: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:21 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

Being able to complete set of great psychometric tests doesn't make you a great manager - Smith had high and lows in equal measure IMO - was he a great manager he won two GF's but he presided over 2006 one of the Rhinos worst seasons in SL?

Whoa, knee jerkery of the highest order there.

: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:22 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

Smith had high and lows in equal measure IMO

3 grand finals and 2 championships in 4 years after nothing for 32 years!
I can only guess that you will be no more pleased with bluey unless he returns at least 3 grand finals wins in the next 4 years.

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

but he presided over 2006 one of the Rhinos worst seasons in SL?

Semi final in the cup and third in the league, over the course of Leeds super league history I think that would be nearer the top than bottom.

: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:22 pm  

Lord_Percy wrote:

I'd say there were quite a few SL seasons worse than 2006 for the Rhinos. 96 was far, far worse (OK, we weren't the Rhinos then) and 2001 wasn't exactly a barrell of laughs either.

But for the best coach the club has ever had 'allegedly' it hardly counts as a success - would you not agree?

TVOC will be able to confirm 1996 apart was 2006 the first year we got knocked out of the playoffs round 1?

: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:22 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

he presided over 2006 one of the Rhinos worst seasons in SL?

Made the playoffs and CC semi.

Get a grip.

: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:23 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

Being able to complete set of great psychometric tests doesn't make you a great manager - Smith had high and lows in equal measure IMO - was he a great manager he won two GF's but he presided over 2006 one of the Rhinos worst seasons in SL?

No, but it does show a cerebral capacity that perhaps outstrips some of the more demonstrative managers out there.

I always saw Smith as someone who was aware of the deeper psychological machinations of a successful side, as Monie was. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why the 2006 season wasn't the start of a long term problem. And one of the reasons that as far as I can see Leeds are one of the most emotionally robust sides in the world. They can and will wobble, but like weebles, they won't fall down.

I like managers who don't feel the need to rant and rave and get all upset about wins and or losses.

: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:25 pm  

Ouzo Time! wrote:

Made the playoffs and CC semi.

Get a grip.

You too - we have made the play offs every year since their inception - getting to the semi was hardly an achievement given the teams we played getting there - but to play so well!! in the semi was a real triumph of Smith's motivational skills would you not agree?

: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:26 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

But for the best coach the club has ever had 'allegedly' it hardly counts as a success - would you not agree?

TVOC will be able to confirm 1996 apart was 2006 the first year we got knocked out of the playoffs round 1?

Compared to many other coaches, 2006 was a success. By Smith's high standards it was a failure, I'll give you that, but cup semi-finals and a 3rd place finish after the regular rounds was more than a lot of people have achieved.

Anyway, why say alleged? 2 championships, no other Leeds coach has done that.

: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:27 pm  

Eccleshill Rhino wrote:

You too - we have made the play offs every year since their inception - getting to the semi was hardly an achievement given the teams we played getting there - but to play so well!! in the semi was a real triumph of Smith's motivational skills would you not agree?

So in order to denegrate Smith's achievements, you're going to pick a couple of games out of over 100 or so as an example of him not being as good as everyone says he is?

Is Daniel Anderson a sh*t coach because Saints were comprehensively outplayed in the 2007 Grand Final?

: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:29 pm  

do you think daniel anderson would have selected a player for a cup final who couldn't walk the day before the game or pick a bench with no prop against a team with a huge pack in a cup final?

i'm not denying smiths achievments but he let himself down at times

: Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:32 pm  

Eccleshill & Tad must be trolling surely.