I listened to NH taking to Gollum and thought it was a case of end of season blues. I bet he regrets it now.

Neil wears his heart on his sleeve, and all of his bug-bearer's came to the fore in what were (IMO) misplaced and ill-timed comments, in particular, declaring that Rovers season had ended with Sunday's loss. But that's Neil for you. He is prone to the doldrums. In his mindset, missing out on the play-offs (and the derby defeats) in that crazy moment stoked his bleakness.

Understandably, Neil was convinced Rovers place in the play-offs was a given with the squad of 2012. What no one could envisage were the injuries to key players that have dogged this season. But until it is mathematically beyond Rovers reach then hope remains, albeit remote with Wigan up next.

Furthermore, when you consider how what has happened this season has pretty much gone to type, okay, there's been a few blips along the way but nothing catastrophic or bad - well, nothing of a Rhicter magnitude ie Mason or the North stand falling thro - it makes NHs outburst more remarkable.

In fact, what has happened and will continue to happen is very much running along the planned 'medium-term' curve; the North stand is on the way; CS told the Board he needed to make big changes to the squad for 2013; CS knew when he took the job his SC for 2013 would be cut according to economic sustainability principles; CS has promoted youth; and, the club even budgeted for 7-8,000 attendances this season.

So, come on Neil. Get your head in gear. This season isn't over yet and even if we miss out on the play-offs there's loads of things to look forward to in 2013.

WELL said paul T

That's pretty much how I read it too. Recent results have been poor (worse than form, the only game we've lost recently by more than a converted try was the derby) and that puts a dampener on things. We need to be realistic, but not pessimistic.

Time for a convoluted analogy - I think following a team is a bit like a rollercoaster in more than the obvious ups and downs, highs and lows sense. The thrill of a rollercoaster comes not so much from speed as acceleration (and 'jerk', iirc, but this isn't Physics 101). The thrill of supporting a sports clubs comes from getting better more than being good, IMO. Wakefield are only on the fringes of the play-off places, but is any set of fans happier right now? This is also why Manchester United fans are generally so humourless, IMO.
So after a period of rapid progress, it is natural enough to be a bit less excited by an ambition for mere stability, but if the rollercoaster is closed for repairs we might as well make the most of teacups.

You are 95% right with your statement.

Pearson, in some capacity, has been involved in Sports management for the best part of 20 years. Having been involved in what was a faultering Leeds Utd and still come out the other side without his reputation tarnished (unlike Ridsdale who is a perpetual FUBAR). Pearson then takes over a crippled football club in Hull City, knowing full well that it was a financial risk and that there would probably be some losses to take in the short term. By the nature of the finances of the vast majority of football club, they do not make any sort of profit. So the way to make money is capital growth.

Hull City get back to back promotions, are in a brand new stadium, low and behold, Pearson cashes in prior to their promotion to the premier league.

He buys out Derby County, another club who had declined, but not as much as Hull City. He gets them on the cheap, knowing he will not get an annual return, but by putting the right things in place he can sell them for a profit and get a capital return, which he does.

His next investment is Hull FC. the same basic scenario, a club which is under performing, needs internal investment to become more viable from both a playing and commercial point of view. Pearson will not expect an annual return from this, he will want a capital return. This is almost without exception the opposite to all other types of commercial business's.

Crossland has been behind a very successful agency type business in Parasol. This is a business which annual returns were expected by its investors as the set up costs were comparatively low. The business models are very different. Pearson is used to it due to his experiance, Crossland isn't.

From a reputational point of view this is out of Crosslands previous CV. People who are successful within a business model generally become uncomfortable when things dont fit the mould. It would be seen by his piers that he is effectively throwing money into a black hole.

Pearsons peirs will not see it that way as they are well versed with the industry.

That is the difference.

If Crossland were that concerned about the opinions of his peers (which would be slightly worrying in of itself), then surely he could explain it away as an indulgence - like buying a villa or a flash sports car or some such.
I agree about Pearson's MO and ambitions, Hudgell's and Crossland's have been and (for now) are different. Going forward I imagine that the issue would the money itself, not any reputational damage. McManus has lost a tonne of cash at Saints and bankers don't get rich by running up massive losses do they? Oh - my argument appears to have just fallen to pieces.

So you assume that only those with identical business models will succeed.

The only thing I suspect, as we look at things historically, is that Adam will be on his bike in the near future...
...will he need a push off is the only question I ask?

Agreed!

Pearson will not invest his own money, any Hull fan that thinks otherwise is a fool!!!

Investments will made with bank loans and sponsors money, not his own, as soon as he has some assets to sell (paid for by the club!) then he will be off!

Quite a one-eyed view there. Easty-esque.

Any increase in the value of assets will surely be offset by the increase in Hull's liabilities (the bank loans you mention), effectively offsetting eachother on the balance sheet.

Might have an omlette for tea.

No! you are wrong!

Oh no! How so?!

For the Hull board really, but Pearson's approach is (probably, going on previous experience) very roughly like a property developer. Buy it, do it up and sell it on for more than you paid up front and spent on repairs - you hope.
He's got a few things working in his favour, one or two problems to overcome and the imponderable vicissitudes of RL to worry about.
Our club's restoration was for the love of it. Now it is done, the maintenance costs are the worry.
On fire with my poop analogies today.

BINGO!