Of course it could be as simple as Saints have improved since then, which they quite obviously have.



Entirely agree. Everything there is spot on. But a change of tune to your comments of recent weeks, about everything is fine and we are top of the league.



Again entirely agree.

? What are you on about?

You are questioning our coach and his tactics. You have questioned that players have not improved under him.

You are correct.

Recently you have been slagging off posters for questioning how poor we are playing, saying everything is fine and we are top of the league.

If thats not a contradiction I dont know what is. Therefore a change of tune.

Your posts today are correct.

Have I?

When?

Not if we include all the times they played Saints last year.

Under Brian McClennan V St Helens:

Played 7, Won 2, Drawn 0, Lost 5, Pts For 112, Pts Agst 164 (Avg Scr 16-23) 29%

On average Leeds are no longer within a score of St Helens and it shows.

Just as a reference, under Tony Smith:

Played 14, Won 7, Drawn 0, Lost 7, Pts For 329, Pts Agst 301 (Avg Scr 24-22) 29%

So you'd rather I compared their first seven games V St Helens instead then?

Brian McClennanTony Smith:

Played 7, Won 4, Drawn 0, Lost 3, Pts For 192, Pts Agst 171 (Avg Scr 27-24) 57%

Is that better?

From the St Helens viewpoint where obviously a loss becomes a win13-Mar-04 ….. CC - 05 ….. Away ….. Lost 24 - 14
30-Apr-04 ….. 09 - 09 ….. Away ….. Lost 56 - 10
23-Jul-04 ….. 09 - 20 ….. Home ….. Won 70 - 0
10-Sep-04 ….. 09 - 27 ….. Away ….. Won 19 - 25
18-Feb-05 ….. 10 - 02 ….. Home ….. Won 30 - 18
27-May-05 ….. 10 - 15 ….. Away ….. Lost 38 - 24
30-Sep-05 ….. PO - QSF ….. Away ….. Won 16 - 19
24-Feb-06 ….. 11 - 03 ….. Away ….. Lost 13 - 4
22-Jul-06 ….. 11 - 22 ….. Home ….. Lost 14 - 18
09-Sep-06 ….. 11 - 27 ….. Away ….. Lost 54 - 18
21-Apr-07 ….. 12 - 11 ….. Home ….. Won 38 - 19
06-Jul-07 ….. 12 - 19 ….. Away ….. Won 10 - 22
28-Sep-07 ….. PO - QSF ….. Away ….. Lost 10 - 8
13-Oct-07 ….. PO - GF ….. Neutral ….. Won 6 - 33

2007 was payback for 2006.

1) Definitely true.
2) Also true, but it didn't affect the result.
3) Agree about Senior but not Burrow. I thought we lacked some direction and cohesion in midfield - we had chances to score (i.e. possession in the right area) but didn't take them and looked short of ideas. Burrow has to take some responsibility for this.
4) Buderus' passing was suspect today. Looked rusty, but neither hooker excelled.
5) Agree. Bailey's absence was exacerbated by Leuluai being our worst player, Burgess not having a good game and Kirke seeming to have little game time.
6) I think Gibson's getting some undeserved stick on here. I thought he did OK - didn't let anyone down in defence and I remember him putting Donald in space on the outside twice in the first half, the first one he dropped, the second he was tackled by Gilmour.
7) Agree.

I think our major deficiencies were front row and playmaking. I was disappointed that Burrow didn't control the game better, especially as Long was missing for them. In terms of changes, we're a little short of options dur to a lack of depth in the forwards in particular. I'd hope Bailey will play on Friday, possibly starting with Burgess and having Peacock in second row. A definite change must be to switch Donald to left wing - he looks a shadow of the player he was last year. I thought that when Lauitiiti offloaded to him in the second half and he was tackled into touch on the South Stand side that he didn't seem to be able to step off his right foot - unsurprising for a left winger! He's had a season and a few games on the right wing and been hit and miss. In two seasons on the left wing he was the best winger in the competition. He looks distinctly average now.

Time for Mr Hetherington to open the cheque book and offer Shenton a offer too good to refuse!!

Shenton would be ideal IMO, although I'd quite like to see him stay at Cas as they continue to improve.

Something is not right at leeds IMO The body language of the players seems very negative and we do't seem to have that spirit. Wether there is something going on behind the scenes I don't know but a lot of our players look tired and down. I have before posted we need to bleed the youngsters through but I have now changed my mind. Maybe a new signing will lift the team spirit.

Also If we were with out some class individual's we would be destroyed by saints. Burrow and Peacock seemed the only ones who turned up which is worrying. On paper i would say man for man we have the strongest team but we don't play like a team we to much rely on individual players.

Those days are gone. Shenton should be on more within Castleford's pay structure than he would be on at Leeds. Afterall they have the same cap at their disposal these days .

The pitch needs to be more along the lines of the one made to Gareth Ellis, 'come to Leeds and have a chance of winning things'.

Why is everyone bulling up Bailey? He too is liable in defence and does sod all in attack! Ablett is a forward not a centre. Specialist centre required asap please, but it will cost us some of the Eastwood cash.