That's a blow

[glemiln]

Losing 15-16 by shipping 2 tries in last 10 minutes!  Sustained defence continues to be our problem and, as posted elsewhere, we are not ruthless (or not yet capable) in racking up points against the weaker teams (Swinton 60pts v Gloucester away today) -  both could cost us dearly in the final analysis. The next 4 fixtures will be interesting!  How did Mignacca and the (3?) Saints players on duty perform?

[Pedro]

A poor performance. Lots of silly errors in both attack and defence. A bit like the Oldham game in that after 15 minutes we stopped playing. Missed Tony Suffolk when he went off injured early in the game. Mike Ratu also injured late on. Fluffed a few chances on attack. A disappointing display in a match  which Thunder just about deserved to win. In the second half Thunder No 10 Mexico? was a class act.

[Beetlebum]

'A blow' is an understatement. We were woeful after a promising first 20 mins. Devoid of ideas going forward, particularly close to their line, full of individual errors, and we couldn't defend our line when they were 20 metres out (we were very lucky they had one chalked off for a forward pass and dropped it on our line a couple of times). It's so hard to pull out positives from this performance, and I wouldn't be too concerned if it was a one off, but it's not.

 

I've seen us against Swinton, Oldham and Newcastle this season, and all three times we've been awful. We appear to have a great team on paper, Bridge and Yates seemed like brilliant signings, but something isn't clicking and something's not right. The team don't look like they have a plan beyond 5 drives and a kick, and when Crook leaves the field we look even more devoid of ideas and direction. Fair enough, today we lost Suffolk early doors and Mignacca had to come off injured too, but we had 3 Saints players on the field today, and we still didn't look like scoring despite having the majority of possession, particularly at the back end of the first half. Their number 10 Mexico destroyed us and we had no answer. I think one forward broke a tackle which lead to Langley's try, and that was it. No go forward at all. The amount of awful passed thrown about the field by Crook, Yates and Smith was impressive too, halting any momentum we had frequently.

 

I'm struggling to say anything positive about the team after today and the other performances I've witnessed this season, with the exception that when Bloomfield actually touches the ball he looks great, and Langley has done a good job filling in at fullback, kicker, and in his usually position on the wing today. 

 

To add to this, when I voiced my distain for the performance put in today, I was shouted at by one of our directors. When I explained that I pay money and I have an opinion, which I reserve the right to voice in whatever manner I like as long it's not abusive or offensive, he got quite irate and started shouting me down about supporting the team. I walked away, not wanting to get involved in something which would have been fruitless, only for him to shout 'you're an idiot' at me as I walked away. This is not the way for a director and representative of OUR club, put there by us to represent Rochdale Hornets. I admire the passion in the people that have put themselves forward to run this club in the wake of the new start, but they need to learn to hold their tongues and act like directors and representatives of the club whilst retaining that passion. Yes, they may still view themselves as 'punters' like us, but they need to remember that the club that we all love are not immune from criticism when we, the fans and financial supporters of the club, feel like things aren't going well. I was sorely disappointed, and will not be sitting with this group again for fear that any criticism will lead to more arguing.

 

Anyway, rant over. I sincerely hope that the club can turn around the indifferent performances I've seen this season (I didn't see the Barrow game, granted, but this appears to be a one off), be it with this system or another before it's too late to ensure we make those play off places come September. 

[ormskirknet]

Are you brave enough to name director

bettlebum?

Sounds a bit harsh if the treatment you say you received is true. My view is the club (coach, players and staff) take the plaudits when we win, they've also got to be prepared to take the stick when it's as disappointing as today was.

We all get behind the team that's why we Turn up, buy tickets and hope for the best, sometimes we are entitled to some harsh words (within reason of course) perhaps those same harsh words should be shared internally and excepted within reason, we are all desperately disappointed. We can't just sit there clapping and cheering like we don't care when things aren't so good.

How the hell does the director in question expect the fans to react when we put in performances like today. To be fair I'm sure the director in question was just as gutted as we were, but calling a fellow Hornet an idiot isn't the way, we are a club of equals aren't we, we are all the same and want the same.

Felt like Groundhog Day for me, my last match was the Oldham game so didn't see the by all accounts good performance v Barrow. Thunder were a bloody horrible big lump of a spoiling team, which with a bit of composure and brains should have been cannon fodder for us, despite the injuries we started to wrack up.

So many positives early on and we conspire to beat ourselves yet again.

I'm not going to go on I've posted plenty already.

Long hard season ahead me thinks but it won't stop me supporting, getting behind the team whatever you want to call it, we complain because we care, we get disappointed because we want the best for the team and club.

That doesn't make us idiots

[Beetlebum]

I don't think there's any need to name them, I just wanted to highlight that that kind of behaviour from a director isn't acceptable, regardless of how passionate they may be. I have brought it up with the club and will leave it at that. 

 

I will not stop supporting the team, I completely agree with you Ormskirknet when you say 'we complain because we care, we get disappointed because we want the best for the team and the club'...we are allow to voice disappointment and we are allowed to call out a poor performance if we see it - I don't do it often and would not like to make a habit of it, but the start of this season has me frustrated and worried about the rest of the games to come.

 

If Yates, Charnock, Crook and Bridge (who I think should be doing to other teams what Mexico did to us today), can click and we can get it out to our wingers more often, we should do ok, but at the moment we don't look like being able to put together a consistent 80 min performance. 

[Neophyte Hornet]

Wow i enjoyed that game,

Tough game for us against a unknown team,

very physical and to come down to only 1 point was unfortunate,

 

I could see our lads moving the ball across field looking for gaps, and they gave it their all,

they looked very dejected at the end and exhausted...

Definitely had more than enough talent to beat them but few rough tackles took out a few big players.

 

Not feeling too disheartened, we are playing as a team now and just need polishing up

 

Heads Up

and #StingEmHornets

[mickhornet]

Thats the way it goes sometimes,We lost this game and the Oldham game in the last 5 minutes.Otherwise we would have been top.Lots of time yet.Its a pity the electronic clock was done away with by the football club.It may have concentrated the teams mind more.

Looking forward to Coventry. Come on Hornets!!

[Hornetto]

TBH, I'd rather be where we are than where North Wales are.

[PooingDog]

I've never been overly fond of Wrexham either.

[Heywood Tiger]

I think we have potentially the best back line in the league, our front row can look good as well when we don't pick back rowers and stand offs there! Without Suffolk running the channels the 11-13 don't offer much imo. I reckon I could pick a harder working and more aggressive and incisive 3 from the local amateur sides tbh. Then the pivots are very hit and miss, neither dominant nor exciting. Plus I was pretty disappointed to see the Saints fringe in the 17, not sure what they offer that the squad players don't. I still think theirs a winning side in that squad maybe minus a 7...