Re: Where did it all go wrong and how long ago? : Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:16 pm  

The replacement or lack of it with Talau, is not down to being unfortunate.

Whilst it's fair to say we would have been annoyed if Eastmond signed a long term deal with Warrington, he did not sign a long term deal with Saints. It was not so much about keeping Smith or Long, but not telling them to go before signing up Eastmond on a long 4 year deal. If he stuck to 2 years then you need to hedge and keep Smith, Pryce and Eastmond. All 3 could have been accomodated.

Same with Leon he could have been kept. Going for Lance made no sense as a half without any hindsight. Had he been signed as a FB, for an outgoing Wellens then fair enough.

Laffranchi again a good signing but why would we sign him to replace the best prop in the world (arguably). There was the likes of Griffin and Hill I think even Carvell may have been up for grabs at the time. So whilst we could not sign a prop of Grahams ability, we could have bought him in the aggregate.

Perry there is no fault with a quality buy, for the right position but just did not work out, same with Shenton.

If you have ever watched Moneyball, then you could say Saints are guilty of doing a similar thing, we have been looking to sign names, as opposed to buying wins, by going for effective players in the right positions, rather than big names who play in slots that are already covered.

Re: Where did it all go wrong and how long ago? : Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:19 pm  

For me, it all started when Scully retired. Near impossible to replace though. IIRC we have not won anything since have we?

Re: Where did it all go wrong and how long ago? : Tue Apr 23, 2013 11:21 pm  

I want us to go back to basics and recruit players specifically for certain positions. By that I mean I want two actual wingers playing on the wing.

I want two actual centres playing there. I want 2 out and out halfbacks playing there. I want 3 or 4 no nonsense props playing there. It's hardly rocket science. Even if they aren't world beaters; even if they are merely "solid" in that position, it will be a position where they have trained all their career.

I am fed up of seeing us trying to put a round peg into a dodecahedron hole. Enough trying to do this on the cheap all the whilst ruining kids careers.

I just want to see an honest to god RL team.

Re: Where did it all go wrong and how long ago? : Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:03 am  

fwiw RE: Griffin there was an interview with him a while back (can't remember where) when he said he shook hands on a deal with you guys, then decided to join Leeds at the last minute instead.

Re: Where did it all go wrong and how long ago? : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:43 am  

Little Drummer Boy wrote:

fwiw RE: Griffin there was an interview with him a while back (can't remember where) when he said he shook hands on a deal with you guys, then decided to join Leeds at the last minute instead.

From a playing POV, that turned out to be a horrendous decision for him.

Re: Where did it all go wrong and how long ago? : Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:48 am  

Carlos Alberto wrote:

I want us to go back to basics and recruit players specifically for certain positions. By that I mean I want two actual wingers playing on the wing.

I want two actual centres playing there. I want 2 out and out halfbacks playing there. I want 3 or 4 no nonsense props playing there. It's hardly rocket science. Even if they aren't world beaters; even if they are merely "solid" in that position, it will be a position where they have trained all their career.

I am fed up of seeing us trying to put a round peg into a dodecahedron hole. Enough trying to do this on the cheap all the whilst ruining kids careers.

I just want to see an honest to god RL team.

From seeing what he did at Hudds I suspect that isnt browns style though. I agree with you though, it's what the goons have done and it's working ok for them at the moment.

Re: Where did it all go wrong and how long ago? : Wed Apr 24, 2013 9:36 am  

Albion wrote:

From a playing POV, that turned out to be a horrendous decision for him.

Went chasing the money and got shafted. No sympathy for players with that attitude.

Re: Where did it all go wrong and how long ago? : Wed Apr 24, 2013 12:47 pm  

Don't really see Saints troubling the silverware for quite a while to be honest.

Re: Where did it all go wrong and how long ago? : Wed Apr 24, 2013 1:12 pm  

ImTopWolf wrote:

Don't really see Saints troubling the silverware for quite a while to be honest.

What has that got to do with ANYTHING here?

Please, if you are going to troll then at least be amusing.

Re: Where did it all go wrong and how long ago? : Wed Apr 24, 2013 2:03 pm  

Saying we should of kept Leon is all well and good,but given his injury record of his last two years it was something of a gamble for us to keep a high earner who may or may not play.Again its something we are judging with hindsight,if we had of kept him and he got injured then people would of been lambasting the board for resigning him.Also while he is a good player is isnt a creative organising player and as was often posted on here and other sites,he would often be invisible in games.