I'll be honest, when I heard Brian Smith had been appointed I thought it a brave but very wrong choice - I still do to a degree. For a start we were getting the first genuinely top Coach the club has had since I've watched them (though JK comes close) - and we were going to waste it by parachuting him into a situations his coaching methods were totally unsuitable for. Although it can only be speculation I have a feeling that Kear or either Kelly's would have done better, possibly even avoiding the Million Pound Game. It's just my opinion but for me Smith is a thinker, a scrupulous prepper for the team, the season and the game - 95% of what Smith does happened close season. It certainly doesn't usually happen two thirds of the way through a cataclysmic season. The inspirational make do end mend style of Kear for me was far more suitable.

However hats off to Smith because he did it - just. Totally (I suspect) against all his natural instincts he managed to steady the ship and get the result he needed - ironically for him the only time he's ever won a final!

However this coming season we won't be contesting any finals - sadly not the SL Final - hopefully not the MPG. So by luck or by judgement we now have exactly the Coach we need who is now at last in the element in which he excels.

Pre season is as I have said his domain. He may not be the powerhouse he was 15 years ago but IMHO he's still more than capable of putting to together a competitive SL team. He's picked his team many of whom were with him last years. He's recruited a number of decent players to bolster us. He also got rid last season of two of the worst cancers I've seen at this club, Kirke and above all Sammut. Why people wanted us to play this guy is beyond me as it was obvious the guy didn't want to be here and only cared about himself - I don't care how talented he was he was a bad apple. Why Agar, Webster and Carter didn't get rid of him in 2014 is a mystery let alone having him spreading his poison this season.

Do I know the Sammut story for certain, well no I don't but seeing as Smith had him out of the club within weeks of arriving suggests I'm on the right lines.

This shows Smith is still a disciplinarian and can and will punish those who don't tow the line - and boy do we need that. Player for player we will never match the top teams but with a strong team culture and iron discipline we will compete.

From being the wrong man for the job he is IMHO the most right man there is. That's not to say success is a certainty, if the players don't buy in we are screwed but that applies at all clubs. We need some luck especially where injuries are concerned but again few clubs can avoid that one. There are still many things that could take us down but we know that so none of us are in any way complacent.

I expect a ragged first third of the season with a few high and maybe a few more lows. Then I hope that all the training and drills will start to pay off and we start to find form and get results, maybe enough to see us safe. The last third of the season always separates the men from the boys and is where reputations are made - I'll wait and see on that one.

So from me it's go Brian...go Brian

It’s nice to see you’re a big fan of Mr Smith.

But could you please amend the title of the thread?

Perhaps a play on words?

Fair post that vasty, but life of brain?????????? Bahahahahahahaha

I reckon Mr Vastman has too much time on his hands.

I initially thought that may be the case.

However this is the R.L. Fans forum & whilst it may be a tiny faux-pas, compared to the glaring grammatical errors day after day, I still believe it was a spelling error & it was the title of the thread.

I thought it was going to be a thread on NGB4C.

I'm guessing it's been fixed - however unreserved apologies if I originally put Brain?? What a wally

Don't worry I have an even longer post coming as soon as a I cane be bothered

It's the kind of post you can reflect on 4 months down the line and say I told you so.
It's a totally sit on the fence type of post and not one I would associated with vast .
I'm just pleased to have a coach the calibre of Smith in charge at a club associated with could be men.
Next season still holds many challenges and I hope Smiths attitude, professionalism, determination and Know how can be transferred to the playing staff.

For a change Vastman you have made a couple of good points, I suppose that in writing so many words the law of averages would suggest that you will, even if by accident, make some correct observations, something along the lines of if you give 1000 monkeys a typewriter each then one of them will write a coherent sentence.
Anyway you are correct Ian Shirke was a disgrace and robbed the club, the Sammut situation is not so straight forward, Webster made a poor job managing him.
Yes the pre season will be vital, under Agar and Webster and Agars mate Clogger it was obvious that to much emphasis was spent in the Gym lifting weights, not enough time running and not enough time on core skills. I got fed up of watching our team blowing out its collective backside after 15 mins. Smith and his specialist will I hope have the players running long distances in pre season to improve anaerobic fitness. Then Smith needs to spend hours with them on the field, ball in hand getting the team to understand what he wants from them, basic skills and game management.

What an incredible insight you offer into what preparations are needed by our coach to make sure the players' are ready for the start of the season, just in case he's clueless in these matters, you could always nip down and offer him your unique expertise in these qualities you speak of, I'm sure he'll take them all on board

I'm not an expert like what you are, but I was under the impression that running long distances improves [iaerobic[/i fitness; whilst anaerobic fitness is better improved by high intensity, explosive exercise, like sprinting and plyometrics.

Anyhow, I expect BS will be in touch soon - this 'running a long way' technique you've developed sounds like it could revolutionise superleage.

I can't believe you are sharing the running a long way strategy on a forum.
What are we going to do when Leeds and Wigan see what we are doing?
Once they realise that they an run a long way as well in training our advantage is gone.

Come on guys, loose lips sink ships!

If the players have not got the basic skills already before we signed them I hate to think what is to come

What would Forrest Gump have been worth

or closer to home, Jesus who used to run up and down Horbury Rd in all weathers

I used to run up and down Horbury road,now I walk up and stagger back from club.

Jesus Jogger!!! Not seen him for years.

Where was he originally from?was it Kettlethorpe.

Err Bethlehem

Yer but he grew up in Nazereth.

I remember Jesus Runner - before running was a thing, he was all over Lupset at all hours of day and night, dressed up like a 118 man; he got dogs abuse from us kids, but his devotion to the running a long way programme made him impervious to our taunts. Ahead of his time!

I seem to remember a guy on Kettlethorpe who I think moved to Lupo. He could sprint and run long distance. Long black hair always in a track suit. It must be 50 years ago.

Not sure if it's the same bloke, I knew a lad in the early 80's called Martin Hampshire, lived in Normy, he just ran and ran everywhere he moved away somewhere and had a real big beard. He had an unusual way of running, he didn't seem to bend his ankles.
Might not be the same guy but you never know.