Do stop talking sense.

So we've only had Long injured this season then? I must have dreamt that the likes of Cayless, Fa'asavalau, Hargreaves, Cunningham and Roby have all missed chunks of the season...



It may be an overall younger side, but to discount the fact that that is mainly down to 4 or 5 19/20 year olds playing their first seasons coming in to replace Internationals is either disingenuous or an idiotic attempt to try and back up your argument.

Given it's you, I'm 50/50 on which explanation to go for.

*sigh*

Might have known you'd rewrite my post. Can't be ar$ed replying beyond this.

Potter hasn't done as well as Anderson would have done. With Ando we would have won the Challenge Cup and we'd be in slightly better form now.

There is no optimism on the terraces at all, it's like the season finished in the semi final against Huddersfield. It's been dead since then. I'm always a realist and can see when things aren't going to come out smelling of roses, but this season has been unbelievably flat.

Going out of the play offs to Wigan would be a pretty good reflection of how this season has gone, its been dire.

Hopefully they can raise themselves and put one last good showing in to get us to OT, but it's already about preparing for next season, we haven't got it in us to win the GF.

Anderson couldn't do this in his first season either.

I've rewritten nothing. You know damn well he isn't talking about the last 3 or 4 weeks alone.

So? That was a different time and if you remember we fell apart due to losing a couple of key players, like Longy.

Potter hasn't had that. He inherited a top side who hadn't been beaten in the Challenge Cup in years and which was 2 poor showings away from being undisputed as the best team in SL and we've only got 1 player injured at the moment.

This season we've played like turd throughout. The fact we are second is a reflection of how talented a squad he inherited. The fact that we've played so poorly is the reflection of Potter's influence. If things develop and improve as he moulds it into his style then fine, but the problem so far is that there have been no signs of that happening at all. The defense is probably as good as under Anderson, but the attacking has just died off recently, the last what 7 or 8 weeks have been simply awful. That isn't a form blip or because of inuries as most of them were back, the side doesn't know what it's supposed to be doing, confusion reigns at the moment.

It's worrying when a player as experienced and easy to coach as Sean Long comes out a week before the play offs and admits he doesn't know if he's coming or going when it comes to team tactics. If Long feels that way, heaven only knows what the likes of Eastmond feel who don't have the years of experience at the highest level to call upon.

This season has been very strange. Flat to the point of having no nipples even is how I'd describe it.

I honestly cannot remember the last time I walked away from a game thinking "We played really well today" having won the game.

But Potter has had that, Long was missing for the last semi final as well! Your point was that Anderson would have won the challenge cup this year, but he undoubtedly had a better team in his first year in charge as the current one and he didn't win it then. Anderson also inherited the great side of the Millward era.

I'm not trying to say that Potter as good a coach as Anderson, the fact is it's impossible to tell that yet. We shall see.

someone with a bit of sense

To be fair, this is pretty much how I feel. I really can't see us winning the GF.

About the only refreshing thing has been the emergence of some promising youngsters.

We have played drab rugby all the year round, and although I acknowledge Potter may have had to make unpopular decisions, this does not affect the brand of rugby. Brian Clough made some tough decisions when he went to Forest, but the football was played the right way.

I think how we shape up at the start of next season will be a telling factor in his future.

Start poorly and he's brown bread.

IMO there are two types of coach
1)DA type, probably the best team coach we've ever had
2)Eric HUghes type, built a squad to finally beat wigan to the league, but not the greatest team coach to say the least.

IMO only Wayne Bennet can do both to a high level, but even St.George fell away in the playoffs.

Right now we need a team builder, after next year we'll hopefully need a great team coach again.

IMHO i cant blame Potter for what has gone on this year.

People just need to lay off and see what losing a few more games is like. Christ Saints fans dont half annoy me sometimes.

No one minds losing. It's the level and style of the performances that has got everyone miffed. If we'd played a good style of rugby this year and come up just short in the Semi Final because of injuries, it wouldn't be too bad.

Instead we've limped along all season with no enthusiasm, no spark, no inventiveness, no cohesiveness, no spirit and with the most awful, bland style of play. It's like he's ripped the soul out of the club and turned us into a poor version of Bradford.

We've got everyone fit now and have for the last few weeks. It's been a good while since we've had a few missing. Yet we've not scored more than 20 points in a game in an age. The attacking side of things is a mess and if you look at Long's comments in the papers you can see why.

If we lose to Wigan on Saturday Potter will deserve the stick he is going to get.

Can't argue with that, really. A monkey could coach the style of rugby we have played for the most part this year.

Potter's position is secure and safe. McManus isn't a knee-jerker.