The people calling for Balmforth are probably the same ones wanting Litten to play over the likes if Fash. Another MOTM performance last night playing out of position. I can see the same happening with Balmforth, rather than have Lane at hooker.

My take on the Balmforth situation is he may go on to be a great player, may go on to br a Championship level player. The problem is that at the minute we just don't have a clue, because for whatever reason he's not getting a chance to show what he can do.
I know as fans we don't see what happens off the pitch, in training, what his fitness and attitude are like, etc, but what we do see is what happens ON the pitch, and at the moment that's a load of garbage. We have 0 threat from 9. I love Houghton and he can still offer something but not if he's flogged for 80 minutes every week again for the god knows how many years in a row. The fact Smith made him captain just confirms that he's going to be expected on the pitch as much as possible.
We as fans can see that what we are doing, and seemingly sticking with, is not working. That's why a lot of us want to see change and Balmforth given his chance. Again, he may go on to be just another average player, but we won't know unless he gets played. Every game he doesn't get selected is just another step closer to him ending up as another average Championship player.
He's looked lively whenever he's played but then he gets dropped back out the team for another large periods of time, despite worse performing players keeping their spots or Smith using second rowers/loose forwards to spell at 9. He's 20 years old now, he's at an age where he needs regular Super League games to see if he has any chance of making it long term. I really want the kid to do well but unfortunately I don't think Hull is the place where he will get that chance.
Apologies for ranting it's just tough to see the same failings every week and Smith seemingly doing nothing to correct it, despite having tools at his disposal (and that's all before even mentioning N Brown to 9 aswell).

Record derby defeat then P45 time I reckon

Not sure how he can survive this

They'll still want him to be the fall guy on Friday...

I'm perfectly fine with Grix taking the reigns for the rest of the year. Fail to see how it could get worse under him.
Use the rest of the year to genuinely look for replacements, and not just sign a coach because he's out of a club and always lives within a 6 mile radius.

As long as he takes Gene with him.

Think Smith has taken on too big a challenge, think he will quit before being sacked, given a reduced playing budget and signing championship standard players was always going to be tough for any coach...whoever the coach is couldn't turn this tripe into a decent team!

Need a new coach ams owner or things won't change.

OBE

Anybody dare post the Tony Smith thread up when he was announced?
Just for a laugh like.

Wouldn't be pretty (including myself in that).

Hasn't been given the tools of previous coaches, but still hasn't worked out.