Yes well done Seth.

I too have backed Brian Mac against the persistent snipers. I did this mainly because I felt the critics were being impatient, unfair, naive and in many cases showing a complete lack of understanding and respect.

But don't hold your breath waiting for the 'know-all' keyboard coaching experts to finally see the light. I predict they will heap praise on the team and give faint praise to Brian Mac. They will yet again moan on and on about the "dross" of some earlier games which, in their flawed opinion, was all the fault of the coach. Some will still talk of "lacking technical skill" or "lacking structure" as if they really understood coaching.

It is true BM inherited a very special set of players (some of whom he helped develop under Smith) but he took charge at a time when some of the key players were past their peak and the team were showning clear signs of a decline under Bluey. He also had to start without two of his top players out with long term injuries. With other clubs recruiting strongly Leeds had harder competition from 4 or 5 other teams.

Not only has McDermott achieved most of the club's goals in his first 2 years (finals and finances) but he has quietly overseen some of the transitional work that was needed. He brought into the first team, Bish, Watkins and Hardaker as regulars. He converted Delaney into a very successful forward. McGuire's injury forced Sinfield to SO but BM kept him there and found a way to include Burrow when McGuire was fit again. He produced a resurgent Bailey and changed the pack structure to get his first choices on the field for the most time. He has also brought into the squad young Ward but has not over exposed him.

He has shown that he knows how to get his charges physically and mentally prepared and motivated for the big important games and he has shown a canny tactical nouse. He is his own man and makes selections and substitutions that sometimes give amunition to his impatient critics yet eventually produce the goods.

I don't buy this taking it easy business in the regular rounds. To peak on three separate occassions in the season means the coaching staff have to ease off at other times. I am sure the team and coaches plan to win every game, but a lack of form can hit even the best players and when this strikes several at the same time then you are going to have some nightmares - that's sport folks!

Well done once again Brian. Big man in every sense and currently the best coach in SL

A truly outstanding achievement by ALL involved i wont go over my comments when we hit the slump because at that time that was my opinion.
We aren't always right all of the time and i'm chuffed once again the Club have achieved success from an "outsider" bet and once again to a man they ALL stood and were counted when it came to the big one.
Well done to the Coaches ,Team ,Staff etc etc and thanks for delivering ANOTHER GF win!!

Well said.

In Wayne Bennetts book, Don't Die With The Music In You, he says you're better to have a great captain than a great coach. I haven't got the book with me but from memory the quote is something like, a great captain with an average coach makes the coach look good, but an great coach without a great captain is struggling.

I think this is the case with Leeds with not only McDermott but McLennan.

2 seasons 2 GF wins. No-one can argue with the excellent record of Brian McDermott.

No doubt though the usual murmours and criticisms will resurface if or when Leeds have a poor spell next season.

At the start of last year I said BMcD was out of his depth.

I also said that Ryan Hall should have spent another year in the Academy and that Lee Smith should have been our first choice winger.

What the f*ck do I know?

Not much, though well done for admitting that

Looking back through this thread I'm surprised someone's not had it deleted, truly embarrassing, and funny!

you buy terrible 'Champions- special edition' shirts?

I like page 7 of this thread the best

The visionry words of DHM stand out amongst some of the nonsense, it was good to see him back on here yesterday