This Sunday the Exeter Chiefs are in town. Seated above the relegation dogfight (I wish) they are the very model of respectability enjoying their first season in the bigtime. The fact that they have managed to avoid becoming the yo-yo club, a title that looks as though will be ours again for sometime, without any apparent difficulty merely emphasises the inadequacies of the setup at Headingley.
The Chiefs have taken some notable scalps both at Sandy Park and elsewhere this season with a squad that, in the main, got them promoted last season. Contrast that with the "quality" signings that we made who have nearly all (Thommo excepted) played a part in our demise.
I expect Leeds to make a game of it on Sunday. If we make as many errors as we did at Sale then Steenson will kick Exeter to victory. A more controlled and disciplined performance from the Tykes could see us close the gap on the Falcons with a narrow win. Where is my money ? Staying in my pocket of course!
Wednesday 30 March 2011
Sunday 27 March 2011
What next for the Tykes?
After another "nearly-won-it/should-have-won-it" game at Stockport on Friday evening the question that springs to mind is - what next? Do we carry on with more of the same? Using the same personnel and employing the same tactics, or do we try something else using only players who we know have committed to the club for next season.
Before anyone tears my throat out for proposing such a drastic change I would suggest that they look at the merits of such an idea. First of all there must always be a doubt in your mind that players who have signed elsewhere are not going to risk injury in a side with nothing to play for. Why put players who have not re-signed in the shop window? Blood youngsters ( as we did with Myall when he was 19) so that when we come back up they will have already had a taste of what to expect.
Adopting this policy might also encourage those who we want to stay next season to put pen to paper. If Backy continues with more of the same it will only serve to underline his lack of vision. This season, so far, has been an unmitigated disaster. Time for a change perhaps?
Before anyone tears my throat out for proposing such a drastic change I would suggest that they look at the merits of such an idea. First of all there must always be a doubt in your mind that players who have signed elsewhere are not going to risk injury in a side with nothing to play for. Why put players who have not re-signed in the shop window? Blood youngsters ( as we did with Myall when he was 19) so that when we come back up they will have already had a taste of what to expect.
Adopting this policy might also encourage those who we want to stay next season to put pen to paper. If Backy continues with more of the same it will only serve to underline his lack of vision. This season, so far, has been an unmitigated disaster. Time for a change perhaps?
Friday 25 March 2011
Hodgson kicks Tykes out of AP
Despite outscoring Sale by two tries to nil Leeds still went down at Edgeley Park thanks to five penalties by Charlie Hodgson. This now means that the Tykes are virtually assured of relegation to the second tier of English rugby and this must put a big questionmark against the future of Neil Back as Head Coach at Headingley.
Thursday 24 March 2011
Sale Night
The Leeds Carnegie side has been named for the all important match against Sale at Edgeley Park on Friday 25th March. Pretty much the best side that Backy could put out. Fortunately Marco Wentzel is fit enough to start so the only player playing out of position is Dan Browne at Lock.Juan Gomez is on the bench with Swainston preferred to start in the front row with MacDonald and Steve Thompson.
In the backs we have Burrell and Fa'afili in the centre, a back 3 of Wackett, Blackett and Stephenson with Mathie getting the nod over Fury to partner Jarvis in the halfbacks.
Have Leeds got enough in the tank to win this game? It is a must win game with only 5 fixtures left. I reckon they need to win 4 of them to have any chance of staying up. Can they do it? Tonight could be the pointer. we will know soon enough.
In the backs we have Burrell and Fa'afili in the centre, a back 3 of Wackett, Blackett and Stephenson with Mathie getting the nod over Fury to partner Jarvis in the halfbacks.
Have Leeds got enough in the tank to win this game? It is a must win game with only 5 fixtures left. I reckon they need to win 4 of them to have any chance of staying up. Can they do it? Tonight could be the pointer. we will know soon enough.
Monday 21 March 2011
Tykes Reprieve
Leeds Carnegie were spared any embarrassment last weekend as, due to the climax of the 6 Nations rugby, the club was without a fixture. Good thing or bad thing? I think that, due to the lack of momentum in recent results, it is a good thing on balance and will give the players time to lick their wounds and get themselves into the right frame of mind for this Friday's fixture with Sale Sharks at Edgeley Park.
What are the chances of pulling off a win at Stockport? Slim methinks. What are the chances of avoiding relegation? Remote in the extreme. After 2 years of the "plan" working it has been an abysmal season with only 2 wins and Andy Key being made scapegoat last month. Neil Back is now in sole charge and the buck stops with him. At the start of the season relegation was not an option. Now it is a racing certainty. Whilst I hope that I am proved wrong I do not believe, deep down that the players have the passion and self belief let alone the disciple and skills required to keep them up this season.
What are the chances of pulling off a win at Stockport? Slim methinks. What are the chances of avoiding relegation? Remote in the extreme. After 2 years of the "plan" working it has been an abysmal season with only 2 wins and Andy Key being made scapegoat last month. Neil Back is now in sole charge and the buck stops with him. At the start of the season relegation was not an option. Now it is a racing certainty. Whilst I hope that I am proved wrong I do not believe, deep down that the players have the passion and self belief let alone the disciple and skills required to keep them up this season.
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