Yorkshire Carnegie
Mid Term Report: Lanny Interviewed
The Guvnor
By Andy Brown
February 1 2008
Lanny emailed me a while ago as he was well aware that there had been no arrangement for a fans forum this season, and he was keen to ensure we fans are as informed as possible. This is the kind of invitation you just don't turn down, so on the 23rd of January, just a few days before the match against London Irish, I got myself down to the Kirkstall Training Centre, there to chat with him.
After the usual pleasantries, my first question was that, given where we are in the league, where we are in the European Cup, did he honestly expect to be where we are now?
Lanny: I certainly didn't hope to be where we are now. Being bottom of the table isn't a nice place for anyone to be. I knew the size of the challenge way before the season came on; I knew how difficult it was going to be, the quality of the sides in the Premiership. And I also knew the challenges we faced in terms of a side just promoted. If you look at Derby County or Watford last year, sides that come into SuperLeague – in any sport the promoted side always faces a tough challenge. Prior to us the promoted sides, Harlequins and Bristol especially, their starts were poor. Obviously the key thing for us now is that, we've seen the level, we've improved but we’ve got to improve yet again to get the absolute necessity which is wins. This Sunday is a big game for us, but at the same time I reflect on the fact that we're not yet half way through the season although it feels a lot further than that! We've an opportunity coming up on Sunday but also more particularly in the next seven games, the quarter final and the league game after that – nine weeks on the trot and that'll be the defining period in our season. The Six Nations is on so there's disruption to other sides….
APB: There are opportunities there aren't there?
Lanny: Certainly when you look at the fixtures coming up and some of our performances recently against sides that are at full strength and traditionally at the top end of the table, we haven't been a long way off to be honest, so there's plenty of cause for optimism, but we have to be realistic as well – it's tough for the side getting promoted, and I guess there will be questions about retention and recruitment that I would like to address…
As you know I'm all for people being involved and more importantly feeling involved and understanding the plan and strategy going forward. We all need to buy in. I tried to paint a picture at the start of the season about how tough it was going to be and how we need everyone to stick together. I'm a firm believer in that with the squad and coaching staff, with the Board and senior management and of course with the supporters, both individual and commercial.
APB: Speaking of support, are you happy with it so far this year?
Lanny: Support as in…?
APB: Everywhere, off the field, in the boardroom, on the field, supporters themselves shouting at you….
Lanny: I think obviously with the big changes during the summer – the new ownership with Leeds Met coming in. If you look at supporters coming in through the gate there's no doubt in my mind that they've had a significant impact. The pre-match festival atmosphere prior to Gloucester and Saracens in the nice weather I thought was fantastic. The money invested in that area was massively increased and that reflected in the quality of the match day experience for the supporters. And I think that stuck a bit – we were a bit unlucky in that there were a couple of Friday nights that weren't particularly the best times for the games, thrown in on top of the fact that people want to watch sides that win and play well. There's no doubt in my mind that while we did have some good performances in that six game first block, we had one or two disappointing ones that we didn't really deliver like we'd hoped, and that's something that the University, the marketing department and supporters didn't have control over. From that point of view the support's been fantastic.
Commercially, the University's links with the commercial sector have also been useful and certainly opened up doors that we wouldn't have got prior to the arrangement.
In terms of strategic and management level, board level, I have to say they've been nothing but supportive. I've obviously had to go in and review the season as any DoR has to do, and if you're not winning games there are of course questions that need to be answered. But I've found them nothing but supportive. Their commitment to coming to games, coming to Castres, Calvisano, Dax etc gives me great confidence going forward. And it gives me a reassurance that everyone's in it for the long term. I firmly believe more than ever that they are which is great. Because of the nature of professional sport, there tends to be a reflection on the performance of the previous week, and the result. I constantly draw myself back to the bigger picture; I have to flip between small picture – performance, results – and the bigger picture – where we're going as a club and the challenges ahead.
