Judging by the amount of effort he puts into scapegoating the coach and then arguing the toss when challenged then I think maybe he does.

You have a point. Up to a point. Obviously, an all-conquering team, playing scintillating rugby, is high on everyone's wish list. And criticism can be justified whenever the team plays well below its potential. But I'd argue that winning trophies is the best way the club can sell itself. Our average gate is, what, 15k-ish? But we take a hell of a lot more to OT and Wembley. Presumably a proportion of the extra is encouraged to take a more active interest? And besides, it's not as if we've been dire week in, week out. Everyone admits there have been games where we've been below par but OTOH we've still managed some notable successes against our title rivals.

No it's all fun and banter, as you yourself have pointed out previously....but are getting defensive about in the last 48 hours too many [ifloating[/i paying spectators will realise this.'"

All the more frustrating then when points are conceded to the cannon fodder clubs that still exist in SL.

Jamie Peacock's post-match comments appeared to ignore the London debacle that occurred in-between the semi and final. The debate re the validity of an eight team play-off format in a comp of around six competitive contenders resulting in many sub-standard Regular Round performances with little or no penalty appears settled with the introduction of the new format although only time will tell how much of a solution it provides.

How often has a team from outside the top four moved into it in the final seven rounds?

Well done Leeds for Saturday ( belatedly!) but what a fickle lot some of you are! Have a look back at some of the posts regarding your last less successful trip to London!

I've no idea, but it wouldn't be a good indicator anyway. The remaining 7 games next season will all be against top 8 opposition, whereas in the past that's unlikely. Being in the top 4 at the split next season is likely to be crucial.

I guess we all were frustrated with the the defeats against the two bottom clubs but most observers have concluded that these defeats were the responsibility of the players and not the coach.

As this thread is about the coach it would be nice if you could acknowledge this point and also congratulate him on his latest success and on becoming the most successful Leeds coach ever

You're asking too much there, the criticism of tactics he's just moaned about this evening show his gritted teeth about Saturdays success.

the london game i blame the players 100% but not in the bulls game.
terrible team selection and young walters in the centre got run at and hammered all night. the simple option was to stick delaney there yet he was left to struggle and get battered.

full credit to BM for getting his tactics spot on in both the SF and final, but for me he was at fault in that bulls game

On what basis has the coach escaped his share of the criticism for arguably the most embarrassing defeat in the club's entire SL history?



If you think the majority view of posters (if that is what occurred after the London debacle) on an internet message board should hold sway or change personally held opinions why do you still support the selection of Burrow as starting hooker?

Do you give equal weight to every view shared on here - some posters don't even try to discuss rugby matters anymore.

Most successful by which measure/s ?

And some people tried arguing with me when I said over 12 months ago that Tvoc was one of the most negative posters on here hahahahaha

London was an awful result, add that to dropped points against Bradford and Wakefield and you have a problem. The pressure it puts us under now gives the team no breathing space to recover from the Wembley experience. We now have no buffer and a top 4 position looks very doubtful. I can't see logically that you go and work so hard early season to then blow it all with a set of shocking results and performances. I do beleive that McD would have wanted to be able to concetrate on using the Saints and Wigan games as warm ups - with little win/lose pressure to shake off the Wembley hangover and focus on performance and build towards the playoffs. Now that's changed.

Saturday was something very special, but I suspect the coaching team now has a real mission now and once the Wembley euphoria has died down the reality of those dropped points, precarious top 4 position, and poor performances will be back in the minds of the players. I don't doubt the guys can do it, but I would bet serious money they didn't plan to have to do it this way.

Sheesh, why do you even watch these days?

For the Bradford game it was poor selection in the centre for me two back rowers playing there.

The London game for me was down to the team, we were up and in control, not the managers fault in my opinion that's on the team.

Ultimately the tactic from both these games was successful as we won the challenge cup, which is what it was all about. The squad we have should have been easily be able to deal with both relegation teams.

Will be interesting to see how those who were left out respond, as I assume a large portion of them will be around the squad this coming week, particulary Ward, who has slipped well down the pecking order, I imagine Kev who has experienced something similar in his early career will be putting an arm around him and having a word

This is why people were critical of the results against london and bradford. Had they just been competent, and closed out winning positions, they would be in a great position to do the treble or finish in the top 2. Now, only points difference seperates us from 6th place.