That's true. But I do think some sort of comms with at least a modicum of realism would be a fair expectation for passholders to have.



As Bombers Double Chin alludes to, it feels like the club's primary function now is just to survive financially with any on-field aspirations coming a poor second. The obvious outlier in this is the academy and reserves where we do seem to be performing well. So how does it all fit together? Some insight would be good IMO.

Survival has to be the only objective for the next few seasons, until a new lease is secured. That’s it in a nutshell

It has to be carefully calibrated because players and agents will hear messages intended for fans.



I’m sure Scott Taylor would have sought to join Hull FC anyway, but that Rovers were very open about entering a period of ‘building for the future’ while Hull FC were spending money to establish themselves in the upper echelons of SL doubtless made his decision easier. Just as Satae may have gone to the south of France, Swift a bit closer to home and Clifford at lot closer to home anyway… but together it makes you think they maybe felt the next couple of years [icould[/i be a bit rocky. Pearson won’t want to reinforce that impression.



As for the comms themselves - if the situation is difficult, a win against Cas might to the spoon full of sugar to help the medicine go down. Or if there’s a rabbit waiting to be pulled out of the hat, it’ll seem all the bigger and the relief will be all the greater if expectations are low.



What Hull have done with the reserves this year is interesting. I’m aware that if I find something interesting I tend to bore folk though.

I hardly ever post now giving my apathy for the club and the game in general but after attending yesterday thanks to a pass holder friend being unable to make it I can see the more things change, the more they stay the same.

FWIW I agree 100% with your post. As Wilf says, with no relegation I think the pragmatic AP will tighten belts to the maximum and look to reduce debt.

He needs to be honest about it though. The fans can all see it happening and don't appreciate his method of mushroom management.

I think the plan is improve the academy and then you in theory have several cheap 1st team players (and a chance in a few years we could sell them on)



But young players are unpredicable theres been many wonderkids who dont make it past being anything other than SL squad players, Tommy Lee for example was once on a 'best young players in the world' list but ended up having a solid but not spectactular career.



I also agree with no relegation the plan will be to save a few quid and if we finish a place or 2 or 3 lower then it doesnt really matter. Our ground and crowds will keep us in SL even if we are dire on the field. Also the game wants clubs to think longer term and develop youth and not just throw cash at panic buy Aussies. Cas for example arent any better for the transfers theye done over the last month, its wasted money.

Don't worry Mrs B, he'll be in touch soon enough with the annual plea to back the boys. While we more than likely will it would be nice if he spoke to us at other times.

How they price the passes will be interesting, there are thousands who are so loyal that theyd renew pretty much whatever the price but some marketing spin of a 'discount' for renewing passholders may help the mood.



Also I think we need to look at moving fans back into the East and South stands, i fail to see the point of having a couple of hundred fans sat in the North stand. Get everyone back in the busy stands for the atmosphere. Also it would mean giving Rovers ths full North stand for the derby to hopefully avoid problems we saw on Good Friday.

New beginnings this time ... no honestly , we really mean it !!!

we cant finish two or three places lower because thats bottom of the league given we are likely to finish this season in tenth.

Sad to say but i think Adam Pearson needs to try and find a new owner with a bit more financial muscle so we have a clean sweep at the top which in my opinion has gone stale.

Hoping that Tony Smith can turn around a sinkling ship with the cash restraints he seems to be under,or that we find a couple of gems from the reserves/academy is just wishful thinking.

You have to think who will be the first to go Smith or Pearson

I meant over the next few years, an average league finish of 6th doesnt generate much more IMG points than 12th, rightly ot wrongly our stadium and fanbase will give us a franchise for years to come.

Your continued anti FC is getting boring. Here you are again sprouting off after a defeat. Funny we never here from you after a win. You post nothing on the Scott Taylor thread? Negativity man himself.

so boring you are always the first to jump on my posts.

You are a stalker you sad little man and by the way its hear not here.

Even your emoji mates now find you tedious.

Why would i post something on the Scott Taylor thread?

Is it mandatory in your small world?

No just fed up or your anti FC stance. Plus S Taylor was a great club servant and thought you might have wanted to comment on that. But no that's not your style is it. A keyboard warrior who probably never goes and never will. Complains about anything and everything.

I don’t want to upset the wokeflakes on here but there seems to be in an built

acceptance of mediocrity across the whole club.

