Is it though mate?

This stuff about second is a non sequitor. After last season, I expected Saints to have something in the tank and to start ok. After all, there are not many other teams in the league with the established names and young talent that Saints have.

However the performances -particularly in the second half of the season – all shared the same common denominator. Lifeless and devoid.

Generations brought up on the inconsistencies and eccentricities of the Murphy and McClennan eras, the rollercoaster years of McRae, the magic of Millward and the professionalism of Anderson all could vouch for the entertainment factor. The ball was always given air and even though the rashness of it all could leave you tearing your hair out, you accepted that Saints had long created a brand of entertaining and enterprising rugby.

Compare it to the show now. It’s like going to a vegetable exhibition on a rainy day in Norfolk. I genuinely believe that as the Anderson factor has wore off, the Saints performances have as well. Potter has had his time to make a mark and bring nerw ideas. Where are they? There was an article back as the start of the season in the Star about how fit Saints were compared to last season. That looks rather silly now

People carp on about this second place, but as stated it was as much a legacy/continuation of Anderson as Potter’s work. And just look at the evidence.

We rattled up a whopping 10 points against the might of Salford, and 12 points at home against Huddersfield reserves. We managed to hand a victory to the poorest Bulls side since 1994 and were equally as atrocious against Wakefield. The semi final result was no real surprise coming on the back of an inept performance in Hull. Yes there was a plucky performance at Leeds, but it was back to square one against Les Catalans (and yes another great attacking performance – 10 points). Oh, I also thought we were highly fortunate against Wigan – yet again we barely struggled to get into double figures.

All the above has come against a backdrop of unrest – people on here mentioning about bust ups on the training pitch (Jammer) and dissatisfaction with conditioning regimes.

Sorry, people who think the play offs will sort it out are deluding themselves because the form is nothing short of awful.

No I think he was right in some respect, but can anybody remember the last time we had a full strength 17. Going into this season with one recognised and with Hargreaves as a starting prop and probably 3rd in the pecking order ignoring Cayless, highlights our main weakness, then think how many games we have played with just Graham as our only recognised prop the rest have been kids lets be honest and Tony has been shoe horned in as prop. Some would argue its amazing we have done as well as we have.

What confuses me however even tho we have been weak in the front row the tactics have been to try to take everyone on down the channel, it seems Potter lacks a Plan B and that is what we need to have any chance of the playoffs even a plan A would be nice watching the last few weeks {sigh}.

If we were in 5th or 6th right now and scoring tries for fun with a run of 4 or 5 games unbeaten I don't think anybody would be upset or calling for his head. We would have a genuine chance in the play-offs. People are hacked off cos they are bored and we are playing atrocious, awful, boring rugby league. Also the season DA failed to reach a final (2005)was not a full season in charge, people forget. He had to contend with the Millward legacy when Millward was a lot of players best mate before his departure.

i could just about put up with five drives and a kick - we arent even managing that at the moment. 3 drives, a sloppy pass and a few lost yards then a dropped ball on the 5th is what we have been serving up recently.

Potters fault that I suppose? Maybe that is Grahams issue at training, that they are being coached to throw sloppy passes and drop balls on the 5th!

It's do or die for Mick is this play off series. Minimum requirement is a grand final appearance.

The big problems we have is that the game has slowed down a lot, and our tactics no longer work. This has been compounded by missing vital players. You could also add that a lot our players are not as suited to a slower game. Having a bunch of well rounded second rowers, who do well in a fast game is great, but when it slows down you need pace and/or strength.

We have to change tactics.

Now in terms of the Potter issues, it is how he has been seen to reacting to the above issues. We have seen very little success in getting a Plan B, and little sign of things progressing.

This is compounded in some ways by his lack of charisma and authority in any interviews he has given. I am not saying this should happen, but if you aren't that good in the media then the world the way it is now, people will jump on you as soon as you start to wobble.

All that aside, he was coach of the year last year and that is something he worked up to over several years (not a flash in the pan). Also Saints have never faired that well in previous years to games were the PTB has slowed right down. Coming up with Plan B is not an easy task.

Potter deserves some time, but we need to start showing signs of progress.

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the fact that we cant even get the basics right atm shows a lack of coaching and when a player like Longy comes out in the press and admits he doesnt know if he's coming or going tactics wise thats a very poor state of affairs

caught my attention too that comment! if that's not clear enough for anybody to realise that some of the players are not "on board" with potters training methods then i dont know what will convince them?

An outgoing player.

And if you think all the players loved Millward and Anderson, you'd be way out.

Longy not getting kicks away on the 5th and passing to the deck have sod all to do with tactics, he'd do well to look at his own game for faults first.

Our players don't half come across as whiney little prima donna sometimes. Knuckle down and get on with it.

and a truthfull one also....

not at all.

I am firmly in the middle of the anti-Potter / pro-Potter debate. There are things that are down to him (tactics), but lack of basic ability (i.e. catching and passing) is down to the players themselves.

if we roll over in the next 2 games like we did on Friday, I would say he is on very thin ice.