Without JJB and Delaney in the engine room, I'd say it was 50/50. But, in my opinion, Friday night's performance alone was sufficient to prove decisively that your critique of the coach is completely irrational.

Regarding the false account irrationality: don't be coy - just say who you think is my alias. Then hopefully they can prove you're wrong and irrational about that too.

Oh dear

My critique of the coach is irrational? Not harsh but irrational?

What was my critique of the coach again? You start a post off trying to cover your ass and then contradict yourself by saying I was being irrational.

My critique has always been that he has favourites and will always pick the same 17 players given the opportunity. Not giving others an opportunity, unless forced, and by this flogging players to the point of injury.

You start a post off saying without JJB and Delaney it is only 50/50 this Friday. Ooh the irony.

Who is my alias Gotcha? Name names...

Either this alias is difficult to spell or you're bottling it like Tony...

He's either a genius or, as he keeps saying, very lucky to coach this group of players.

That there will still be some who think the latter even if he coaches us to a 3rd consecutive titles shows how polarising he is.

At what point does the latter view of McDermott become idiotic, though? 4 titles? 5 titles? When he walks into the middle of the pitch at Headingley and turns water into wine??

Smith and Wane inherited some very good players but can't get them to win the big prize, just a second-rate Cup competition...

I don't think it ever becomes idiotic to hold an opinion and be able to express and justify it. I think blind praise is idiotic, personally.

Smith and Wane didn't inherit a group of players that had been champions four of the previous seven seasons though.

Your better placed to dissagree with this guy.

That's the point it is either blind idiotic praise, or appears idiotic harsh critisism. Again nothing in the middle. You either salute Mcdermott or you are wrong.

As you have implied above about how it appears the players are ignored in their exploits before McDermott, i would also point out Graham West again. A coach who is the only coach to win all the major trophies in one season, including going to Australia and winning the WCC. He wasn't a good coach, he is now driving taxi's, after having only one other coaching appointment after his Wigan days. What he did have was a wonderful set of players able to beat all before them.

Are these the same players who are regularly slammed around here for being well past it?



Fine by me. But look at your fellow traveller - a gibbering fantasist who thinks I'm fecking Lord Lucan.



As you know, it's not a question of blind faith in McD, but perhaps at least he's earned some basic, unvarnished loyalty? The players obviously think so...

Who is my alias, Gotcha?

True, in fact over the course of super league no coach has won back to back titles, except McDermott and McClennan, both of which have been declared no good by experts on here. Now obviously we have a very special group of players, but for me, and they have a very good bond and a collective attitude. But the coaches have to take some credit for keeping them fresh and hungry. A great team is to a certain extent useless if people work out how to negate the threats. Could they be the sucess they were at leeds somewhere else? Maybe? I think being a top coach and being sucessful are down to having top players, and knowing how to get the most out of them