AP is the constant here - I’ve always admired AP for his help at the club and he’s suffered more than any of us has.

He’s the CEO and we’re not performing and he has to take the rap.

If we were a listed company he’d have resigned by 2019.



Then we’ve had abysmal coaches.



I like TS and I fully support his clear out.



The whole Club and many on this board just accept ‘doing ok’

There were so many who refused to have a word said about LR , who was shocking as a coach. We won 2 CCs despite him not because of him.



We need a revolution in Culture - I would argue that the cancer McCrae talked about never really left us and that cancer is ‘small thinking’ - accepting losing as a regular part of the job

Having someone with a bit more financial muscle doesn’t guarantee success….look at Salford in koucash…left them in crap street,why is it wishful thinking about gems from the academy??…licensing with help teams with younger players as it takes away the pressure of relegation,that’s where saints started to build where they are now on the last lot of licensing but doesn’t really matter what people post..you always find a negative.

Like this idea of using New Order song titles for topic headings.



Maybe we could use “Thieves like us” for a topic about Dobbins supporters, “Touched by the hand of God” for a Knocker Norton thread and “True Faith” for when season passes are available.



The Salford home game thread could have been called “Procession”



I’ll get my coat…..

Not one true supporter accepts a “doing ok” attitude but we’re supporters, we buy passes and shirts and travel to away games, it’s what supporters do. What we don’t do is start riots in the streets and set fire to buildings, that’s what people do when life is a frustration and the need for change and resort to revolution. We as supporters grumble but occasionally have ecstatic days, as in 2016/17. To listen to you spouting your vitriol, someone might believe you had a vested interest. One match in 5 years doesn’t make you a supporter and even less an expert on all things FC. Yes AP has to take some of the blame but I’m glad he’s not as fickle as you and others who call themselves supporters.

Best post on here for yonks but wasted as the s will still find a neative

I'm gonna give you "Round and Round" because,

a) it appears the perpetual state of our club and what we have to suffer as a fanbase, like it or not.

b) it's a mighty fine track.

Saw New Order at Tower in 81/82, around the time they released Movement. It was one of the worst gigs I have ever seen in my whole life (and I've stood and watched a few dodgy bands in my time). They were in one of their we-can't-be-bothered-tonight moods. Peter Hook stood with his back to the audience for most of the (short) set.



Conversely, at Manchester Gmex in 1986, they produced a sky-scraping set which painted the heavens, concluding with a version of Temptation which threatened to raze the arena to the ground. I still recall walking out utterly stunned at the power and majesty of what I had just witnessed





That was the thing with New Order, you never quite knew what mood they would be in (archetypal contrary Mancs!!) or what they were about to serve up for your night's entertainment. You paid your money and you took your chance with them!



Any comparisons made between one of the UK's finest ever individualistic bands and a certain RL club not a million miles from here, is purely coincidental, but sometimes like souls find each other.



One thing's for sure, today is definitely a 'Blue Monday' for the faithful on here



And, on that pre-programmed note, I'll get my coat as well

I was involved in promoting them on their next visit to Hull at the City Hall on 16-08-84 pretty long set too. I seem to remember I enjoyed it. I guess as far as FC are concerned we have to have 'True Faith' ....... I'll join you

Talking about Manc bands I thought I was hearing things when they played "This Charming Man" by The Smiths during the half time play list

Got to be 5 8 6. Our wins, draws and losses after the first 19 games next season.

I want a "Bizarre Love Triangle".

I can think of one poster on here who would adequately fit the bill.

I'm struggling to think of a third.....



☆Just had a revisit, that intro is still banging like.

Yeah, I was there for that one as well. Think it was around the time of 'Thieves Like Us' if I recall.



Can't remember too much of the night (39 years ago, my God!!!), but seem to recall they were in a far more relaxed mood than they had been that night at Tower. Mind you, who wasn't in a bad mood when they were unfortunate enough to be spending an evening at The Tower (not exactly the finest advert for the fair city!).



They were my favourite band throughout the eighties and saw them numerous times during the decade in various places. Like I said earlier, you were never sure what would happen with them from gig to gig, usually dependent on their mood.



I think they relaxed a bit post Blue Monday as people began to view them as a band in their own right as opposed to the oppressive weight of being Joy Division part 2 in a lot of people's eyes.



Like the True Faith quip, nice one, God knows the patience of some us on here is being sorely tested this week!!!