[quote="Dave K.":raus050e][quote:raus050e]I think the last few seasons have taught us all to be cautious[/quote:raus050e] or at least it should of, do feel alot more confident this year than last, as feel our facilities, off field staff and playing staff are streets ahead of last season. I said last year, we could do ok if the gambles pay off, unfortunately not one of them did and it was a diaster. We still have gambles amd need some of those to pay off, but no where near the level of 2024. I do wonder if Smith gets another chance to coach, I think it would be a huge risk.[/quote:raus050e] Earlier in this thread (in my standings prediction) I put us tenth, and that was a self-reflective act on my part due to the overwhelming disappointments of recent years. I would like to be more positive about 2025, but having been so badly burned these past four years I need to see some proof we've stopped the rot and turned a corner first before I start getting carried away!! We've been here too many times in the recent past for me to be too wildly optimistic, I've been watching us for far too long to ever be carried away on mere promises! There are still a lot of question-marks and variables around us (as there are for a number of clubs). I'm simply going to take it week by week, game by game and see how it unfolds for us. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised as the year progresses. As for T. Smith? You do wonder who, in SL, would take a gamble on him after his stint with us. It would have to be someone who believes he still has something left in the tank to prove himself again, but really not sure who that club would be. Huddersfield maybe? if it goes badly wrong for them and Robinson is dismissed half-way through the year. That's the only type of scenario I see Smith returning, or at a Championship outfit, and I'm not sure that would interest him at this stage in his life. He undoubtedly blew a hole through his reputation during his spell with us!!

It would be interesting to know how the 2 local "power boards" stack up in terms of their wealth. Ours comes out at about £1/2bn. I think Dave Kilburn was worth about £100m. How much are hudge, sewell and mcnicol worth between them? I'm not sure if kilburn has ever put any money into rovers though?

Top 5 for me are Wigan Wire Saints Leigh Kr The rest are open to question for mid table.. FC Leeds Catalan. Personally think Giants, Salford, Cas & Wakey bottom 4. So a few posters on here are saying we will be behind Leeds and Cats, It may happen but realistically I don’t think there’s much to choose between them. It depends how much Brad Arthur can get out of his squad and managing the egos. Cats have quality but can mcnamara get them to gel. Tomkins pretty much made them tick but how many games will he play next season. Cats beat us last season when we had a team full of kids, Tomkins being the difference. Anyway enough of the positive attitude Don’t want to upset anyone.

[quote="Jake the Peg":3nqwy75p]One man's pessimist is another man's realist. What difference will wealthy owners make with the current squad? Are we going to bribe the refs or something?[/quote:3nqwy75p] Unlimited supply of coffee

[quote="boardwalkempire7":3fczh2mn]Stop living in the past peg. We’ve not had wealthy club owners before We could search for a positive post from you but it would be like looking for kr’s trophy cabinet[/quote:3fczh2mn] Wealthy owners are not the ones who serve up the dross on the pitch which we have had to endure over the last few seasons. Its all about players. Whether Cartwright can get something out of what is a bang average squad with little quality remains to be seen but i want to see exciting rugby league and players with pace exploiting gaps. There is nothing in this squad to get excited about and whether real money is available i dont have the confidence in Myler to recruit the quality we need.

11th for me. Barron, Hardaker, Chamberlain and Briscoe as a first choice back line and Bourouh at 9, with an injury prone Abdull in the halves - just looks a bottom 2 squad to me.

[quote="bonaire":ugrly10u]Wealthy owners are not the ones who serve up the dross on the pitch which we have had to endure over the last few seasons. Its all about players. Whether Cartwright can get something out of what is a bang average squad with little quality remains to be seen but i want to see exciting rugby league and players with pace exploiting gaps. There is nothing in this squad to get excited about and whether real money is available i dont have the confidence in Myler to recruit the quality we need.[/quote:ugrly10u] But at least you went to the forum, where you has the chance to question Myler.

I dream of us being average.

[quote="Mrs Barista":1f4lhf53]11th for me. Barron, Hardaker, Chamberlain and Briscoe as a first choice back line and Bourouh at 9, with an injury prone Abdull in the halves - just looks a bottom 2 squad to me.[/quote:1f4lhf53] I don't see anything in the Cas, Wakey amd Hudds squad (plus Cas and Hudds, have gambled on coaches) to say we can't finish above them in fact I'll be disappointed if we don't.

[quote="Mrs Barista":m0ljppb1]11th for me. Barron, Hardaker, Chamberlain and Briscoe as a first choice back line and Bourouh at 9, with an injury prone Abdull in the halves - just looks a bottom 2 squad to me.[/quote:m0ljppb1] No room for those views on this forum

Oh dear it’s a doom athon.. Folk trying to out doom each other. “ Happy New Year “ folks lol

Had kr down as 5th as not convinced they can sustain their form. Injury free season 2024. Losing hall and Parcell arguably their two most important players. Oldest front row in SL by some margin. Can they stay fit. Jwh will be at the disciplinary. No on field organiser. There’s my doom laden thoughts for the new season

[quote="Jake the Peg":177fe6yu]No room for those views on this forum[/quote:177fe6yu] 3 of those rubbish players won the challenge cup for Leigh. How did it happen, they’ve got no pace and can’t break a tackle and are bang average. It’s insane peg it really is.

