Old Bluey's previous record in club coaching is not that impressive. Maybe we should start calling him Yellow or Green. Is this the start of the rot? Even more significance is hinging on the CC semi now. If that game is lost I can see a dissapointing end to the season for Leeds.

I was thinking about this last night and I'd agree with Rob's post. We seem to be deliberately holding back, keeping some gas in the tank if you will, with one eye on the latter part of the season.

If you look at the last three defeats, we very nearly pinched it at Quins, we very nearly pinched it last night, and we got beat fair and square by Saints in a tough game. Add in that we were getting done by Hull until we pulled our socks up and a picture is starting to crystallise.

If they are applying the brakes now to save energy, without doubt it's a risky strategy, but one I think this bunch of players is capable of pulling off.

Some will see this as believist, but I'd prefer to be "happy with a glass half full than miserable with a glass half empty".

I'd rather be miserable with a glass smashed on floor and wrists slit with broken glass.

Why are you so negative? It must be very depressing looking at life through your eyes.

A successful international coach, appointed to one of the biggest club jobs in the game is learning his trade? Has GH screwed up?



The multi talented, international laden Super League and World Champion squad doesn't suit the coach. Are you serious?



Yep.



Apart from Toopi, which of those would have played last night?



That's all conjecture isn't it?

You note I'm not slating the coach at all. Do you think he's contributed to the mini slump in any way?

Aladdin Sane puts a pretty strong case for it being by design?

I'd have said that a fully fit Kirke, Ablett and an available Scruton would have been in the 17.

Replacing Allan, Smith and ?

If it was by design we'd have ''planned it'' earlier in the season.

Burgess or Bailey probably. The way that Scruton has played so far this year, I'm pretty sure that we'd have gone with him instead of Biffa, although I think Leuluai is in need of a rest.

I disagree, if we were planning it we would be looking to hit our straps for the start of the playoffs not two months before.

I should have made the point clearer, before we disappear up a blind hypothetical alley.

With the exception of Toopi that was a strong enough side last night for injuries not to be an excuse.

I'm not making any excuses, we were beaten by the better team. Obviously both sides had injury issues to contend with, but Wigan fully deserved their victory.

It's noticeable that out situation with injuries this year has been more severe than in other recent seasons, and as a result we have been forced to play more juniors than before. This can only result in a stronger squad for next season with the experience that Allen, Jones-Bishop, Burgess and Watkins will have gained.

The current position might be a little wobbly, but the future is getting brighter by the day.

Isn't that these boards are all about? As for McClennan his mistakes for me are selection rather than game time errors. If he selects the right side the rest will look after itself.

Playing Ellis in the centre dosn't work - why not play JJB he is quicker and more dynamic also swop Donald to the other side that would even up the strengths. Finally play two nines - give Kaye an extended run and see what that brings.

Biffa has been one of our most consistant all season IMO.

And I hope he reminded you that 2005 was in fact considered a reasonable season , 2 cup finals , 1 of which we managed to throw away in ridiculous fashion . 2006 was a huge disappointment by comparison , on reflection I'd take the chance of two trophies everytime thanks very much.

at the start of the year there was a lot of talk of having to peak twice, to do that we would have to drop the intensity at some stage during the season,

with all things going to plan, now would be the best time to have a drop in intensity,

Leeds best form IMO came around easter time, which is around round 10/11 should Leeds finish top 2 and get to the CC final we would be looking at the GF been 11 games from now, a rest over the last few weeks would allow us to get back to the level of round 2 or 3 over the next few games and look to peak in about 3 months

what will be will be!!

bluey is a good coach

most of the players have resigned

the kids are the best around

the club is in the best condition its ever been in

win or lose games and trophies, we are always in the running and will be for a long time to come.

been a leeds fan is a privilege and i love it!!

Well said.

It's a shame more whio fans don't realise this.

Exactly - but then some people are never happy

Well said

the reason smith got it was because our summer lull of 5-6 games happened EVERY YEAR. True, this doesn't look good, but if all that can be levelled against Bluey is that hwe lost 2 games on the bounce, that's very different.

No it didn't.
In Smiths 1st season we only lost 2 league games all season.
As G1 has stated about the same time last season Smith was getting slated on here with calls for him to leave immediately. Claims we only played well and won the GF because the players knew Smith was leaving are a joke, unless it was intended to mean they gave everything for a coach they regarded as one of the best and wanted to send him off a champion.
We have time to turn it around this season and the 2nd half last night was promising.It was the best we have played for a few weeks (IMO since the Wakey game at home).

And this my friend is a perfect illustration of the hypocrisy I am talking about.

All of last season Smith repeatedly stated that the team's objective was to peak in Sept/Oct. The players said this. During the "slump" last year none on here would have a word of it. Nobody. You were one of his sterner critics though you were not alone. it was dismissed as an excuse as the blood of our greatest ever coach was bayed for.

Yet it is exactly this mantra that you're all willing to roll out on behalf of Bluey to explain away the last three defeats.

I dearly hope Bluey can emulate what Smith achieved. I have minor concerns the more I see Smith's structure fading within the team and Bluey's off the cup approach being caught out more and more. Individual brilliance from talented players will not be enough to win this league and its' something we've been relying upon more and more.

I think it's only been present when we've been in some bad positions score wise,the structure was there in spades early season,we've just hit our blip.
Out of the last 3 defeats 2 have been down to missed goal kicks so with even poor stages during the matches we have'nt been far off.

yet i feel we are more structured now. under smith at times we struggled to break teams down at times and relied on a bit of individual skill.
perhaps the detractors in the middle of last season remembered the dire season before?