yesterday was not a one off. It was syptomatic of a malaise that has lasted all season. Multiple players did poorly, making the wrong plays, making no effort, or are simply passed it. Several have gone backwards from their positions over the last 2 years.

To my mind, the reasons are simple. Some players are just over the hill. I don't know why we've signed Senior for another year, at best he'll be covering the centres as a squad player. Some players simply have no competition for their position-Rob Burrow being the perfect example. A lot of movement, but always sideways and never forwards. Similarly, Webb has done little since coming back into the side.

I thinkwe need to accept that the side is coming up to one of those moments where it's necessary to replace the 'core' of the squad if you will.

Some of our youngstersa are raring to go and already looking very good players-Ambler, McShane, Jones-Bishop, Watkins, Clarkson and Pitts for a start. Getting these guys in the side should help sharpen the bluntness we've felt for the last few years, as well as prepare us for he departure of Lauititi, Peacock, Sinfield, Leulaui, Buderus & Senior that's going to happen within the next season or two.

I also think we need to look seriously at signings. Eastwood will be a loss, but do we need to replace him? We will still have Jones-Buchanan, Pitts, Kirke, Ablett, Lauititi & Clarkson to operate in the 2nd row. Props are an issue for me, and I'd love to see us bring Nick Scruton back from Bradford.

Other than that, a replacement winger for Donald, as Smith is a much better centre than the mediocre Delaney.

to Finish, I'd suggest we're looking at side for 2011 of:

Jones-Bishop
?
Smith
Watkins
Hall
McGuire
Burrow
Leulaui
Buderus
Peacock
Jones-Buchanan
Ablett
Sinfield

McShane, Scruton, Bailey, Clarkson

The fact is the rebuilding is going to start during next season, as apart from Donald and Eastwood, the rest present yesterday are all still going to be present for 2011.

Press the panic buttons we've lost a final

We have this every october.

This is how I see it.

Most of the time since 2007 Leeds could afford to put in half hearted performances against a majority of super league teams and still come out with two super league points. However this season and last have seen Leeds lose against teams that we really shouldn’t - Salford, Crusaders etc.

Leeds have managed to get up for the Plays Offs every year since 2007 and we still have a chance of doing exactly the same this year. However we’ve always come short in the challenge cup play offs and thank goodness this year we put the Saints challenge cup hoodoo to bed this year. We got totally outplayed on the day of the final and now its up to this squad of players to make amends.

I think it’s a bit harsh having a go at Delaney in his first season. As far as I can remember he did pretty well before he got injured so have faith in him to become good again.

Still there’s an air of ‘old boys’ club at Leeds next year and I’m not necessary complaining about the ages of the players we’ve kept on either. I just think that we have a squad of players at Leeds who know that they positions are safe. After all you really couldn’t see Kallum Watkins coming in to replace Delaney next week could you, unless Delaney had an injury.

Leeds Rhinos = Complacency, Hope for the best and expect better.

Whats up with Delany please. He is a defensive centre, he's very solid and does his job well.

As 3 times champions we should not have signed a defensive centre. Surely we are worthy of a top class centre who can both tackle and attack. So far he doesn't look to be a class centre but rather a 2nd row type centre. I have felt sorry for Donald who looked very good when on the left with Senior and Web. But he has had a succession of make do centres with who have been unable to create chances for him on the wing. Ironically Delaney had one of his better games on attack in the Final with some better lines of running but having said that both the Warrington centres looked sharper, faster, more aware than either of ours and it has to be said Seniors defence is terrible.

Number 1 fan are you?

Certain posters with a little more sense predicted this 18 months ago. Of course I presume that was also a knee jerk depite saying 2011?

Given most things that you have typed over the years, I think your prediction was a stab in the dark rather than anything concrete

I don't know about predictions loz but tbf to Gotcha he's stated for a while that the squad need freshening up and that we had too many ageing players that had served their purpose.
I personally am 50/50 with certain players and i think we are entering a transitional phase but of course other factors have to be considered this season and we could still be good come play-off time.

Of course it is. I mean how many other stab in the darks actually state specifically when and make that "stab in the dark" so far before?

But just for the record Loz, I really hope you are right on this and I was wrong all along. I really mean that.