What are GH's options/theories at this precise moment:

i) Do nothing - he has every faith that BMD is the man to take us forward & except for a bit of tinkering the squad is as we would want it

ii) Keep BMD as above, but the squad is the problem - wholesale changes for next season

iii) BMD is not coping with the much heralded "transition". Get rid & bring someone in ASAP (for either the rest of 2016 or for 2017) - there may be NRL options - Anderson, or an aspiring asst coach? There only appears to be dross (Noble/Harris et al) available in SL

iv) See out 2016 with BMD & see if he can start to get the squad "clicking", once all the excuses have dissipated (injuries/training ground etc), but put feelers out about availability of suitable candidates for coach

I personally favour option iii), but think GH will see it as option iv) at best

To my mind we have performed OK in 4 of our 15 competitive matches thus far in 2016:
Warrington (H)
NQ Cowboys (H)
St Helens (H)
Hull (H)

However, in all 4 of those it was effort, application & defense that were the admirable parts to our game. Attacking-wise it has been pretty much garbage for all 15 ties (one or two spells in the odd game apart)

By the way, I am no bandwagoner or millennial. I have been a regular at Headingley since the late 60s (though I, like all of us, have been spoiled the past 12 years), so I know my garbage when I see it!

I certainly don't expect trophies every year either. It was obvious that this season was going to be very different from any season for a long time. We were aware that the team would be rebuilding in certain areas and most of us were fully on board with being very patient.
But this season is a disaster. There simply is no other word that covers it. It's a disaster on several levels.
Beyond the obvious results issue, the performances of some of our key star players has deteriorated dramatically and our hooker recruitment seems to be a big failure (although if you actually look at Galloway in isolation, he's progressed pretty much as you would expect, taken time to settle but now doing what you would want from a decent prop).
For me the biggest issue is that with the team playing so badly it's absolutely the wrong environment to transition in young players. Sutcliffe's confidence is in bits, the absolute last thing he needed was to come straight back from a one reconstruct into a team that is performing this badly with the ball. Same for any other kid we wanted to give a game, which is probably why Baldwinson hasn't gotten on the pitch yet.
This could severely damage this playing squad for years down the line.
If we were a solid 6/7th, with a few decent performances under the belt I reckon most people would be okay with that. My concern isn't this season, but what it means for us 2-3 years down the line.

Spot on DHM

Spot on.

Correct DHM, this season is a write off,can live with that but the wheels have to be put in motion and the half a year we have now to prepare for next season ahead of everyone else is crucial now.Will GH make the big call sooner rather than later? personally feel if he lets things meander into next year in the hope things will be ok he is playing a dangerous game. we will see.

I'm still optimistic about the future, we have the makings of a decent side, however there're 2 or 3 gaping holes in the squad that need filling, the number 1 priority has to be a tough 80 minute hooker who defends well in midfield. After watching Falloon this season it's amazing that guy has played nearly 100 NRL matches, and it's amazing to think certain posters claimed him to be better than Aiton. Even if a hooker is the only play we bring in next season it will go most of the way to fixing our problems.
Having no players on rep duty this year would also do us no harm at all.

As for the young players, I think they'll be OK. Sutcliffe's confidence is shot, but he came into a side who'd just swept the board, and was high on confidence. He's also played over 50 first team games, and been around the first team for a few years, so I'm not sure what better environment you could hope to give a young player a chance than the one Sutcliffe had at the start of the year. To be fair, the young players have done quite well, they've made some mistakes, but that's to be expected to some degree. The performances of the likes of Hardaker, Hall, and Watkins is what worries me. They've never faced this kind of crisis either, and they've not exactly passed the test so far.

Gah. Wrote my thoughts on new coaches on the middle 8 thread by mistake and can't copy/paste on my phone. Anyway, they're over there if anyone wants to read them...

I have to disagree with this part.

Some of the kids have taken their opportunities and are really blossoming. Lilley, in particular, looks the real deal. Though they will need to protect him defensively that is my lowest priority for a half. Handley has really taken this opportunity and built on last year's form. He ought to retain his place whether the brittle Briscoe (T) or off form Hall come back. And I think Golding gave a fantastic, brave, display last night.

The only young player struggling is Sutcliffe and if McGuire were fit we might be able to take him our of the firing line

We simply don't know whether Baldwinson could flourish in this environment because he hasn't been given the opportunity.

Frankly, I'd be chucking more of them in if we're destined for the middle 8s. I've seen what Achurch has to offer and it makes me sick to the stomach to watch it. Let's see what the young back rowers in our Academy have to offer, given the opportunity.

If a bit of adversity could damage a young player then I am not sure they are cut out for the sport.

Exactly.

Transition was always going to be a huge problem for Leeds because of the number of key players retiring or moving on at the same time. There's several more who will be exiting over the next couple of seasons too like McGuire, Burrow and JJB. These are players associated with the era of success who came through the Leeds academy ranks at more or less the same time.

Apart from a mere handful of players over the last decade, the academy hasn't produced a great deal of talent that might replace the incumbents and I'm not seeing much academy talent emerging any time soon who will replace all those exited or heading for the exits.

The club (along with a number of acolyte fans who have been keen to share the gospel according to GH over the years) have been at the forefront of criticising other SL clubs for attempting to buy success. The patronising, salary cap embracing ideology emanating from CEO Central is that SL clubs ought to invest in their academies and think long term like Super Leeds do.

Given the lack of appropriate academy talent emerging from the club and the lack of reserve grade opportunities, it'll be interesting over the coming months and during the off-season to note whether the CEO's ideology and legendary parsimonious policies will be maintained? Or will he bow to the pressure of reduced season ticket sales and go on a spending spree (including several trips to Oz) in order to fill all those gaping holes in the current squad, of which there are many?

Interesting times ahead.

watkins? just dont get the hype, how does he play for england?!

Something is wrong with him this season, he doesn't look right at all.Keinhorst, a makeshift centre is looking like the better player right now.For me, when Moon is fit if he keeps playing this way he wouldn't even get in the Leeds team.

Perhaps the current situation is not to Watkins liking?

What do I mean by that? Perhaps he's the type of player who looks great when the rest of the team is playing well and working as a well-oiled unit. And perhaps he's not the kind of player who relishes a scrap or a struggle of any kind.

In other words, if a game of RL was a trifle, he'd be at the front of the queue skimming off all the cream when things are going great. However, he lacks motivation, disappears up his own @rse, makes loads of mistakes and then whinges at others when things aren't rosy. You wouldn't want the flat-track bully alongside you in the trenches.

His form doesn't merit current selection. He's been awful. I also think he should be dropped. But dropped where? How does he get his form back? His motivation back? There's no reserve grade.

Well of cause he is, he's a classy centre not a grafting hard prop forward, he's a lead guitarist not the rytham section,

He is however a very poor player this year.

For all those screaming for us to calm down, I will remind you that 2010 was considered a bad season, worthy of changing the whole coaching staff and the way we play. In that season we finished 4th and got to the CC final.

By comparison this year has been a total disaster.