: Wed May 13, 2009 7:28 pm  

batleyrhino wrote:

He is, its a desperate strategy that most of us who have been around long enough to remember Leeds having a good team before SL have adopted every now and again. It's generally brought on by underachievement and a desire to see us fulfil our potential as a club (something rarely seen).

"Paper" and "cracks" are two words that immediately spring to mind when you think of Leeds over the last 25 years. Others would be "Flatter", "to" and "deceive".

Pot half empty? You bet it is.

Yes i remember the years as the "nearly team" and the one's when we were the "never will be" team also all the more reason for the glass to be "half full" IMHO!

: Wed May 13, 2009 10:35 pm  

tvoc wrote:

Well that would be the wrong impression.

My discontent with the squad strengthening this season has long been on the record here. It's borne purely out of a desire to see Leeds be the best that they can be at all times and an unflinching need to see them succeed.

I forgot to add that not only is this the best Leeds have available but they are also rested and trained within an inch of perfection (for this stage of the season) over the past 11 days by game day.

No excuses, not even the referee should be neccessary this week.

If the team are flat, lacking in confidence and ill disciplined after Bluey's had two weeks to work with them all then serious questions need asking and those questions are not about who is playing left or right centre for Saints next year..........

: Wed May 13, 2009 10:58 pm  

You can't mean that questions would have to be asked about Bluey? How very dare you. It's Tony Smith's fault.

: Wed May 13, 2009 11:13 pm  

BrisbaneRhino wrote:

You can't mean that questions would have to be asked about Bluey? How very dare you. It's Tony Smith's fault.

Do keep up Brisbane.....its' now all Ashley Gibson, Kallum Watkins or Carl Ablett's fault.

: Wed May 13, 2009 11:17 pm  

Loop wrote:

Agree, would really like to see Buderus play the full match

Webb
Donald
Smith
Senior
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Leuluai
Buderus
Peacock
JJB
Kirke
Sinfield (C)

Ablett
Lauitiiti
Burgess
Bailey

maybe switch Kirke & Ablett around but that is my 1st choice team as long as Danny M is fit to play from the start.

Thats the team i would like to see but i just cant see Bluey not putting Diskin in the 17. Hopefully we'll get to see Buderus play the full 80 cos we looked far better when he was on against Catalans but i very much doubt it.

: Wed May 13, 2009 11:46 pm  

G1 wrote:

If the team are flat, lacking in confidence and ill disciplined after Bluey's had two weeks to work with them all then serious questions need asking and those questions are not about who is playing left or right centre for Saints next year..........

I take a holistic approach and look at everyone's input from the players up and the chairman down.

Overall McClennan had a great first season in charge, becoming unique in this country in getting a side to peak for the fifth game and again for the last game of a long, arduous season.

He is perhaps suffering his own second season syndrome to this point (although the end result could yet justify the means) but he has a smaller and almost by definition less talented squad at his disposal this season.

I imagine team retainment and recruitment is ultimately in the hands of the CEO. McClennan afterall can only coach what he is given. In turn the CEO may be constrained by the resources he has available as directed by the chairman.

Who plays in which centre position next season for St Helens has little to no bearing on Leeds in 2009.

: Thu May 14, 2009 12:04 am  

I'd love for someone to proper slyly just slip Richie Spedding into the squad when starting this thread.

Will someone do that? Whoever makes the 19 man thread next week will you do it for me?

TIA

: Thu May 14, 2009 12:09 am  

He's Leeds' elusive number 15, has been for a few years now.

: Thu May 14, 2009 7:33 am  

tvoc wrote:

He's Leeds' elusive number 15, has been for a few years now.

I heard they retired the shirt in homage to him