Yep, we are approaching crunch point, if it hasn't already arrived.

What awful timing it was from GH with his dear John letter. Right before two thumpings and a big two fingers from the players, it has left him looking a bit daft to be perfectly honest. As others have pointed out though, GH doesn't like to back down so i'm not convinced we will see much happen in the next few weeks

Do you really believe this coaching team can continue to get the best from this set of players though? Im not suggesting we won't be far better with everyone fit, but if anything this mini crisis has pointed out, surely it is that good things under this regime ended in glorious fashion in 2015.

We have been on that situation since McDermott settled in. It was always said he would take the club backwards. Yes there were trophies won, and would have anyway, but it was always the development and future planning that was voiced on here. Next year is now a transistion, as total rebuild has to begin, and that should have happened this year. Could be three or four years before we are competing again. Yet still, we look like we might be shopping in poundland for that rebuild rather than M&S.

I disagree it will take that long IF GH gets the next phase right but all depends who his next Coach is & what route they take within that structure imo.

We need a stand off and probably 6 of the 9 that were missing yesterday to be competitive again. Total rebuild, sacking everyone won't achieve anything

You can't rebuild in a short period. You can improve massively on now yes, but that still wouldn't be challenging. It needs to be done slowly. Our academy lads could be two or three years away, as we are currently doing what should have happened three years ago.

The next coach needs to be the right coach to get the longer term right, not just the short term to please fans. Powell did everything right for this club without the trophy's to show, and that thinking is what we need to do again for now. McDermott never was and never will be right for that role.

Agreed, but if GH doesn't change something soon we won't be able to recruit a decent stand off, at which point it becomes more than a 1 season hiccup.

I agree re-Acadamy etc that wasn't the actual point though it was more about getting us back on track at 1st team level.
My views are very clear & im sure not too different to yours re-Acadamy Coaching etc.

The problem for any new coach is the halfs yet again. Other positions can be replaced like for like, but halfs is an issue. Lilley has done more than enough to warrant the side built around him. To do that he needs a class controlling stand off outside him. McGuire is not that player, and Sutcliffe would never be. Or the other side is we get the class stand off and McGuire plays scrumhalf short term, but then you stump that development of Lilley and just delay the build. It's quite a predicament for a coach and the CEO, which they don't appear to want to deal with. Then you still have the problem of Burrow around also, class player but is it right for the team. Only way we can move forward long term is to be more long term thinking in the short term.

But priority is an actual leader in that team. Not players called leaders because they have played a lot of games, but an actual leader, leading by example. There is a big difference to those two things.

We may be out of the silverware race for a few years. Regretfully I don't think we have a basic structure of decent players to rebuild a team around.

Maybe in theory, but just like with Sinfield we used to be able to find a way to win, it is possible that confidence in players will drop to the point that we keep finding players to loose.
If we loose the opening game or 2 next year, or get a couple of injuries, Im worried heads will completley drop gain.
That is unless we show what we can do before the end of the year.

It has been said before but it already depends on the coaching position. A great coach like Tony Smith can get the extra 1% from his players to make all the difference, instilling that confidence. I don't think Mcdermott has that ability, which is a shame because I actually really like and respect the bloke.

I'm not sure that Tony Smith is the best example to quote currently.
Since Sandow got injured they've lost 5 out of 7 games I think.
Powell, however, seems to make 2+2 =5.
The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Brian Damage - and when the team you lead starts playing different tunes ...

Apologies to Roger Waters naturally.

I like Lilley, but I keep thinking of Graham Holroyd. Young lad looking good in a terrible team effort...