In four seasons (2004, 2005, 2006 & 2007) at Leeds, Tony Smith won:

2 Super League Titles (2004, 2007)
1 League Leaders Shield (2004)
1 World Club Challenge (2005)

He also had one trophyless season (2006)

In three seasons (2008, 2009 & 2010), Brian McClennan won:

2 Super League Titles (2008, 2009)
1 World Club Challenge (200icon_cool.gif
1 League Leaders Shield (2009)

He also had one trophyless season (2010)

In four seasons (2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014), Brian MacDermott has won:

2 Super League Titles (2011, 2012)
1 Challenge Cup (2014)
1 World Club Challenge (2012)

He also had one trophyless season (2013)

Things to be though about when people say 'the team is going down hill' or 'MacDermott is a terrible coach'.

I will look forward to you once again changing you alias for another season, as really bored of this one.

Could you fill us in on our league positions under Tony Smith, Brian McClennan and Brian McDermott.

Also, didn't we effectively sack, sorry, part company with, both Tony Smith and Brian McClennan after one trophy in two years?

Didn't Smith get offered the England gig mid 2007?

Conveniently, yes.

The only criticism I would have with Brian Mac this year is the two crucial games we lost at the back end of the season against lower opposition (Bradford & Broncos) we should have put a few more first teamer in, I believe we would have still won the CC and would have been competing for the dinner plate instead of settling for sixth place

I don't understand your last sentence.

I would expect Mcdermott to be moved on next season.

At the end of the Regular Rounds:

Tony Smith - 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd - (Avg 2nd) Leeds winning 76% of comp points available

Brian McClennan - 2nd, 1st, 4th - (Avg 2nd) Leeds winning 73% of comp points available

Brian McDermott - 5th, 5th, 3rd, 6th - (Avg 5th) Leeds winning 61% of comp points available

__________

Next season only the top four will make the Play-Offs - without some investment in the squad from the CEO and an overhaul of the coaching/support staff Leeds are unlikely (IMO) to be one of them - in fact taking the results of the Regular Rounds since the Manchester Magic weekend only London had a poorer second half of the season than Leeds so missing the four may be one of the least of Hetherington's problems.

Yep, Leeds will be going all out to finish 5th or below next year.
Already got my season ticket sorted, can't wait.

Talking of season tickets, I'm in two minds if I should bother next year - this year I could have got into about 70% of home games on corporate tickets and with the quality of play that's offered up these days I might just take the "pick & choose" option next year.

No one would blame you.

Not sure Loiner81 and other single cell oragnisms would concur with that statement

The bottom line is that yes McD has won more cups but it was the side that Tony Smith built that Bluey added to, you cannot say the side we have now is a better side than when Brian took over.

Let's not forget the contribution that Powell made to our current success.He left the squad that TS molded into the first championship winning side for 32 years.

It was the side that Powell built, and Smith enhanced.

I have felt for some time now that our squad is backing further and further into a corner from which it is becoming more and more difficult to escape. The last half dozen games of this season we looked unimaginative, lackluster and frankly shot. Losing to Bradford was a disgrace but the London loss was unforgivable - any team (and I really mean ANY team, not just SL) should have been able to protect a 22 point lead with less than 30 minutes left. Let us not forget the Hull effort!

Powell built this team, Smith instilled the work ethos, Bluey enhanced it and McDermott has flogged it. It's a bit like when you buy a really nice car that has had 3 previous owners and a full service history then you run it into the ground without it seeing the inside of a garage and then complain that it isn't as good as when you bought it.

The current squad has seen better days - JP, McGuire, Burrow, Sinfield, Bailey, JJB and Leuluai are all past their 'best before' date but, on the whole, are the first names on the team sheet every week. The problem is that all the above will be going round again next year as well. Unless some of the youngsters step up and get given more time on the field we'll be looking at an even lower league position come season's end next year.

Like I said - the 'pick & choose' option is currently looking more favorable than a season ticket as it stands right now.

I'm not really fussed whether others renew their season tickets, it's their money and they can pick and choose what games they want to pay to see. Personally, I go to games socially and because I enjoy it, does that make me a single cell organism?

Apparently (according to Jeff almighty) anyone who blindly renews their season ticket does so, not on an informed decision but because they know no wiser.

I still may get a season ticket next year but I will give it some consideration first and the second I do purchase one I lose all cognitive reasoning and become a "single cell organism" - go figure!

Lesson 1 from this year: There are no longer 4 teams in competition for the silverware. There have been 6 this year. I expect the same next year, at least (Cas will be interesting, but Catalans are not far away if they keep building and the Carney thing works out).

For the first time in a long time, the end of season musical chairs for next year will have fewer chairs than players. Our regular season has to improve and we need to plan for that.

Leeds key players are simply too old to perform to that high standard week in week out. They can do it for a few games/periods but that number is diminishing every year.

If a big player is going to miss out, it will be leeds.

In the scramble for a chair, the older man with creaking bones and joints (ie. Leeds' pack) is more likely to be left standing than the more spritely and fleet-footed challengers.

Apparently so



Not sure what that makes people who'd rather spend their Friday nights home alone, on the internet having the same discussions and arguments they've been having for the last 10 years though.
Or those who spend their days at Yorkshire Cricket, reading magazines.

Not really true though is it.

Had Leeds got knocked out of the cup this year they'd have walked the LLS and probably gone on to win the GF.
As it was, they put everything in to the cup and messed the league up badly.
I'm sure lessons have been learned and changes will be made for 2015.

That highlights my point. 'They put everything into the cup.'

The cup was 3 games. Saints, warrington and cas. The performance against leigh was atrocious. Very much like the catalans one in the playoffs. So what you're telling me is that in the entire second half of the season they were capable of performing to a high level 2 times.

My "opinion and conjecture being presented as fact" alarm has gone off.