[quote="boardwalkempire7":nv65710a]3 of those rubbish players won the challenge cup for Leigh. How did it happen, they’ve got no pace and can’t break a tackle and are bang average. It’s insane peg it really is.[/quote:nv65710a] why is it insane? you have seen Briscoe and Chamberlain you cant honestly say they are anything but bang average from what we have all seen

[quote="Mrs Barista":1kaqjala]11th for me. Barron, Hardaker, Chamberlain and Briscoe as a first choice back line and Bourouh at 9, with an injury prone Abdull in the halves - just looks a bottom 2 squad to me.[/quote:1kaqjala] Its a Championship quality backlline. Bringing in Cross would make little difference just replaceing average with average If it does all go tits up.a 0/4 bad start and as you say a bottom 2/3 finish would the money boss sack his son in law for his poor recruitment? just dont see it working well

[quote="boardwalkempire7":ijrq28z0]3 of those rubbish players won the challenge cup for Leigh. How did it happen, they’ve got no pace and can’t break a tackle and are bang average. It’s insane peg it really is.[/quote:ijrq28z0] Danny Houghton won the challenge cup twice and was bl00dy awful for the last 2 or 3 years, carlos the same

[quote="boardwalkempire7":1z7moutt]Had kr down as 5th as not convinced they can sustain their form. Injury free season 2024. Losing hall and Parcell arguably their two most important players. Oldest front row in SL by some margin. Can they stay fit. Jwh will be at the disciplinary. No on field organiser. There’s my doom laden thoughts for the new season[/quote:1z7moutt] Mikey lewis is by far and away rovers best player as he was last season. Lose him and they will be 4th to 6th. If he stays fit they'll be top 3

[quote="bonaire":2mpielb0]why is it insane? you have seen Briscoe and Chamberlain you cant honestly say they are anything but bang average from what we have all seen[/quote:2mpielb0] It was a tongue in cheek remark as peg used it previously . Think we best agree to disagree. Salary cap restraints etc . these guys are best we can expect. Building blocks that’s what it’s about

[quote="boardwalkempire7":p2dprgub]It was a tongue in cheek remark as peg used it previously . Think we best agree to disagree. Salary cap restraints etc . these guys are best we can expect. Building blocks that’s what it’s about[/quote:p2dprgub] No they are not the best we should expect Maybe the best of the ability of Myler in what is poor recruitmennt Its recruitment without ambition. We are already seeing the results of signing injury prone players with Abdul looking to be taking his regular seat in the stands after knee surgery and little news on Rapana who its said will miss the first two games

[quote="Dave K.":6uc0n5w6]I don't see anything in the Cas, Wakey amd Hudds squad (plus Cas and Hudds, have gambled on coaches) to say we can't finish above them in fact I'll be disappointed if we don't.[/quote:6uc0n5w6] Get ready to be disappointed, not saying my team are going to set the league on fire having just got promoted but the Hull squad overall is bang average let's see how the new coach goes but nothing but a fight with bottom clubs for Hull. In my opinion of course.

[quote="REDWHITEANDBLUE":2ner1kxg]Get ready to be disappointed, not saying my team are going to set the league on fire having just got promoted but the Hull squad overall is bang average let's see how the new coach goes but nothing but a fight with bottom clubs for Hull. In my opinion of course.[/quote:2ner1kxg] Thanks for your insight

[quote="Jake the Peg":zl0d6tjd]It would be interesting to know how the 2 local "power boards" stack up in terms of their wealth. Ours comes out at about £1/2bn. I think Dave Kilburn was worth about £100m. How much are hudge, sewell and mcnicol worth between them? I'm not sure if kilburn has ever put any money into rovers though?[/quote:zl0d6tjd] I'm not sure splashing out on Hugo qualifies them as a power board Jake

[quote="Jake the Peg":xl1cifiq]Mikey lewis is by far and away rovers best player as he was last season. Lose him and they will be 4th to 6th. If he stays fit they'll be top 3[/quote:xl1cifiq]a few injuries for your boys and you could be serving the soup

We need John Asiata to play min 20 games or else I feel we’re 9th

I also think Wakey will be fighting at the bottom, they have made some good signings, as have we, but alot of their overseas players are untested at SL level. For me they lack creativity, pivots of Jowitt, Trueman, Russell, Hood and Pitts hardly set fear in sides. Like us they have a couple of injury risky signings too. It's OK playing against part time teams but SL is another level. I wouldn't be suprised if we finished above them or vice versa to be honest.