I have no issue debating with you - so get off your high horse - don't lecture me as to what I can and cannot post.

Do you think your posts are riveting reading - really

nobody keeps trotting out the same old excuses/stuff as much as you do - its injuries, its Kirkstall, its transition etc you never address any of the concerns that are raised on here - so don't be offended if I don't take your posts seriously.

This season has proved to be far worse than it should have been transition or no transition - it is not the results its the performances they are simply dreadful - defend that all you want but you know its true.

As for your bravado on the finishing position going forward are you suggesting things are going to better than under the golden generation - let's see I doubt either of us will still be here to see if your prediction comes to fruition - I would put my house on it not happening.

Just been confirmed he's going to miss 2 months so that improves our chances in that games. But in the wider picture could Warrington slide backwards? Struggled badly last two weeks. Also would people say this now makes Catalans favourites for the LLS if Warrington are without Sandow for another 8-10 games.

One of the issues Leeds have is how far behind they are - currently 8 points behind 4th they cannot afford to lose to anyone if they are gain ground on those who have had a better start - they may lose to Warrington but if Hull win the same weekend the gap widens.

The challenge cup may come too late to for Leeds to gain from exhausted opponents - unless they hit a rich vein of form and put a run together. The last 7 fixtures look possible with 4 at home and only Wigan a potential loss.

The Challenge Cup thing could come too late (if that scenario pans out like that anyway.)

Also you don't know what teams you'll be playing at home in the Super 8's and crucially away. Whilst Catalans have done well away from home this year I'd still prefer to play them at Headingley than in France. If you play a cup finalist the week before or after Wembley. I think their's still potential for some twists in the tale.

I would agree but Leeds need to get a move on - the teams that finished 7 & 8th last year could not have won enough games to get into the top 4 even if they won them all.

The sixth team would also have had to win every game in the super 8's to qualify - best any team did was win 5 out of 7.

Leeds need to finish inside the top 5 if they are have a realistic chance of making the top 4 - that is a tough ask they need to win 10 of the last 12 games to hit the same points tally that Cas had last year at the break.

The last time Leeds started a season winning 3 of the opening 11 regular rounds games was in 1996. The similarities are stark, 1996 - L, L, L, L, W, L, W, L, L, L, W
2016 - L, L, L, W, L, W, L, L, L, L, W

In 1996 Leeds never won two league games in succession from this point it followed - L, W, L, L, L, L, W, L, L, W, L

As the season ended at Round 22 Leeds finished in 10th.

The only objective Leeds should be setting themselves at the current time is getting in to the top 8 after 23 rounds. Given where we are and the form we've shown so far even avoiding the middle 8's is going to be a tough (but not impossible) task.

Providing they don't implode over the next 5 games i.e. lose 4 out of five I think they will make the 8 given the make up of their last 7 games - The Wigan home game could be very interesting!!

I think if we can win 4 out of the next 6 then we can still make a play at the 4.

Last year you had 4 sides which were pretty comfortably better than the rest. This year i dont think that is as much the case. I think Wigan pretty much already have a place in the 4. But Wire have stumbled a bit recently without Sandow and if he doesnt get back quick they might fall back to the pack a bit, Les Catalans have been the best side this season imo, but they have struggled to put a full season together for a long time.

Then you are down to 4th here Hull are 8 points ahead of leeds. if we can get 2-4 points over them in the next 6 games, then we can probably look to cut that down a bit more in the 6 after.

Win against Sts and we are only 4 away from them

Within 4 points of 4th at the split and we are in with a chance because none of the other challengers for it have really set the world alight.

Yes, it is still possible but far from realistic, we are still to show we can string back to back wins together, Not to mention even getting a win on the road which we haven't done yet.Will this come at the likes of Saints or Warrington? unlikely imo, they are grounds we struggle at when we had all our greats and in top form so its hard to imagine this lot getting wins. I agree with tvoc, top 8 is still a tough enough ask in itself from here.

I still haven't come to terms with the three losses against an injury hit Cas, followed by back to back home defeats to Wakey and THAT Hull KR team over the easter period.That is where this season went down the pan.

Not often we've gone to Saints though when they've lost their last 3 home games. Very Jekyll and Hyde this year St Helens, play like they did vs Warrington the other week then most likely they win, but if it's the much poorer version that's been seen several times this year (only side to lose to us by more than 1 score) then very winnable.

If this is a transition season all we have learned so far is that our halves have a long way to go, we've not recruited particularly well from the NRL, and we don't have any young forwards coming through gaining first team experience to potentially replace our ageing, crap or crocked set of back rowers.
We've gone all out to compete, flogged injured players, left young forwards on the bench or out completely and failed.
That's a negative viewpoint but positives are pretty hard to unearth.

Agreed. 4 of the kindest fixtures over Easter and gained nothing

You're just making things up now, although that's nothing new as i'm about to show in my next post.

I've not mentioned transition, Kirkstall or injuries as an excuse for anything this season (by the way it's a reason, not an excuse). In fact i've barely posted and had to quit the predictions comp after round 4 or 5 because I'd missed 3 rounds due to being busy elsewhere. Last night was the first time i've really posted on this season's goings on TBH, apart from maybe one other post quite a few weeks ago.

Unlike you who trots out the same garbage hour after hour, day after day, week after week...

Still waiting to hear what this lack of professionalism is that's causing so many issues for the MOS, or did you just make it up ([iagain[/i)

Yeah I agree. As I've said I think people have to look at the gap between us and the likes of Hull and Saints and working on narrowing that. Some are under the thinking we need X amount of points, usually 38 because that's what Saints got last year.

Really though Saints didn't need 38 points to qualify for the top 4 last year.....they needed 32. If they lost to us post Wembley and then when everyone expected Wigan to beat them to snatch the LLS of us and if they lost in the regular season when they beat Hudds by a single point the outcome of the table would've been EXACTLY THE SAME.

But instead of

Leeds - 41
Wigan - 41
Hudds - 38
Saints - 38
Cas - 32

It would've been

Leeds - 43
Wigan - 43
Hudds - 41
Saints - 32
Cas - 32

*Saints points difference was miles better than Castleford's so unless those hypothetical defeats were cricket scorelines they'd have kept 4th and absolutely nothing would've have changed. Same four teams in the playoffs, same semi final fixtures.

So the idea that we can only afford to lose 11 games isn't certain (although it might turn out that way).....we could potentially have enough wriggle room to lose 13/14.

The problem is that as a side we haven't shown any indication of catching anyone by stringing good performances together. Regardless of how we cut it, that's what is required. That Easter period really hurt our chances, and I'm not at all convinced anything other than getting into the top 8 and providing nuisance value is achievable.

I sent you a PM - suggest you read it

Really!! - who is making stuff up now?

I have been told that the Bulls have made an approach to the Rhinos with regards to Brian Mac's availability/current contract situation at the club

I'm not sure if there's any truth in this or even if Mac would fancy coming back home ?

Someone at the club confirmed that to me as well.

He could not coach ordinary players at London , so why would Bulls be any different

First it was Hull KR and now it's Bradford - it appears the Leeds coach is in high demand with all the sports' leading clubs.

No doubt we need to improve. But the point is, as terrible as we have been, only a slight improvement would see us comfortably in the 8 and knocking on the door of the 4.

We have been terrible, if we continue to be terrible we wont be in the 8, being ok will see us comfortably in the 8. Being good will see us in with a chance of the 4.

There are too many prop forwards coaching.

And thookers.