m.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC-ow ... story.html

m.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC-ow ... story.html

Agreed - but we should also stop playing KR and instead play one other SL team as our only friendly.

Whilst it is making money it will continue to be a pre season fixture.

Bizarre comments in my opinion, only pointless if you approach them like Radford as, at least agrees with most of us that the Wakefield game was a waste of time. Doesn't sound like he's much confidence about doing well this year or Radfords pre-season

Argh!!!

can people stop linking that site, it crashes my computer every time, mostly doesnt even load.

Worst site ever

I'd scrap the pre season derby and perhaps go with a full strength team against SL Opposition another game against Donny for instance with a strong team but play the main fringe players such as Abdull, Logan, Lancaster etc and then one last game for just the u19's to get a run out.

Radford needs to learn what friendlies are actually meant to achieve. The last two seasons friendlies have proven he clearly hasn't got a clue.
You don't play your 1st team squad against a 3rd divison outfit and put your A team against a 2nd division team.
It should have been the other way around if not loading a few first 17 players in with the kids/fringe players & vice versa.
For the Rovers game the first 40 was the way to go, but then making so many changes was a mistake. To then not play the majority of the first 17 in the last friendly (in any meaningful way) makes the York game even more pointless.
Friendlies are not pointless, unless you have Radford at the helm as has being seen two seasons running.

I'd agree with that but the derby is a good for the club's income and sadly I think we just have to accept that for the time being.

How would testimonials work though? If we believe all the hype around our youth policy then we are going to be having a lot of them in a few years.

Comments seem a bit odd to me. Surely the coach should be the one who decides whether the friendlies serve any purpose?

And when did Huddersfield become the benchmark against which other clubs' preparations are judged?

Next on the list will be Saints.

It's been Leeds, we fell out with them, it was Wigan, we'll never be them, so lets be Udders instead

As for friendlies, we have always had them, maybe Radders and AP are fed up of being beat by the shower from Poorhouse Lane and part time players with bigger desire than our kids

Because they're the team we play first in SL.

Friendlies only started around 1960, when we played one against rovers (for the Hardaker Cup).
It's only been since SL that the number of friendlies has increased.

My guess is there'll be one first team game against rovers next year, and another for those who didn't play. (A bit like Doncaster playing Leeds U19's this weekend.)

I agree, and as far as I'm aware Hudds had a freindly called off due to bad weather, so didn't intend to play just one friendly.

I'd rather we took a look at what teams who actually win trophies like Wigan, Saints and Leeds do

I would say more of an interference. Pearson is the owner, not the coach and he employs Radford as head coach and IMO he should be left to carry out ALL aspects of his employment. If he (LR) wishes to play a certain number of friendlies it is his prerogative, his job stays or falls by his decisions, he doesn't need interference from a guy,who by his own admission, doesn't know a great deal about our game.
A few years ago there were innuendo's and allegations on this site that Hetherington was 'picking' the team or, at least, having a say who would or would not play due to contract 'bonus's', surely no one wants that situation to arise again.
He (AP) ultimately makes the decision on Radford's job so surely he (LR) should be left to get on with it, his way, and without anyone else having an influence on anything concerning the coaching or playing side of things.

Maybe Radford entirely agrees with Pearson ?

But if the Donny double and Wakey has COST us money then as owner hes in his rights to pull out.

Gates are down, income will fall further due to the SMC mill stone.

Every year we have gone to York Donny Fev etc, these "games" wont have made the club a bean.