cannot be any worse than the buffoon we have employed at the moment

If we're still talking about Mc's ability as a coach, there's a few things that appear to have gone unmentioned.

Firstly, at 'Quins, he apparently had to make do with what he'd got. And,

Secondly, at Leeds, he inherited an aging team which obviously was going to need some fairly major adjustment - the chairman said as much last week.

In short, Mc had little option here and, at Leeds, took over from Bluey who'd done nothing for two years apart from play Smiths team and then quit a year early leaving Mc in the proverbial... Which is,

A bit like Dalglish first time round at Liverpool who used Paisleys team to great effect, quit, and left Souness (who tried to implement rapid [necessary] change) to carry the can.

So, while Mc may not be the greatest leader of our time, he hasn't done bad with what he's got. Period!

Hello Boyne,

It is indisputable that Mac had the opportunity at one point or another, as contracts came to an end, to release every player in the squad that he inherited.

He re-signed a lot of quota players of a very ordinary standard like Gafa and Heckenberg plus was always there with one last contract for those whose best days were behind them. With decent money available he signed ordinary players like Robinson and Williamson or Pacfic Islanders who didn't show up.

You could be fair and say with his low budget signings that they were unlikely to be top notch.

At Leeds he started with an ageing pack and added further to that by signing Richard Moore (31), Weller Hauraki (27) and Darrell Griffin (30). He than persuaded Kylie Leuluai (34) to delay his retirement and offered Jamie Peacock (34) two more years. He has released Jay Pitts (22) and Luke Burgess (25) plus Paul McShane (22) and Kyle Amor (24) have left for this season.

By comparison Graeme Souness was stuck with an ageing squad with Ian Rush, John Barnes, Peter Beardsley, Steve McMahon, Ray Houghton, Jan Molby, Ronnie Whelan, Steve Nicol and Bruce Grobbelaar all in their 30s. However he was courageous in wanting to bring through the likes of Redknapp, Fowler, Rob Jones and McManaman. He just made bad signings elsewhere.

The Scousers were not patient enough to let him see through the job - so things have not really changed there! - but he did bring new young players in. The easier option would be to simply renew everyone. I put it to you that Mac would take that option every time given the chance. The Board comments reflect that. Our squad also reflects that. It as if he would not stand back and say "well this guy is 32 and has missed x games in the past two seasons and is on the quota" but simply think like an Army man and look after his men.

Basically the Leeds board have noted that the average age of the squad has increased not just the 1 1/2 years which would have naturally occurred since Mac was appointed but by much more because of his lack of any forward planning.

You'll probably note that just before he left us that David Hughes was delaying the re-signing of Danny Orr after having his fingers burnt once too often!

I think if you were to look at Mac's record in the regular rounds at Leeds he is the worst manager they have had since Super League 1 when they finished 10th from 12. His last 40 games for us were as bad as Powell. He took us from 7th to 9th, 9th again, 11th then 13th.

What he has got is the ability to have a short run of games in which he gets a hot streak like a gambler and he can be very lucky at times. Just think back to last season. What a lovely draw in the cup, home games against the likes of Crusaders and Quins all the way to the final, last minute drop goal misses, broken arm in play off games etc.

He didn't play in a thinking position like e.g Nathan Brown who was a Hooker, so it is unlikely he has the tactical strategy down to the same level as some of his opponents. His focus is on the physical rather than the mental. He can motivate that is for sure, but it is more short-term than long-term. He must depend on muscle over mind.

Cheers
Mark

Should we expect Hudds to fail next season with fatty Anderson at the helm?

Hello East Stander

I would suggest that Huddersfield will remain in the top eight next season because they have a recent history of repeatedly plundering their Yorkshire rivals of Wakefield, Castleford and to a lesser extent Bradford. This ensures their rivals do not improve. The same happens with Warrington and Hull raiding Salford. I don't see Widnes making the top eight anytime soon. The new London coach will be stuck with a limited number of trades so I don't see top eight next season. It wouldn't surprise me if Nathan Brown starts plundering London for Caro, Clubb etc. He is good at tapping up.

For Hudds they will not be stronger than Wigan and Warrington no matter whether they have Wayne Bennett or Rob Powell. They are historically bottlers who fail on TV and fade away in the second half of the season. I think that is down to the collective mentality ironically of signing from lower league clubs. They lack the mentality and belief of champions. But the big athletic backs will overpower many and they will be above Leeds and St Helens because they replace legendary club trained players with unwanted NRL players and weaken year on year. Hull will be above them next year as will the Cats. I'd ping them as 5th. Hull KR will never do more than make the bottom end of the play offs because they regularly lose to the bottom six.

I think Nathan Brown has got out at the right time with his forwards in decline and rivals strengthening. If he can sign good NRL players at Saints and tap up the talent at the bottom six for free as is his strategy he will do ok at Saints. They will never again have a Wellens-Martyn/Pryce-Long-Cunningham-Sculthorpe spine for a decade or more but they can be 3rd at best

Cheers
Rammo

Hi Mark,

Thanks for taking the time and trouble to reply to my posting (and also to East Standers, above) in such a well thought out, lucid and lengthy manner. I can't really argue with statistics and so on so I'll keep my mouth shut on that. I think your most impressive feat tho', was naming those Liverpool players over 30 and remembering the shambles at the time.

Anyway, keep writing good entertaining posts.

All the best, Boyne