When did the goalposts shift to 'best attacking player'? That wasn't the original claim that I disputed.

The tone of your posts and the liberal use of exclamation marks hardly indicates a desire for calm discussion.


Pleads? Really? I saw a request, not a plea. Pleading smacks of a desperation that I simply don't see.

I've seen plenty of Manu over the years, ta. And the post I took issue with stated that Manu was our best player, not best [iattacking[/i player. That's something you've added when you looked like losing the argument.

Not even sure how anyone would quantify "best" players in our squad anyway. The way I look at it is who would be the most difficult to replace like for like and for me Manu is way ahead at the top of that list.

I tend to look at who contributes the most to the overall team performance. That's why I rate Tickle just as highly as Manu - does a tremendous job in both attack and defence for 80 minutes and still kicks goals from anywhere on the pitch. IMO he'd be just as difficult to replace like-for-like.

Tickle also falls into that bracket I agree but the thing that marks him out above others is his goal kicking. We could replace the goal kicking elsewhere and get another 2nd Rower of similar ability in the other aspects of his game. Manu is just a freak and almost impossible to replace. Don't get me wrong Tickle is actually my "favourite" player but Manu is a one off, hence why so many clubs want to sign him.

Saints seem to be quite clever when coming to contract offers for over 30s: Long's contract offer was clearly the right decision by our management.

Same can't be said for Pryce......although he didn't like Simmons (apparently).

I can't see us offering him more than 2yrs really for Manu.

Not really, Carvell took a while to decide, signed and decided he wanted to leave the next day. Manu is taking a while to decide, we could be missing out on signings now!

Like many others, I would really love to see Manu stay, but if he goes he goes.

Many other teams have been far more successful than us, without a Manu in their team, and with AP, PG, SM, running the show, I am sure whether Manu stays or goes, we will push on towards success.

Manu is 32 and been one of our most consistant performers without a doubt but if he wishes to leave then so be it, no man is bigger then Hull Fc.

He hasn't got many years left in him but deserves his contract but he will leave at some point via retiring but ideally the club don't want to be messed about as the longer it drags on the less likely we are going to find a replacement if he does decide to seek pastures new.

My take on things:

We signed one of the best back rowers in the world in Ellis. Everyone was after him, we got him. Manu has been one of best players for the past few years, coming the twilight of his career he wants a big deal and some silverwear. By all accounts we want to keep him, and so do I without a shadow of a doubt, but Ellis is pure quality and offers more then just a 'workhorse' like Tickle.

Keep him - Great. He's a game changer and a fans fave. Lose him - We tried what we could, we still got Ellis.

Well you can feck off making sense like that!

This is an excellent point. It would be great if he stayed, but it's not the end of the world if he leaves.