Erik one day you might be able to write a post without mentioning rovers

As I said on my previous post the manner in which our club make the claims and more to the point the way the fan base take those claims is vastly different. The bel13ve and keep the faith promotions for instance really set you up, add to that the 'seemingly' swallowing of this year upon year by the fan base really magnify the claims.

Honestly before a ball was kicked this season most KR fans would have set expectations at 6-8, not many would have thought more.
The view I get is every year FC expect top 4. Now there's nothing wrong with high expectations but it almost seems a god given right for some fans, and as such expect some flack when it doesn't come off.
Mike Smith has harped on about top 4, best pack etc but guess as fans we don't swallow it. Maybe that's the difference.

The Newcastle similarities mentioned on another thread are pretty accurate, big crowd, proud fans, owner with no real clue about the game. Unfortunately until you set realistic goals for yourselves you'll end up being the fat Geordie with no shirt sat crying in the stands come end of the season every year.

That might of been a bit harsh and your expectations should be a lot better than what you're been served up but I think you'll get my drift.

Just to add this isn't a KR FC thing as I'll fully agree with anyone who says we're just slightly less crap than you, I'd love us at 1 and you at 2 but that seems a long way off.

It really isn't much to do with fans expectations, there are plenty of Hull fans who were expecting the worst before the season started. I'll agree there has been a slight difference of emphasis on the way the clubs talk themselves up pre season but neither has said they are aiming for 6th, Yes Hull have made the slightly grander claims but then again they haven't indulged in the siege mentality everyone is conspiring against us position that has characterised a lot of the KR output (which granted may now diminish now that the principal whiner has gone). Either way there is plenty of material for a local radio station to feed on and comment in a negative manner if they so wish; unfortunately they choose to do that in a distinctly one sided manner.

Anyway back to Craig Murdock, its a shame he has gone but I can fully understand the BBC's position, he can't pass opinion under the BBC umbrella on players he has a financial interest in. I just hope they get in a Hull FC man in to replace him but I fear we will end up with Lloyd and Richardson, good job I have a pass and go to most games. I don't generally listen to Rover's but I don't think they have replaced Chris Park yet have they, doesn't bode well for them having budget to replace Dock.

I think there is a difference between an ex player commenting on your team to having a financial interest in individuals you are passing comment on though. I can understand the Beeb not being happy with that.

To use a Lee Richardson phrase, that's horse.

Last year Pearson overdid the hype, and despite delivering a Wembley final, Lee Richardson of Radio Humberside said AP was effectively lying to the fans by talking up the potential of the side.

This year we were encouraged to Keep the Faith. Rovers fans were told by their CEO twice, once on RH and once at a fans forum, that this would be Rovers year, and another director told fans you have the best pack in the competition. Rovers board are strangely not being held to account for these comments in the way that Hull's board were.

The extent to which the fans buy it is irrelevant. Although as I'm sure you remember preseason, Zod and co declared their intention to bet big on Rovers best ever SL finish "A licence to print money" was an actual term used. Selective recall? If you can find me a link to a thread where the majority of Hull fans claim a prediction of better than 6th this year, I'll give you a shiny penny. You're talking garbage.

The broader paranoia charge you're levelling has been done previously, but if it was that simple why would I acknowledge multiple times that the HDM are pro FC? I've called some of their articles (the one about Miller's visa for example) nauseating. Inconvenient for your argument, but there it is.

The quantity of coverage RL gets on Radio Humberside is terrific. But the quality is terrible and without Murdock you're left with ex Rovers winger Nick Pinkney, Lee Richardson (see above) and Lloyd whose Rovers bias has been evidenced aplenty. I'm still apoplectic about Luke Briscoe, as he told me we should be. After all, he's gone on to have the same career impact as Scott Taylor, right? Has Lloyd accused Rovers captain of sounding like a broken record as he did to Gareth Ellis in the last month? I recognise that FC are in part at fault for the poor relationship and like to be controlling in their media management. But with the current incumbents at RH, and Matt Dean's inability or lack of appetite to face into the issues, nothing will happen.

RH should go down one of two routes. If they want to be local cheerleaders, this must be the same weight of enthusiasm for all clubs. If they want impartiality, they need to start again with the make up of the team.

Well, last night I listened to Clarkey on FC Live.

All I heard was, "How is that not a penalty?" and diatribe towards the ref. Nothing about how sh|t we were or the lack of brains.

Pinkney and Richardson are unbelievably biased and Lloyd is clueless and incompetent. I'll just get Twitter updates from now on.

In fact, the entire sports-team on Humberside are inept and now unlistenable without the Dock.

For the record, I would also add DDD to that. Absolutely no use at all when you're trying to figure out whereabouts on the pitch the action was.

Horse or just my opinion either which will do...

I can't quote the majority of top 4 quotes but you'll be hard pushed to find the fan of another club who doesn't share the opinion that FC have an over inflated opinion of their club. I'll admit I have no love of Fc but equally I try to have an impartial view and equally like to hear fans of other clubs view on all things RL.

The bottom line is I completely agree RH has a long way to go to get actual match coverage up to speed. But that's as far as our agreement goes.

Mrs b you keep forgetting to mention that Richardson played for Hull also I know saying that doesn't fit your argument but just think you should as not to be biased

Makes no difference. I worked for a Hull KR supporting boss for years. Didn't make me a Rovers fan.

Some FC players are Rovers fans, some Rovers are FC fans. I've no problem with that. They don't throw matches, that would be foolish and letting their team-mates down.

Richardson and "Pinko" are awful commentators and while Humberside continue to employ them and Lloyd, I won't bother tuning in. Watch how often Lloyd interrupts his interviewees or even his co-commentators. Very ignorant, rude and unprofessional.

Chris Parke was the only one on there who, when commentating on Hull games, showed a little passion for us, despite being Rovers to the core. The derby games were classics.
RIP Chris.

Because they're not there. What about quotes that betting big on FC this year would be a licence to print money? No. But we didn't have directors claiming we had the strongest pack in the comp either.


When it suits you do. Plenty think Rovers vastly inflate their estimates of their own travelling support and have a team full of Aussies. So what? FC has the potential to be a top club from an infrastructure perspective. We got within touching distance 8 years ago, which is in the lifetime at least of many current fans. You can see why there's frustration at unfulfilled potential therefore.

I did mention it.
Johnny Whiteley had some Rovers connections, are you suggesting he's equally affiliated to both clubs? Seem to recall Lee and Gwilym being seen in buoyant mood out for dinner with Hudgell and Crossland at one point. Maybe they also have this level of cosiness with AP, but after last year's comments it might be awkward.

I think that Murdock is the best commentator at the station so on that basis it is a shame he has to leave. It should also be noted that he was commentating for Humberside long before he took the job with the sports agency. Given that I wouldn't imagine it being particularly lucrative he was obviously doing it for the love/enjoyment of it.
However, in recent weeks he has really been pushing the benefits of players moving to Australia live on air. He has a few Robins and Airlie Birds signed up so you can see why Hudge and Pearson would be annoyed to hear him often talking about how players would be mad to pass up the opportunity of heading Down Under, also stressing the financial benefits of moving.
Personally I would have allowed him to keep the gig.

The thing is if its that unbearable why do you listen when you have other options or of you don't listen to it why moan about it