The knives are out for Brown, because supporters are paying good money and are getting crap on the pitch. I must admit I said a couple of weeks ago to some mates that I could not understand how Saints were top of the league, as every time I had seen them they were really disappointing. They obviously have had some luck, and to be fair earlier in season when they had a run when defeats seemed inevitable they all admitted that.



However, funny how Saints fans can recognise their problems even when at the top, but we are not allowed to here by some posters, due to historical trophies.

I am not certain about Saints being crap as I don't watch them on a week to week basis. If they are crap as you claim and top of the league,what does that say for the rest of the league .

I notice that some of the saints fans were in raptures after the Wigan victory,as you quite rightly say they are unhappy after the HKR setback. As our American cousins would say, go figure.

IIRC Jamie Peacock was recently interviewed on Sky suggesting that at this time of the season the players at top clubs simply aren't as motivated compared to the beginning and end. I suspect this, combined with a few key injuries, sums up why Leeds aren't exactly hitting their straps right now (and also why fringe players like Walters often look the most enthusiastic).



I certainly don't like it and it doesn't make for entertaining rugby, but it makes sense the way the season is structured. Of course it will all be for naught if Leeds don't pick anything up at the end of the season, but I suspect most fans remember the seasons in which we win silverware over those in which the team had burnt out by August (2005 comes to mind).



Unless we are not making the play-offs or are relegation candidates at this stage, I reiterate that it is pointless to think about changing the coach at this stage of the season. He must be judged by how the team perform in September/October. Last year did not go so well at that time, so another disappointing season would hopefully trigger the search for a successor if needed.

Is he unsackable? Why does anyone even think that? How many top teams have sacked a coach when in the mix at the top in English RL, it might happen in football but not this sport.



I do believe however some thought should perhaps be going into who will be next in line (perhaps it already is for all we know) as next year will be McDermott's 5th which is quite a while nowadays and possibly should be his last.



We've seen however with the Powell-Smith and also McClennen-McDermott "changes" that we try to do things a certain way of 'passing over' rather than just saying "you're sacked, he's a new guy" although to be fair they might as well have been for all intents and purposes



As for an assistant YEP had this after Lowes was confirmed to Bradford....







So they have apparently been looking for someone, just haven't found the person whose the right fit and I'd rather patience was taken with any appointment rather than rushed simply because we don't have an assistant.

I would rather they follow your initial point above, and take the decision on an assistant out of McDermotts hands, and the club appoint one to succeed him going forward.

Going slightly off thread it will be interesting to see how the new HKR coach performs. This after HKR sacking sandercock, who had some bad luck with players leaving and injuries.

The same also at cas for next season as they seem likley to lose some top players. I really rate powell as a coach so lets see how he performs without clarke, huby etc etc.

I was surprised to see powell sign a long term deal with cas,as I believe he is a big pal of GH so if the wheels fall of the Mac bandwagon he would have been straight in.

All the professional players I know without exception speak very highly of powell.

Anyway it's all building up to a very intriguing end of season finale, the only team I fear is Wigan . If we play to our full potential other than Wigan I think we are better than the rest of the front runners .

I wasn't calling for Mac to be sacked.

Just pointing out the fact that a ready-made caretaker is not on hand if he should leave (sacked / ill-health). Agreed they should look for the right man rather than rush in and get a yes man.

Perhaps badly expressed, but my main concern is the lack of a second opinion from someone who has clout in the organisation. As Backwooodsman said, an offensive coach for the threequarters may inject some alternative creativity.

I accept that all teams are very much level pegging at present due to injuries or loss of form and expect we will be there or thereabouts, around top 4 at the end of the normal season if Sinfield is not confirmed as a long term absentee.

We saw with McClennen and McDermott that hiring a guy to be an assistant with the view of taking over in 12 months isn't necessarily the smoothest planning. Whilst you might want the decision out of his hands he surely has to have a significant say on whose is on his coaching team, it's got to be someone he can gel with in terms of ideas and be on a similar wavelength too otherwise it'd just be a mess.

IF the club were appointing to be his successor, then he should have no say in the assistant. If it is purely to assist him with no long term plan, then yes I agree with what you said.

And I and most others agree that the attack needs to improve and look more threatening and creative.



It's worth remember though that for all the talk of our attack being poor and our defence currently being very poor (and lacking structure all year apparently) we have the joint fewest defeats in SL at the moment and whereas some of Saints' loses have been quite heavy are losing margins are very fine.....



Lost by 2 points

Home to Hudds

Away to Wakey



Lost by 4 points

Magic vs Wigan

Away at Saints



Lost by 18 points

Away to Wire



So 4 of those 5 defeats are single score defeats, the first three mentioned we actually matched the opposition for tries but fell sort due to goal kicking.



Only the Warrington game we've not had a chance to win approaching the final minutes, that's 1 match out of 22 played this year, think some underestimate how good a stat that is, and even when we've been beaten, teams only just manage it. So whilst we aren't getting everything right, we aren't getting things as wrong as some perhaps think.

Whilst correct that he wouldn't need to have a say in it I was never a fan of that idea when it was planned for McDermott to come in and be McClennen's assistant for a year in 2011 (and I imagine was to nobodies surprise really when McClennen left early) and it's not a route I liked to see try and be repeated....seems too messy.

Both Chris Plume and Jason Davidson have significant clout at the club.



I don't see the need for an offensive coach, we have plenty of offensive experience in Sinfield, McGuire & Burrow. I can't think of many coaches around with more experience than them.



To be honest I think we're just going through a period of poor form coupled with a lot of injuries.

I think we're still weak at prop beyond Peacock & Leuluai, and that the halves have only been good in patches this season. But when we get Sinfield & Burrow back I think that will help tremendously. Also Ablett & Hardaker are very important to our attack.