I was told tonight Meli has signed a one years deal on a reduced contract.

Oh for pity's sake.

Fantastic deal if true. He looks to still have another year in him and there's bugger all else on the market of even remotely his quality.

Gardner has got away with that for over 10 years without the bonus of the boot.

A little unfair... Gardner went through a couple of horrific years under Potter but oitherwise has been the very definition of solid for most of his Saints' career.

I beg to differ. He was atrocious under the bomb for years, before a couple of good years under Anderson, he then reverted to type under Potter. He's never been better than average defensively.

He has no pace (I think he's gone the length of the pitch once (against Wire at home after an intercept)), has little footwork, hardly ever beats a man, rarely breaks a tackle and benefited greatly playing outside two of the best centres in the game at the time. Gidley had that little confidence in him he preferred to kick the ball into the in goal area and chase the kick rather than pass to him more often than not.

What he has on Foster at this moment in time is experience.

Gardner has far more over foster than just experience - better defence, immeasurably better kick returns, a genuine threat from kicks to the corner, more effective in exit sets .....

Gardner has far more over foster than just experience - better defence, immeasurably better kick returns, a genuine threat from kicks to the corner, more effective in exit sets, harder to stop near the try line .....

Spot on.

Adey is absolutely fearless when returning kicks; he is like a man possessed!

He is now but he hasnt always been. Earlier in his career he was far more foster like in his returns.

I remember the semi-final at the Galpharm against Hull(?) in 2005(?), and you winced everytime a high ball came down anywhere near him, because you just knew he was about to concede a try. Compare that to now, it's like light and shade.

He's taking the ball in that well he should be playing at Prop, albeit he would be our slowest prop. GET RID NOW. He's supposed to be a winger for f***'s sake.
The fastest man on the team, or am I missing something?

Yes you are, namely 20 years' worth of tactical evolution...

Makes sense, Hull have Mr.Man, Mr.Tickle out for the duration, they need a good punter, Foster fits the bill. He is a bit of a one trick pony so if I was Rush/Brown, I’d leave him there.