Re: The SHAMEFUL Treatment of Brian McDermott : Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:46 am  

Some people can't seem to grasp that fans still go because they actually still enjoy the occasion of turning up for a match, the getting ready at home, the making your way to Headingley, having a pre-match drink with your mates (some you might only see at the rugby) talking about the rugby and having a bit of banter about other topics, getting there just in time perhaps to catch the end of a Under 20's game and seeing if anyone catches your eye, the excitment of the warm-up and wondering who is in the starting line-up for both sides and how are we going to play, the opera guy singing Volare, 80 mins of rugby action (which i guess must not excite some people as much as spending their Friday nights at home playing Scrabble instead whilst listening to the game on the radio) following by a post match discussion/debate/drink with your friends or family members.

Just because they don't enjoy it anymore they have to come out with suggestions that those who do must be 'brainwashed', 'clueless' or 'fickle'. Perhaps they need this to feel better about the fact others still get an enjoyment out the sport that they no longer do themselves. I've always found it ludicrous that 'fans' complain that players (who are the ones who spend their lives training, recovering from the injuries and batterings their bodies take, and competing in one of the toughest sports) are criticised because they 'owe' fans performances because said 'fan' has in return gone to the much harder trouble of 'turning up and handing over £20'.

Some i'm sure will try counter this with 'well they wouldn't have a wage if it wasn't for us', yes but you wouldn't of got many a great occasion over the years of watching RL from their hugely demanding physical efforts, and i don't and never will feel any sort of 'ownership' of players just because i spend money towards the club, if that was the case then i guess i also partly 'own' my local supermarket, corner shop and chinese takeaway. I've never paid anything towards Leeds Rhinos because i've felt force to, i do because i want to, unfortunately some can't seem to accept this is possible but that highlights more of a problem with them than it does myself or anyone else of the same view.

Re: The SHAMEFUL Treatment of Brian McDermott : Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:54 am  

ThePrinter wrote:

Some people can't seem to grasp that fans still go because they actually still enjoy the occasion of turning up for a match, the getting ready at home, the making your way to Headingley, having a pre-match drink with your mates (some you might only see at the rugby) talking about the rugby and having a bit of banter about other topics, getting there just in time perhaps to catch the end of a Under 20's game and seeing if anyone catches your eye, the excitment of the warm-up and wondering who is in the starting line-up for both sides and how are we going to play, the opera guy singing Volare, 80 mins of rugby action (which i guess must not excite some people as much as spending their Friday nights at home playing Scrabble instead whilst listening to the game on the radio) following by a post match discussion/debate/drink with your friends or family members.

Just because they don't enjoy it anymore they have to come out with suggestions that those who do must be 'brainwashed', 'clueless' or 'fickle'. Perhaps they need this to feel better about the fact others still get an enjoyment out the sport that they no longer do themselves. I've always found it ludicrous that 'fans' complain that players (who are the ones who spend their lives training, recovering from the injuries and batterings their bodies take, and competing in one of the toughest sports) are criticised because they 'owe' fans performances because said 'fan' has in return gone to the much harder trouble of 'turning up and handing over £20'.

Some i'm sure will try counter this with 'well they wouldn't have a wage if it wasn't for us', yes but you wouldn't of got many a great occasion over the years of watching RL from their hugely demanding physical efforts, and i don't and never will feel any sort of 'ownership' of players just because i spend money towards the club, if that was the case then i guess i also partly 'own' my local supermarket, corner shop and chinese takeaway. I've never paid anything towards Leeds Rhinos because i've felt force to, i do because i want to, unfortunately some can't seem to accept this is possible but that highlights more of a problem with them than it does myself or anyone else of the same view.

Re: The SHAMEFUL Treatment of Brian McDermott : Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:02 pm  

Finally some sense in the last couple of posts.
It always confuses me when I read people on here saying "god I feel sorry for the season ticket holders".
It's not an obligation to buy one, it's as much about the social aspect as it is the rugby, the enjoyment dosen't just come from whether we get the 2 league point or not.

Re: The SHAMEFUL Treatment of Brian McDermott : Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:23 pm  

rhinowinorlose wrote:

Hi everyone,

Thanks again for all your replies!

Tvoc – Again, the stats don’t tell the story. Of the 10 rankings you give, 5 of those were outside the play-off places, so not as good as you would have me believe. McDermott’s first season was in 2006 (albeit not a full season), but the Club began to undergo major changes from as soon as 2007 with Ian Lenagan retaining his London shares and yet becoming owner of Wigan. This would suggest to me that Mac did not perhaps have the backing to build the team that he would have liked as no financial investment was made. Several of their key players, such as Henry Paul, were allowed to leave the Club and were never replaced, and then in addition to this they had a number of injuries to key players such as Henry Fa’afilli. With all the success we’ve had over the last 8 years, I am confident that the Club will continue to invest in our team, so the coming years do not concern me at all.

In terms of the 2011 fixtures against Warrington, Wigan and Saints that you quote, I have to admit disappointment in you. The results against Warrington at home and Saints away certainly add some drama to your statistics but we played really well against Wigan at home, losing only in the dying minutes, and we should have beaten them away when Danny McGuire scored (Stuart Cummings publicly admitted that this try should have been awarded). We were also very competitive in the Saints game at home for about 60 minutes, but again a disappointing last 20 lost it for us. We may have lost to Warrington twice in the League, but our performance in the play-offs was outstanding; we won when it mattered. I’m going to repeat myself here tvoc – the stats do not tell the story.

