I said earlier in the week that we should leave Houghton out altogether, Litten to full back whilst Walker is out, Hoy to six and Charles on the bench.
We went backwards at Huddersfield when Houghton came on and today played better when Houghton went off.
Charles was a breath of fresh air but Smith is bang average at halfback so we have to give Charles/Hoy a run at halfback so we can inject some zip and speed and hopefully provide some better last tackle options.
At least then we can have two nines playing nine
Hopefully Smith will be on his way before next week so lets hope we have someone sensible picking the team rather than the out of touch dogmatic tinkering Tony

Is balmforth injured.?[/

Only in tinkering Tonys head

Houghton has popped a rib according to Tony, so he'll be missing for a bit you'd think.
Ashworth has also injured his thumb which is a blow as he has been good.
Staveley has a meniscus problem and will be missing for anything from 2-6 weeks.

Well, it wasn't quite the one-way annihilation I was anticipating earlier in the week (although at half-time I was expecting it to end at 70 plus!).

First half was simply dreadful, all the usual faults and bad traits we have become so used to, especially in recent weeks.

They at least showed a modicum of energy and fight in the second half to avoid an afternoon of total humiliation, but overall still way below what we would expect from a Hull Fc team in a derby game. We still created very little in the way of genuine scoring chances.

Thought rovers seemed to struggle to get restarted after the break, as if the first forty minutes had been so easy for them they didn't need to bother in the second half. They will have to be better than that if they are to achieve their aim of completing the treble this year!!

Ok if you want to be like that,another fine performance from agent smith and gene.Feel better now.?

Last week only until Smith brought Houghton on then we really went backwards
Watch the game

No coincidence when Houghton went off injured today we had a better second half as you say

Bugger, bugger, bugger. Was really looking forward to singing “28 nil and you fooked it up” ne’er mind eh.

Yes, agree with the above.

There's 21 games left in the season and we have, effectively, nothing material to play for. We can't be relegated, and we clearly won't be participating in the play-offs, so we may as well use the remaining games to look at what is available at the club.

Hoy has looked better at 6, and the team as a whole have as well. Brown is clearly a 9 and we are likely to get twice the effect out of him if used in his best position.

In light of the fact we don't have a 7, then this now seems an opportunity to give Charles a run of games and let him (hopefully) develop into someone decent. He looks like he has the potential to be so, but this doesn't mean we should flog him from now until September, give him a run and use accordingly. Morgan Smith is a trier, but nowhere near the quality we would need to even become a mid-table side, let alone one with top-four ambitions!

The only problem with your analysis above surrounds the coach. I honestly don't believe he is going anywhere anytime soon. I think we are stuck with him for the foreseeable future. Don't think he is going to be sacked or resign which means that none of the above may actually come to pass!!

Asworth under goes a thumb op this week to repair it, out for 6 weeks..

We ought to tell Charles he’s starting and playing for the next two months. It will give some confidence to develop his game, not worrying about being dropped. Also in that time, we have 3 blank weekends with the Challenge Cup, so it’s not like he’s being flogged.

We might as well start looking forward, play and develop the players who are going to be here next season, supplemented with players playing in their correct positions of fitness allows.

The fans will also support you and encourage youngsters coming through.

Small signs of our forwards capable of providing a platform. We are not going to change overnight, but let’s stopped getting thrashed and start a journey going forward.

Also, if there is actually a ‘Project’, it would help if the club share it with the fans, then it might give us the option to get on board. Better than this ongoing frustration.

I think its only us two that are seeing houghtons inclusion is killing us off , watch the first half back and watch how many tomes hes nowhere near the play the ball, looked like his head wasnt in it today, if thats the case then he needd to do the decent thing and call it a day.

Jebson and balmforth in please let the young lads grow together

That's a real shame, he has been a rare shining light.

There's something to build on for you guys after a decent 2nd half display.

Jack Charles looks a great prospect and Nu Brown was much better at 9. Surely even Tony Smith can see that now?

You defended determinedly for the first 15 minutes and most of the second half. I don't think you are fit enough to do it all game with Tony's easy does it approach to training which was described by Jake Clifford as 'p**ss easy'.

HT of 28-0 anything could have happened but you ended up achieving respectability.....just.

Give over Des. Stop being so magnanimous in victory. It's party time on Holderness Road so get the Stella out and join the street party

Give over Des. Stop being so magnanimous in victory. It's party time on Holderness Road so get the Stella out and join the street party