JJB would have organized the defence better. We were too concentrated in the middle and Gale saw it and went wide. McGuire either isn't fully match fit (if he were he will have something to offer on attack) but he looked way off the pace and may now be shot. I hope not.

I have been disappointed in Watkins for some time now and expressed my views last season when he was terrible until the last few weeks. My point is the problems are within him and nothing to do with structure. For several seasons Moon has been the more effective as has Keinhorst when he gets the chance so nothing to do with structures and planning which are just long term excuses.

With regard to Sutcliffe the reason he has been chopped and changed is because he has not commanded one position well enough whereas Williams from the start showed he had the skill as a 6 and there was no need to keep moving him rather like Mags and Burrow who grabbed their chance so well that you couldn't drop them. Sutty is just too laid back and makes wrong decisions which is his own failing and not the coaches. Coaching can improve players but top players possess a natural understanding and awareness to read a game that is nurtured at a young age. Once they get to Sutcliffe's age and they do not posses that nous as an organizer it is unlikely they will improve a lot more. Sutty reminds me of Oldroyd in many ways.

I agree the youngsters have to have a be given time but while not letting themselves down none look ready yet. So we have too many in the squad that are just not good enough players no matter who is coaching them.

Powell at Cas has done a fine job but I would say it is largely due to wise recruitment so he has something to work with. We have just not recruited to the level a club like Leeds deserve and for this I blame GH who we all know keeps this role for himself.

McGuire managed it but granted, he is the exception rather than the rule.

I always want Leeds to win every game they play without exception - but once a game is clearly lost I am more than happy for them to get whatever score put on them their abject performance deserves including getting flogged just as they did last Thursday at Castleford. If that hastens the demise of the current inept management then so be it.

Thursday was Leeds' widest margin of defeat in any game during the SL Era (in any game since 21/5/95), Leeds have conceded their heaviest ever defeats to Castleford both home and away in the space of the last ten months, Leeds had never lost five straight to Castleford before - they have now. Prior to the five straight defeats Leeds under McDermott V Castleford had Won ten, Drawn one, Lost one. That reversal of fortune is IMO indicative of the direction Leeds have been heading under this regime for some time now.

The CEO rightly states the importance of the next four fixtures:
V Catalans - Leeds have lost the last three meetings
V Wakefield - Leeds have won two of last three meetings
V Huddersfield - Leeds have lost the last three meetings
V Wigan - Leeds have won one of last three meetings

Leeds have won three of the last twelve meetings so one from the next four would be about par for the recent course in these fixtures. Most Leeds fans would probably view that as being a shade optimistic after Thursday's debacle.

Fair doos

Jjb would not have organised anything he never has he's always been a grafter & leader in deed rather than anything else.
Wrt Mags/Burrow "grabbing their chance" look what they walked into & who they had on/off the field to nurture them.
You mention Mags not being match fit Sutty played 6 last year on 1 decent leg for nearly 5mths in a poor team decimated by injury bereft of any leaders on or off tje pitch yet you happily stick the boot in.
Same with Watkins as poor as he was at times last year he was used as basically another 2nd rower & hasn't had the service Moon or Keinhorst got.

Burrow made his debut in Daryl Powell's first game in charge of Leeds in 2001 - how long was it before he nailed down the only starting position his size effectively dictated?

I agree Sutcliffe has yet to establish himself and that stand-off may not be his best fit but he has a versatility value and experience in several roles now. I'd have left him at full-back where I thought he was doing a decent enough job - still not wholly convinced by Golding.

Agree with tad that GH has bought himself some time and I think more importantly sought to prevent any booing/protests v Catalan by asking fans for vocal support. It seems a fair shout to seek to protect this squad.

This team/group appears quite fragile to me.

Regardless of what happens for rest of the year I think McD will leave at end of year if not before and McGuire will retire with others leaving.

I hope for a reaction but think we need a few bodies back to be able to compete with their power and quality of Myler, Walsh, Aiton & Bird in key positions.

Whatever form a clearout takes there will be a limit to the number of changes possible in one go - a major reason why I have no doubt this season's 'recruitment' will be seen as a complete and utter waste of a year.

Whoever is ultimately responsible, the squad needs to be divided into 3 sets of players - the must haves, the must get rids and those that whilst not integral to the team will have to stay to either make up numbers or give a proper chance to. When I look at the squad its the breathtaking ordinariness of far too many players, particularly forwards, that stands out.

The only 'must haves' I can see in the pack are Garbutt, Parcell (because we need a hooker), Ferres and Ward (if they can get fit). I would have zero qualms about any other individual forward in the squad leaving, except for JJB, who at least shows the right kind of spirit when he plays (in contrast to the shirt-grabbing nonentity Ablett was for most of last year).

That's at least twice now that you have declined to answer the question of Hardaker (once from me). Is it a case of fingers in ears & hoping the noise will go away? I will try one last time:

Do you not agree that Hardaker looks head & shoulders the best FB in the league & is showing an excellent linking game in attack? He has put more colleagues in for tries in 3 games for Cas than he did in entire seasons for Leeds. Has he suddenly gained this skill of his own accord, or do you think it possible that he has been coached to express his attacking flair by Powell? And by extension,was this suppressed at Leeds?

You were (by far) Hardaker's biggest detractor on here in his time at Leeds (playing capabilities, not misdemeanours). What do you think of his abilities now? And to what do you put this down to (assuming you think he looks a good player now - that might be a large assumption with you, however)?

I think you have a bit of a selective memory there mate, Williams in early 2015 (his first full year at 6) made tonnes of mistakes and completely cost Wigan in the CC against Hull KR, but Wane stuck by him and it paid dividends. Sutty by contrast was shipped to the bench or out of position every time he had a bad game and as such has not developed in the same way.

I also dont think GH is in TOTAL charge of all the recruitment. When Brian McClenan came in he said he wanted 2 hookers and thats why we signed Buderus. So if Mac said he wanted another half or prop he would surely get one?

Also agree with above re Hardaker, he sure can pass now cant he?!

Given the song and dance you performed pointing the finger at others for being happy to see Leeds Rhinos lose, it was important to establish whether your opinion was based upon on a matter of principle.

Given your entirely different stance on Leeds Utd's effort and result against non-league opposition in the FA Cup, it's clear there is no reliable matter of principle involved on your part.

Feel free to thrash around with another [ime, me, me[/i song and dance routine in response.

While a letter had a poor year last he has been one of our better performers this year. Taking the cas game out the back row of JJB WARD and ABLETT have been good.

Against whom - Ward has managed 3 games before breaking down again, JJB is once again injured how reliable are these two. What is reliable about Ablett is he will concede penalties in every game he plays