Re: Super League XVI - Saints Expectations : Mon Feb 07, 2011 6:51 pm  

Hope your right.

Re: Super League XVI - Saints Expectations : Mon Feb 07, 2011 7:11 pm  

Blobbynator wrote:

It's difficult to predict at the moment as I haven't watched us in pre-season and don't know a great deal about our new coach.

To be honest, if you had watched us in pre-season you'd be none the wiser! I'm sure a lot of Saints fans were really looking forward to seeing us against Hudds - I know I was - but we were ruined by the stupid penalty count in the first half and Simmons had planned to use the second half to make final tweaks to his line up for Magic. It was a very frustrating match to watch. We could take the first half against Widnes as a measure of what is to come in that our full team (bar Wello, Lomax, Eastmond and Perry) played and we were actually allowed to play. However, Widnes are in the Championship and so were not the toughest opposition and then when Simmons changed the line up in the second half we went to pieces.

There were some lovely attacking moves on display in the first half against Widnes and our defence was passable in the first half against Widnes and Hudds. But other than that, I haven't a clue what to expect with Saints this year and the disruption of Simmons having to return to Australia (and I hope things are well for him) is bound not to help us.

We have the talent to go all the way and win silverware, of that I feel certain. However, there are a lot of uncertainties. How good a coach is Simmons? Did we let too many props go at the end of last season (thus undermining our go-forward)? Will key players who were on such good form while they were fit last season find the same form this season? Will we be undermined by injuries like last year? Do we have the right characters in the group to compensate for the lack of Keiron Cunningham?

It's going to be an interesting season, that's for sure. In the RL press this week, one paper has pundits placing us between 3rd and 6th as finishing spot this season, most of them saying that the absence of Keiron and the move away from Knowsley Road will undermine us. But then most pundits reckoned we would be third or fourth last season and it would be a Wire-Wigan Grand Final, so what do they know!

Re: Super League XVI - Saints Expectations : Mon Feb 07, 2011 7:32 pm  

I'll be happy with any position in the top 5 and a strong run in the cup. As has been said alot rests on us staying clear of injuries in key positions and how much of an atmosphere us fans can generate at the Stobart, I hope that the smaller overall crowd capacity means that we'll miss the "stay aways" a little less than I expect.

Judging soley by the Widnes friendly I think we'll cope ok attack-wise even if Eastmond leaves but we need to sort that sloppy defence out sharpish given the calibre of some of the teams in our first 8 games.

Re: Super League XVI - Saints Expectations : Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:55 pm  

top 4 and a cup semi would be a good result

Re: Super League XVI - Saints Expectations : Mon Feb 07, 2011 9:10 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

4th would be a good finish given the weakness throughout the squad.

Graham and Eastmond's impending decisions re. new contracts will make or break the season IMO. If they both sign up and the Jamie Lyon-esque signing for the new stadium is announced as well it could build some momentum. If, as expected, those two sign deals elsewhere I think it will subdue any good feeling and the season will fizzle out like a firework that never went off.

If we manage to re-sign Graham and Eastmond, you can rule out your Jamie Lyon-esque signing. They would be our marquee 'new stadium' signings and, to be honest, I'd more than settle for that.

In terms of the original post, top 3 and a good cup run would be my expectation. A cup in the cabinet is a realistic aim.

Re: Super League XVI - Saints Expectations : Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:39 pm  

Top 4, and semi finals in both competitions is what I expect. A final and a trophy are well within reach, dependent on injury.

For me, the biggest deal is the new coach. If he's any good we'll be ok, if he doesn't work out we could end up mid table.

Re: Super League XVI - Saints Expectations : Mon Feb 07, 2011 10:50 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

Agree that expecting a trophy is unrealistic, but expecting us to compete on all fronts certainly isn't, given a fair wind with injury.

I think a lot of people are getting carried away with Wire and Wigan to be honest. We beat Wire three times last season despite all our issues and we played Wigan with Wilkin or Moore in the halves three times due to injuries, with Matty Smith thrown in there for good measure in the GF. Add in our other long term injuries to international forwards over the season and we weren't as far off the pace as some might think.

We'll be top3 for sure, we could well be top1.

I don't think winning a trophy is unrealistic to be honest. I expect us to fight for both cups this year.

I've think we've improved our squad this year with perry, Shenton and LMS coming in. I think roby will have his best season yet now he can step out of KC shadow.

We went very close last year with terrible injury problems.

If we can stay pretty injury free this year I don't think we will be to far off.

Re: Super League XVI - Saints Expectations : Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:10 pm  

FearTheVee wrote:

Agree that expecting a trophy is unrealistic, but expecting us to compete on all fronts certainly isn't, given a fair wind with injury.

I think a lot of people are getting carried away with Wire and Wigan to be honest. We beat Wire three times last season despite all our issues and we played Wigan with Wilkin or Moore in the halves three times due to injuries, with Matty Smith thrown in there for good measure in the GF. Add in our other long term injuries to international forwards over the season and we weren't as far off the pace as some might think.

We'll be top3 for sure, we could well be top1.

Pretty realisitic veiw.
We've lost cunningham, but have a much heaftier pack on the whole, which should mean we can at least bully our way to the top 3.
The question mark as to whether we can convert a good league position into a trophy will depend on a) the new coach b) the fitness of the squad and in particular our regular crocks and c) the eastmond situation - if he buggers off and we don't replace him, we'll lack an awful lot on the field.

Re: Super League XVI - Saints Expectations : Tue Feb 08, 2011 10:31 pm  

For me we have the players.

The big question is on if Simmons is as good a coach as Mcguire at Wigan. I personally think Mcguire has taken good players, and made an outstanding team.

If Simmons can coach as well as Mcguire, then we have the personnel to win the league and or cup. However it is a very tough ask, as the league looks very competitive. So we should be looking at a top 3 finish and a good run in the cup as bare minimum.

As far as our main contenders are concerned, i think Huddersfield will be the dark horses. I personally think they are a better outfit than Warrington. Wire for me are still flat track bullies. Last year when wire came up against the teams situated around them in the league they invariably lost. Also last year were very lucky with injuries. I think if they suffered as heavily as Saints, Wigan, Leeds or Huddersfield last year then they would probably have finished below Hull.

Leeds will be there or thereabouts. They still have the playing personnel, but i think may lose a few early on that they would normally win, due to the absence of Peacock and Mcguire through injury. I expect them to make a late surge, and they would be a good bet for a challenge cup final berth.

The likes of Hull, Hullkr and Bradford are good enough to catch one of the top teams on an off day, but arent really good enough to compete for honours.
Hull in theory have the personnel, but imo are hamstrung in the coaching department.

Re: Super League XVI - Saints Expectations : Tue Feb 08, 2011 11:05 pm  

CM, a good assessment.
Both Leeds and Wire have ageing sides, but experience may well pull them through big games. When you look at the players who have left Leeds in particular, Diskin, Donald and Eastwood, with only Cross and Hauraki coming in, they look weaker than last season.

How will the three Saints players and the three Wigan players settle? Certainly Wigan look stronger with Bailey, Feka and Piggy leaving, being replaced with Finch, Lima and Hoffman, and of course Hock returning in June/July. My big concern is how much we will miss Riddell, not everyones cup of tea, but for me a very good and under rated hooker.
Obviously for yourselves, how much will you miss Cunningham?

Injuries WILL play a major part and whoever can keep their strongest squad together will hold the trump cards, and that's why I think Wigan will be the team to beat as they have real strength in depth. I'm really expecting Josh Charnley to come through and challenge some of the more established backs for their places.

All in all a very interesting season ahead me thinks.