I've really made an effort not to get as down cast as some of the other Saints fans this year, after all, every team must go through down periods. But this..... This has to be the most depressing piece of news I've heard all year.

Watched him on Thursday, very handy....

Yes I think he has but we had our chance to have a mass clear out of all the deadwood. The likes of wello, Meli, Ade, Howarth, TP, Perry, Laffranchi could all have been shipped out.

We would then have cap and quota places to replace them. Lets be honest, even the average of Aussie/kiwi props would give us more than Laffranchi, Perry and TP.

And Laffranchi

He's awful. I can't put in words how poor this guy is. How can the club keep him?

Totally agree we get rid of the drain that is Flannery running good lines etc etc etc then we get the drain that is Laffranchi running the good lines etc etc etc we are being taken for mugs. Where have all the Haggertys and Arkwrights gone young local lads who would run through a brick wall and actually frighten the opposition.

Thompson will run thru a brick wall. He shows passion for the shirt and wants to play. If I was Luke, I would be knocking on Browns door asking how someone like Laffranchi is getting picked before me.

The pack is so weak, slow, soft we are becoming push overs down the middle.

Is Thompson injured or just not picked, couldn.t work out why an on loan player in Howarth was selected at starting second row when we have better selection options.

I think he's just not been selected.

I am a better second row starting option than Howarth and I have turned fifty. At least I carry a bit of weight, thanks to Tonys chippy.

It's an utter disgrace is what it is. Howarth is utter and Laffranchi is as useful as a glass nail. The ape has got it right over the lump in some respects, all his forwards run like there life depends on it , every drive , every tackle is 100% effort, if they slack they get dropped and replaced with a young lad who will do it. Thompson is the type of player we need in the team not some overpaid past it aussie on a jolly.

It is things like this that makes people (like myself) who stick up for the club and are positive about the future look like fools. The club just makes the same mistakes over and over again. I wouldn't put a new deal for Perry past them.

I can't wait until the club announces the supposed new contracts for Gardner, Laffranchi and Wellens, I really can't. Saints media manager is already whining on about personal abuse he's getting on the club's official Facebook page, just wait till those pearlers come out. I've always thought McManus is either very clever, in doing everything on a budget and pretending he cares, or completely oblivious and in complete denial about the state the club is in. His pre-season programme notes always make me laugh, when he talks about our superb squad and the team fit for the stadium. Hopefully he'll soon realise the customers aren't happy.

The backlash the club is going to get might hopefully make them see what a mess we're in. Season ticket renewals are going to be interesting, I wouldn't rule out a drop in the thousands given the absolute rubbish the club is dishing out every week. Re-signing the likes of Laffranchi and Wellens will convince no one that the club cares about being successful.

The fact they haven't said goodbye to Perry yet has me sweating that we ARE going to offer him a new deal.

Ive heard a horrible rumour there offering him another year.