Joined: Feb 20 2002 Posts: 1988 Location: Happy Valley
William Eve wrote:It's no longer possible to buy your way out of trouble due to a dwindling salary cap, a broken transfer market with little movement and a distinct lack of quality players available. These conditions have prevailed for quite some time. In fact, Leeds as one of the top clubs have benefited from those stagnant conditions during the last decade as it's nigh on impossible for other clubs to catch up quickly and compete.
I don't believe Leeds are in danger of doing a Bradford, but they may well be looking at a longer transition period than originally anticipated. It may be quite some time until they are consistent Top 4 title contenders again. The quickest route back is to unearth academy talent but it's gone a bit stale at the club on that front in recent years.
Good luck with the likes of Golding, Sutcliffe, Lilley and Co but they don't inspire me with any confidence about the future direction Leeds are heading in.
I completely agree with you on this one, though I think a sustained period of abject performances over the next season or 2 could edge us into a Bradford like spiral. For me the hardest thing to understand for me is how the club appear to have lost focus on what was a few year back a conveyor belt of tallent. It's not rocket science, home grown is cheaper than bought in. But over an extended period, that which was an asset and a strength at the club appears to have been allowed to degrade.
Joined: Feb 27 2002 Posts: 18060 Location: On the road
TOMCAT wrote::shock: I completely agree with you on this one, though I think a sustained period of abject performances over the next season or 2 could edge us into a Bradford like spiral. For me the hardest thing to understand for me is how the club appear to have lost focus on what was a few year back a conveyor belt of tallent. It's not rocket science, home grown is cheaper than bought in. But over an extended period, that which was an asset and a strength at the club appears to have been allowed to degrade.
Is it really cheaper to develop your own players - all that cost to produce 1/2 players a year? Watkins is home grown player who will one of the top earners at the club so its not as if they actually cost less.
Your job is to say to yourself on a job interview does the hiring manager likes me or not. If you aren't a particular manager's cup of tea, you haven't failed -- you've dodged a bullet.
Sal Paradise wrote:Is it really cheaper to develop your own players - all that cost to produce 1/2 players a year? Watkins is home grown player who will one of the top earners at the club so its not as if they actually cost less.
Generally no, IMO which is why so many clubs are giving up on their academies. The alternative is to invite bids for your better products at a time when they command a decent fee but before they're too big a drain on the cap. This may p155 off the fans, though maybe not as much as hanging onto a bunch of players whose year on year increases have long outstripped their declining abilities. Of course the occasional player with more character comes along - a Sinfield, a Peacock, a JJB, a Bateman - but generally these are ones who've been told often enough that they're not good enough and have had to strive to overcome that. We have too many who've been told often enough that they're superstars so that when things go t1ts up they inevitably believe it must be someone else's fault.
"Look, I'd never use injuries as an excuse..." Daryl Powell
Joined: Feb 20 2002 Posts: 1988 Location: Happy Valley
Sal Paradise wrote:Is it really cheaper to develop your own players - all that cost to produce 1/2 players a year? Watkins is home grown player who will one of the top earners at the club so its not as if they actually cost less.
Obviously with out detailed numbers for the costs, our opinions are based on gut feel and guess work. But from my perspective. Home grown tallent is surely more economical than the two major alternatives, buy in quality and pay a transfer fee as well as the wages OR don't buy in quality and watch income fall as the team ends up as also rans every season. Additionally if we produce more tallent than we can field, we potentially get additionl revenue from transfer fees.
Their is the further benefit from raising our own in that they are known quantities, should understand the prevailing culture and be able to "fit in" at the club.
Chestnutrhino wrote:You are right about the academy. From being the ansolute best in superleague at producing talent we are now second division at best! i believe its a major contributor to out current problems. Someone took their eye off the ball and rested on their laurels in that respect
This is completely OTT & wrong there's some real talent & huge potential throughout the u15/u16 & u19's set up what they aren't getting is the quality of Coaching & transition to 1st team. Hopefully Moz can turn that around & have the impact Barrie Mc used to have before our current HC took full control.
I really am rhinoms and haven't stolen his Avatar!
According to the accounts posted on a Rhinos Facebook page, GH received an unsecured interest free loan of 500k from the club, and Rob Oates received a 200k loan on the same terms. This was a couple of years ago. I've no idea whether there is any significance or connection between those loans and Leeds reluctance to sign any players to improve the squad.
William Eve wrote:According to the accounts posted on a Rhinos Facebook page, GH received an unsecured interest free loan of 500k from the club, and Rob Oates received a 200k loan on the same terms. This was a couple of years ago. I've no idea whether there is any significance or connection between those loans and Leeds reluctance to sign any players to improve the squad.
IF & it's a big IF why are we loaning staff members 700k interest free & how much are they exactly paying back monthly/annually? Also another big IF we can't afford to strengthen the squad as a direct result of this then the fans deserve to know WTAF is going on imo.
I really am rhinoms and haven't stolen his Avatar!
RHINO-MARK wrote:IF & it's a big IF why are we loaning staff members 700k interest free & how much are they exactly paying back monthly/annually? Also another big IF we can't afford to strengthen the squad as a direct result of this then the fans deserve to know WTAF is going on imo.
Seems very odd to me too.
I can't provide a link to the post because I'm not a member of the Facebook group in question (I was shown it by someone who is a member) but the accounts and loans were posted by a very disgruntled fan who clearly wants some answers!
It's not the official Leeds Rhinos Facebook Group but another one named Leeds Rhinos which is a closed group of 14k members if that helps nail it down. Perhaps someone on this forum is a member who can provide more info on the post and thread in question?
I can't provide a link to the post because I'm not a member of the Facebook group in question (I was shown it by someone who is a member) but the accounts and loans were posted by a very disgruntled fan who clearly wants some answers!
It's not the official Leeds Rhinos Facebook Group but another one named Leeds Rhinos which is a closed group of 14k members if that helps nail it down. Perhaps someone on this forum is a member who can provide more info on the post and thread in question?
Not on FB either but IF it's all true this could & should open one big can of worms imo.
I really am rhinoms and haven't stolen his Avatar!
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I completely agree with you on this one, though I think a sustained period of abject performances over the next season or 2 could edge us into a Bradford like spiral. For me the hardest thing to understand for me is how the club appear to have lost focus on what was a few year back a conveyor belt of tallent. It's not rocket science, home grown is cheaper than bought in. But over an extended period, that which was an asset and a strength at the club appears to have been allowed to degrade.
