6th isn't a bad punt I reckon. If it comes to pass it'll be interesting to see the intent shown by the club with regard to getting back to the big time.

I think we'll scrape into the Super 8's, and I'd be more than happy with that as it stands. As Brisbane says we'd need some serious implosions or meltdowns from a few teams to be in with a chance of the top 4, and I can't see that happening.

Unfortunatley for Hetherington and Mac failure in my opinion is anywhere outside the top 4 . Only Wigan and Wire are sure top 4 positions with possibly Saints as third best leaving us to finish above Hull and Cas for the 4th spot . I doubt any other team are capable of gatecrashing the four . Whilst our (ex) hooker has created a problem which some of us saw coming we had enough excuses to last us a lifetime last season and expectations of the best supported club in the league should be far higher than what they seem at the moment .

Agree with the sentiment, but expectation has to be based around the quality of the squad - we know from last season we'll turn out week after week irrespective of what we're likely to see.

Succession planning is key during a good run of seasons, but the eye has clearly come off the ball as we're lacking in most of the crucial positions.

TBF we were turning out good attendances off the back of 2015.

I know a few people who bought season tickets for last season based on 2015 who will not now be renewing after the 2016 debacle.

Fickle? maybe, but its going to be the quality of performances on the field that are the catalyst to drive the business forward off it.

As for succession planning.....

I'm happy to have a bit more room in the southstand, without a few of the fickle fans.

Not too happy at the prospect, of another season, without challenging for any honours.

Any or all of McGuire Burrow and JJB could go after this season, why would the club not attempt to win something this year when next year will probably be transitional anyway.

A) because mags burrow jjb aren't sinny jp and Kylie
B) how many transitional years do you want? 2016 2017 2018

Any chance that will include drummer boy??

Really?! Mags and Burrow will probably go down in Leeds 10 best players ever, and JJB has been a loyal servant to the club his whole career. I think it would be wrong to use potentially their last year as a year to take few chafes on upcoming talent and not use the full cap.

How many youngsters do you think will be given a chance? Obviously Golding and Lilley. But beyond that? When McDermott is under pressure, as he's very likely to be next year, he'll most likely react how almost all coaches do and pick even more conservative teams.

We saw this year a tendency to pick crocked senior players rather than just wait for them to be fit. It will take a big change in mindset for McDermott to focus on developing players if we're in trouble of missing the 8 again. Maybe the fact that this tactic backfired spectacularly in terms of results will do the trick. Lets hope so anyway.

If biscuit bones is fit, and depending on how they gel pre-season, I think he'll alternate Lilley and Aston with Mags in the halves and leave Burrow to come off the bench hooking for impact.

Aston to be the new Baldwinson...play well for Fev but not get a sniff in at Leeds.

interchanging with who?

If Burrow starts on the bench will we play with 12 men until he comes on?

Depends if were attacking or not.

Bit like goalie when ned...

At least give GH a chance to pull it out of the bag...

Cant ague with that, Golden out of his depth, Sutty slow, and cluless, Lilley worst defender in SL history, and slow, and clueless, plus the two OAP's. Eddie Hemmings however will be going on how amazing Lilley and Sutty are no matter what you see before your eyes

We still have the sane issues as last year, which everyone but those in charge could see.
Spine is either young and inexperienced or old and injury prone. No real leadership or direction on field, little support play/ dummy runners.
To lose Sinfield,Peacock, Kylie, Hardaker (and technically Segeyaro and Achurch ) and replace them with no one, an academy lad that isn't really performing well,Championship players or a young but somewhat unproven Aussie is a huge error AMD bound to show in performances.

Add that to the other worry of a coach who never has a plan B,fails to utilize his subs, hasn't corrected any of the well known issues and will always play older crocked favourites over new blood and it feels very much like 2016 will be repeated.

Hardaker MoM for Cas who walloped Hull.

Totally agree.

Edited

The whole of SL will be shaking in there boots cos cas best a load of kids

Hetherington needs to become the CEO that he was early days he is now far too cosy with his position problem is his lack of recruiting early in the season totally wrecks a full season for the fans early days he had the vision to get Doug Laughton who recruited brilliantly this fella got sinfield when everyone else wanted him we got the best kids via dean bell who though not successful as a chief coach has not ever been equaled at finding kids ask jjb who bell told him at 15 he would play for gb dean bell and especially Doug Laughton layed the bricks for our success the cleverest thing gh ever did was not to become coach early days just sit on the board and have a long term position very astute.

I've never forgiven GH for getting rid of David Ward.
I'd still put John Gallagher down as GH's best signing though.