Quote: Mrs Barista "Think we've played everyone now except Catalans? What does everyone think of the season so far?
Headline for me is so far, so good. Pretty sure we'd have taken 5th with wins against Leeds, Saints and a point v Warrington at the start of the season. A 30 point hammering Rovers is always welcome.
We've been solid, results-wise, barring the blow-out against Wigan. Getting to see the style Gentle wants to play and it looks good - last night in particular.
It's refreshing to hear of detailed gameplanning and adjustment of personnel and tactics depending on specifics of the opposition. To have the senior academy players training with the first team. Our conditioning seems more thorough and professional. Motivation (for the most part) has stepped on. Defence is far more organised and effective.
We're blessed with a great engine room, IMO. Tickle, Lynch and Houghton are delivering relentless work rates which frees up others to be rotated well - Gentle's use of the bench seems to actually be tailored to what is going on the game rather than a pre-set alarm at 20 and 60 minutes.
Gentle himself is looking like a very good signing. There seems to be a lot of attention to detail throughout in terms of preparation. He comes across well in the media IMO - warm, humble, honest, dry sense of humour. Seems clear about what he wants and expects.
In terms of players, there are quite a few who have shown improvement; Sharp and Turner are the most obvious in this group, but this is also as good a run of games for Whiting as he's had at the club. Pleasing to get debuts for a good handful of players in 12 games. Crooks and Bowden in particular are looking like they can give it a good go at this level. Can't think of many players who've disappointed vs expectations really. Briscoe has underperformed vs his own standards but it's been suggested he's been injured. Seymour hasn't consistently delivered the goods yet, hopefully last night will be a start. Ellis hasn't really stepped up to SL level, yet.
Recruitment/player movement is a mixed bag IMO. In terms of what we know, signing Ellis and extending deals for Bowden and Lynch, our best 2012 signing, are very pleasing, but clearly tempered by the loss of Manu. Still gutted about this. Pitts looks like he'll fit the Gentle model well. Disappointed in the loss of McKinnon, unsure about the rumoured signing of Arundel as I know little about him.
Off the pitch, it's encouraging to see the investment in youth and training and clearly from a PR perspective AP is light years ahead of Kath. We rode the Gleeson storm pretty well. The website and online store, already up there with the best in the competition, have gone up another level. Hull FC Live is a good additional service.
The number one concern for the club must be attendances. 11,500 just won't cut it for us to get to where we want to be, and I'm not sure that much else could have been done to get gates up. Season passes haven't increased in price, £19 for the South. New coach, improving results. Hoping this is a slow burn and that results like yesterday will tempt the floating voters back.
So overall, not sure that we could realistically have hoped for a whole lot more at this stage. Facing into a couple of months of predominantly away ties will mean things get tougher, but we're also getting more bodies back, so should be missing just Westerman and Heremaia. I'd like to see us sign up Houghton long term, and Tickle also. And finally, it's great to be enjoying rugby again after the unending chore that had become attendance over the last couple of years.'"
WOW! What a post! Nice one Mrs B!
