Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 11:18 am  

Seth wrote:

Hang on Jim, you yourself have got a bit twitchy lately, and without a ball kicked yet let's see how we go at the start of next season before proclaiming all is fixed. Commenting on what's been currently going on ie finishing 8th and some awful performances (even accounting for disruption) warrants critique. And theres still a lot of ifs around recruitment.

It still stands that RSs approach (or what was evident on the field) was pretty erratic with ethos/playing style jumping around.

If it all comes together next season we will all be happy I'm sure but it doesn't invalidate assessing this year for what it has been. Being crap and having some poorly managed squad issues and having a good year next year aren't mutually exclusive.

This year has been terrible, but my whole point about giving RS more time was that I think there were far too many factors that went into the bad year to judge him and GH on. Some their fault but others not, it just wasn’t a normal year in any sense IMO.

I think RS has a plan and I hope the club stick with it, and I hope the squad next year can get some consistency and be challenging and entertaining. I’d hate us to olay Like a team like Saints have this year all intensity in defence and poor attack, a mix of both and ill be happy.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 12:03 pm  

I think Jim has got a bit over-excited at one good signing.
Still a lot to do before we really compete with the top 3.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 12:35 pm  

We can’t ignore last year, it also can’t be said the club is resting on its laurels. The proof will be in the start to next season.

The club seems to have learnt/done what is within its power to fix the squad assuming the much rumoured signings come off. That puts pressure on smith to get it right. If I’m trying to be optimistic I would hope smith, as a rookie coach, will have learnt a lot last year and hopefully won’t make the same mistakes again.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 12:39 pm  

I think some of you are knee jerk merchants and mercilessly negative.

It’s not like I haven’t been critical of the club in certain areas.

Give it a rest? For real? Some of you have been a broken record all year about your various complaints and grievances.

RS has repeatedly said all year that recruitment and retention is an ongoing thing. Signings like Momirovski have been months in the making. Some of you guys are plain wrong and you can’t take having it pointed out and then you try to bully.

I really couldn’t give a monkeys if you don’t like it. I respect some of you for your rugby knowledge and we all pay our dues and are entitled to an opinion.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 12:51 pm  

Last year there was simply no way we could make the quality of signings we look like doing until now. We needed a number of our highest paid, underperforming players to go to make room under the cap. It's taken two off-seasons but that was always going to be the minimum with players under contract.

We definitely need a Croft-style halfback, but looking at our squad we are really short at prop as well. We've only got two props who are genuine starting players, and only one other out-and-out prop with experience in Lisone. The jury's out on Sangare, Hudson hasn't played SL (and hasn't been confirmed by the club?), and Goudemand looks like a solid bench forward but no way a starting prop.

I think everyone can see that Smith made a number of mistakes this season, but a lot of what's gone on was also down to the huge turnover we've seen in just over a season. His problem now is that he really has to get us firing early or the knives will be out. He can't afford to wait half the season for players to gel after what happened this year.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 12:53 pm  

Fans complain when bad decisions are made
Fans are happy when good decisions are made

It really makes you think.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 1:30 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I think some of you are knee jerk merchants and mercilessly negative.

It’s not like I haven’t been critical of the club in certain areas.

Give it a rest? For real? Some of you have been a broken record all year about your various complaints and grievances.

RS has repeatedly said all year that recruitment and retention is an ongoing thing. Signings like Momirovski have been months in the making. Some of you guys are plain wrong and you can’t take having it pointed out and then you try to bully.

I really couldn’t give a monkeys if you don’t like it. I respect some of you for your rugby knowledge and we all pay our dues and are entitled to an opinion.

Given the diabolical season we have just had, I think fans have every right to be negative.
A club the size of Leeds, spending up to the cap, should not be putting the kind of performances that we have. Never mind finishing 8th.
One good signing simply doesn't erase that.
It's very much a step in the right direction but still 2 or 3 good recruits needed for me.
And of course, a good start to next season, or Smith is in trouble.
That's not negative, it's just a fact of professional sport.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:17 pm  

tomlufc wrote:

Fans complain when bad decisions are made
Fans are happy when good decisions are made

It really makes you think.

Fans just complain full stop. A bit like people.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:32 pm  

Simmo71 wrote:

Given the diabolical season we have just had, I think fans have every right to be negative.
A club the size of Leeds, spending up to the cap, should not be putting the kind of performances that we have. Never mind finishing 8th.
One good signing simply doesn't erase that.
It's very much a step in the right direction but still 2 or 3 good recruits needed for me.
And of course, a good start to next season, or Smith is in trouble.
That's not negative, it's just a fact of professional sport.

I don’t disagree with this on the whole Simmo. Of course nobody is happy with 8th - least of whom RS, the players who break bones for our entertainment and everyone else actually at the club.

It isn’t just one good signing though is it? Miller, Frawley, Momirovski are all decent for what we needed. I’m not having kittens about them either, but they are progress. We have clearly been prepared to pay £200-300k for Croft to sort 6 out. If we don’t sign him I can only imagine the meltdown on here but you can’t question the intention.

Being critical is fine if it’s based on facts, but the club HAS had an eye on recruitment constantly; they ARE prepared to pay money. I’d criticise their judgement over 8 years or so now but they have generally been trying. Many of the criticisms and negativity at the club on here are just plain wrong I’m sorry.

I fundamentally disagree it is a “shambles” of a club like several on here have been posting this year. It is a great club you should be proud of: our recruitment has been a shocker for a long time and for once we have a coach who seems to be trying to sort it out. The club is backing him financially.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:35 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

Fans just complain full stop. A bit like people.

I think as fans we’re just impatient sometimes.

The problem with being Leeds fans after the last few years is any patience will have worn thin, but it’s pointless looking backwards we are unfortunately part way through a major rebuild, the previous’rebuilds’ weren’t really rebuilds it seemed to always be short term planning and it papered over the cracks, I fully believe we are on the right track now but unfortunately it’s not going to be a quick fix, we will be better next year though and I think we’ll start to get our identity back, we also shouldn’t be panicking a few games into the season if we aren’t quite firing on all cylinders. I just want to see some entertaining rugby but also I really want ti see us being smarter and skill levels higher.

Also.l agree with Jim we aren’t a shambles of a club, far from it.