Who says McClennan can't/won't win the championship? so in that respect it is too early to judge - he has won the one thing that has been completed this season the WCC.

How do you know that's the reason he didn't pick McDermott?
I for one think the more likely reason was the mare he had the previous week.

For me I will remember him for the GF in 2004 - the highlight of my Leeds supporting time - the GF in 2007. Unlike G1 I haven't forgotten the CC final of 2005 and the semi final of 2006 all four show Smith in his true light.

Not me.

I'll say it again. This thread is a discussion about the double standards of Leeds fans in their approach to Smith and Bluey. The thread is not having a go at Bluey or knee jerking as a result of losing three in a row with our 1st team.

I can't be bothered to reply to your whole post, I've too much to do before I go away in the morning, so I'll reply to the bit above.

If what you are saying is correct, then by extrapolation that would mean that no one can ever change their mind about anything without the "fear" of you calling them a hypocrite.

With this in mind, I wonder G, "have you ever changed your mind over anything?" If you have welcome to the Hypocrites club...........

So are seriously suggesting he dropped McDermott because he had one bad game? half the team had a bad game so why did he choose to drop McDermott and nobody else?

Care to expand on what "happened in perpignan"??

As I said before Smith was getting stick last season because of the gradual decline in standards since the middle of 2005 almost two years of pretty abject rugby - 2006 was a complete wash out don't forget - Smith was pretty fortunate to keep his job by the end of 2006 - so to say McClennan is getting treated differently is correct - the circumstances are completely different would you not agree?

Something else that begs the question - why was GH so supportive of Smith getting the England job? do you not think he had also realised Smith had reached the end of the road with this group of players?

Some will rubbish this but the form suddenly picked up as soon as Smith's departure was announced - coincidence or Smith masterplan!!!

For me look at the second half performance at Wigan - whilst they didn't win the game McClennan changed it around enough at half time turn 17-0 into 6-23 pretty impressive in my view

Because you can't drop half a team.
What makes you think it was all to do with the trip to France, once again it's all hear say.
Do you really think that Smith could be so petty?

Not on here no

Pm???????
Seriously i have no idea WTF you are on about

Agreed you can't but why drop a prop forward against the biggest pack in SL just because he along with half his colleagues had a bad game the previous week - it makes no logical sense.

Definitely - Smith is all about control - he doesn't have the man management skills so he rules by fear as soon as anyone stands upto him/steps out of line they are dealt with. Ask why Brian McDermott suddenly departed for Harlequins!!

An example of his need for control - if the players wanted to take the WAG out for dinner they had to ask Smith's permission!!