That Was The Season That Was : Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:44 am  

Now its over, what do we think? Some messages on the T & A particularly seem to be of disappointment at the season just ended. My own feeling is that its probably been an O.K. Season ( no pun intended!) If I think back just over a year ago, delighted that we had a season to look forward to, along with a club to support. If I think back to say April disappointed we didn't make the eight. However with the wafer thin squad we had, we were always going to come up against it when injuries hit. So why should anyone be surprised?

Best/Worst memories
Leeds and Huddersfield away best memories
London away (Cup) London home league worst memories.
Most frustrating result - Wigan away, Catalan at home
Silver lining. - development of some juniors. Would they have got the chance with a stronger squad - probably not. The experience gained is now banked for them,
High Spot - watching Sammut when on top form Low spot frustrating watching Sammut when not on top form!
Wish for next twelve months - No financial crises

So for me, an O.K. season. Can't wait for a couple or more signings. Can't wait for the Dewsbury friendly in the depths of February, the onto the new season. Optimism once more, but always COYB

Re: That Was The Season That Was : Tue Sep 10, 2013 10:46 am  

BeechwoodBull wrote:

Now its over, what do we think? Some messages on the T & A particularly seem to be of disappointment at the season just ended. My own feeling is that its probably been an O.K. Season ( no pun intended!) If I think back just over a year ago, delighted that we had a season to look forward to, along with a club to support. If I think back to say April disappointed we didn't make the eight. However with the wafer thin squad we had, we were always going to come up against it when injuries hit. So why should anyone be surprised?

Best/Worst memories
Leeds and Huddersfield away best memories
London away (Cup) London home league worst memories.
Most frustrating result - Wigan away, Catalan at home
Silver lining. - development of some juniors. Would they have got the chance with a stronger squad - probably not. The experience gained is now banked for them,
High Spot - watching Sammut when on top form Low spot frustrating watching Sammut when not on top form!
Wish for next twelve months - No financial crises

So for me, an O.K. season. Can't wait for a couple or more signings. Can't wait for the Dewsbury friendly in the depths of February, the onto the new season. Optimism once more, but always COYB

Summoned up very well I would agree with most of that

Re: That Was The Season That Was : Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:24 am  

I predicted 10th pre-season then Cummins went and spoiled it all by taking us to 3rd and getting me all giddy.

More lows than highs for mine overall.

Some include the two defeats to London at home and in the Cup, taking only a point from a draw away and a loss at home to Widnes (exactly like Salford in 2012). Not learning quickly enough when it came to certain plays and pretty much any strong running left second row; Manu, Farrell, Taia, Hock to name four that really stood out. Some of the brainfarts the new board have brought to our attention.

Being surprised at Sidlow and Blythe is a highlight to me. The genuine electricity of anticipation of Sammut, the progress each player seems to have genuinely made. More to follow as they stream into my conciousness. Stay tuned kids.

[Bullseye]

Re: That Was The Season That Was : Tue Sep 10, 2013 11:56 am  

All in all I’d say this season ended how I expected at that start given our weaker squad in comparison with 2012. I’ve mixed feelings about it. On the one hand we put in some good performances and played some very attractive rugby. On the other we lost or drew some very winnable games which cost us a play off place. Reasons to be cheerful? We have the makings of a good team that when it’s fit and in form can compete with anyone. Our young players look promising and we have some more ready to come through. Next season I hope we avoid any further financial problems and continue to build. It’ll be harder as I expect the likes of Salford and Cas to improve. We need to do the same.

Re: That Was The Season That Was : Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:13 pm  

You expect Cas to improve? Why?
They've just sold the heartbeat of their side who will very tough to replace. They've brought in Luke Dorn and are rumoured to be after Brett Seymour - hardly the same calibre as Mr Chase.
If those kind of recruits are the club's answer to Chase's departure then no, they will not improve one bit.
Their one saving grace might be Powell, but he can only do so much with the squad he currently has.

In my opinion

Re: That Was The Season That Was : Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:27 pm  

I agree with everything on here so far

Wonder who will be the first to start talking crap, my money's on Biffa

But yes,agreed 9th is a tad disappointing again but did we really expect any different

As long as there is no more financial dramas in next 12 month I expect us to move up a place or 2,some good signings for next season

Re: That Was The Season That Was : Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:38 pm  

So I thought I'd throw in a bucket full of stats to shock and amaze the RAB collective; the first are Bulls v SL, the second are Bulls v Bulls.

Points for - 11th
Points against - 8th
Tackles - 5th
Missed tackles - 2nd
Tackle busts - 8th
Metres - 7th
Gain - =12th
Clean breaks - 11th
Dummy half runs - 1st
Errors - 6th
Goals - 6th
Missed goals - 13th (or 2nd best)
Offloads - 1st
Penalties - 9th (big improvement since earlier in the season)

Now the other bit
Year . W . D . L . Fr . Ag . +/- . Pos
2009 . 12 . 1 . 14 . 653 . 668 . -15 . 9
2010 . 9 . 1 . 17 . 528 . 728 . -200 . 10
2011 . 9 . 2 . 16 . 570 . 826 . -256 . 10
2012 . 14 . 1 . 12 . 633 . 756 . -123 . 9
2013 . 10 . 2 . 15 . 640 . 658 . -18 . 9

So in short our best defensive display since 14 teams and missing the play offs, and our 2nd best attack since ... signs of improvement. It just so happens many other teams really racked up the points it pushes us down the rankings. So work to be done in attack and some better defence and we'll be reet.

Spiffing.

Re: That Was The Season That Was : Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:45 pm  

Surprised at us being top for offloads.

[Bullseye]

Re: That Was The Season That Was : Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:47 pm  

Nothus wrote:

You expect Cas to improve? Why?
They've just sold the heartbeat of their side who will very tough to replace. They've brought in Luke Dorn and are rumoured to be after Brett Seymour - hardly the same calibre as Mr Chase.
If those kind of recruits are the club's answer to Chase's departure then no, they will not improve one bit.
Their one saving grace might be Powell, but he can only do so much with the squad he currently has.

In my opinion

Actually I think you may be right. I reckon Powell having a full season with them has got to be beneficial. How much that will be cancelled out with the loss of Chase I’m not sure. He was the hub of their team. Not having Millward around is bound to help. I certainly don’t expect Cas to be any worse than this season is probably what I meant! They’re not unlike ourselves. Small squad, small number of quality players with a few promising youngsters and steady eddies, look good in attack but poor in defence.

Re: That Was The Season That Was : Tue Sep 10, 2013 2:47 pm  

nice stats hindle.

the bulls v bulls shows the successive improvement over the last two years in points difference, and that it was due to both points for improving and points against reducing in both years. We ended up pretty much at break even which in most years would mean a playoff spot. So if that trend continues we should be there or thereabouts next year.

In my opinion the fact that FC has been able to be a part of that improvement in points for and against shows he is a good coach. We have a core to the team that have played together for several years now, and with the additions for next season I expect the trend to continue, finances and injuries permitting. The year two squad is very much more his, and with an improved pack I expect to see some good rugby and some good wins. And that we will be 1st for offloads again.