Poor for some years at Knowsley Road, though.




I agree. That was the point I was making too . Hope Pearson has these same expectations, he seems to be a bit perturbed it isn't happening quicker. Challenge Cup would've been a great catalyst - just hope Pearson hasn't got some finite deadlines in mind.

3 with the league

Again, I agree - but we're the sort of fans who will stick through thick and thin, so another year's transition isn't an issue, in fact, can be seen as a positive after the e we've suffered.

But from Pearson's "need the crowds to return [inow[/i" perspective, a good CC run would've helped that particular aim no end.

Good points. I think a lot of people look at whats going on pre-season and then think right im gonna really back my team this season. If the team then starts well then they keep that supporter for the season, if the team doesnt then interest diminishes and so does support. FCs problem is weve heard it all before and then its been gash and it will probably be next season or the one after that support increases again, but that depends massively on what happens this season and next.

Do you think the move to sunday aft was to please Mr Allam so city didnt have to play the day after us. Always thought its a better atmosphere on night games. Maybe playing more games on a sat night during the footy off season might be an idea. Just think the move to Sunday was done too quickly without much thought.

Thought did occur to me, actually. Plus Pearson probably thought the move wouldn't be controversial because of the outcry when they were first moved to Friday nights.

His next decision - currently under review, apparently - will be based on pure business rationale. I bet a mix, or possibly a return to Fridays.

The RFL's process for the fixtures means you have to specify a specific day for games and then exceptions, e.g. matches either side of bank holidays and pitch relaying etc. It won't be a mix whatever it is.

Right. Bet we see a move back to Fridays, then, unless crowds pick up massively in the second half if the season. Summer rugby has given Sundays zero advantage so far this year.

I think its too early to say if we should move back to Friday's, the weather this year has been rubbish, so we haven't seen the expected 'sunny' Sunday afternoon effect. Also we went into the Wigan and Leeds games with bad injuries/bad form which affected the crowd for two games which are usually the biggest of the season. Also the Bradford game was a Friday night non-TV game and we didn't see a massively bigger crowd...I honestly don't think the game day affects the crowd all that much, the teams form/fans morale is a much bigger factor.

Where we finish this season will also influence how many games SKY pick us for, SKY obviously had us down as being a lower table side at the start of the season (first game we were scheduled in for was against London) if we finish top 4 or 6 we'll see the SKY camera's down at the KC more next year, and that obviously means Friday, Saturday or Monday night games.

The RFL's Operational Rules state



Interesting though that there were no Sunday games the week before Easter this season (we played Bradford on the Friday). Presumably the RFL allowed changes that weekend due to the double Easter fixtures.

I think they must do. It makes sense to move matches to balance the turnaround. Knackered players makes for a crap spectacle.

Difficult one. There are fans who prefer one or the other but go anyway, those who can/will only go to either/or, ie they will only get a pass if it's Sunday, and those for whom a mix doesn't work, who need certainty to commit. I think the club should do a proper questionnaire asking more specific questions than what's your preferred match day, more about under which circumstances you would definitely buy or definitely not buy a pass:
Fridays only
Sundays only
A mixture