The dynamic and the nature of the Premiership has changed significantly in the last 2 years. When you look at the money available that clubs have to spend, it's almost becoming like football, and I think it will be like football in the future. There will be a top four or five clubs who have a budget that's probably untouchable to others within the league, and you'll have a natural movement of the top players to those clubs. And then there'll be a middle tier of clubs. The trick for Leeds Carnegie is to make sure we're in there fighting all the time to grow the right way, (and in actual fact, the result of being in the situation we were in two years ago and the evolution of the game while we were steadying the ship), it is the only way. So we all need to be in it for the long term. I don't believe that going in hell for leather on a 1 year plan is destined for success, although I do recognise that staying in the Premiership will move us forward far more quickly than going back to National One and I will lave no stone unturned in order to achieve that. There is no magic wand that can somehow recruit half of the All Blacks squad. Recognise the challenges. Stick with it, hold your nerve and back the plan which is about developing our own players and recruiting top quality players, and having club, a team spirit and an attitude that everyone pulls together.
The other dynamic that's changed is the competition from other markets. There's money in France, money in the Magners League, money in Japan. The Japanese league play 12 games, and their players are very well paid for 12 games of rugby. There are 3 or 4 players I could name that I've spoken to about coming to Leeds who've chosen to go to Japan…
APB: Who'd rather play 12 games of rugby a season?!?
Lanny: Yes. Because that's where they are in their careers – less wear and tear on the body and more dollar in the pocket!
And this is where I suffered a catastrophic technology failure. My trusty voice recorder that I've been using for precisely this kind of interview for years chose this moment to let me down, and consequently the second quarter of our conversation has been lost to posterity (I hadn't been taking notes and I'm not good at shorthand!).We did discuss the mammoth task facing Lanny in terms of mid-year appraisals for the players, but we pick up the conversation on a note about the change in the nature of the Premiership. How have the new recruits – largely from ND1 – been finding it?
Lanny: I'm happy with the players we signed. To be honest even the guys we had who'd been in the Premiership are finding it very difficult, the Premiership has changed that much. If you look at the likes of Villi Ma'asi, Erik Lund, Joe Bedford – the impact those guys have made having been unproven in the Premiership has been great…
APB: One of the comments I was going to make when you talked about next year was that – if nothing else – they'll be a year older, and they'll also have at least a year's Premiership experience. Which is what most didn't have before.
Lanny: Absolutely. The learning that takes place this year is on a weekly basis. This group of players do learn quickly and we need that. What we need to do is make sure we do that even more quickly in everything, from the set piece through to what's going to give this team the best chance of winning, given the personnel we've got.
APB: There are lots of people who seem to think there is a vast pool of world class, young, fit, highly talented players waiting by the phone for your phone call…
Lanny: Sorry to disappoint them!
APB: .. what sort of tack do you take to try to encourage them to come to Leeds?
Lanny: There's a pool of about 30 agents all representing different players – some of the agencies are large, and inevitably what all the agents do is circulate the details of all the players that are potentially available to every club. And you go through a stage by stage process. Stage 1 is for you to alert the agent and the player of your interest. Stage 2 is for the agent to come back to you and to say whether the player is interested in speaking to you, bearing in mind the other offers he may have received. I have put a lot of work in developing relationships with agents so they see Leeds Carnegie as a viable option for them, because the agents have options of over 40 top clubs they regularly communicate with, across the Premiership, Magners League, France, Italy and Japan. So I worked hard to change the perception of agents that we would be perennial strugglers, and changing that image to one that Leeds Carnegie would be a great place to send a player and the Club has the ambition to match the players desire to play in Cup Finals, play in Europe and play winning rugby in great stadiums with large crowds and great atmosphere.
So to get beyond stage 1 a variety of factors are taken into account: consistency and performance level of the club over the years – so obviously Leicester and Wasps are right up there – ambition of the player, the location of the club, family issues, finance, reputation of the club from a coaching and playing perspective because players talk to players and they know which clubs are well coached and well run and those that are less so etc etc.
