So, that's 2009 over.



We finished with a flourish but history will record a very poor season. Here are a few questions that have sprung to mind:



[listAre we any happier with Steve as coach for 2010?

Has the recent run of games proved anything about his ability to manage the team and motivate them?

What should be a realistic goal for next season?[/list:u

Sounds harsh but our play off charge should be totally discounted.



Serious questions should be asked as to how a team that according to our management has been working to a full cap has been able to finish outside what can only be described as a pathetic playoff system, we should have been 3 places away not one.

im reasonably happy for steve to at least start the season as coach. If we start poorly then we should make a change after easter and allow a new coach time to assess squad before making signings. no point making a change now as signings for next season are already done.

I think last few weeks have shown that macca can motivate the squad. we've seen a much more cohesive and motivated squad playing for each other the last few weeks. Cant help wondering if its a coincidence that the upturn in form came at the same time as newtons injury ( is it just me or hasnt he been at the club since his injury? seen solo on pitch during warm ups but no sign of terry).

Think next year target should be a return to top 4, although top 6 may be more realistic aim.

I think that missing out on the play-offs should mean the axe is hanging over the head of McNamara. It's a huge black mark against him. And if 2010 starts in a similar fashion to 2009 then he really can't expect anything other than to be shown the door. It's great that we've put together a run of 5 wins when the pressure has been off (yes it HAS been off, before the run started we could only mathmatically make the play-offs) but it seems we can't maintain that sort of form across a season.



I hope next year is different but I can't honestly say I believe it will be as once again we've a large turn over of players. No club can expect to be consistant with wholesale team changes year on year. I mean look at Leeds and Saints. They've been the top 2 for the last 3 years and they never seem to have more than 3 new players a season. We were the same during the recent glory years. You can't bring in half a team and expect them to gel straight away.



Now, there's still the rumour over the back room staff being given their cards at the end of the year. Now, you have to wonder with that, is it because the club is clearing the decks for a new man to take the head job? A new man who'll want to bring his own coaching staff and ideas to the club?



I hate to be negative, I hate to kick the team when it's down. But something has to be done between now and Feb, otherwise this club will start circling the drain. We're already down on crowds. Without some catalystic event I can't see those crowds coming back. The clubs main hope seems to be getting the OSV built, which I'm sure we're all still hoping comes off, and yes, a new stadium would I think bring back the crowds at least on a short term basis. But if we can't hook those people into coming each week then it'll be for naught

I thought the winning run provided some evidence that the team is capable of performing to a certain level on a reasonably consistent basis. We didnt look world beaters but its at least a platform on which to build. If we hadnt had that run we would effectively be starting from scatch for next year.



Players such as Halley, Nero, Scruton and Godwin have grown in stature as a result of the run, Langley showed a return to form. We also now know that Sykes best position is anywhere but centre and, whisper, Platt might make a decent centre.



We'll definitely go into next season better for having the run.

Platt was excellent last night - good defence throughout, including covering the short kick that had Sykes out of position, great clean break and good support in other instances. What's often overlooked is that he's also strong as well as having pace - he's just not a fullback. I'd be happy to see him being given a run at Centre next year. I think it's about time people got off his back and I'll be very disappointed if people stick to giving him flack at the start of next year. He's earned a fresh start.

I have actually quite enjoyed this season. It has definitely never been boring. In the end, we got about what we deserved but IMO the signs are encouraging for next season. Better to end the season on a 5 game winning streak than a losing one surely?



And I for one didn't expect them to put together a 3 match winning run, never mind 5, so something has definitely improved!



Let's see how it pans out next year.

Really? I thought you had money freed up from Bird not signing?

To be fair you were missing Bird who should have been in the squad and Solomona for most of the season. Had they not been unavailable you would have won a crop of matches you only just lost and made the playoffs easy. Had they both not been in the squad as the plan for the season you could have invested in top quality replacements for the season.

how miserable did both coaches look last night! I think both know its a bad start to the season and they're off down the job centre. If relegation was still here I reckon both would have gone months ago to be honest. Neither club would have risked going down.

I'm resigned to McNamara being coach.



The recent run has proved we ought to be able to do better than we did in the 1st half of the season. I'm still doubtful about whether we can become more consistent.



Goal for next season? Depends on the ins and outs. But I'd say we're looking at somewhere between 7th and 10th again.

Happier? Not at all, the wins we have put together have bought McNamara some more time and as others have said we're stuck with him next season.



When interviewed about the run we were putting together the only comments he had were that our luck had changed, not that he's adjusted any tactics because things weren't working, he just seemed happy to keep playing as we were and hope something happened.



At the end of the day it has been a terrible season and it's embarrassing that we haven't made the playoffs, yes we haven't got the best squad at the moment and we are re-building but that squad should of comfortably made it to the playoffs.

We're not the first team to not make the play offs and we won't be the last. We have no automatic right to be there.



We'll have to see who comes & goes and what the team are looking like after a few games.