But has our current system been given enough time to bear fruits before writing it off as a bad job? I don't think it has.

By current system, I don't mean what we had in place under Hetherington & Co from 2000 to the time when Pearson realised the youth setup was e. The current system is the time the past 3/4 years since Pearson has been putting in a decent level of investment.

That system is seeing/will see the likes of Lancaster, Turgut, Hadley, Logan, BTW, Dean, HTW, Fash & Abdull emerge.

So Wellsy are we saying that the raw material (young kids) is as good as other clubs and in the right numbers but it is the development (coaching, sports science, nutritionists, facilities) where we are falling down?

Doom&Gloom I think your right on the timings, Wigan and Leeds both went through lean periods as the youth (Club Hull) system kicked in. How many years have Hull fans been told to wait, next year is our year? We need the owner to be patient and give it a couple more years.

I watched the U16's derby this year and a Hull FC side with mainly U15's convincingly beat a Rovers side of mainly U16's so the drivers for Rovers are easy to see but for FC, why?

Exactly. We must be skint if Pearson has put all of his initial rhetoric to one side to save money like this.

I think we are, or least he is cutting costs as he is fed up with pumping money into the club.

This is the point where our youth and other top clubs path veer off on different paths.

Other clubs youth,are then placed onto developing their power and speed using Sports Science. ie they are developed into athletes.

I've heard two different reports, that we dont have. or simply we have it, but dont use it.

One rumour, is Steve McNamara was approached to take over from Gentle,but he insisted on appointing his own staff,with the implementation of a Sports Science Dept, Pearson rejected his suggestions,and chose Lee Radford.

Or a second rumour... we have a Sports Science Dept at Brandesburton, but Lee Radford doesnt trust it.

Either way, we dont use it, this is the main reason, our youngsters fail to play regular 1st grade, as they dont possess the physical attributes which is required for sustainability.

Had AP not paid off existing contracts of certain players,
and used that money to invest on coaches across the club.
we wouldnt be in this scenario, where we are now.

Question is: Are we a lot better today,without the players whose contracts were terminated?

Yes I reckon we probably are.
Not that either you or me know whether that's the reason for cost cutting - more likely the fall in gates.

Maybe I should have expanded on my question...

Are we a lot better today,without the players whose contracts were terminated..- at the expense ,of the future of our youth??

Yes I think we are, had we not been able to get rid of the likes of Miller, Arundel, Mcdonnell and Pitts we might not been able to sign Sneyd, Mini and Pryce, as disappointing as we have been this year, with these players would wouldn't be on the verge of the top 8.

No we might have been Top 6 which was where we ended 2013 with these players playing for us.

You think we would if we had Miller, Mcdonell, Arundel and Pitts we would finish top 6?

All seem to be doing well with their careers.

Surely you aren't that clueless?

Check the stats we finished 6th in 2013 with Miller, Mcdonell, Arundel and Pitts