So the player will weigh up those options, and if you get to stage 2 then your time will then be spent in conjunction with 2 or 3 other teams vying for his services. We recognise we need some A-grade players. I don't want our current squad to read this and think that they are B-minus players, because they're not. By the same token a player becomes an international because he's a top quality player, and I think everyone recognises that we need a couple of players of that quality. The challenge for us in our current position is to make sure we get to stage 2. If we get to stage 2 I think we're in with a shout. I think I can persuade and demonstrate to ambitious players that this is a club that will give them opportunity and has a package that is attractive across the board. And I could cite any number of examples of that and I know that the players who are at the club would reference that and the players that left the club who know me would reference that as well. I speak to particularly the young players that left – I spoke to Tom Palmer, Mark McMillan, Rob Webber and David Doherty at Wasps and I don't think there's a player that left the club that has a bad word to say about us. Particularly the likes of Jordan and Danny are players that are pushing for England A and England honours, and I can guarantee they will give the club a glowing reference and who knows, those relationships do and will count in the future!
APB: Do you think there can be senior England international players while at Leeds?
Lanny: Definitely. It will be interesting to see the recruitment and philosophy of the clubs going forward with the new agreement between PRL and RFU, some will view it that having and England player pretty much guarantees you £175,000 per season, but others will view as they won't have use of him for over half a season. What everyone has to realise at the moment is that there will be challenges, as all clubs face in retaining the top players.. professional sport dictates that players end up out of contract and at such time they have a decision to make. My job is to ensure that everything in the clubs power has been done to persuade the player to stay, because I truly believe that we are very close to breaking the cycle we are in and given the situation we were in, is some achievement given the market forces. Once we break that we will be flying and I will be fighting the top players off!
Supporters should feel assured however that the retention of our top players is number one priority and it won’t be a lack of finance or willingness on my behalf that could result in some changes in personnel every year…. The bottom line is however one or two may go and we will replace them with quality players. But I do not see in any way a mass exodus at the end of this season, players and board members are committed. There are strong ties between players and the club, and as I say, our position as a player in the big pool gets stronger everyday, but it will take time.
And this is where the technology finally gave up the ghost. I now refer to hastily scrawled notes in a language that looks like a cross between ancient Hebrew and the footsteps of a drunken spider that wandered through a spilled bottle of Quink.
Lanny: The most important for Leeds is to have players with true potential. I have good relationships with the National coaches, and I'm disappointed in a way that we didn't get anyone named for the Saxons, because I think they deserve it. But of course in very many other ways I'm pleased because it means our full squad will be available for the forthcoming crunch games and whilst the players are ambitious also, their loyalty is to the club which is a special feeling. If you are good enough your chance will come if you look at how Calum Clark has taken his chances this year people can see that if you are good enough you get opportunities at Leeds and ultimately delivering in the Premiership is the best test of the form of a player. It will be interesting to see how the game goes in the next few years I have concerns for the National Game that the influx of top overseas stars takes away opportunities for young players, clubs should be rewarded financially not for getting players in England 20’s they should be rewarded more for have the courage to put young English players in the Premiership…. If that was the case it would certainly help us!
APB: Given all the work as a DoR you have to do, particularly at this time of year in terms of player retention and recruitment, do you have enough in the way of coaches?
Lanny: Yes. We use Phil Keith-Roache – the former England scrummaging coach on a consultancy basis and he's helped enormously in addition to the likes of Jon Callard and Simon Hardy (the England Hooking coach) we have also used guest speakers for “player psychology” and have developed our own in house “mental toughness programme”. We have a good set of coaches already within the club and these guys help to enhance it. I talk to other DoRs as well – I have particularly close links with John Fletcher at Newcastle, Dean Richards at Quins, Dean Ryan at Gloucester and we all help each other in terms of coaching.
