Good win on Friday it was grate to see. Widnes were poor but it was good to see us put a poor team to the sward.

I was talking on the way to the game that we hadn't been playing that badly this year, I am not saying we were playing fantastic but just not bad, and that I thought we were sitting in a in true position in the table than we have been playing.

The different I see this year compared to others is there is no real weak sides (London apart). In previous years Cas Widnes Salford Wakefield were the whipping boys and you could turn up against these teams and play okay/ go though the motions and would be prity sure you would come away with the win.

As a compition I think that makes super league far more exciting and next year losing London and bradford (Wakefield if there is a mirical) will make it even tighter and will be a right fight to be in the top teir of 8 at the split.

But I'm getting away from my point I was thinking about games this year we could of/ most proberly should of won.

Rovers twice
Cas away
Widnes home
Wakefield home
Wire away
(And Salford in the cup but was only really looking at the league)

If we had won those games we would be sat at the top of the league two points above saints.

Yes that is should of would of could of and if my aunty was a man they would be my uncle, and any team can look back and say what if.

We then went on to say why haven't we won these games and I beleave it's down to a few reasons mainly game management, we have a inexperienced coach and inexperienced halfs (not including Horne but all for a good player rich is he isn't a leader). I wish we could of molded miller and holdsworth in to one player we would have a right half, take holdsworth skill and rugby brain, and mix it with millers pace work rate and enthusiasm. And the last reason is we can't kick a drop goal in a tight game for toffee.

I wish I had answers for these problems I can see if I did I would proberly being paid good as a rugby coach. But as a hull fc supporter I do t think every thing is doom n gloom.

Any one else with any thoughts of am I talking out my bum (as the later has often been known)

And what about the other teams who think they should have won close games they didn't. Doesn't just apply to us.

I did say that any team can say what if, my point is we are getting into positions but seem to lake the killer punch ............

Lack of leadership, game management, experience and winning mentality

So not playing badly? we are currently 9th and been beaten by 3 of the teams below us albeit Salford was a cup game.
If it wasn't for London being terrible and the fact we've played them twice and a Bradford points deduction we'd only in real terms be 6 points off a relegation spot as it is we a 3 off a playoff spot.
The table doesn't lie which indicates we have been poor this season a couple of bright spots aside.
Why is it your whipping boys all seem to have improved but we however seem to remain static?
I admire your optimism but a win at Widness has not changed my outlook this season as yet, let's see how the 2nd half of the season pans out.

Otherwise known as the basics and a minimum requirement for any super league player.

I thought you didn't go anymore? It's a shame you've not been able to see Feka if so, given your opinion of his signing.

On the OP, what I've seen is a side competitive in virtually every game, but our failure to get the right quality in the halves is still killing us. To some extent this can be addressed by rigorous game-planning, but our execution hasn't been good enough, simple as. The table's a reasonable representation of where we are. It was a hugely enjoyable night at Widnes, though. Sad as it may be. I think Sa will bring us something different, Westerman and Ellis are in towering form and it's brilliant to see Lancaster coming through. But until we get a general, a 40-20 maker, last tackle option-provider, we're screwed against the top sides.

Our stats and our points difference show we're not miles away.
The OP is right about some of the games we've lost. Every team can say same about their lost games but the widnes and wakey games were actually harder to lose than win! As mentioned its halves and game direction and management. A full strength and on form backline is decent with some real fire power (including Sa as a centre and lancaster as cover). The pack on top of its game is among the top few with already some improvements to come (taylor & players like bowden,hadley etc getting more experienced)
Decent halves would make this current team top 6 material now. So few tweaks and a quality half or 2 brought in and youngsters progress continued we're nowhere near the relagation fodder the drama queens have been touting us as

Spot on. With the exception of the Wigan game, we've been competitive most of the time. The Wakefield and Widnes matches were major blips but we've already put the Widnes one right and I expect us to do the same with Wakey.

No real change as Mrs B says. Bags of effort and determination in every game - illustrated most notably by a more than healthy for/against ratio which is a good indicator of a team that is committed. Lacking in quality/experience in certain key areas. The youth throughput is very encouraging and follows the plan that Pearson originally set out exactly.

Correct.

I've seen many comments about how we are a poor team and are miles off the top 4 etc. but that's clearly not the case, we are a very decent team with some really good players. Cas have been great this year, but I won't listen to anyone who claims they have a better squad than us. They have a handful of guys who would stroll into our team but overall we are better without a doubt imo.

Rugby league is such a fast and physical game that tiny margins can account for big score lines. Using the Cas example again, they do all the little things well and the makeup of their side just works. It wouldn't take very much to take us to that level.

Cas dont have a better squad than you,they just have a better coach than you or us !!

Cas are a better team than us and have a better coach, have a look at the table!

Cas have better players in key positions there 6,7+9 are much better than ours

Make the most of a more positive and realistic thread, the relegation battle brigade will be back with more impending doom if you lose next week

From an outside perspective I think with a top quality prop (Taylor perhaps), and the obvious experienced half back youve been lacking for so many years then youre a top 6 team for sure. You just need a couple of clever tweaks and changes to propel you out of the dullness that is mid table mediocrity.

Wait what am I saying, Rovers are better than you and youll never make the top 6 youre garbage