I live for that Wembley win. I guess its the good times and the feeling they bring that keeps me going. The thought of another last minute try like in 05 and the sheer elation that brings. The reality is that I was totally fed up of everything this time last year, but was living in hope of that famous win at Wembley. Sitting here now that dream is so far from reality its not funny.
As has been said, when we've been cr4p before it was because we were skint. I do not know what the excuse is in 2014.
My only difference to you is that I have no faith at all in us improving next season, with or without half backs as I don't see the brains to implement a decent plan. But we will still be there, buying 150 year anniversary gear and cheering the boys on and getting more frustrated.

I watched Newcastle Man City yesterday and looked at that full stadium. Full of fans in black and white and I would imagine all but a very small number have actually seen their club win anything or note. I asked myself why that was. Why do 50000 Geordies turn up week in week out year after year to see an average side?
Okay there is only 10 to 15000 of us, but what is the pull that keeps us dreaming, keeps us returning, yet ultimately the only constant is that we are disappointed. Even this year, when most of us expected very little. We have somehow produced a squad that has let us down badly.
WHY FFS

Not sure I'd say we have a "team full" of ex Hull players. Granted Kirk Dixon played a handful of games before you decided he wasn't going to make it and he joined us in 2007 and is now knocking on for 150 appearances. Likewise Ellis was deemed not good enough and allowed to join us, and Carvell is playing a very minor role when all our other forwards are injured. Lynch went well for you during his time, but remember he came through our academy system.
So 4 players, 3 of whom barely played for you at all and one who came from Cas in the first place. Hardly a "team-full" is it?

On your logic it could be said that you have a "team full" of ex-Cas players (Westerman, Arundel, Thompson, Watts) who, apart from Watts, have regressed since joining Hull. Next year you'll also have ex-Cas player Marc Sneyd who will probably do the same if the clueless coach you have now is still in charge.

You forgot about Scott Wheeldon, but yeah I've never really understood the 'you have a team of ex-Hull players' when really it's the other way around.

Okay split hairs not FULL but littered with players deemed not good enough for us, even Lynch. Add in Scott Wheeldon as well. The fact of the matter is we thought they were surplus to requirements and yet Mr Powell has manged to mold them into a team that plays with immense pride and performing far better than anybody expected in February 2014.
As for those coming our way only Westerman has improved which is my point entirely. It was certainly not a dig at Cas.

The blame for the debacle lays firmly at the door of Adam Pearson and previous owners.

Why??? , they always appoint unproven Head Coaches, where there are no structures & foundations in place.

We need someone who can gel a group of individuals into a TEAM.

Our passing is slow & inaccurate, dummy runners are virtually non existent. - these are coachable,- you dont need top players to achieve these basic skills.

Game after game, we see the same failings, basic errors slow wayward passing,dropped passes, mistimed dummy runners , I dont feel the staff/players work hard enough at improving basic core skills.

It did sound like a dig with the "small village team" comment!
I never understood when you signed Arundel, he was awful for us too.
Although I don't see him every week, I'm not sure Westerman has got back to the level he was at Cas. He might look like he has improved to you, but that's due to the massive amount he went backwards in his first couple of years at Hull.
I just hope Sneyd doesn't go the same way.

Sorry I see your point. I did not mean any offence to Cas. But when you compare like for like. Incomes, crowds etc we should be doing better than Cas. Thats on paper and potential. Sadly for us the reality is that we are a poor second best.
We have always done well out of Castleford in my time of supporting Hull. Knocker Norton being the prime example.
I look forward to cheering you on, on Saturday from my seat in the stand and hope the FC rejects bring home the cup for you.

Spot on.

I was told that this year was an improvement on last as the players had some kind of working week structure and knew where they stood day to day. Well thats working well.

I recently attended a RU coaching course which was taken by a regional coach. He emphasised the basics over and over again. Okay I coach youngsters, but he stressed that even the national squads do basic drills to keep the basic skills up to scratch.
Its a different code I know, but the principle remains the same. I couldn't imagine any of the basics of the game being practiced by our squads. (I stand corrected if they do).
PTB is a massive issue for us and while he is part of "Club Hull" I would be looking to replace Houghton for a start as his distribution is far too slow. He will be feeding Sneyd and Pryce next year and that will dampen their effectiveness immediately.
But I guess from November until February they will have plenty of time to get that right.

Great post ... especially Re:Houghton.

Houghton's distribution could be fixed easily, his passing technique, accuracy are all coachable,
but... we never see any improvement.

Totally Agree, I just don't get why every FC owner wastes money on buying over the hill players but then refuse to pay good money to bring a top coach in what is probably more important then that big signing. Why we have to always go for the unproven assistant coach is beyond me this job is to big for someone learning there trade.

Houghton for a long time now has lost the basic passing skill required of a top class hooker, he does`nt drill the ball away from acting half with the speed to create space for his runners and the loft in his passing gives opponents the time to shut down any space that runs had made.
Sneyd is`nt the answer to our halfback problem either. He will not set alight the game as some anticipate.
Lets hope Cunningham can pressurize Houghton into realizing his own inadequencies.
I for one have had enough of this season, I no longer have the desire to go although I do but it is now with trepidation.
Thankfully we avoided the drop but next season it is a certainty we will be embroiled in a lower league playoff scrap.

Another worry has to be players like Crooks, Bowden, Cunningham and Thompson not playing for about a month now, this can't be good for them or their confidence. With three games left and nothing to play for I'd hope that these players will get some game time.

On another note, I hope the RL look into the under 19s and Dual Reg, as it isn't working for young fringe players at the moment.