Quote Mrs Barista="Mrs Barista"Look, we've been stuck in the cycle of pre season PR frenzy vs let-down on the pitch for 4 years.'"
Under the old regime. It would be harsh to judge what the current lot are doing by Kath and Co's standards. Particularly when you take into account the fact that the rhetoric coming from the club is entirely different. The crap excuses for a poor defeat seem to be gone, and Gentle is saying all the right things about putting last night right.
Quote Mrs Barista="Mrs Barista"I'm pleased the club haven't said daft things about where we'll finish, but I don't see who any subscriber to the "New Dawn" can be happy with the result last night. '"
I don't think I've seen single poster say that they're "happy" with last night's result. Some have merely, and quite rightly, stated that it's not the disaster others are making it out to be. Sometimes lower-placed teams beat those you wouldn't expect them to beat. It happens to every club - even the very best - at some point during a season.
Quote Mrs Barista="Mrs Barista"I don't realistically think we will finish much above where we did last season but I hope we won't go backwards.'"
I'm still quite hopeful that we will finish higher. If we can get our props back and keep them fit for most of the season, and get our new players bedded in a bit more, there's no reason that sixth (fifth, at a push) isn't achievable. A lot will depend on injuries, though.
Quote Mrs Barista="Mrs Barista"Last night we lost in a fixture we won last season. Whatever way you look at it, it's disappointing.'"
It is, a little. But, as I've pointed out, teams lose to teams they beat the previous season. Even Leeds or Saints do it. That in itself isn't an indicator of lack of progress. It's an early season result - a poor one - but these can even themselves out in due course. Many people have said that we would have folded against both Wire and London last year, so the signs are positive in that regard. Last night was a setback, but there'll be a few of those before we're the finished article.
Quote Mrs Barista="Mrs Barista"James Smailes reported that last night had 2011 written all over it. I'm not "getting y", I'm expressing a valid concern. '"
It probably did, but things aren't going to turn around overnight. If we're still playing like that after round 10 or 12, I'll be concerned. And you are getting a [ibit[/i y!
Quote Mrs Barista="Mrs Barista"The 2 recognised props point is fair but we can't be using injuries as an excuse when we have an average amount.'"
But, as I said before, often it's not the number of injuries, but who you have injured (or suspended). If you only have four props to start with and you lose two of them, any game is likely to be fairly tricky.
Quote Mrs Barista="Mrs Barista"Sounds like they're training at 9 this morning, which is good to hear. The Wakefield game should be an interesting one.'"
If we lose that one, I might get a bit y myself!