Mc_Fat?

He's not going to like that you know...

Is there such a thing as a Freudian Typo?!

Super League is (and always has been) primarily a 4-team competition, with the rest of the clubs just making up the numbers. Apart from a few glitches, it's always been about Saints, Wigan, Bradford and Leeds. Bradford have fallen by the wayside and they've been partially replaced by Warrington as a competitive force.

Last season therefore, Leeds finished 4th and [uLAST[/u among a bona fide 4-team competition behind Wigan, Saints and Warrington. In fact, Leeds were so poor last season, they were almost overtaken by Huddersfield. They did OK in the CC benefiting from huge slices of luck and good fortune against Wigan and Saints. Their true form and lack of competitiveness was exposed by Warrington in the Final when they were humiliated in one of the most one-sided CC Finals for years.

The academy has run dry so Leeds are now reduced to scouring prospective talent from places like Whitehaven and Featherstone instead.

Leeds have also recruited a coach with a Super League record which is the envy of absolutely nobody. A coach who turned a club with mid-table/play-off aspirations into a cellar-dwelling embarrassment.

I expect Leeds to finish behind Wigan, Saints and Warrington and finish LAST - AGAIN! I haven't yet ruled out the prospect of Leeds finishing behind Huddersfield in 2011.

Their most realistic prospects lie with the CC. Given favourable draws and huge slices of luck and good fortune again, they may progress to another Wembley appearance where they will be ritually humiliated - AGAIN.

TFR.

To be fair, that's not a bad assessment!

I prefer to be more positive & optimistic but you're essentially right, it's a four horse race and we came fourth.

Still, we'll be there or thereabouts! Chin up Keith!!!

Don't forget to add your predictions on the Regular Round finishing table here: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=477434 As for Leeds' prospects they will rest in large part on the quality of the coaching staff assembled.

Don't forget to add your predictions on the Regular Round finishing table here: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=477434 As for Leeds' prospects they will rest in large part on the quality of the coaching staff assembled.

Finishing 4th and LAST in what is essentially a 4-team competition will always create the [iillusion[/i of being there or thereabouts, since it should equate to being only 80 minutes away from a Grand Final appearance.

Some would class 4th and LAST as a glass half full.

I'd class 4th and LAST as a urinal half full.

The new coaching regime possess the ability to fill that urinal.

IMHO of course.

Quote ="tvoc"Don't forget to add your predictions on the Regular Round finishing table here: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=477434 As for Leeds' prospects they will rest in large part on the quality of the coaching staff assembled.'" It appears Keith is getting mixed up with his predictions. On the other page he said Quote ="Keith Swiftcorn"I expect Leeds to finish behind Wigan, Saints and Warrington and finish LAST - AGAIN! I haven't yet ruled out the prospect of Leeds finishing behind Huddersfield in 2011.'" But on the thread you bookmarked above his view was different and he had it appeared already made up his mind.

Quote ="tvoc"Don't forget to add your predictions on the Regular Round finishing table here: viewtopic.php?f=17&t=477434 As for Leeds' prospects they will rest in large part on the quality of the coaching staff assembled.'" It appears Keith is getting mixed up with his predictions. On the other page he said Quote ="Keith Swiftcorn"I expect Leeds to finish behind Wigan, Saints and Warrington and finish LAST - AGAIN! I haven't yet ruled out the prospect of Leeds finishing behind Huddersfield in 2011.'" But on the thread you bookmarked above his view was different and he had it appeared already made up his mind.

I see Leeds finishing 4th or 5th behind Wigan, Warrington and Hudders. However if Leeds got third I wouldn't be that surprised. I can't see them getting higher than that. A cup win is a definite possibility.

IMO you can divide the end table up quite easily the way I see it is as follows:

1-3 Wigan/Warrington/Hudders (plenty of continuity and quality).

4-5 Leeds/Saints. Still quality but some questions over new coaches and some injuries to contend with.

6-8 HullKR/Hull/Bradford. Some quality but some weaknesses in key areas.

9-11 Cas/Cats/Salford. Some with new coach or major changes to squad but no real strengths in any areas.

12-14 Crus/Wak/Quins. Question marks over depth, quality and coaching.

I'm fairly relaxed about the new season. There is certainly enough talent, commitment and experience in this squad to be contending for both a GF and CC Final appearance.

However, the question mark for me, is whether our coaching setup is up to the job, not the players. We could see a reinvigorated Leeds, playing the fast attacking rugby, that last season excepted, has put a smile on all our faces these last few years, or we could simply implode if there is major cock up over tactics.

I have to believe that GH sees something in McD, and Brian and him are on the same wavelength. Hopefully we will see a more robust pack this season, giving the backs the opportunities which were a tad lacking in a few matches last season. Danny will be back mid summer and soon showing his class, but I suspect we have seen the last of JP as a major force for us.

I fancy Warrington to be the top dogs this season, and anyone from us/Wigan/Saints for runner up.

i see the complete opposite to where we have been previously where we had a slow start and strong finish.

BM will have them trained and up for it, i wouldnt be surprised to see us dominate the early stages of the leagues, its whether we fall away at the end which is the question.

I also think this is the right way to go, we arent Quins so our fall in form wont be as dramatic, we have DM and JP coming in 2 or 3 months into the season to give us another boost. I think we have a bigger squad this year, especially up front as well, which will help.

This is also a squad of players who know what needs to be done, they know how to win, and how to be successful, they know what it takes to lift a trophy.

There is a negative and a positive to most things, JP's injury for example, whilst we will miss him undoubtedly, he looked spent a lot of the end of last year, he is getting on a bit, maybe it will be better for us to have 4 months of JP on his top form at the end of the year, than a full year of JP tiring.

