Gaskell has more physical attributes and talent than Matty, but Matty's undoubtedly the better player right now. I always said that, at the time, letting Smith go was the right decision. We had Pryce, Eastmond, Wheeler and Smith (plus Lomax bubbling under) and could afford to keep 3 of them - anybody at the time would have let Smith go from those 4. With the use of a time machine we'dve gladly let Warrington have Eastmond instead but at the time it was the right decision and **** happens. Smith is hardly a world-beater or match-winner, but he'd improve our team if we still had him and it's hard to see too many better options available at the moment...

And that's what it all comes back to. A huge player drain in the halfback position's. Whilst other clubs have been scrapping around for halfbacks we've been offloading them like there is no tomorrow and it has left us with a second row and a fullback in the half's.

I'll admit the Eastmond equation was difficult, but I still hold that it could have been hedged against. Lets not forget, we let Long and Smith both go, before Eastmond signed that 2 year deal. (not sure about Ellis) Even at that stage he was touted as holding out for the Union £.

Then come renewal time, we also had Pryce's contract due up.

If we ever get 2 halves back at the club, we need to be sure that we are not renewing both contracts in the same year. Losing one is unfortunate but the amount we have gone through is almost criminal in terms of talent drain.

Imagine this

Lomax FB
Smith 7
Leon 6
Gaskell centre or 13 or 6
Wheeler centre or 6

no need to buy Lance and some

tbh if I had a time machine Wheeler would be plying his trade elsewhere by now given his shocking injury record. Letting Smith and Longy both go with the 2 other halfbacks in the last year of there contracts was a poor move by the chairman as was signing an expensive fullback on a long term deal because he fancied playing 6.

The 2 big mistakes we made were letting Eastmond sign a short-term contract extension and offloading Pryce for Hohaia - the first one is maybe understandable in the circumstances and he'dve likely just sodded off to Warrington on a long deal if we'd pressed the issue which would have been the worst case scenario. In the current marketplace a player with Eastmond's ability is king sadly. But basically swapping Pryce for Hohaia gets loonier and loonier with each passing day. Maybe we simply couldn't compete with the raw £s on offer from Cats, but by the looks of things we never made an attempt to even try to...

You just don't know how to take a compliment do you.

I was agreeing with you, you know.

Apparently he's not in the squad for Salford.
I know we all have varying degrees of support for him, but this will leave most of us scratching our heads, i reckon.

I think that's the debate on Gaskell done!

Barring Brown repositioning Gaskell for some other position which will take time.

As a halfback that's pretty much an indication that he will not play half for Saints again.

He could've played him full back this week, even if not standoff.

As you say, that looks like that, but its more than a little baffling to me.

Kinda looks like Gaskell #6 nail in the coffin time then... If he has no place even in the 19 with the players we have out then we won't be seeing him in the halves again barring an outbreak of plague at the training ground I don't think. I think we'll be seeing Hohaia ostensibly staying at #6 but doing a lot more work from dummy half.

I think that's it for Gaskell, I'm sorry to say.

Sounds bad for Gaskell, always thought he was a talented lad but I don't see him every week.
As for Pryce, he had a very good game v Widnes last weekend apparently but the Friday prior to that he went MIA. Bosc did an untold amount of tackling and our Leon was nowhere to be seen.
Catalans went toe to toe with Wigan for 30 mins and they could have done with his contribution.
Don't know if he was like that for Saints but on that showing your not missing much by him not being at Langtree.

Pryce is better than anything we have at standoff at the moment. He was accused of being a flat track bully but I dont think that was fair tbh. He'd walk into our current team as he's miles better than Hiho

I think with Gaskell not being picked again that the lad as signed for someone else and the club know this

How can he? He is contracted to Saints until 2104.

Yeah, he used to go missing for us too. Very frustrating really as when he wants to play he is invaluable.

2013 mate

o.k.
I thought he had signed a three year deal back in 2011.

He did but that included the 2011 season

Don't think even the life time president could live up to a contract until 2104.

It may not be the end for Gaskell at Saints, but as a half it must be. The only possible reason I can think that Gaskell has not been picked this week, but may have a chance of playing, is that he is being trained into a new position a bit like Wellens.

The likelihood is that he's now gone, but it would not take much for Brown to surprise everyone and be getting another player to perform in a new position.

Wow.... Now that is a long-term contract...

Brown reaches very firm opinions about players and then is loathe to change his mind. last yaer he decided Lunt was not part of his plans and shipped him off to Leeds. Some selections defied belief and others were inspired.

I guess it depends whether brown will be given freedom to experiment and shape his squad or whether others will prevent him?

Interesting read here about what Martyn Sadler wrote about lee Gaskell and the Rochdale chairman not being happy www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk/art ... p?id=10853

Interesting read here about what Martyn Sadler wrote about lee Gaskell and the Rochdale chairman not being happy www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk/art ... p?id=10853

A great report, also knocks on the head the 'attitude' rumour that Gaskell allegedly has. Turned up and put himself forwards for a centre position. Did not sit around at Saints expecting a number 6 shirt to be gifted to him.

Maybe those pushing the slacker theory should back track, as should Martyn Sadler, to the Rochdale coach.

Nothing wrong with a backtrack, I've had to do it myself.

Quote ="Saints4eva2013"Interesting read here about what Martyn Sadler wrote about lee Gaskell and the Rochdale chairman not being happy www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk/art ... p?id=10853'" Very interesting. It goes to show, as I mentioned, us speccies are only ever working with half (or less than half) the story.

Quote ="Saints4eva2013"Interesting read here about what Martyn Sadler wrote about lee Gaskell and the Rochdale chairman not being happy www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk/art ... p?id=10853'" Very interesting. It goes to show, as I mentioned, us speccies are only ever working with half (or less than half) the story.

Quote ="Saints4eva2013"Interesting read here about what Martyn Sadler wrote about lee Gaskell and the Rochdale chairman not being happy www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk/art ... p?id=10853'" Good on the Rochdale chairman for sticking up for his club and for Gaskell.

Quote ="Saints4eva2013"Interesting read here about what Martyn Sadler wrote about lee Gaskell and the Rochdale chairman not being happy www.hornetsrugbyleague.co.uk/art ... p?id=10853'" Good on the Rochdale chairman for sticking up for his club and for Gaskell.