I think Johnson has been a shadow of the player of last season but I agree with you he should have played last night. In my opinion Mellars should have been left out - if he's a forward then I am!

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The reality is that it has cost the club to do that. The gamble was it would tempt stay aways and casuals and convert them into us 'hardcore fans' however i fear the gamble may have failed because what we have dished up has failed to get people wanting more.

Further to that what really worries me is that I know next season this cheap offer will not be on and season tickets will be greatly increased in price. People will then see Agar still in charge on his longterm contract along with many of our under performing players. They will remember what the bunch served up to them the previous season and give it a miss.

Ok I may need a chill pill but I think a bit about this club and the way we have handled the rugby side of things is terrible, so sorry to be concerned. "

The reality is that it has cost the club to do that. The gamble was it would tempt stay aways and casuals and convert them into us 'hardcore fans' however i fear the gamble may have failed because what we have dished up has failed to get people wanting more.

Further to that what really worries me is that I know next season this cheap offer will not be on and season tickets will be greatly increased in price. People will then see Agar still in charge on his longterm contract along with many of our under performing players. They will remember what the bunch served up to them the previous season and give it a miss.

Ok I may need a chill pill but I think a bit about this club and the way we have handled the rugby side of things is terrible, so sorry to be concerned.

You started it

It may well be but i have friends and i do talk to other fans who do not visit this forum, come to think of it i don't have many friends on this forum.

Whoever gave Agar a three year contract is to blame, it was unnecessary.

Where on earth was he going to go after his stint at Hull? Beggars cannot be choosers & if that was our best candidate then a year would have sufficed.

I remember last year when posters were fawning over signing after signing, maybe it was the jubilation of getting another 3 year licence, but that didn’t mean many of the signings has to be for the same duration.

I also remember Glover & Elston promising to reveal another new signing, if they got a thousand followers on Twitter , perhaps they, like the fans, just got swept away with the euphoria of dodging the bullet.

Agar failed to get any success with a club on a full Salary Cap, what chance with one on a shoestring.

Blame can be apportioned to all parties IMO.
The club for offering RA a three year contract, two years would have been a better option with perhaps an option on a third. One year to put a squad together and one to improve that squad.
Agar for playing players out of position, picking ridiculous replacement benches and then not always using them.
The supporters for believing this was anything other than a stabilising season.
It's easy being a smart with the benefit of hindsight though.
What in my view though would be a further error though, would be to sack Agar now, he is very capable to take us to the next level in the next two seasons, which is to be pushing for the top eight, he needs a severe kick up the though by Elston (he seems to be AG rugby man) and then AG needs to give Elston a kick up the for making a very bad decision in selecting Agar in a three year contract.
Moving forward I don't think we will finish in the bottom two this year, and of Agar DOES improve us in each successive season we will be pushing for the top eight and will have improved under him.
Maybe he will be then considered for a further contract or someone better will be available to take us that next step.

Seem to think that the rumour of Johnson to Hull started last year when we thought we wouldn't be in SL so it doesn't suprise me if he has signed for them.. was great for us last year but really think we need bigger forwards than we have and don't think he is big enough. Would be glad to be proved wrong if he is given a chance. Jury's out for me on Agar. If he can sign players that he wants for next year then I would be content to hold fire before criticising too much although having been home and away all season I'm not too happy. Still think the decison by Mr Pickles which will make or break our seaon and probably the future of the club is the most important result this year.

Very good post mate.

half way through the season and I can't remember the last nights an 'evening with' at the cats bar where we could as fans question the season performance and on coming future

Some major over reactions. Quite a few of this years signings aren't Agars, yes on paper they may well be good players but the balance of the squad isn't right for all these players to be able to perform to their potential, too many fancy dans and not enough big men who don't mind getting their hands dirty. At the end of the season I'd expect a few more changes however this will depend on players who aren't deemed good enough or fitting in with what we are trying to build gaining contracts elsewhere or agreeing to a release, some might not and we may have to pay them decent money for playing under 20s rugby. Sit back try and enjoy the ride a little and relax a bit. When we're at this stage of the season next year then thats the time to make judgement, this year the club were forced to make wholesale signings probably having to offer more money than players were worth in order to convince them to join our club, the majority signed whilst we did not have a coach in place. As said Elston made some good signings (on paper) but he got the balance completely wrong, however in his defence maybe the couple of big rough and tumble forwards we need weren't available or weren't prepared to sign for a club with lets say a bit of a chequered recent past. When we get the good news in June then things will become a whole lot easier for us as a club.

You make some good points...mind you it's a bit hard to sit back and relax sometimes. I'll try gtting to the Cats bar earlier, that may help

Exactly my feelings; so frustrating. 8/10 off the pitch, 2/10 on it.

This is why my enthuisiasm for the game is fading fast. With pretty much nothing to play for the most exciting/important moment last year was a bloke reading out a list of teams who had got a franchise and this season will be a fat tory saying yes or no.

Think it would be a good time for another one of those evenings if you ask me. To put a few minds at rest and for people that maybe a have a problem to voice their opinions. Also for the club to say exactly where they see the club going and in what ways they're going to improve on the field next year. This will no doubt happen in the next 7 weeks or so when we get the decision on Newmarket.

Agreed - its getting duller by the season - if i didnt have a season ticket i certainly wouldnt be going to every home game for the rest of the season because
1.) they are underperforming and lack desire
2.)theres nowt to play for in all honesty - RA cant get this bunch to perform and before too long we will be so far adrif we'll need a telescope to even see 8th.

CBA