This. A thousand times this. We have a long and inglorious history of sticking with players who repeatedly fail. Radford alluded to it in his post-match comments so I have some hope that this is going to change.

Current examples?

I'd go a step further and tell some players they can start looking for other clubs.

I'd agree with this to a large extent, with the caveat that, if it continues, Radford has to take ever more responsibility. If players aren't doing the basics on a one-off basis, it's probably their fault (or an off day, at least). If they're consistently doing the wrong things, there's likely to be a failure in preparation or management somewhere along the line.

I think Agar got about two years longer than he ought to have done because of the "it's the players, not the coach" mantra. I'd hate for us to end up in a similar situation this time around.



Absolutely. Recruitment/retention is an area we've struggled in since the Smith/Smith/Barnett/Prescott etc days came to an end. We seem to sign loads of mediocre players, fail to address key areas time and time again (scrum half, anyone?), and retain players solely because they're here and it's easier than trying to find a replacement. When you look at the value the likes of Leeds get out of the salary cap, it's thoroughly depressing.

Agreed - but by definition that's looking over longer term. My post related to yesterday's game in particular. Over the first 5 games we've looked better without pulling up any trees. If the next 10 games are like yesterday's then questions must be asked.

Yes, absolutely. I didn't agree with Radford's appointment in the first place, but it would be pointless giving him the bullet now. Unless Wayne Bennett has been on the blower begging for a job. Not sure I'd be happy to wait another ten games though - the season will be over by then.

Same old, same old, same old.

As a club, we seem locked in a never ending cycle, condemned to make the same mistakes over and over again. Over the last 5 years we've had 2 owners/boards, 3 different coaches and countless players have come and gone, and yet we seem to be stuck in this circle going round and round.

No one at the club appears to have the nous to identify the problem areas and then formulate a plan to eradicate said problems. Perusing this forum today, it feels like any number of Monday mornings since 2006. The same debates about the same problems again and again and again.

Yesterday was dreadful, no doubting that. The dark black clouds over the stadium perfectly mirroring the atmosphere inside. I've also no doubts that at some point during 2014 we will turn in some decent performances (ala Leeds / Warrington last year) and some on here will start claiming we are a stones throw away from the top four. But that is too miss the point, we are an average side/club who, during the course of any given year, will have good days/bad days/average days.

The club needs someone to alter the mind set of the entire club, be it owner/coach/star player or an inspired signing who unexpectedly turns this club in an upwards direction. Adam Pearson has been in charge for almost three years now and nothing has fundamentally changed at Hull Fc. We are still the same mid table side who from time to time give a hint of what might be, only for us to ultimately flatter to deceive, skulking back to the mid table warren.

Who that person is, I have absolutely no idea. The immediate future seems to offer no more than a continuation of the last six years. The odd inspiring performance counterbalanced by other games of mind blowing frustration. We keep having the odd glimpse of the promised land, but no one at Hull Fc appears to have a road map showing us how to arrive there and set up camp there.

I will continue to support the club, as I have done since the 1970's, but it is more in hope than any real expectation of our situation changing any time soon.

I don't think any coach can be assessed in anything fewer than 15-20 games bare minimum. I think Pearson will stick with Radders medium term at least. I think he's identified him as the character to sort out exactly the issue we saw yesterday. As I said on another post it's only 7 games since we lost 76-18 in the club embarrassment that was the play off at Hudds. More likely Radders will resign than be pushed.

Well,I have supported this club since 1958 when i used to take bottles back to get my 2d to get in .
In that time i have seen good and bad rugby but still support through thick and thin.
You cant asses radford after only a few games,it takes time he is no miracle worker
I have and will support this club,good or bad, radford, agar, gentle...
whoever is our coach, moaning does not help moral.
I will give him his chance to turn things around.

Even allowing for the Wembley and Hudds embarrassments, can you see us having a better season overall this year than last? I'd be quite surprised if we finished 6th again. And whilst it might only be seven games since Hudds (not counting the largely wasted pre-season games), he has had an entire off-season with the players.

You're probably right that he will, and perhaps should, be given longer, but I'd be worried if we don't win four out of the next five games. We should be expecting to beat Salford, London and Wakefield at home, and one of either Hudds at home or Rovers away. If we fall too far short of this, I feel 8th will be the best we can start to hope for this year.



You're not the first to say that, but I don't believe he'll walk any more than Agar would have done. All the time a coach has the backing of the owner, he'll stay put. Bills to pay and mouths to feed will (quite understandably) be given greater consideration than doing what's best for the club.

Time will tell. I think 6th is achievable FWIW the league is a lower standard at the top end and wide open.

Brilliant post. This really sums things up for me.