APB: Lets end it in a positive frame of mind, we're in the Euro Cup quarter final for the first time in the club's history. Excited?
Lanny: I will be. When we played down at the Rec. in the league, Bath were exceptional, and I truly believe they are the best side we've played this season. We weren't that bad – they were that good. So the challenge for that game will be massive. And to be just two games away from a European final has to be motivational. The trick is to balance the selection of the side as a part of the 7 game Premiership sequence. Last year one of the most disappointing results of the season was losing in the Cup to the Cornish Pirates in front of 800 people in the snow. We don't want that feeling again, so when the game comes around we will most definitely be up for it.
APB: And finally finally…. The future of Leeds Carnegie?
Lanny:I'm hugely optimistic about the future but its important to set goals as small incremental steps. Our situation hasn't been helped by losing as many players as we did when we were relegated – the ripples of that are still being felt now.
The challenge of player recruitment is 10 times what it was when we were able to recruit the likes of Justin Marshall and Braam van Straaten. This is for all teams not just us, because there is so much in the way of competition. But the bottom line is that the University and the board are in it for the long term and I believe by planning in this way we can grow the club for a long term sustainable future.
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Unfortunately, until somebody actually implements the supposed salary cap, and until someone at Leeds puts their hands in their pockets and offers the sort of money other clubs are offering we are snookered. That is why I am so annoyed no one did it at the start of the year. If we go down it'll be even harder than this time. Why when we got promoted didn't someone take risks and sign 2 or 3 players capable of keeping of us in this division?
That decision obviously wasn't made as they thought the players signed were good enough to keep us in the Premiership. If that doesn't happen someone has to be at fault.
On a positive note, Lancaster comes across very well as always.
Quote:I don't think you've read that right FoR. There's no denying that money plays its part, but the other factors weigh heavily too. Our biggest problem at the moment is the precariousness of our situation and that Premiership rugby isn't guaranteed. Sure you can argue that Wuss are/were in the same position with completely different results, and there has to be a money element there, But lifestyle, proximity to trndy population centres, proximity to famous players are all things that are also very much taken into account.this basically comes down to how much money you are willing to pay someone.
Money is important, but not the be-all and end-all. And I think that's true of almost anyone looking for a job/career, whatever industry that happens to be.
Waiting for the good times ...
..and waiting ....
... and waiting ...
Perhaps I live in a parallel universe to Lanny, but I'm 100% sure there wasn't one Leeds Director at Castres. I can't remember seeing any at Dax either, but I may be wrong on that. Perhaps, Mongo or our Japanese snow boarders might remember.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:02:01:14:26:36 by prawn cocktail.
i.e. "would you be interested in considering a proposal from Leeds?"
"No!"
Quote:The challenge for us in our current position is to make sure we get to stage 2. If we get to stage 2 I think we're in with a shout.
Seems to say our challenge is getting players to even talk to us. Which is what I'd assumed all along to be honest.
Still a Tyke - whatever the name!
"Out of ten, what do you think Leeds Carnegie's chances are of staying up?
Matt: 1... their only chance is if Worcester capitulate between now and the end of the season.
Sorry, but they are increasingly looking like the Derby County of rugby union."
Waiting for the good times ...
..and waiting ....
... and waiting ...
Have to disagree. The top and bottome of it is money. These lads don't earn footballers wages (yet). I for one know for a fact it's down to how much a club is willing to pay you. Other reasons given are just excuses.
At the moment we are hit by three things acting together:
1) We don't have a lot of cash
2) We don't appear to be Premiership stayers
3) Our DoR is not himself a "name"
4) We're not London
OK four things. I'll come in again....
Waiting for the good times ...
..and waiting ....
... and waiting ...
This always has been the case and I'm sure professional rugby players are not so different.
Still a Tyke - whatever the name!
