The seasons in the past were not as level as today. Teams at the bottom can win more games etc

The whole idea of Salary Cap is to bring the comp closer every year and 2013 is a lot different to 2007 !

Also we had a coach change in at least 1 of those seasons I believe , that is a catalyst that can truly alter a season.

My thought is we won't change the coach and thus we will play to type for most of the season. Meaning if we are on 9 points after 9 games , then there is a slim of getting to 32 points after 27 games or at least 34 is a near maximum based on the strength of SL at the moment and injuries ( this weekend we have Aaron H , Tickle , Yeamo , Ellis out just for starters).

However 34 would or should get us to at least 5th based on 2012/2011 seasons.

BUT if we are on 9 from 9 how do we get to 34 from 27 games ?

Top 8 is achievable but Top 5 ???????????

Not strictly true, in 2006 Catalans finished bottom with 16 points from 28 games (29%), in 2007 Salford were bottom with 13 points from 27 (24%). Both better records than the bottom teams in 2011 and 2012.

I can agree to some extent etc

My 'gut' feeling is that we will not have a catalyst event and thus as the game is VERY tough and ruthless then we can hardly expect to do much better than the 1st 9 games.

Giants , Leeds , Wigan and Wire don;t look like giving up TOP 4 this season. Then Dragons and Saints make it very difficult to wrestle 5th or 6th , leaving us with Bulls/Rovers/ for 7th , sounds familiar.

How long will AP look at this scenario ? He knows the Top 3 in 2015 will be Aussie bound for a potential WCC .

How long will FC fans wait ?

Unless you can come up with a credible argument for us being Top 3 next season , 2014 , under Gentle ?

I honestly feel people are getting abit carried away lately. Does anyone look at the league table properly or just look where fc are??

From 3rd - 11th, the difference in point is 2.

There's still games to be played and with warm weather (hopefully) coming, players returning from injuries and finally gelling ya never no.

This applies to ALL teams obviously

Ok yes it does. But still, from 3rd to 11th the difference is 2 points.

6 points from 8 games so far , when we have played 9 games I have said many times you will get a great idea where we will finish , give or take 2 positions up or down. We had BETTER beat Rovers.

Are the players afraid of Gentle ?

They appear to afraid of the opposition's try line.

Using the weather is a weak excuse, England is a cold country, a good quarter of the season is played in freezing weather every year, and we should be prepared for it. While our lighter forwards will be better in warm weather, how many games last year did we play in warm conditions? I can only recall the Magic Weekend.

also we have some good players sat in the stands, but apart from Holdsworth none of them will bring much needed attacking flair to the team, Ellis for example is a fantastic player but his game is about strength and work-rate, he isn't going to sort out dire kicking game out etc

With a good run of results comes confidence, if the inconsistancy, giving away silly penalties and stopping the dropped balls can be sorted can't see any reason why we cannot finish in the top 8. The lack of a SH is a massive problem but if we can get a halfback pairing together who have time to settle into the partnership I cannot see any reason why we cannot start to pick up more wins. Keep the faith (even though it's hard atm).

Do you notice the flaw in your post?

If.......
If........
If.........

you might as well say If we sign Cam Smith and Cooper Cronk...

26 points on offer against last years bottom six
should realistically be targeting 18/20 of these
Unfortunately looks a bit `pie in the sky' at the moment

What Ellis will bring is leadership, which we're lacking in massively.

Absolutely. We really need someone with a big "gob" on the pitch, letting them ALL know what is required. I sometimes wonder if PG has a nasty streak in him because the players don't appear to be afraid of any reprisals if they don't perform.
Like the rest of the misguided individuals on this forum I will be there on Friday and, no doubt, putting more effort into my performance as a fan than some of the well paid people on the pitch. Its time they took some responsibility for what goes on because, as I've said elsewhere PG cannot do anything once the whistle blows.

This thread is sadly becoming relevant ! I am not sure how I will react if we lose at Wakey and at home to Dragons , both are loseable based on performances