Ive purposefully given myself some 'time out' after Mondays experience so this was a more balanced rant than it would have been.

It would seem to me that we are lacking somewhat in the halves at the moment. Personally Ive never been a fan of Sinny at 6, I dont think he is quick enough, or creative enough but the long list of awards say he does his role well.

But looking at how Sinny and Mags have played together this year they both look shadows of the players they have been. As Mags has clearly lost his pace now he is resigned to the role of moving the team around and throwing the odd long ball which sends Moon or Watkins thorugh a gap (and the odd interception). Whilst both Sinny and Mags are both great at moving the team around I dont think this is enough now. Teams have cottoned on and they are closing them down quicker than ever. If you look through the league I dont see any other top team look so pedestrian in the essential halfback positions.

As for Sinny, well it was always going to be impossible for him to improve or even match last years Golden Boot level of play but he looks totally out of sorts and this is reflected nowhere better than his kicking which from both hand and kicking tee is not at the level he normally achieves.

I would say the answer is Mags at 6, Burrow at 7, McShane at 9 and Sinny at 13 but I accept thats never going to happen so my question is, can either Sinny or Mags be 'rested' for a bit?

You mean play these players in the positions on their shirts? In the positions they have spent a majority of their career paying in?

Madness I tell you - utter madness.

It'll never catch on.

A couple of slightly crappy performances and it's major reconstruction of the side time again.



It wouldn't surprise me if McD instructed Sinfield to kick out on the full just to mess with Wane's mind...

If Burrow gets any sustained stint back at 7 ill seriously consider missing the rest of the games this year.

Depends how you define "major reconstruction" I guess.....and whether you think the current "crappy performances" should be ignored. I always (naiveley?) believed the whole idea of a squad was so that when players are out of form others could be brought in .....



What about giving Sutcliffe a run at SO ? with McGuire staying at SH (in the absence of not much alternative at the moment) and Sinfield playing at LF....with McShane at hooker and Burrow on the bench ???



OR we could just carry on regardless and give the stalwarts the message they will [uALWAYS[/u be selected in their current recent positions whatever they produce on the field........

and the promising younger squad members the message that if they play their hearts out they might just make the one token appearance a season ...and then only off the bench, in the last quarter, where they will be asked to take the ball in like an extra forward. (Unless of course they're an average at best 'winger' from Australia here on a whim...

)

Famous.

Couldn't agree more .Unfortunately I fear mcd will carry on regardless and in a few seasons time we will be up a certain creek without a paddle and have a major reconstruction on our hands .Nobody is suggesting putting our legends out to grass ,just give em a rest and give somebody else a chance imo this all stems from sinfeild not liking the 13 role

I can die happy now...

Anyway, that wasn't even a meltdown. I have a backstory

Haha



Do tell

A lot of the problems in attack start with really average service from dummy half. Even Thurston at the Cowboys has really struggled this year because he's getting slow (and often poorly directed) ball.

Burrow is a lot of things, but regular dummy half he is not. Getting to acting half every now and then with the threat of a run is one thing, teeing up forwards and playmakers through entire sets is another entirely.

As for McGuire/Sinfield, they probably look worse than they are, but when not playing well McGuire tends to either just stand and pass or move too far sideways before passing, running outside men out of room and easily allowing the defence to get in position. What he needs to do - IMO - is straighten up his play, and more than anything get his own team playing off him. Its hard to blame forwards for not making options round him if he either flings it on as soon as he gets it or by moving wide makes their positioning irrelevant.

I don't buy the lack of pace argument either - he's still easily quick enough to be a very effective half back.

Sinfield just looks out of nick.

McD sees a bigger, long-term advantage for the team in players working through adversity on the field - rather than seeking short-term advantage through regular rotation. This might be a counter-intuitive policy for some fans but it's justified until such time as we stop winning the comp: the teams that follow the ideas you're espousing generally don't...

Wigan have been forced to rotate due injuries & players leaving. look how they are doing. Let's see how we match up on Sunday. And fyi I can't stand the pie eaters

Wake me up when they win something not pointless.

I tend to see it differently and think the McDermott approach is very short term not long term. Trying to milk the cash cow that is a once in a generation team of local lads. That's only my opinion.
FWI I think McDermott has it harder than any of the pervious 3 managers as he is supposed to be managing the transition of losing some of these great players not an easy job at all. But if we carry on like we are then POTENTIALLY we could be faced with a situation where our best younsters have either moved on or have little or no first team action trying to replace some of our greats like sinfield.

And that's a very arrogant attitude. Wigan as much as I dislike them are a very good team

Priority number one is [iesprit de corps[/i. That magic ingredient is what takes a team through a play-off series and I'm guessing that's why McD sticks with an elite group of players through thick and thin. Any young player not prepared to take the setbacks of trying to get into that team hasn't got the right stuff and might as well leave. The example of Stevie Ward shows what is possible.

I'd see it as a matter of fact: a very good team with silverware or a very good team without. That's the difference McDermott has brought.

Heard you could bring lee Gaskell in for next season but don't no how true it is

You've lost me there.
Unless you mean McD was instrumental in Leeds' success when he wasn't even on the staff.

100% false

They have won something 'not pointless' in each of the last three seasons, IMO.

2010 - League Leaders Shield, SL GF - Winners
2011 - CC - Winners
2012 - League Leaders Shield

The Wigan club and fans have probably been comfortable with their week to week form and coaches who operate a no excuses policy - which has continued in 2013 and done so while their team regenerates with seemingly minimal disruption despite the loss of key individuals.

Wigan's last three season League table finishes - 1, 2, 1 currently 1st in 2013

Leeds' last three season League table finishes - 4, 5, 5 currently 4th (prior to Sunday, 6 points behind with two games in hand)

I'm of the opinion that our young lads need to see that there is a way to progress into the first team. Not necessarily dropping our legends just for the sake, but certainly when we have injuries/suspensions, the young lads should be given a go. like we've seen at Saints, Wigan, Warrington, pretty much most of the other teams.

The perfect example was when hardaker was injured. I understood moving Watkins to FB for the WCC because it would have been tough putting a youngster in to make his debut in that environment. But following that game, Watson should have been given his chance. Then we have the Burrow and McShane debate. Burrow isn't a hooker and we can all see it, whereas McShane makes things happen when he's there, but his only reward is to be in the small group of players who are rotated.

The opinon that as long as we're winning, it doesn't matter is shortsighted to the extreme. In a time when there's little money in our game, and a real threat of losing players, we need to be promoting our young talent and getting them exposed to the step up. If we keep going as we are, we're going to lose most of our team within the space of a few years and be well and truly up the creek.

completely agree. McD just doesnt know how to rotate the squad. The guy is ruining our future prospects. With JP out this should be the prefect time to blood singleton. that way, if he plays well JP will have to play really great to justify his place in the team. As it is, you know JP could walk back in to the team, yet in the last few games he has looked jaded to say the least!