From afar, the stick bm gets seems harsh. It appears a top 4 position is certainly obtainable for leeds and a cc final. almost all teams would have taken this, certainly given the fact that at least 3 (hudds, wigan and wire) seem to have better squads, that is not a bad thing.

The most amazing thing is that you have had a total change of backroom staff and injuries to your KEY players, yet still dont seem to take these into account at all. any team missing there starting half back and centre, 2 outside backs who would start and jp would expect to struggle a little. This also doesnt account for 2 of your quota guys not addapting or doing well, seems your league position and cup run is best you could have hoped for.

For all of you saying that this years poor performances were down to the injuries of Peacock and McGuire at the beginning of the season, I seem to remember last years poor performances coincided with Sinfield being sidelined with an injury picked up in the WCC. Given the way Sinfield has carried the team during the early part of the season I dread to think where we would have been without him

Our poor start to last season had less to do with injuries than some suppose. We had virtually no injuries prior to the WCC but weren't playing well, including a defeat a home to Cas in round 1 when we were at full strength. For the most part, we were poor last year in spite of having what GH descibed as our strongest squad ever - on paper, at least, he was right. Last year, many times McGuire got us out of jail and virtually every week on the stats thread people commented - 'where would we be without Peacock?'. For the first half of this year we've found out. McDermott has his faults and I by no means agree with all his decisions but in some respects he can't win - if we lose/play poorly he gets the blame but gets no credit if we win/play well. If we win the cup the majority will attribute it to our excellent players - Sinfield, Peacock, Buderus et al. If we get embarrassed (like last year!) it will be because we have a crap coach!

Quote Damo-Leeds="Damo-Leeds"I’ve probably been our coach’s biggest critic over this season. But he’s done some good stuff and that is what I acknowledge in this week’s damobit - leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1678 [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YeRLqLxnbwAlso check this out. It’s the Damo Bit Rugby Ball bouncing around. Still a lot more work to go into the introduction to the show as yet. But it’s getting done. Perhaps as a pilot show prize they could be a real ball with the Damo Bit on..[/url Or we can just have a cake ball..'" If you are an armchair critic as self-confessed, are you really in a position to criticise/praise the coaching set up ? In fact are you really in a position to write a weekly column with any credibiltiy ?

Quote Damo-Leeds="Damo-Leeds"I’ve probably been our coach’s biggest critic over this season. But he’s done some good stuff and that is what I acknowledge in this week’s damobit - leeds.rlfans.com/readarticle.php?article_id=1678 [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YeRLqLxnbwAlso check this out. It’s the Damo Bit Rugby Ball bouncing around. Still a lot more work to go into the introduction to the show as yet. But it’s getting done. Perhaps as a pilot show prize they could be a real ball with the Damo Bit on..[/url Or we can just have a cake ball..'" If you are an armchair critic as self-confessed, are you really in a position to criticise/praise the coaching set up ? In fact are you really in a position to write a weekly column with any credibiltiy ?

Everyone and anyone is allowed to chuck in their two pennies worth regardless. We live in a society where opinions and free speech are welcomed. It doesn’t discriminate against anyone.

My credibility is judged by whoever wants to judge it really. Other than that I’d like to think this week’s column has generated a good debate (Thanks Fallon for starting it!) on southstander and has encouraged people to express interesting points that I’ve enjoyed reading

McDermott needs sacking at end of season or after the Challenge Cup final (Win or lose!) End of discussion. The man's a joke, make way for a better coach!!

Bang on there for me DHM

dont think Mcdermott or Lowes are well thought of by the majority of the players either

Is it possible, and I know that I am coming from leftfield a little bit here, that the top 4 are good sides. That they are well drilled, well coached, young and enthusiastic. That they are well managed and that it's been coming for a while? And that even if Leeds were coached by Wayne Bennett for the last two years, Leeds would still be getting duffed up by the bounding young pups that are the new kids on the block?

Did every other fan site in SL start calling their coaches useless when TS started to win things. After all what did he know, he was just some dumbass Bartercard standoff.

Damo demonstrates his narrow minded view of RL once again. Leeds ground out results, but weren't entertaining. So, what is it Damo, Leeds should be showponies and not put the hard graft in when it requires it. Superb idea, no really.

Leeds may have been left behind a little or a lot, but it doesn't matter.

Perhaps, just perhaps GH has recognised what we all knew. the writing was on the wall, and rather than set up for some expensive knee jerk wallpapering exercise, he's gone for some longer term underpinning to build a new foundation for the future.

Personally, I hope Leeds play simple RL at Wembley, complete their sets. Come off the line like men possessed, put pressure on the Wigan line. Cause mistakes. Then truck it up for another six. We can't beat Wigan at expansive RL, we can beat them at McDermotts unentertaining, grinding out victories style.

I'd take a boring win with a high completion rate and a good tackle count over a thrilling loss.

I like my rugby league to be sublime and not grime.

Professional rugby league is all about entertainment and yes you have to do a lot of hard graft in order to emerge entertaining. Wigan for example seem to be working more harder than anyone else at the moment and it’s showing on the field. They’re show ponies and stallions all rolled into one are the Wigan players at the moment. It’s absolutely pleasurable and breath-taking to watch at times.

Perhaps I do have a narrow minded view of rugby league but don’t get me wrong – I’ll support Leeds Rhinos through the good times and bad times. But I’ll also have my opinion.

Based on what out of interest?

I think that is spot on.

How dare you suggest that the players who were better than their opposition counterparts 2007-2009 might not actually be as good as they once were?

Leeds have the 4th/5th best playing squad in SL. Funnily enough, that's roughly where they're going to finish.