i wouldnt have put caro in the experienced group of players he wasnt a regular in londons team

The thing we have lost this year more than anything else is experience.
Galea will be missed massively as I think he was last year due to his constant in and out the team. I think the decision to let go was the correct one but we needed to get in an experienced head in 2nd row. time will tell how we go without him.
Webster had a lot of experience, again like the above he never played enough for us to benefit.
Clinton was a pudding, no loss at all.
Murrell will be more of a loss than a lot think, he was a player who could seem to pick the team up when it was getting tough.
Taylor it goes without saying is a loss, yet its a position I feel we can fill.
McDonnell, I wouldn;t have minded losing if we had kept Sherriff, Hall at FB fills me with dread, hopefully we sign a real FB.
Green, never looked fit last year, will see if he gets it back but in Wigans side he's bound to look good.

Are we stronger this year, No. if we don;t have any more ins then we are at best similar. Maybe CS will get the extra 10% we need but I think it could be a long season ahead.

Last year I remember poking fun @ the media who predicted we'd struggle and had us anything from 9-12th. They stated that we'd miss the experience factor of Briscoe/Vella/Newton and tbf I think they were spot on. With Galea now added to that list our lack of experience/leaders does worry me somewhat.

I think overall we replaced man for man better last season but what we gained in quality we lost in heart/bottle/commitment etc. Over the years the likes of (above) Cockayne/Fox/Fisher even Colbon were players who wore the shirt with distinction and got what it meant to represent HKR. Whether or not this was a JM quality that rubbed off on the team, I don't know. But CS now has clean slate to work with, and as NH said - 'judge him with his own team'.

FWIW, I think he has a tough assignment. We look very light in terms of overall depth. I can't imagine our recruitment is finished, so I hope we've got one or two still to come in and the likes of Netherton/Peterson stop for another year - in terms of numbers.

I think everyone would agree the obvious area to improve is defence, both collectively and individually. But also, how to play from 60-80 mins. We lost so many tight games, where in a lot of cases we were architects of our own downfall in this period.

We've clearly downsized our squad/budget for next season and CS' remit of developing our youngsters will come to the fore. I'm not realistically expecting any better than 8th-12th. Injuries will play their part and may decide how well we go. Could be a case of short term pain for long term gain.

Looking fwd to seeing how Salter/Green/Burns go.

I think we need a fb and a prop and well challenge for the top 8 (bottom end of course) where well get these players is another matter as there isn't much out there.

we should go for shad royston always thought he was a decent full back

We really shouldn't, had a bash at T'Steam Pigs a couple of years ago and wasn't up to it.

We're lacking depth but I think the team will play with more energy and desire than last year and I think we'll sting a few teams and have some good wins but I think we'll really struggle to finish higher than 8th.

With the North Stand finally up and running for 2014 maybe we will go back to spending a full cap again.

Based on what? Sandercock really failed to instil passion in the games I saw, not to mention his really cringeworthy moaning and whining to the press every single game before he was told by Hudgell and Peter Roe to shut up. In fact, he's been very very quiet in the close season.

From speaking to 2 Rovers players (one former and one current) they really had no respect for the guy.

As for your point about the new North Stand, in what way will that help with your Salary Cap? You can't fill the ground with NO stand there so why would that attract folk through the gates? Surely playing more attractive rugby, marquee signings and a good marketing strategy would be better, no?

Unless of course it's a quid to get into the North Stand and you get a reacharound from any member of The Saturdays.

NB: Netherton is rumoured to be going to Australia

on holiday??? the ozzies wouldn't put him in the under 15s.....

I thought that. Maybe he's back in Australia.

Drat. He's gone to gazump us on the Prince signing.

A few points to pick you up on there. Do you really expect anyone with half a brain cell to b3elieve a word you say about speaking to our players? Why on earth would they tell a pathetic troll like you that they don't like their boss? Sad sack.

Can you really see no correlation between facilities and gates? I suppose you never noticed your own gates more than double between seasons when moving from the dump to the KC?

To be honest, I don't know why I even bother. You clearly don't have the intellectual capacity to grasp anything approaching reasonable debate. There are 2 clear groups of trolls who frequent this board. Group 1 includes JTP, Mrs B and a few others who, despite being as irritating as an itchy scrotum from time to time, have the ability to raise intelligent points or at least inject some humour. Group 2 includes yourself, FCGimp and many others. The common characteristic here is a total lack of wit, coupled with learning difficulties and possible history of trauma. Our board is your reluctant therapist. Do us a favour and use the Hull to Manchester train instead (or the Humber Bridge, you decide). This will save us from having to reply, and ultimately save the taxpayer a few quid in the process.

well said stan this guy is and alwayes will be a and

well said stan i must be out the loop all these fc fans seem to get to talk to all our players and me a rovers fan cant get to talk to any of them