I agree that he does rush out at times, rather than just do the basics. I think Kirke was partially to blame for that missed tackle last night, he made the previous tackle and then tried running around 2/3 Leeds players to get into the defence line rather than push the Leeds players out. This left a gap inside JJB as Kirke was still running round into position. JJB's attempt should have been stronger though.

LOL

Does anyone just go to enjoy the games anymore ?

What's the point of assembling the best back line in superleague when the coach doesn't know how to structure the line. Ward to centre WTF was he thinking of? Why cannot a utility back (isn't that what BJB is?) play in the back line? I know people will say in the big scheme a defeat at Saints in March will have little impact on the playoffs in September but we were like Santa Claus last night giving away free gifts and its not even Easter. A defeat next week and some serious questions will need to be asked of McDermott.

I'd be surprised if Briscoe played more than 3 games at centre for Hull and when he did looked totally out of his depth, can't pass.

I do now. Remember when McDermott was here for 1st year and getting wound up by the strange decisions. Now fatherhood has mellowed me and I enjoy going to the matches even if we lose.

Would like to think its because being a dad has taught me what really matters in life although it's more likely I just appreciate a few hrs away from two screaming toddlers and a now rare few beers!!!!!

Not unlike Yeaman then?

You're right. Everything is relative. I get wound up, forget it by the time I get to the bar again and then look forward to the next match......while saying a silent prayer that McDermott will join Bailey on a night out

Lord above, it's like Leeds United forums on speed. Seriously? Questions will have to asked of him? We've played 7 games, won 5, drawn 1 and lost 1. We've beaten Warrington, drawn away to Huddersfield, both of which will be (along with us) challenging for the title this year and are currently 3rd. In his 3 year reign at Leeds McDermott has guided us to 2 Super League titles, a semi-final of the competition and a Challenge Cup (which we lost, but that's really to be expected. To call for his head after 2 losses is absolutely feckin' mad.

Some people

And if he keeps making selections like last night, we'll win as much this year as we did last.

Given Saints are who we're likely playing in the GF, the fact we couldn't beat them with half a team out is a concern.

We lost heavily to Wigan in 2012 at Headingley when they had loads of forwards missing. We then beat them in the CC Semi and Playoffs.

I agree sack the bloke. Preferably before the playoffs.

Why are some people - like you - averse to criticising those that make mistakes? Bad mistakes.

Yes Leeds have won GF's the last as recently as 2012, but that is still now history. With a better coach Leeds might have also been successful in 2013 ..we will never know of course.

How long are we meant to stay grateful for past glories at the expense of success today? How long should the club remain loyal to those who have provided that success but are are getting less and less effective in critical positions? If the coach is not responsible for the lack of ideas in the last 20 or 40 , despite a glut of possession, then he IS responsible for the selections for following games. Do you think he will drop those that are responsible? No chance...unless it is an easy target of those he considers fringe players. McGuire in particular is done for. Sutcliffe or Moon should be at SO with Burrow rewarded with the SH position. He remains our biggest threat but is better at jumping in at dummy half on an irregular basis. As the main dummy half he is too predictable. Scoot or bad pass or wrong decision. Better when he jumps in there when not expected. Sinfield to LF ...or another option at hooker

Selecting players to sit on the bench for the whole match is just plain stupid. As I have said before the club would be better raffling the 4th spot on the bench for an eager supporter willing to pay a substantial amount to enter the draw.

McDermott has his strengths as a motivator perhaps, but as a tactician he is hopeless. Leeds are simply not playing to their strengths with the present personnel in command.

Rule Brittania. Always have done always will do

We have lost ONE game this year. ONE. If you think that is enough to sack a manager, then fine. But if that is the case, then we'll have at least 5 new managers every year, it's that simple. "Ooo, our manager made some incorrect decisions before a game we should have won. I know he's been very successful in his time here, but that, he can right off!"

Where have I said he should be sacked?

Agreed I'm sat over here with envy at missing these poor displays

Due to the fact that you have all this spare time on your hands then maybe you could spend a bit more time reading the posts before you reply?