If we spent moneyt when we came up we'd be seen as a Premiership club, not a basement club looking to go down.
I'd rather live in Leeds than anywhere else in the country but unfortunately I don't.
If you offered a million quid for an International player to come and play for us then he would; so money is a factor.
Thanks, apb, very good interview and thanks to Stuart for giving us his time.
Come on you Tykes!
Zandra YaPoI
YaPoI - Yorkshire and Proud of It
'proficiscor in una'
I think money is the most important factor but other things matter too. I am sure that having Mike Ruddock at Worcester helped to sign Gear, Latham etc
i just dont see how our going back to nat 1 can fit is any kind of future development / moving the club forward plan.
thanks for taking the timeout to do the interview apb.
SL also states that the plan would work better if we stay up. However the plan is a long term one so if we are not in the GP next season we need to keep the squad together. SL believes that this will, apart from one or two players, happen.
My nerves get shredded every time I go to a game but I am taking a longer view of things.
I do believe in the mid and longterm strategy for the Club in terms of developing home grown players, just hope we can survive up in the short term.
Thanks for doing the interview APB.
It's a bit of a chicken and egg situation.
With so many foreigners coming here there will be several good players available but not until the end of the season so wer'e going to have to survive with what we've got.
Dragon,
Do you think someone/people should be accountable if we go down?
I find no surprises at all in anything you've reported. I still feel that the board have had unfair stick on the MB and Lanny's words do help to defend them. I've also pointed out that it's a long term project to get us to the top and this is evident from the comments Lanny has made.
Patience is a virtue!
It's a shame to see people still complaining that we didn't sign half the all blacks before the start of the season - it's not (and never has been) all about the money.
Never mind - half the season to go - we won't go without a fight.
It is about the money and will become increasingly so unless a salary cap is implemented. This game is going the same way as football. Rugby League has it right, when every team starts on a level playing field.
My point about specific recruitment here, this season is that this wasn't for lack of cash - it was due to being latecomers and new to the league, so not an attractive proposition.
Quote:Fan of Rugby
Soopa,
It is about the money and will become increasingly so unless a salary cap is implemented. This game is going the same way as football. Rugby League has it right, when every team starts on a level playing field.
Thats why a new £4million cap is coming in so people don't have to cheat their way round it. Rugby clubs need to beware that LUFC is not waiting to happen they signed people to big contracts for a lot of money and paid the price, I wonder how long before the first Rugby club goes into Admin in the new age
the board and lanny are doing what they can. and luckily they weren't daft enough to borrow heaps in the closed season to splash on 'stars'.
totally unrelated, i see on the news today that 100k+ people are getting their credit cards cancelled by egg, and believe it or not, they say it's nothing to do with the credit crunch
I do not think SL's job is on the line if we do not stay up. I think the board are also taking the long-term view of things. Hope I am right in any case.
Quote:merry
yep, good article and no real surprises.
the board and lanny are doing what they can. and luckily they weren't daft enough to borrow heaps in the closed season to splash on 'stars'.
totally unrelated, i see on the news today that 100k+ people are getting their credit cards cancelled by egg, and believe it or not, they say it's nothing to do with the credit crunch
read some of the comments from customers those I have see are all from those that don't have a balance and/or pay their balances off each month I guess they are not profit worthy
Will it be implemented???? We are supposed to have one now. What about Saracens being taken over and them throwing ridiculous money at players??
Merry,
I've read the article, very interesting outside of rugby, but I don't think it will affect rugby in any way. People who own rugby clubs have millions. People who watch rugby are generally middle class and can afford to watch it..... I don't think this supposed credit crunch is relative. Sky will pump more and more money into it as everyone has to have sky as the alternatives in this country aren't that appealing. They're going to drop interest rates anyway, so we'll be good for a few more years, then it'll burst.
Wildwillie,
I don't think Stuart Lancaster should lose his job if we go down, I'm saying someone should be accountable for it.
