Fans constantly claim we are missing a top class 7. Wigan lost 2 better halfbacks in Finch & Leuluai. but Wigan's attack hasnt diminished. they haven't stopped using dummy runners, their passing isn't any slower. Wigan's props pass faster than our halfbacks

Where have I said I don't want the team changed?

I simply don't agree with your assessment of this being part of the problem. At all. It's trivial IMO and TBH you haven't presented any convincing evidence.

Wigan still have better halves than we have. And they have a team used to winning, with the culture and processes in place that we are only just starting to create. We're years behind Wigan and the other top sides. Quite why people are still surprised by this is beyond me.

Even if we were playing to the maximum potential of this squad we still wouldn't be as good as Wigan. Yet.

Wigan have confidence of being a top side, we don't. Plus the fact they have replaced Finch and Leuleui with decent halves. We [iare[/i missing a top 7, that I do know. But it looks like we're not going to make a serious signing anytime soon, so nothing we can really do about it. Having DJ and Ellis playing consistently will improve us.

Though their opinions may differ, both McDermott and the Leeds team know all about running through brick walls when it's needed - a very good starting point for a successful side. Gareth Ellis does too - maybe he'll be a player around whom your others rally.

In my dream world he laughed in Hudges face and told him he didn't want to be associated with such a pathetic club. But in the real world he just said no thanks.

There's no conclusive proof that the universe is 13.8 billion years old, but it's widely accepted as fact.

That's exactly what Hudge said, so did Cas, Salford, Wigan

Well observed

Twisting words? Is this what your trolling has become now? You used to be entertaining.

There is strong evidence that the fans are not convinced by some of the players.

If the players lack the personal pride to perform well that increases the need for some heads to roll.

Its not just about a half back, but since the failed bid for Prince, has AP given up on finding an half back?

You think it's trivial that underperforming players are left to carry on as they are? I don't agree. At all.

A healthy setup has players playing for their places, I'm not convinced a lot of ours are.

a lot of our players no there place is and are getting to complacent they need to be dropped and fighting for the shirt i totally agree with what your saying mate if they don't perform they need to know that the will be dropped and will have to play at York or watch on the sidelines until they improve!! and i think its one of the main reasons we as a team are not putting the graft in to get it right because there getting an easy ride

I think that dropping underperforming players only works when the replacements are likely to play better. I think that we have dropped underperforming players where possible and where the net result is an improvement. I think that we don't see the players train and are not party to the after match performance reviews and therefore operate with incomplete information. I think that playing a team with too many young and inexperienced players often ends in tears for all but one or two clubs. I think that a coach takes into account many factors when picking a squad but fans just focus on one. I think that normally sensible posters are flailing around desperately trying to come up with a reason for our current situation that has an obvious and simple solution without thinking things through logically.

It really isn't a cop out. A top scrum half would alter the dynamic of our team and go a long way to solve many of the problems. It's why we've invested a great deal of time and effort in trying to do so and probably will continue along that path - hopefully with more success. If we had some real talent taunting and probing the opposition's defensive line it might, for example, mean that we make more half and full line breaks. That in turn might well see us playing the ball quicker. It might also mean that provided the acting half ball to him was decent the next ball wouldn't be around the head/knees of the runner. That might mean that the set plays run smoother and slicker than they do.

As for criticising Gentle I don't see anywhere where anyone is saying he shouldn't be open to criticism. It's tough for him mind as it seems that when we do play well and win it's usually because the opposition have been poor according to some on here. I have criticised some of his recruitment - I don't think Pitts is big enough to play prop and the jury is still out on Paul Johnson and Arundel for me. So I'm far from 100% happy with the situation. But suggesting that the requirement for a top scrum half to pilot the team is a 'cop-out' doesn't wash with me. It's critical for this side to progress regardless of who is Coach. History proves it.

Great post