El Diablo wrote:
Is that lack of ambition, or would thinking "we're a bit short of a couple of props and a hooker" and then blowing the wad of cash you have on an expensive back-rower instead really good business? Even allowing for Hauraki being a flop (are you really telling me every signing Wire have made under Moranovich's regime has been brilliant?) we're not exactly short of back-rowers.
It's lack of ambition. It's a simple choice - do we go for a bigger yet overall less capable squad (due to diluting overall ability) by buying average players, or do we buy the best and introduce more youngsters (e.g. Singleton, Amor, even Ambler) as extra cover. To me, one way is negative and shows a lack of ambition, the other is positive and shows an interest in being the best but also of keeping one eye on succession.
El Diablo wrote:
And to my knowledge (because a couple of people have brought it up) Lunt isn't a permanent signing is he? Unless I missed an announcement.
Not yet he's not but I would have preferred to keep McShane and see what he could do.
El Diablo wrote:
Hull have spent big on Gareth Ellis. If he blasts them to a title next year, maybe we can laud their more ambitious recruitment. I think we'll finish above them myself. Wire's much-vaunted super-recruitment may have delivered 3 Challenge Cups, but has yet to even yield an Old Trafford appearance, so it has hardly been an instant success.
Warrington haven't won a title yet, true. But 3 cups isn't to be sniffed at - it's 3 more than we've won in the past 13 years. But you can't deny that Warrington are now arguably the best team in the comp and recruitment has played a large part in that.
El Diablo wrote:
Since McDermott took charge, for all the moaning and bleating and tales of our demise, Leeds have had 4 trophies available to them. They've won 2 and reached the other two finals. Acknowledging the need to refresh and rejuvenate a bit, is it really Doomsday just yet?
Well let's look at the facts. So far in his tenure our defence has got progressively worse. Last season we attained the lowest number of competition points for 14 years and finished in our lowest league position for 10 years. Aside from the stats I don't believe a lot of our squad are playing to their potential, tactics (if there are any) are inept, team selection and substitutions have at times been baffling, indiscipline is still an issue and we don't seem to have any structure in attack or defence.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's great we've got to the finals we have. But to me it's clear the coach is out of his depth and the squad needs improving.