Quote:Will it be implemented???? We are supposed to have one now. What about Saracens being taken over and them throwing ridiculous money at players??
I don't recall Saracnes been taken over they are having £10million invested which is to go towards their own stadium I believe Wray is the still the #1 at Saracens.
Quote:Merry,
I've read the article, very interesting outside of rugby, but I don't think it will affect rugby in any way. People who own rugby clubs have millions. People who watch rugby are generally middle class and can afford to watch it.....
for,
what planet are you from? there's a strong possibility that the us and uk are going into recession. professional rugby is a business, and like any other it will suffer if the economy goes into recession. banks have lost billions upon billions and if you think the 'middle classes' are going to be safe from the repercussions of that, well....
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:02:02:11:04:08 by merry.
If we do survive then everyone should be congratulated for the way they stuck together in difficult times.
Players, coaches and administrators will have learned many valuable lessons this season and in the long run that is no bad thing.
The man that never made a mistake never made anything.
Thanks for taking the time out to do this and then to typing it all up. (Incidently: "footsteps of a drunken spider that wandered through a spilled bottle of Quink" - you and I either went to the same school or you've been reading my school reports!)
On reflection, I feel encouraged by reading what SL had to say and in relation to the other thread about the Board he obviously feel supported (though I would argue there is still more they could do to show some overt support to the club's future: more on other thread).
I was also encouraged that he has maintained contact with ex-players (who I believe do remember their time here fondly) and doubly encouraged that he has developed a sound and worthwhile communications network with such coaching 'names' as Dean Ryan and Dean Richards.
I would like to learn a little more abouth the almost 'throw-away' reference to Jon Callard - surely a connection worth tapping to assist with our attacking back-moves - APB: can you elaborate, do you recall any more on that link?
SL is obviously a likeable and approachable man and one the players will work for. In my opinion, he not in this just for himself but believes strongly in the Club and its future, and in promoting and encouraging the vast amount of young talent we have in our player-base.
Nothing he has said fosters any unrealistic expectations of success: like WildWillie we are all in for 'shredded nerves' before the season is over but, with a little juditious help (signing Balding and extra 'attack' coaching assistance) and a healthy slice of luck ('cos let's face it Lady Luck has yet to smile on Leeds this season) I believe we will survive this season and begin to prosper there after.
In closing, thanks again APB, and of course to SL for volunteering to talk to us (through a broken tape recorder)
looking forward to the Premiership next Season already...!
I do believe Saracens are in the throws of being taken over, i do believe they have thrown ridiculous money at Borthwick to join from bath. It's already happenig only to get worse.
Merry,
I think I'm from planet earth, thanks for the early insult as usual. I for one have made my money from property over the last few years, as I presume you have, as I presume the vast majority of people who watch rugby have. A downturn or recession will have no affect on me whatsoever, in fact I want one so I can buy more property at cheaper prices.
The defintion of a recession if I can rememeber from my economics degree, is two consecutive quarters where there is no or negative growth in an economy. This will not happen in the Uk, they'll just cut interest rates. It's people like you that affect the country by hearing the word recession think we're going to die tomorrow. I'll probably spend more money as I have invested sensibly over the last few years and now have a good disposable income. If you think people aren't going to go and watch a rugby game, because of the word recession, you are very much mistaken. Rugby isn't football and people who go and watch it spend a few quid because they have a few quid. If you are one of those people who have spent far too much and are maxed out, then you're an idiot, and you don't deserve to go and watch rugby. £17 a ticket doesn't really affect me or many people. Neither would £50 a ticket, I'd still go and watch.
You might look towards employment figures in this country before you start spouting off. When they go the other way you may have a point. Until then don't ever insult me again behind a computer screen.
Dragon,
'If you accept Lanny's premise that we're all in this together then everyone is accountable if we fail to survive in the Premiership. '
So what would you do about it??? Nothing??? Because if people performed like that in my company they'd be accountable.
