Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:44 pm  

I think reacting to 6 years of underperforming and bad decisions, and the best part of 27 games this year without really managing an 80 minute performance of note could only be described at most as a very slow knee jerk. No we're not a shambles of a club but absolutely the management of the first team has been a shambles for some time and understandably people need to see results and more important recruitment to follow to feel the recovery is heading the right way.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:45 pm  

As one of the louder questioning voices, I concur that it’s because of the recent years of papering over the gaping holes we had. Of course we can get back to the top, of course we should do it with mostly in house produced juniors, but the frustration was pretty much solely down to how badly we've done at turning juniors into fully fledged first teamers for a number of years. It seems we’re now sorting that out, and working on much better quality signings to complement the kids, so we’re heading back to the right track.

The last year of such confusing and lacklustre play really didn’t help, but let’s hope that’s behind us now.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:49 pm  

People were accused of knee jerking after 10-12 games though the trajectory continued the same way. The jerking was pretty accurate.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 2:51 pm  

I think this season was exactly what we needed - bear with me

We may look at 2023 as a huge turning point, players being cleared out, players leaving, on field performances showing exactly where we need to change, Management showing some intent, huge investment through sponsorship.

It’s pointless looking back going over where errors have been made, it really does look like the club have recognised it and are trying to not make them again.

The upward curve has to start somewhere and I believe this nightmare season will be the fuel that starts that.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 3:05 pm  

Absolutely, let's look forward and I hope you're right that this is the turning point. The key piece that remains from last year is RS and last year shows he's a lot to prove and to learn. I hope he does, I do like him but I feel he needs a more pragmatic approach to his utopia of how the game should be played.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 3:09 pm  

Seth wrote:

Absolutely, let's look forward and I hope you're right that this is the turning point. The key piece that remains from last year is RS and last year shows he's a lot to prove and to learn. I hope he does, I do like him but I feel he needs a more pragmatic approach to his utopia of how the game should be played.

I do hope they try sort the ruck out for next season, if they just started penalising teams for laying and messing around it would help, keep 6 agains for ‘hands on the ball’ and offside at marker, anything else penalise it, players are not making the slightest attempt to clear the ruck, its ugly.

But as you say if it doesn’t change Smith is going to have to deal with it.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 3:15 pm  

christopher wrote:

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.

We are far from a shambles of a club and I've never thought we were. What I always keep in mind when I come on here is that it is in no way representative of the opinions I hear when talking to fans at games. Lots of posters obviously tend to watch games on the box (when the game isn't on TV comments are massively reduced) and I think that is a far more negative way to watch sport. Just looking at John Wilkin gets me annoyed. I watch most of my rugby live and I tend to leave most of my frustration at the game and certainly by the time I'm home. For all that I enjoy most of the debate, but if were inclined to depression or suffered with my mental health I would give this place a wide birth. I suspect even if we won the league next year there would be a higher proportion of negativity vs positivity. That's just the way of the forum.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 3:21 pm  

ArthurClues wrote:

We are far from a shambles of a club and I've never thought we were. What I always keep in mind when I come on here is that it is in no way representative of the opinions I hear when talking to fans at games. Lots of posters obviously tend to watch games on the box (when the game isn't on TV comments are massively reduced) and I think that is a far more negative way to watch sport. Just looking at John Wilkin gets me annoyed. I watch most of my rugby live and I tend to leave most of my frustration at the game and certainly by the time I'm home. For all that I enjoy most of the debate, but if were inclined to depression or suffered with my mental health I would give this place a wide birth. I suspect even if we won the league next year there would be a higher proportion of negativity vs positivity. That's just the way of the forum.

TBF the majority on here are good eggs, there’s only a few that seem to either be trolling or get personal.

I find Twitter to be worse than on here, Im not sure why I continue on it, its a bin fire, the Leeds Facebook page is also on another level for negativity I stopped looking on there ages ago, some of it is downright nasty

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 3:21 pm  

Sensible comments here: I just think RS is absolutely no mug and has really had to sweep a broom through. He’s not afraid to stand up to players and I think that’s right. He can actually be quite ruthless under the calm exterior; look at who he has moved on.

I get the frustration with our lack of structure last year but the side was in tatters for the final third. Even players like Nene were not playing the ball correctly over and over at the beginning of the year.

That’s not a coaching issue it’s a concentration and quality issue of the player.

My point has always been that we are not really in a position to judge RS’s full coaching chops from last year. We will be in 2024 and let’s see what he brings - I hope some will be pleasantly surprised and that I won’t be car cleaning all year, I have skin in the game.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sat Oct 07, 2023 3:26 pm  

I hope RS proves me right also as I think he’s a good fit for the club and where its at

I think a few ayers let him down last year, thankfully they’re gone