So we should sell tickets by saying "yeah, probably a mid-table finish next season at best."

As it stands its a marginal improvement on last year (which was an improvement on the year before), if we win at Huddersfield it is more of an improvement this year. We go into the pre season with the coaches choice at half back in place and available for the first time. I think it is fair to expect further and sustained improvement next year and ask questions if it doesn't happen but this year hasn't been the worst as some dismal jimmy's on here are implying - far from it.

Agree, yes the final performance will hinder with some people for a while. But the fact of it is, At Least We Got There.

We beat teams like Catalans and Warrington to get there and even though our season form was none existent for the latter stage, we still finished 6th and could of reached 5th. ( Maybe higher considering the 4 games we should have won. Widnes A, Wakey H, Catalan A, Saints A)

Wembley knocked the stuffing out of the fans big time I think. The whole day from the performance to the weather which turned what should have been a great experience into a damp squib has hit hard. Underneath that there has been the ridiculous inconsistency which which we seem to play season after season for which a cure seemingly cannot be found.

However the season must be judged as a whole and it has been a marginal improvement again. Not perhaps the step change that a flowing attack would have brought but 6th, a major final appearance, and so far through round one of the play offs isn't by any means the worst return. Pearson said it would take time to turn our fortunes around and we're on track to do that, particularly with the emergence of new talent that we're seeing.

We are where we are down to our own efforts. To say that we've done what we've done due to other teams failings is just ridiculous in my view - the league standings are what they are. For me Gentle just has to keep on improving the side each year, and as I said a while back he should be given 15-20 games next year as a minimum to do that. Recruitment is key now and we're all waiting with baited breath.

I'd agree with most of the above. The Wembley "expeirence" really did knock the stuffing out of us, a truly dismal day in all aspects.
We are continuing to make progress both on and off the field but, for those of us of a certain age, we always seem to be a "work in progress" and only ever seem to reach a level of real success too rarely (and usually only for a temporary period before reverting to mid table once more).

Progress is all well and good, but at some point we need to make a significant step up in order to genuinely compete at the game's pinnicle. Whether Gentle is the man who ultimately makes that great leap forward only time will tell, but 2014 (as things currently stand) is looking like more of the same.

I'm sure I could find positives in anything if I look hard enough however I am a realist not a fantasist so I'll continue to post my views which have proven to be very accurate in the past. If you want to convince yourself that things are better than they really are then knock yourself out

No what I'm saying is that perhaps the superlatives should be toned down a bit until the team can live up to them. As one RL journo said after the home defeat to Wakey (the Armed Forces Day game) "If you're going to dress like the SAS make sure you play like them".

Some fans are clueless. Looking at our squad I think 6th is the best we could have aimed for. I also think we have exceed expectations in the challenege cup. Some want a top four finish straight away and expect us to be the next big thing. Looking at our team, how many of our players would get into a top five team? Not many. If we need to be a top 4 team our recruitment could be better and out current line-up needs improving.

Can't argue with facts. And if we (Leeds) lose to Saints on Friday I'd say your season was actually better than ours, regardless of your result v hudds, given you reached a final and put out the favourites at the same time. If we beat Saints, your season has definitely surpassed theirs.

So ask yourselves, if someone had asked at the season's start, whether you'd accept a better season than Leeds, Saints, or both, would you have been happy with that?

Hudgell's tried it!

No, you're a pessimist.

What have I said that's fantasy?

If you want to convince yourself that things are worse than they are then knock yourself out! I'd rather have something to smile about then something to frown about.

I'm not a pessimist. We're a mid table team who have punched below their weight for pretty much 30 years now. If you want to convince yourself we're anything more then feel free but it doesn't make me a pessimist.

No its not

Trouble is that once again the spin merchants had everyone taking in the same diet we have been fed on for the last few years. They partly delivered, the Wembley trip had to be a major plus for this season but it like many times before the side showed its faults. The Wembley loss had a massive effect on the fans we all where left with nothing but damp clothes at the end, the game was a complete non entity entertainment wise. Last Friday night was a hangover from Wembley and it was re-inforced by the Saints game. Many fans voted with there feet and that could well have done some good, it will certainly have focused minds for 2014.

The team was upset by that and they have come back quite well, some teams would have just collapsed after a defeat like that. Gentle and co certainly have done a good job raising them, a decent performance at the Giants and who knows.

We are moving in the right direction, it will improve next term I am sure these things take time to put right. I just think we where promised to much jam before this season yet again, better they keep their collective spin gobs shut now and let the team do the talking on the park.

2014 is make or break, progress has to be made and performances need to be more consistant any slipping will have dire effects on both the gates and Gentles tenure.

Err, yeah you're a pessimist. You've pretty much admitted that you have to try hard to find a positive. It's not difficult.

What positives can you say there's been this season compared to the last half-decade?

To be a great team you need decent foundations an we haven't had that in years. We now have a very good defence and youngsters coming through as well as other teams youngsters wanting to join us.

I have said all season it will take time for us to reach top teams level but we are competing with them. We haven't exactly being blasted of the park much this year and we did a fair few times last season.

Whether or not Gentle will be the guy that lifts the silverware for us is another question altogether but there is progress being made at the club IMO. Sacking the coach at this stage would just take us back another two years when in reality with a strong pre season and a few more decent signings we will be pushing to break the four.

Its being well known among other clubs that when they play at the KC if they can get in front they no the fans will turn on the team. Its to me no coincidence that once the negativity starts in the stands the home form drops.