Lack of interest in Sunday's game has led to this pre-arranged "spat". Harmless I suppose but boring and unlikely to get the attendance up to levels of a few years ago.

Oh dear haha! I knew Hudge wouldn't be able to resist the bite!

Bet they agreed on what to say to try and hype up the match.

Sick of reading such comments.

Just prove it on the pitch. That's all that matters.

Yeamo has had his usual few column inches as well i believe?

I just hope that we draw Rovers in both the cup and the playoffs, as I'm not sure we have enough derbies. Maybe if both sides go out in the early rounds they could use the cup weekends for a few more to keep match sharp?

Fingers crossed next year for a boxing day game as well as another 'friendly' around this time before the season starts, the magic weekend again, the cup, and then finishing in the same batch of 8.

Do you think pearson will get his medication upped ?

Very easily swayed I see.

Totally agree with COYH, greed has totally killed what looked in 2007 /8 like an incredible rivalry over the years. I don't think any derby has sold out since those days, and IMO that's the fault of both clubs and the RFL. Play each other twice as season (no friendly or Magic) and I'm sure the demand would at least come back a bit.
For me the 'annual' friendly (how can you call it 'annual' after four sodding years?!) is just exploiting the die-hard fans of both clubs who feel like they can't miss any derby at any cost.

Happy for a friendly if it is a local lads testimonial (for either club) barring that then stick to the competitive ones including the magic IF league positions the previous season dictate it.

Actually that's a very good point re testimonials - attended Richard Horne's and was very happy to do so, he's fully deserved it, and IIRC the attendance was 15,000+? Don't think we see anywhere near that this Sunday, I'd definitely go with your idea. I just think with some global rivalries you probably can't really overkill (Celtic v Rangers springs to mind!) but as great support as the two Hull clubs have, there just isn't the volume of people in the city to sustain a minimum of four games a season.
When we were in the lower league the derby friendly felt a great idea and a big occasion, but now after trading league wins for years I don't see how anyone gains except club coffers, but this could surely be achieved anyway by bringing some meaning back to the real derbies. The KC attendance for example has slipped to 18,000 last Good Friday (no knock on Hull - our support there has declined in the West Stand). The 5,000 who helped sell both 2007 games out are still out there, but what's the rush or urge to see a game played at least 4 times a season?

If anyone knew what it was about...

As well as derby fatigue, the impact of the economic downturn since 2007/2008 (when there were 4 league derbies each year, but it was still a novelty, I guess) can't be ignored. It is in part what necessitates the club coffers to be at the front of NH's and AP's minds.
If people want to go, then great. If others don't, then fine. It is the only pre-season friendly in the city this year, so I don't think fans are being milked especially.

There's always been potential for extra derbies in the Championship play-offs (or during the Premiership era that replaced them) and then there were the 'other' cups like the Floodlit, the JPS and the Yorkshire.

long as we get a good run out and no injuries thats the main thing,mind you a win would be nice