come on gents i think you mean, ad hominem.

[size=75you pair of bickering retards.[/size

Development of players, structures and the club as a whole would seem to me to be a basis to judge success - will the club be a better place for having McClennan as head coach surely that is the acid test? His record year 1 is superior to Smith's does that make him a better coach? not sure about that - they are different.

Smith is obviously a very talented coach so if he doesn't win the WC will that make him a poor coach? of course not if the team perform to their potential that is all he can do.

I don't think you and Gareth had it in for McClennan what I do think is you put Smith on such a high pedestal and used his winning two GFs to justify a whole host of baiting. For McClennan to eclipse Smith would simply not suit your either of your agendas. IMO your defence of Smith has done neither of you any favours nor has the personal insults that you have both been using on this thread.

You are both intelligent posters who make a host a interesting and valid points but no one is right 100% of the time?

Do you have any idea what this represents?

It was far easier and less time-consuming to just respond to gimpy's effort with a copy and paste job instead.

David,

I've said all along I hope McLennan/McClennan/Bluey goes on to eclipse Smith. I desperately do.

I think the guy is great. really affable. That is why I think he's judged by different standards to his predecessor which is unfair.

Here's hoping that we win it next year and you're pointing out you were right all along and MacLenon has proven to be our best ever.

Its Bryan Mark Lennon. Dumbo.

You make a valid point about McClennan's charm/approachability however I think it takes a special coach to turn the Aussies over in a game that matters. Maybe GH realised the players needed a completely different style of coach to Smith - much credit must go in Gary's direction.

Hopefully - I think 2009 could be a massive year - as long as they continue to develop and play as they have this year win or lose that will be good enough for me.

Stop it. You'll upset Ap and he'll start throwing personal insults your way.

Fx Guffaw HTH

The vast improvement in folk spelling McClennan correctly right now is a joy to behold. I guess he's finally getting the recognition that AP knew he deserved all along.

Well done all

Just to switch to AP mode for a second, Smith was the brother of a former Bradford coach who paid his own air fare over to coach Huddersfield (an appointmant that I seem to remember think was about as low as the British game could get -really would we take anyone to coach an SL side as long as was from Australia?). Then He managed to get Hudds to be "moderately average" (an achievement I know, for them) and then came to Leeds. He is less than scintillating in an interview (I remember his first appearance on Boots 'n All after his aforementioned flight to the UK - not inspiring0.
McClenonananamanlenon was an international coach who lead NZ to win the Tri-Nations. I can sort of understand why he was initially greeted with more enthusiasm than Smith by some and given more leeway early on (although there is no excuse for the crud Smith got last year from some).
Having said that, I slagged Smith off to a mate when he came over to take the Hudds job, but when Leeds appointed him coach I thought it was a shrewd appointment. The characterisitics that Hudds showed were all the things Leeds were missing - epitomised by the defeat they inflicted on us in 2003. My mate has not stopped reminding me of my initial evaluation of Smith, and I don't care, I am big enough to look at facts and change my mind.

in one of the rugby papers today smith states that he felt it was probably time for a change even if the england job hadn't come up.
i think thats a fair call