Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Mon Jun 03, 2013 1:18 pm  

Fawcett was good at times, just had butterfingers. Basnett was solid but slow and a big letdown for a major signing. I used to like stormin' Norman as I watched him in the Colts. I can't really defend Pat Mitchell and Eddie Rombo though. Although Mitchell did score a touchline conversion once.

Back on topic, at some point Leeds will need to make some tough decisions about older players. They did that with both Senior and Lauti'iti. It just feels at the moment as though they are desperately trying to put them off, instead of biting the bullet and drawing a line under some players' time at Leeds. Wanting to keep a true great like JP as long as possible is understandable, but the re-signing of Kirke (and to an extent Leuluai) seems a bit odd to me.

GH was plainly unhappy with league form last year, fifth was definitely not his target, and I don't think he'll be at all pleased if this season fades to nothing. I wouldn't be surprised if he made some big moves - in and out - at the end of the year if it does go pear-shaped.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Mon Jun 03, 2013 1:41 pm  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

Back on topic, at some point Leeds will need to make some tough decisions about older players. They did that with both Senior and Lauti'iti.

Senior's move was precipitated by his serious injury, Webb and Lauiti'ti's by their perceived fragility and inability to string a run of games together.

Perhaps the same may happen with McGuire, but unless something similar happens to the likes of Sinfield and Burrow I think they are going to be allowed to determine their own retirement dates.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Mon Jun 03, 2013 3:43 pm  

unlucky 13 wrote:

We need a coach with fresh ideas and one that will keep a professional distance from certain key players and will be prepared to drop ANY player that is not performing .

Tony Smith's first act in charge of team selection at Leeds was to axe Francis Cummins for the opening game of the 2004 season.

It was merited - should have happened a long time before IMO - but I think Smith would have done it regardless if only for the message it sent out - it ended a run of 179 consecutive Cummins selections dating back to the the rump end of 1998 and included five complete seasons under three different coaches.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Jun 04, 2013 11:34 am  

I come in peace.

From an outsider looking in Leeds looked beat up and tired on Friday and have for the last few games I've seen on sky. That said the quality of players on Leeds roster is not in question and hopefully for you guys and BM (who I like as a coach) this exiles break can freshen things up for the players not involved and help you get a few bodies back.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Jun 04, 2013 11:50 am  

major black wrote:

I come in peace.

From an outsider looking in Leeds looked beat up and tired on Friday and have for the last few games I've seen on sky. That said the quality of players on Leeds roster is not in question and hopefully for you guys and BM (who I like as a coach) this exiles break can freshen things up for the players not involved and help you get a few bodies back.

I thought we looked good against Wigan but the other games have been poor.

Not all Leeds fans are running around screaming in blind panic, this time last year wigan put 50 on us at headingley, we are out of form and carrying a few knocks that's all, we certainly are not favorites to win it again just now but I imagine we will be putting up a good fight when the play offs start.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Jun 04, 2013 12:09 pm  

Tony Soprano wrote:

I thought we looked good against Wigan but the other games have been poor.

Not all Leeds fans are running around screaming in blind panic, this time last year wigan put 50 on us at headingley, we are out of form and carrying a few knocks that's all, we certainly are not favorites to win it again just now but I imagine we will be putting up a good fight when the play offs start.

I think in patches you've been pretty good in all the games i've seen, which is why I think a lot of it is fatigue and players playing with knocks which I think Danny Maguire pointed out after the Wigan game. Without a doubt you'll be up there come end of season. I just hope we're in the mix too but having watched Hull for thirty years you'll probably hear the bubble burst from where your sat.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:24 pm  

McGuire was correct to speak out after the Wigan game. The squad has been high in quality but low in numbers from the outset, couple that with a coach who is reluctant to go much beyond his first choice fifteen - let alone outside the seventeen the collapse of human bodies was an inevitability without extreme good fortune. It's been a car crash waiting to happen, IMO.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Jun 04, 2013 2:03 pm  

With regard to ageing players warrington look to be in a similar position to us.
Over at hull they have signed a young scrum half from Australia , be interesting to see how that works out on the basis if he has potential how come they are letting him go. Peter Gentle is no mug so they may come up trumps.
Both Gary Hethrington and Brian Mac are in for some testing times and decisions in the next few months in re vamping our squad.
Hopefully it will be cometh the hour cometh the man or men as the case may be. It least they will have the backing of everybody on this site. Good grief I have just witnessed a flying formation of pigs.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Jun 04, 2013 5:05 pm  

The problem is that these "hard decisions" aren't being taken, and haven't been for the last couple of years.

Instead of building from a strong position, the CEO is content to wait until the wheels come off before trying to fix the wagon.

Re: For the live of God,Allah or whoever-McDermott GO!!! : Tue Jun 04, 2013 6:33 pm  

Brisbane Rhino ,

Why is the re-signing of Kirk strange , he is a consistently good performer and has been for a number of years despite pathetic ramblings of some on here and certainly in a salary capped era represents good value for the wage he is on .