Re: Hopes for 2019 : Thu Nov 15, 2018 3:42 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I do very much like what Sinfield has done since arrival though, and who knows, a new period of success could be quickly upon us again.

I am very much a Sinfield Fanboi as they say but like you I have been very impressed with how he's come in and put new things in place, from everything he's said in the press releases he is not going to be one for complacency or people not putting effort in, ATEOTD the day he was like that as a player so there's no reason he won't be like that as a director.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Thu Nov 15, 2018 3:46 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

I have mixed feelings about the Marquee rule. It goes some way to returning us to the bad old days of the same old top 4 every year, which kills interest for the poorer clubs. On the other hand, the standard has clearly dropped too far in recent years as SL has raced to the bottom and the lowest common denominator. There's always a balance I suppose - 2x Marquees is probably about right.

Fair point though the crowds of poorer clubs are falling too. And for every big name that's brought in there's a (usually) capable player shipped elsewhere. Garbutt to HKR being an obvious recent example. So while HKR might - theoretically - have a harder task beating us, their fans maybe get to see an improvement in what they're watching too. And should they beat a team loaded with "names" the victory will be all that much sweeter. But yes, there has to be a cut off at some point.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Thu Nov 15, 2018 3:53 pm  

Clearwing wrote:

Fair point though the crowds of poorer clubs are falling too. And for every big name that's brought in there's a (usually) capable player shipped elsewhere. Garbutt to HKR being an obvious recent example. So while HKR might - theoretically - have a harder task beating us, their fans maybe get to see an improvement in what they're watching too. And should they beat a team loaded with "names" the victory will be all that much sweeter. But yes, there has to be a cut off at some point.

HKR are quietly putting a decent side together there. I honestly want to see more sides of good quality able to beat other sides (including a GOOD Leeds side). Re. crowds dropping, Leeds having poor league form on and off for a while doesn't help; the standard on the field has also dropped. People want to be entertained. We're also milking the udders dry with too many fixtures and have had way too complicated a structure which even hard core fans struggle to understand. Lots of little reasons probably, rather than any one thing you can fix. If Leeds get it right though I do believe the whole game in England is enhanced.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Thu Nov 15, 2018 4:00 pm  

christopher wrote:

100% agree, what was weird for me in 2016 I actually quite enjoyed the middle 8s in a strange way - but I never felt in 2016 we were in any danger of getting anywhere near the million pound game, this year I hated every second of every game in the middle 8s it was too close for comfort, I'm glad they have gone!

But as you say last year was probably just what the club needed, I look at the staffing and playing structure we have put in place an wonder if all of those changes would have been made had we scraped in the Super 8s.

I'm hoping for an enjoyable year next year I will be happy with not winning anything but don't want that sinking feeling after going to games, especially away games when I felt let down on many occasions that I'd bothered to turn up but the team hadn't, Wigan away was the worst game of the season for me, I'd been probably incorrectly looking for excuses and cutting them/McDermott some slack but that game put paid to that.

Yep same here. 2016 was intriguing and we were clearly far too good but last season was different, we were in real danger. It's given us all a shot across the bows

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Thu Nov 15, 2018 4:03 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Hate to say it but some fans have known nothing other than success over the last decade or so. For those of us that remember the Doug Laughton years or perennially getting hammered by Wigan in every big game, we might be more sanguine. At the end of the day it just isn't possible or healthy to win everything all of the time, sport naturally runs in cycles and Leeds have had a hell of a cycle. It's not surprising that some complacency and arrogance crept in - takes a brave manager to make changes to a winning side (from 2015 and 2017 in particular). I do very much like what Sinfield has done since arrival though, and who knows, a new period of success could be quickly upon us again.

Remember them well. I used to be convinced as a kid that we would never win anything..

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Thu Nov 15, 2018 4:04 pm  

Trebor1 wrote:

Remember them well. I used to be convinced as a kid that we would never win anything..

It was character building to visit Wembley year after year in the forlorn hope that Wigan wouldn't spank you by 30 points.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Thu Nov 15, 2018 4:28 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

It was character building to visit Wembley year after year in the forlorn hope that Wigan wouldn't spank you by 30 points.

All though getting to see THAT Offiah try being scored pretty much right in front of me at Wembley is something that will live with me forever, so that sugared the pill a little.

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Thu Nov 15, 2018 4:29 pm  

christopher wrote:

All though getting to see THAT Offiah try being scored pretty much right in front of me at Wembley is something that will live with me forever, so that sugared the pill a little.

I hate watching it even now. Even worse is Jason Robinson at OT

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Thu Nov 15, 2018 4:43 pm  

LeedsLurch wrote:

I hate watching it even now. Even worse is Jason Robinson at OT

Yep saw both those tries live. We deserved that first GF win actually, really unfair on Daz Fleary to be the guy twinkle does danced around to win it. Great tries though

Re: Hopes for 2019 : Thu Nov 15, 2018 9:52 pm  

I was thinking that the recent flush of signings reminded me of the Laughton era, or at least the year we brought in Clyde, Mullins, Carroll and Mears... 2000?

How long is it since opposition fans have sung 'what a waste of money' to a Leeds team? Or even our own fans? [that would have been appropriate last season, perhaps I missed that not going to games any more]

I'm more optimistic than many who have posted on this thread already, but at the same time I think there's scope for a lot to go wrong with so many changes to both the coaching team and the playing roster.

We should expect a return to the top half of the table, or better, although it may take them a few weeks to gel. Hopefully any potential dissent over players leaving and having to accept different roles in the team can be minimised. Plenty to look forward to - in terms of the new signings, how existing players respond to the new regime, and younger players coming through.