My thoughts from Saturday FWIW!!! : Mon Oct 04, 2010 3:59 pm  

Having had a couple of days to recover from the disappointment, here are a few of my thoughts from Saturday for what they are worth!

1) We were beaten by a better team. End of. Wigan played very well, particularly in the opening 15/20 minutes and they simply blew us off the park. After 20 minutes (or maybe a bit less) it was 16-0 to Wigan. The hour that followed it was 10-6 to us. And we did have chances but had one of those days where we couldn’t keep hold of the ball! However all credit goes to Wigan who played superbly on the day.

2) Message to the morons who couldn’t respect the minutes silence – bugger off and don’t come again. Scum. Spoilt it for the proper rugby league fans who did respect it.

3) Never thought I would say this but we have become a wet weather team. I remember always turning up to matches when it was dry and thinking, almost knowing, it would be our day and I would be thoroughly entertained. The tactics we now use (Potter induced…??) mean we are not a dry weather team anymore. Play a team in the wet and we look better. Never thought I would say that about St Helens!

4) We should be very proud of our achievements this year. OK so we haven’t won a trophy but we reached a Cup Semi Final and played our part in a cracking Semi Final too and we reached the Grand Final. Add to that all the injuries we have had, including our 2 half backs out (1 or the other or both) for most of the season and that makes the above achievements all the more amazing. We have also witnessed some sensational matches (and some dour ones admittedly) but who can forget more wins over Wire, the Wigan away match and THAT Cunningham try. We still have it!!!

So yes we are gutted we lost on Saturday but we have a lot to be positive about. It’s bye to Cunningham, Gidley, Hargreaves, Emmitt (think that one’s a mistake to be honest – he’s good) and of course Potter. Thanks for all you have done for the club and you are always welcome back. Also it’s goodbye to Knowsley Road – enough has been posted on that already. Next season will be another belter – I already can’t wait!

And of course we have a Wigan v Saints WCC match to look forward to!!!!

We have a lot to be positive about. Come on you Saints!!!!!

Re: My thoughts from Saturday FWIW!!! : Mon Oct 04, 2010 4:53 pm  

BurnleyDave wrote:

3) Never thought I would say this but we have become a wet weather team. I remember always turning up to matches when it was dry and thinking, almost knowing, it would be our day and I would be thoroughly entertained. The tactics we now use (Potter induced…??) mean we are not a dry weather team anymore. Play a team in the wet and we look better. Never thought I would say that about St Helens!

On this, I don't think this is necessarily Potter's fault completely. Potter has had 3 new players in 2 years - Puletua, Fozzard and Soliola, all 3 are big forwards. We haven't recruited a back in that time and haven't since Matt Gidley signed for us. The only other introductions to the 1st team ahev been our own produced players like Foster, Lomax and Eastmond, the latter who was injured anyway. We've stagnated in the backs and it needs an overhaul. Gardner has been poor for 2 years and hasn't justified his place in the team hence his exclusion. Meli can be hit and miss at times despite his quality with ball in hand and he is in his 30's now, so will need replacing soon. Gidley has been replaced by a younger, hungrier and faster player in Shenton, which should improve us for next year. Wellens is still a class act, but he's not got that many years left and will need to be replaced soon - Lomax? We still haven't replaced Willie Talau. Wheeler has lots of potential, but always misses games through injury. The position is his if he establishes himself, but who knows if he'll ever get a run in the team? This is the main area Saints should be looking to recruit in the next year or two. We're good up front and have some good young players competing for spots, we're not as well off in the backs.

Potter has had to play to our strengths which lies in the pack. We're not as expansive as we used to be, but he's done a fairly decent job with what he's got. We've got two superb half backs IMO when fully fit. Pryce and Eastmond were forming a great partnership and if we keep them fit, they provide some pace, the ability to make a break - the X factor.

Re: My thoughts from Saturday FWIW!!! : Mon Oct 04, 2010 5:02 pm  

Plus the fact its slashed it down for almost every Friday night home game (when it wasnt foggy or snowing that is)