Nantwichexile – I’d be interested to know how many of Webb’s penalties have actually been for dissent, do you know? I thought most were through “sloppy technical offences”.

DHM - Again, thanks for the patronising definition of aggressive. Liam Hood may be 20, but that doesn’t mean he’s physically ready (to be honest, I find that logic a bit strange). You don’t hit an age and suddenly magically become physically ready to deal with older, more experienced players who are ready to batter you – it takes practise and experience which he won’t have had in the under-20s. I also mention above that you have to be mentally able to cope with the change and again, this isn’t something which magically happens overnight, it takes time and experience and I fully believe that with the promise he shows, we SHOULD give him that time. When I talk about bringing players in from the under-20s I talk about phasing them in and for all your patronising, you haven’t been able to tell me why I should change my mind on this.

Finally, some of you have talked about the fans forking out to watch sub-par rugby and whether or not we should cheer the team on. I’m going to reiterate my point that this Club has given us some fantastic memories over the last few years, and frankly I’ll be running off that for a long time to come. I know it’s disappointing to see what we’re seeing at the moment, but who wants to be the one to say “yeah, I didn’t go to the games in the back half of the season after we lost to Wigan and Warrington, but I went to the Cup Final and Old Trafford”. For me personally, I want the right to say at the Final that I WAS there for those games (I'm no early '00s Bulls fan!!) We are SUPPORTERS and we should do just that – SUPPORT. 10 years ago the fans turned up win or lose and I would like to think that most of us will do that now (as I know most of you will).

Ok 'Brian' let me repeat maybe I am just having a bad day at the office (again damn it) but I feel nowt but doom n gloom at t' moment with recent and ongoing events.

I would hope the club might now be showing signs of valuing the likes
of Amor/ Singleton/ D.Smith above the likes of Kirke/Moore/Lleulai and yes even Peacock.
The future is surely more important than continuing to support crumbling and/or average-at-best, antique incumbents (despite their past achievements) ?

Losing is fine (yes we were unlucky to have Danny's try disallowed at Wigan last year) as long as we show some competitive 'fight'.
This season, were Saints (Langtree), Wigan (Headingley), Warrington (Halliwell Jones, in the first 25 mins) fair examples of this ? I was pretty embarrassed as a supporter. The performance of Bradford at Easter was pretty abysmal too.

You can't deny Hall has been wasted on attack and that Hardaker is not best suited to the left with his step off the left/inability to pass to his left. Get him on the right or, of course, at FB ...OR even switch him with Hall (during the match at least). That might get a few defences nervous.

Most of all get some go forward in the pack and control that bluddy ruck.

Re: The SHAMEFUL Treatment of Brian McDermott : Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:38 pm  

HyperbolicRhino wrote:

I'd like to add to all of this (and apologise of it's already been mentioned...) the fact that I'm getting sick and tired of seeing the word "McDumbnut" and other variations of it on these pages. If people don't like the coach and want rid, fair enough - that's their opinion, but do we really need to resort to abusiveness towards a bloke who clearly cares a lot about his job and the club, and is doubtlessly working hard to try and get teh best results for the club? In this particular instance, whether he is "good enough" or not is irrelevant - he comes across as a very decent bloke, and taking the pi$$ out of his name is bang out of order.

Taking the pi$$ out of his name. Christ (oops!) what a crime. Lighten up. Personally I think 'McDumbnut' was quite inspired.

There's a difference between outright unthinking brainless abuse and some choice, funny comments that I have usually found on here.

Re: The SHAMEFUL Treatment of Brian McDermott : Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:52 pm  

Each to their own. I personally think he's earnt a level of respect higher than that. As a teacher I hear 11/12 year old kids use similar nicknames on a daily basis - I would have hoped that supposed "adults" on here would be above such things. Obviously not...

Re: The SHAMEFUL Treatment of Brian McDermott : Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:53 pm  

nantwichexile wrote:

Taking the pi$$ out of his name. Christ (oops!) what a crime. Lighten up. Personally I think 'McDumbnut' was quite inspired.

Some people are easily impressed...

... i'm surprised you're not more happy with our performances!

Re: The SHAMEFUL Treatment of Brian McDermott : Wed Jun 13, 2012 12:57 pm  

HyperbolicRhino wrote:

Each to their own. I personally think he's earnt a level of respect higher than that. As a teacher I hear 11/12 year old kids use similar nicknames on a daily basis - I would have hoped that supposed "adults" on here would be above such things. Obviously not...

I agree!! Now shut up SandwichExile!

Re: The SHAMEFUL Treatment of Brian McDermott : Wed Jun 13, 2012 1:02 pm  

LeedsDave wrote:

Some people are easily impressed...

... i'm surprised you're not more happy with our performances!

I guess I don't take life (and certainly not sport) too seriously ....yeah it's good to win and yeah I would like to see some new talent, but losing and seeing the same old faces is no more than an irritation that can be easily alleviated by the greater demands and pleasures in life that my wife (and watching clouds) offer.

I enjoy coming on here to wind some people up and because, generally, there are lots of worthwhile comments to read from a collection of pretty erudite and eloquent people. I do wish they would learn how to use the apostrophe though

Re: The SHAMEFUL Treatment of Brian McDermott : Wed Jun 13, 2012 1:11 pm  

Whilst i wouldn't personally do stuff like calling anyone McDumbnut, i've seen Nantwich has always posted in a light hearted way with no malice or aggression in the way he writes or in his views so he's not exactly the worst culprit, some of whom have posted about McDermott and/or players with some real OTT venom.