You have to look at the whole system before you apportion blame.
I hope this statement is correct because it gives us hopes for the future. If it is, I will repeat my view in another thread that we should negotiate the permanent signing of Balding, and try to secure ex players like Danny Care, Iain Humphries, and Chris Bell who are not playing much rugby at the minute. There are other ex players as well, but making the effort to recruit players of this calibre at least shows intent and would be a positive step to strengthening the side. No disrespect to Joe or the DR., but I think Humphies and Care could be a very potent combination, and both are young enough to be around for a long time.
Quote:I think I'm from planet earth, thanks for the early insult as usual. I for one have made my money from property over the last few years, as I presume you have, as I presume the vast majority of people who watch rugby have. A downturn or recession will have no affect on me whatsoever, in fact I want one so I can buy more property at cheaper prices.
The defintion of a recession if I can rememeber from my economics degree, is two consecutive quarters where there is no or negative growth in an economy. This will not happen in the Uk, they'll just cut interest rates. It's people like you that affect the country by hearing the word recession think we're going to die tomorrow. I'll probably spend more money as I have invested sensibly over the last few years and now have a good disposable income. If you think people aren't going to go and watch a rugby game, because of the word recession, you are very much mistaken. Rugby isn't football and people who go and watch it spend a few quid because they have a few quid. If you are one of those people who have spent far too much and are maxed out, then you're an idiot, and you don't deserve to go and watch rugby. £17 a ticket doesn't really affect me or many people. Neither would £50 a ticket, I'd still go and watch.
You might look towards employment figures in this country before you start spouting off. When they go the other way you may have a point. Until then don't ever insult me again behind a computer screen.
for,
you think that's an insult? and what's all this 'as usual' malarky? coming from you, i really do find that quite amusing. get over yourself.
so you have an economics degree, do you? it's certainly not been evident in your comments about how the club should manage it's finances.
as for the rest, well, do you realise what you sound like? besides pointing out how much of a hypocrite you are, i won't bother telling you because that really would be insulting.
edit. btw, when you started posting here you bragged about how you didn't pay for your tickets. so were you lying then...or now? here's the quote...
Quote:Posted by: Fan of Rugby (IP Logged)
Date: 27 October, 2007 12:25
Stop kidding yourself mate. Falling attendances another hammering............... I can't be bothered going to see them next home game and I don't even pay. God help people who pay 17 quid or whatever it is.
time to wake up from your fantasy world, fella.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:02:02:13:11:36 by merry.
I have chosen to pay for tickets now my friend, although the option is there for me and guests every game, if that's ok with you. So that was 4 tickets last home game and quite a bit behind the bar, which I don't have to pay for again if I don't want to; so let's try get your facts straight again before spouting off.
You have such a closed mind I really can't be bothered responding to views as I haven't yet agreed with a single one of them you have ever posted- and that's a serious comment.
Dragon,
Sorry, I almost blew my top then but restrained myself. I'm asking you again 'If Leeds go down- would you or would you not apportion blame to some member of the board/coaching staff at Leeds'- please answer the question which you haven't done yet. Either yes you would or no you wouldn't with reasons please.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:02:02:13:24:03 by Fan of Rugby.
whatever.
though i do seem to remember you agreeing with a few of my comments in the past. you must have been lying.
exceedingly generous of you to pay for tickets and drinks you could get for free. perhaps, since you're such a generous sort, you may like to buy a share of tykesrugby's sponsorship of shoes. £20 obviously wouldn't be much to you....
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2008:02:02:14:19:56 by merry.
I have to say the whole tone is very defensive and not very inspring but I guess this is what happens when you are in SL's rather difficult position. If we go down I don't think he should be fired since he has achieved a lot with very limited resources. I cant honestly think the club will make him leave since I think they will realise they need to stick with him for the long term and i dont believe the finances are there to recruit anyone with more experience. I think the responsibility for where we end up should rest with the Board although I dont expect them to chastise themselves.