There you go again I didn't state I had lots of time on my hands,I said I am envious of my fellow loiners being able to see all the games.The fact that you have not been on here very often and soon you will depart and you also
Reffered to fans of the highest average crowd as whinos and added a silly laughing face suggests you are trolling

You have a very strange perception of things?

I'm no McDermott fan but leaving aside his selection of Ward at centre and unused sub (again) I thought his tactics were spot on. We worked the ruck over, dominated territoriality and won the forward battle by some distance (as we should have with the players missing).

McDermott was let down by his two very experienced halves who failed to take advantage of this and did not feed the outside backs that should have reaped rewards on the back of that display.

Where I would criticise, or perhaps question, is with the halves playing as they were why not bring BJB off the bench at full back and put Hardaker at 6 for a spell.

If leeds had won that game last night, people would still be questioning some of mcdermott's decisions.

So all this ''but leeds have lost ONE GAME'' is neither here nor there.

Not using a sub, and using other subs for very short periods means someone else is picking up the workload, and the cumulative effect of that across a season is they wind up flogged when the trophies are handed out.

This is the point. People aren't specifically judging mcdermott so much on results, not at this stage of the season, but on his managment of the squad and the way they are used.

Leeds have some ageing players in important positions. It needs to be managed if they want to be in position to compete in major finals at the end of the season.

So can people STFU going on about how many leeds have lost this season and what trophies they won 2 years ago?

Those are not the issues.

The last point kinda is an issue when people say "we won't be able to win come season end because the players will be too knackered", were his selections so much different back then?

Why won't Saints best player Roby be as knackered as anyone else come September/October....he's done more than 120 tackles more than the next Saints player already this year as well as being their leading metre maker and taken over nearly 60 more carries than their next player.

Well, he might well be knackered by the end of the season. It's happened before. What have Saints won since Cunningham retired and Roby became a 50-tackle, 80-minute player?

He's a T1000.....

And the point about Saints winning nowt in recent seasons is a little unfair to Roby as the pack have been lightweight for a couple or three years as well as playing one season with two kids as half backs and following it up with two granddads at halves the year after.

Regarding Leeds on Friday, it'd seem your problem in that game (and maybe beyond) is your now ageing and arguably always uncreative halves. Watching the game, your pack did enough to allow your creative positions (6, 7, 9 & 13 in old money) to be able to come up with something....which they did not. One could claim that they were merely following coaching instructions but even so, quality players should be able to see the opportunities and take them rather than simply following that week's instruction......if indeed their instruction was to not include the centres. Southstander's match report used the word naivety for the performance, which is interesting considering the age of your influential players.....

Mention of subs not being used or used for short periods is valid too....all players should get a run and senior ones deserve a break. Perhaps its a skill in which your coach is lacking....maybe he was unsure when to introduce changes as the game was tight?

Roby thrives off the big men sucking in 3 and 4 defenders, then quick play the balls and he is in business.Last couple of years your front row hasn't been effective enough for him to do this often enough,it is now. And as you say he had too much responsibility on him as a whole.This year is different and you can see that quite clearly.

Regarding the sub issue, this is not just isolated to Friday and is something that has irked a lot of people on this board for as long as Mcdermott has been head coach.

....and I'm not saying Roby's performances have been anything less than acceptable....quite the opposite but yes, you're right in saying he had too much to do.

Saints coaches in years past (can't recall who) have also left a man on the bench or worse, brought him on with sixty seconds to go. In such a physical game, I cannot understand why......maybe there is a suitable reason. I remember being sub in a football game that was tight and not being put on with the manager's reason being that he couldn't change the balance of the game. At any level, one could argue the new player may change the balance in a positive way rather than cost the team. It may simply be that the sub isn't as good as the player to come off (in the coach's eye). Not sure that applies at this level.....although looking back it probably did when I froze my knackers watching us hang on for a 1-1 draw! Still, it was 1996 and I'm over it now.

Peacock: Surely its got to be detrimental to him (even at this late stage of his career) to be working his stones off only for some of his team mates not to deliver or his side not to get the result. As an observer, he looks like he should have retired years ago.....but he still does more (probably) than any other pack member and still delivers.