Pre Season

Quote: Staffs FC "Worst initial fear over his appointment ? Surely it's a fraction early to be casting doubt over the coach when the season hasn't even started yet - as bad as some of the pre season friendlies were.

I have no doubt that Pearson has installed Radford as the man to sort out the underlying attitude and approach issues with some of Hull's first team squad by ruling them with the stick. I've read some hand-wringers (not on here) worrying about Radford already laying into his squad in the paper etc. IMO that's exactly how Pearson wants Radford to react - he's not talking about all the players he's talking about a select few who seem to coast from one season to the next by playing to their potential in only around half of the games. There was evidence of this yet again on Sunday. We now also have the captain in the paper talking about adding his two penneth as required down the line in the same context.

I didn't see Pearson's piece in the paper today as a 'vote of confidence' - more a serious measure of support that Radford will be backed with what he needs to alter the lazy culture that some seem to cling to. Let's face it as I said the other day we've had a succession of coaches right back to McRae (the first to talk about the 'cancer' at the club) who have failed to a greater or lesser extent to solve this issue. I think Radford is a medium-long term appointment by Pearson to ensure that the crop of young players coming through now are left in little doubt as to what's required in terms of preparation and attitude to be a pro in SL. Some of our more established players with question marks hanging over them may find themselves playing at Donny or Gloucester as well. I think Pearson judged that Gentle would never have tackled this issue and Radford in his judgement might do.

It will be interesting how things pan out but at this stage it's pretty hard to judge Radford either way until we actually see him coach some games. Team selection in particular (players in form/showing the right attitude not players by name) might be a good indicator. As ever injuries will have a big say in that.'"

Hasn't Radford had an entire pre-season to sort out the attitude problems?

They didn't seem very afraid of him on Sunday.