I think the comment about Jordan Crane providing a 'glowing reference' struck an odd note, his recent interview in the Times wasn't exactly enthusiastic.
As someone who has no idea what makes you tick, having only the benefit of your forum contributions to form an opinion, you do appear to be extremely immature in some of your offerings.
I would suggest two options you might care to adopt before compiling any more of your more vitriolic messages.
1) Read some of the things you have said in the past - I defy you not too laugh at some of the more absurd examples!
2) When you disagree violently with someones opinion, as you have been known to - try delaying your riposte for some 15/20 minutes - thus giving yourself time to recover your normal demeanour. (you could perhaps check the spelling on your proposed response, as for some one who allegedly has a academic degree, your spelling leaves much to be desired)
Finally, I am related to Royalty...
A few points I'd like to raise:
1) £4 million salary cap - YOU'VE STILL GOT TO HAVE 4 MILLION TO SPEND!!! You might as well make it 1.5 if we've only got one.
2) Let's have a look at the 'density' of RU clubs in Yorkshire. Yes, we might have the most clubs, but we are spread over the biggest area. It's a myth to think that people are going to come down from the boundaries of the county to support a struggling side. Equally, it's a myth to thing that we are going to get viable support from the environs of the Leeds postcode. The point has been raised many times before as to where the publicity for the club is aimed at outside the city. The admirable work carried out with local clubs IMHO is far below that required to get gates to a viable level without bribing students to spend their leisure time at Headingley.
3) I asked the question to be raised with Lanny "How are you going to sell Leeds?". I didn't see an answer to that, I saw that 'It had to be done as point one'.
I can only see two ways forward for Leeds. Either we are the pereniall 'Ping Pong' club between the divisions, or we do a Bristol and spend an extra season in ND1 buildind up a team that can play together, and hope that the GP 'Drawbridge' don't go up whilst we're down there.
I will NEVER question the effort of the boys on the pitch or the coaching staff. I WOULD like to see the viability of the mid to long term strategy plan put together by the board.
Of course, I'm sure they know far more than me.
WHAT WOULD I DO?
1) Don't know how to recruit a World Class name, but a BVS standard player in both talent and commitment should be a must.
2) Get somebody like Jake White to give 'mentoring' to Lanny. He WILL get there but I honestly feel he needs a crutch.
3) Remember you are in YORKSHIRE!
Kids a quid
Don't rip people off in the ground for overpriced food and drink. Don't charge people to get in the Long Room. Open a small shop up selling Tykes gear only and not ramming Rhinos stuff in their face. Run affordable transport to away matches even if coaches make a loss at first.
Just my thoughts.
When I'm typing away I don't go back to check my spelling but there are a number of people who post with poor spelling and grammar on here. We aren't all as pedantic as you. Thanks enjoy your evening.
As Dragon says, believe the impossible.
And I will be organising an Easter 'Train and Drink' session to Stalybridge and back.
ENJOY!!
PS, I carnt spell iver. Ba;shaw woz a mear 2day and shood be corld Canute!
sooner or later leeds will have to spend money to stay in the gp.
We are not going to produce enough talent from 1-15 to stay in the top flight no matter how good our youth system is.
it smacks of desperation that the best hope of getting quality players in rests with those who have already played for us, imo
i want leeds to be a gp team and compete. it is a sad state of affairs that after 5yrs in the gp, cup final win, H cup rugby and bouncing straight back from a hard nat 1 season we are in the position we are in with sod all hope of being able to improve it, confirmed from the horses mouth.
i agree with FOR in the accountability argument. i am not saying sack everyone but there has to be some changes in the coaching setup surely
get a winning team and everything else falls into place!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:02:02:22:57:59 by Freddy Rebel.
Waiting for the good times ...
..and waiting ....
... and waiting ...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:02:18:16:00:07 by apb.
