Finn's injury sounds like it's really hampering him.

Kear really rates Chester as a coach. He always said only reason he decided to leave you was because you had stability under Michael Carter,the team and the club were in a good place and he rated Chester. I think he's just going through a sticky patch. His selections do appear to be baffling (when you're struggling with form, you don't leave out your best player, even if he isn't quite hitting his straps) and leaving out two promising full-backs in Hooley & Jowitt when your FB is injured isn't good long term IMHO

I think best thing Chester can do (as an expert armchair coach) is choose what he think his strongest 17 is that's available , and IMO that includes some of your talented young players like Jowitt, Batchelor, Crowther etc and stick with it. I think you'll beat Widnes and still think you'll be in the top 8. Chester is still a young coach and i'm sure he'll learn from this.

I was dismissed a couple of weeks back for suggesting Chester has been found out since Kear left.

That stated, I think you'll avoid the m8s this season. But next season will be more of a challenge unless this is addressed soon.

Just be glad that you're avoiding the injury crisis hitting us, Hull and a few others at the moment.

you wish

I should imagine JK did say them things as he was leaving through the door, but I fair bet it was because he had another chance to be in charge than play second fiddle

As a cas supporter why would you give a toss whether he plays or not, and as for your imagination 0/10, try a scratchcard you might have more luck

Im not part of the "Chester out" brigade, though I do think certain decisions need to be made. At the end of the day, he doesnt drop the ball, fall off tackles etc. One gripe I do have though is the constant chopping and changing, especially in the halves. This doesnt do anyone any good.

Without trying to sound negative, we just appear to be free falling now towards the middle 8s.

I think it is time to give some of the younger, and hungrier players, such as Jowitt, Hampshire and Batchelor an extended run in the team, to give them the confidence, and prove to the older players, that there are younger, capable players who have the desire. In the meantime, Grix and Finny can be getting their injuries fixed, and be match fit in time for the 8s.

I would also be tempted to bring back our players we have on loan too, as they are also young and very capable.

To be fair the demise started last season when we had a settled side. Going back almost exactly 12 months we only managed 5 wins from our last 14 games last year and are now on a run of 2 wins from 11. We were spoilt with 4 straight wins at the beginning of the year against 4 of the current bottom 5 but i’m starting to wonder whether that just painted over some cracks. Overall the recent record is pretty poor whether we have had settled pivots or not.