Re: Tony Smith : Wed May 27, 2015 6:25 pm  

Smith is without doubt the best coach Leeds has had in the SL era - I was no big fan of his but you cannot deny his ability and his impact at Leeds. He create a belief that didn't exist before he arrived.

You can say all you want about Warrington not winning a GF but they have come pretty close - save a cannonball of Ratchford they probably would have beaten Wigan - that is a testament to his skill. In the last two years they have got closer to winning the GF than Leeds!!

Less said about the two CC finals between Leeds and Warrington under Smith the better. Save some on here the embarrassment of trying to defend the indefensible. Completely out played, out skilled and most of all out coached.

Re: Tony Smith : Wed May 27, 2015 7:22 pm  

Sal Paradise wrote:

You can say all you want about Warrington not winning a GF but they have come pretty close - save a cannonball of Ratchford they probably would have beaten Wigan

Yet if we mention when Leeds have injuries you label it making excuses, priceless.

Sal Paradise wrote:

- that is a testament to his skill. In the last two years they have got closer to winning the GF than Leeds!!

Let's give them a trophy for coming close then

Sal Paradise wrote:

Less said about the two CC finals between Leeds and Warrington under Smith the better. Save some on here the embarrassment of trying to defend the indefensible. Completely out played, out skilled and most of all out coached.

How well did he fair against us in the 2011 playoffs, or the 2012 GF, or the 2014 CC semi? 3-1 to McDermott in knockout games against him.

Re: Tony Smith : Thu May 28, 2015 7:12 am  

ThePrinter wrote:

Yet if we mention when Leeds have injuries you label it making excuses, priceless.

Let's give them a trophy for coming close then

"You quite clearly don't get it - this discussion is about whether Smith was/is a good coach. His record at Leeds and Warrington stands comparison against any coach in SL he has 5 domestic trophies no other coach comes close I don't consider the hub cap or the WCC as trophy but include them he is still ahead.

Injuries happen to all sides deliberate foul play to take out a key playmaker is a different matter. The fact you are unable to differentiate is priceless."


How well did he fair against us in the 2011 playoffs, or the 2012 GF, or the 2014 CC semi? 3-1 to McDermott in knockout games against him.

You are very selective in what you quote what is Smith's record against Leeds in finals? What is Smith's record against Leeds in knock out games? We can all make the stats say what we want. More importantly what is his record this season i.e. the present?

Re: Tony Smith : Thu May 28, 2015 8:12 am  

I think some on here are forgetting that "Tony Smith is magic" as I recall, on account of the fact that "he wears a magic hat". How soon some forget

Re: Tony Smith : Thu May 28, 2015 9:38 am  

Why are people on here so obsessed with a coach who left us over 5 years ago?
We enjoyed his time with us, he left.
Get over it.
Get behind our current back room staff.

Re: Tony Smith : Thu May 28, 2015 12:01 pm  

Sal Paradise wrote:

You are very selective in what you quote what is Smith's record against Leeds in finals? What is Smith's record against Leeds in knock out games? We can all make the stats say what we want. More importantly what is his record this season i.e. the present?

Says the guy conveniently ignoring the GF and last year's CC below

Sal Paradise wrote:

Less said about the two CC finals between Leeds and Warrington under Smith the better. Save some on here the embarrassment of trying to defend the indefensible. Completely out played, out skilled and most of all out coached.

As for this year's record, as it stands it's meaningless. Something you've pointed out yourself on other threads. Leeds are top of the the league, we're both still in the cup with the play offs to come. Wire might not even make the top 4 at this rate. Leeds will.

Re: Tony Smith : Thu May 28, 2015 1:08 pm  

loiner81 wrote:

Says the guy conveniently ignoring the GF and last year's CC below

As for this year's record, as it stands it's meaningless. Something you've pointed out yourself on other threads. Leeds are top of the the league, we're both still in the cup with the play offs to come. Wire might not even make the top 4 at this rate. Leeds will.

So remind us how many trophies Smith has won? How many has McDermott won?

Leeds have beaten Smith in 3 knock out games during his time at Warrington and he has beaten Leeds in two - two finals to one.

More meaningful than historic data would you not agree!!

Time will tell whether Leeds make the top 4 far from nailed on especially with fixtures after the split.

Would you like a charity bet Warrington will not make the top 4 you seem very confident?

Re: Tony Smith : Thu May 28, 2015 1:11 pm  

Perosnally I think the comparisons are redundant really.

The coaches who have come in have been the right man for the job at the time.

Smith turned the clubs mentatilty around, and turned them into winners.

McClennan kept them motivated to keep doing it and instilled a hunger to keep winning

McDermott has been able to manage the transition, along with a more competitive league, and still win trophies.

All are top coaches but in different ways

Re: Tony Smith : Thu May 28, 2015 3:58 pm  

Sal Paradise wrote:

So remind us how many trophies Smith has won? How many has McDermott won?

Leeds have beaten Smith in 3 knock out games during his time at Warrington and he has beaten Leeds in two - two finals to one.

More meaningful than historic data would you not agree!!

I make it Smith has won 8 trophies in 10 seasons at a top club. (0.8 trophies per season)
4 trophies in 4 seasons at Leeds (04-07)
1 League Leaders
2 Grand Final wins
1 World Club Challenge

4 trophies in 6 seasons at Warrington (09-14)
1 League Leaders
3 Challenge Cups

Brian McDermott has won 4 trophies in 4 seasons at a top club (1 trophy per season)
2 Grand Finals
1 Challenge Cup
1 World Club Challenge

Brian McClennan has won 4 trophies in 3 seasons (1.3 trophies per season)
2 Grand Finals
1 League Leaders
1 World Club Challenge


Now I happen to think Tony Smith is the best coach out of those 3 with McDermott in 2nd place, but just going off trophies is a bit too simplistic.

As The Eagle has said they all came in and did the job they needed to and did it very well in my opinion. In which case perhaps a lot of praise has to be directed toward the man who hired the right people for the right job?

Re: Tony Smith : Thu May 28, 2015 4:57 pm  

Sal Paradise wrote:

Time will tell whether Leeds make the top 4 far from nailed on especially with fixtures after the split.

Please see your posts following a couple of dodgy performances and subsequent backtracking following a couple of good performances on the McDermott out thread as I can't be bothered.

Sal Paradise wrote:

Would you like a charity bet Warrington will not make the top 4 you seem very confident?

I'm not sure where you're getting that from, I said Wire *MIGHT NOT* make the top 4. As it stands they're 5th best team in the country, your earlier posts in this thread back that up don't they? Or are you going to backtrack and move the goal posts again?

I'll be very happy to take a charity bet on Leeds making the top 4 though, since that's the point i'm clearly very confident of happening.