Sales looking very good, have to advise people to get to the ground early!

Traffic has been a nightmare in Hull for weeks with several roads shut, Walton Street is meant to have reopened but several deadlines have been and gone so it's not guaranteed.

Went to City-Chelsea the other week and several turnstiles in west upper were broken so it took 40mins to get in!

New passes have been issued for this season, and of course there will be many on paper print at home tickets so can add to delays at the turnstyles.

Sadly the ground seems to have lost the ability to handle big crowds since the move to automated turnstiles and the stewards didn't seem to take any action to help shift the crowd.

Good point, well presented.

If a player hasn’t played how does he get 100% match fit ?

I don’t know why I’m even responding to this

Must admit the usual “you can never predict a Derby” age old adage has been proved to be the sensible opinion, but after watching that totally professional destruction of Leeds, and the very best ever first outing performance, I have had the privilege to witness, on this rare occasion I feel we are too good for our neighbors, he says with a large gulp!

They've opened another section of the upper West stand, very similar to last year at this stage in terms of crowd

I would like to agree with you, but for two things:

1) Consistency

2) Home game

If we can significantly improve on these then yes.
So for me at this moment in time it's still “you can never predict a Derby”

Rovers have some threats, two big strong and a very good attacking FB. Also if Parcell plays he offers a big threat from dummy half. They will try and ho around us and target our wingers as they shouldn't be able to cope with our pack, which looks weak with Garbutt the exception.

They don’t come much bigger than Hurrel Dave, and Jack Walker is as good as any from the back, Leeds were completely nullified, but understand your theory on their game plan, perhaps Swift in for Burretta, with his hopefully better defence, can shore up that possible weakness.

You are responding because you always do, and you are always wrong. But your diving in pyjamas to pick up a brick record is safe.

When selecting a team for this I reckon there are two schools of thought. We know that Rovers physically aren't a match for us. We are a much bigger and stronger side across the board. So do you just try to ram this advantage home by putting 4 big men on the bench to try to beat them up for 80 minutes? Or do you sacrafice a bit of size to give us a few more options and threats, knowing that the pack will still be able to dominate even if the bench is a bit smaller?

I would lean towards the latter, but I still can't decide on a team. If everyone feels that Fonua is 100% and raring to go after blowing off some cobwebs in the reserves then I would put him in. However there is no rush if we still feel he needs another week. I would however like to see Kelly in there. He is a threat at the worst of times, with this pack he can do so much damage.

If Fonua is ready I would pick:

Shaul
Naulago
Tuimavave
Fonua
Faraimo/Swift
Connor
Sneyd
Taylor
Houghton
Satae
Jones
Ma'u
Sao

Savelio
Bowden
Kelly
Griffin

It's a really tough call though. You could go 5 or 6 different ways and they would all have merit.

I cant see Kelly get in until hes proven he wants to be apart of the team attitude wise. I reckon another week on the reserves for him.

I think Johnstone will start, with Houghton making the bench, i also think Savelio will start at loose forward instead of Ellis. As well as Fonua in and Griffin dropping to the bench.


Shaul
Naulago
Tuimavave
Fonua
Faraimo
Connor
Sneyd
Taylor
Johnstone
Sao
Jones
Ma'u
Savelio

Bench of
Houghton
Griffin
Satae
Bowden

Lane and Ellis to miss out. Sao to play big minutes at loose forward and prop.

Not one for repeating unsubstantiated gossip, but I heard from numerous people on Sunday, Albert had a disagreement with Radders, regarding Albert being asked to be benched hooker replacement for young Jonno.

But aside of a couple of unsubstantiated rumours there has been no indication that there is anything wrong with Kelly's attitude.