An excellent assessment my friend!! I would just ship Huddersfield into the 2nd category and I think that's spot on. Can totally see your reasons for having them in the first group, but they're not quite there yet for me.

1-2 Wigan/Wire
3-5 Saints/Leeds/Hudds
6-8 Hull/Hull/Bulls
9-11 Cas/Cats/Reds
12-14 Crus/Wakey/Quins

I totally get why people might think McD might be a bit of a problem going forwards, after all, he did take Quins from pushing for play offs to fighting to avoid the spoon.

I just don't understand how people can think it'll be a problem this season?! I mean, we still have the same players. It's not like Sinnie/JP/Buderus/Senior/Leuluai/McGuire/Burrow/Webb are all going to just become c[ir[/iap players because he's in charge. Players of that calibre must practically coach themselves surely?! Adding a new coach, with fresh enthusiasm and new ideas (even if only one or two of the ideas hold any weight!) can only be a good thing in the short term??

I understand the concerns for the future, when he's the man charged with finding us the next Kevin Sinfield, but for this season, he can only be a good thing.

After the consistent run of success we have enjoyed over the last few years it is unrealistic to expect too much for this season, bearing in mind that we will be without two of our most influential players for half this season plus a new coaching set up.

I would be very happy to reach the halfway point in the season still in touch with the leaders. With the boost of JP & DM returning we could well surprise a few with a strong finish.

I would also be very happy to see us returning to a more attractive open rugby style with a good offload game. Much will depend on the form and fitness of Sinfield, Webb, Burrow and Buderus but I still have some concerns about a lack of go forward.

So I am not expecting silverware success this year but hope that we play good rugby and beat everyone at Headingley

My expectations for the year? Leeds will finish in the top 4, will make the semis of the CC and playoff's and many numpties will claim it is shocking. I find it very interesting to see how many people are happy to write of BMD without even speaking to him. I have a feeling that he will prove many people wrong this year, and quite enjoy doing it.

Oh and AP will continue to see things in a glass half empty way on the board, but will be quite different in reality.

i agree, i think brian mac may surprise a few people.
on the playing side i thought last year we had our best squad, depth wise, for a number of years. injuries decimated us and i thought we did fantastically well to have the season we had.

assuming,

, we have a just the normal amount of injuries i fancy us to do well this season, certainly to be competing in all competitions

Think we'll finish 5th this year.If we get an early injury to Sinfield or Burrows then it could be as bad as 7th-8th.A change of coach has been good for morale and like said before the junior conveyor belt has run dry. But at least we have a team who never ever give in as shown in many games last year and surely we cant have a worse start to the season as last year.
Semi-finals for challenge cup as i think we'll meet another top side and come up short.
Knocked out in the 2nd weekly round of the play offs

I think Burrows & Maguire will be like having new players this season.

To be honest i think we will go slightly better than most on here expect. If we have abit more luck with injuries which undoubtedly cost us some games last season we have a chance. I think we will finish top 2.

I don't agree with the ageing squad notion. I remember Wigan winning everything then the bulls and both of those teams had plenty of over thirtys.

I thnk we will hit the ground running this season. Can see us being top around may time and with DM and JP to retunr that should give us a boost.

We will not turn into a bad team in a year. Just 16 months ago we were champions the team is pretty much the same.

Before AP comes back anc calls me a believest i am not. I am just looking at the squad in conjunction with a shake up in the coaching dept. I think we will go well.

So i expect: Top 2 and hopefully a run in the cup (lottery as they are one off games).

BURROW

His name is BURROW.

It's ok though, he's only played for us for 10 years.

Roughly the same as the the other half back named (mis-named) but you've let that one slide.



I stopped caring years ago, it's for the best.

I get it!

Looking back at last season I think we suffered with bad 'luck' in direct comparison to the good 'luck' we enjoyed in the previous three SL championship winning seasons. We had not really had any major or longer term injuries to key players until the start of last season and I think we were not able to recover from that poor start to the season and, when coupled with a good cup run, left us looking one step behind in both in the CC final and at the business end of the season. I think beating Wigan at the Pie Dome was our play-off peak and we did not have another performance like that to either get us to, or win the GF.

I think Bluey and the players were guilty of focussing too hard on the WCC and then when we needed to be at our early season best we had too many injuries and appeared to lack that spark we had shown in previous seasons. I also think that the discipline under Bluey was at an all time low and even though Silverwood ref'ed the WCC to suit the Aussies, the back-chat was indicative of our own frustrations.

I think the WCC is a poisoned chalice and although I enjoy the watching the game I am glad this year that it is someone else's problem.

I think we definitely have a top 4 finish in us and I think we will finish 3rd and could be close to second. I agree with others in that knowing how to win is a big advantage and I think we will go better this season than last but making the CC of SL GF would be a bonus and I think is just out of our reach. I also think that Tony will be pushing the Warrington boys towards the GF and he will take or leave Challenge Cup success... and I think it might be his downfall! I think it will be a Wigan/Warrington top two and a Saints/Leeds 3/4 BUT I think Warrington will miss out on the GF for either Leeds or Saints against Wigan. I also think Wigan will make the CC final but Warrington will not make it, who Wigan will play at Wembley I don't know... it could be Hudds who will peak too early again but might win the CC?

I think we'll be lucky to get into the play-offs.
We'll be beaten by the 1st SL team we meet in the cup.
I find that if I set my expectations low then I won't be disappointed if they come true.

Sad, but true.

Where's Bywater?