: Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:43 pm  

G1 wrote:

Those efforts having failed to come to fruition was the squad good enough nonetheless, even relying on the youngsters we have? Yes.

Good enough to compete at a reasonable level? Yes

Good enough to defend the WCC? No
Good enough to win a home tie in the Challenge Cup in 2009? Apparently not.
Good enough to win the League Leaders shield? Perhaps.
Good enough to retain the SL Title? Let's hope so.

Your past position has been that the squad have been poorly coached at times, while I agree with that he has also been denied enough 1st team options.

Somewhere between the two could be the truth.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:45 pm  

tvoc wrote:

If this is such a golden period for the club why is it the case that the Challenge Cup has not resided in the Leeds trophy cabinet since 1999?

No offence but that seems a little picky. We have won the bigger prize 3 times since then. A Challenge Cup win would be nice, don't get me wrong, and the exit to Saints was disappointing this year, but I don't think it alters the view that the last 5 or 6 years have been among the most successful in the club's history.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:51 pm  

El Diablo wrote:

No offence but that seems a little picky. We have won the bigger prize 3 times since then. A Challenge Cup win would be nice, don't get me wrong, and the exit to Saints was disappointing this year, but I don't think it alters the view that the last 5 or 6 years have been among the most successful in the club's history.

A club of Leeds current strength should be expecting to pick up a CC more often than once in 11 years. Name another club that has had the relative strength for a 6+ year period and failed to land a CC.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:04 pm  

Gotcha wrote:

Personally I think the poster was right to say we would have been in a stronger position. There is games we would have won.

However, that said, I do think you have been vindicated in what you have said all season, about the current squad been good enough to do the job required.

Perhaps a more fairer indication would have been had we been missing as many players as Saints are now. Would that have made a difference?

Thank you. That is all I am saying. Im not saying we'd have been unbeaten i'm just saying I feel we would have been in an even stronger position than we are now which may i add is in no way a poor one. I just feel we could have done better and really dominate at the top this season. Apologies if i want too much. So stop going off on on G1 !!

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:06 pm  

finglas wrote:

A club of Leeds current strength should be expecting to pick up a CC more often than once in 11 years. Name another club that has had the relative strength for a 6+ year period and failed to land a CC.

Agreed. I'd sooner us be champs though than challenge cup winners if i had to chose one - but we should have won more. Hull fc final springs to mind although - the senior injury was a key one in that game

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:14 pm  

rpw wrote:

Agreed. I'd sooner us be champs though than challenge cup winners if i had to chose one - but we should have won more. Hull fc final springs to mind although - the senior injury was a key one in that game

And the decision not to play McDermott.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:14 pm  

BigRob wrote:

And the decision not to play McDermott.

Yep agreed.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:36 pm  

BigRob wrote:

And the decision not to play McDermott.

Agree, Hull had a big powerful pack at the time so Tony Smith decided to push JJB upto prop during the game.

The week before we played Bradford though IIRC, and Barrie had by far his worst performance in a Leeds shirt - he was terrible, this may have had some bearing on TS's decision.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:42 pm  

LEEDSLEADS. wrote:

Agree, Hull had a big powerful pack at the time so Tony Smith decided to push JJB upto prop during the game.

The week before we played Bradford though IIRC, and Barrie had by far his worst performance in a Leeds shirt - he was terrible, this may have had some bearing on TS's decision.

True, but if I remember correctly we went into the final with only 2 props, Barrie would have been a massive help in my opinion against the big Hull pack.
That final is about the one and only time I thought Smith got it badly wrong. Not with choosing Senior, but in not choosing Barrie.

: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:46 pm  

Has Westwood had a kid or summat?