Really? That's a new one.

Is your second name Parker?

Let's pretend though ... If Brough did comes to Saints that would mean Lomax to 6 , Lance to FB (I'd assume) and it would give us more balance. Not going to happen though.

Given the choice of the 3 I'd take Brough any day of the week, so I dearly hope you're right.

How do i know? Ask Nathan Brown

You don't Mr Parker .. which is my point.

I know one thing, you have a squad in meltdown. Good luck for the rest of the season because you are going to need it.

No, jerkass - we have a squad in need of a few changes, a new coach and a few boots up backsides. We're getting all of them for next season. Enjoy getting knocked out of the playoffs early again when you burn out early again, won't you?

I have it on a cast iron source that Gaskell will not be going to Wigan so forget about that. He was unsettled earlier of the season, him and Rush don't get on. Since Nathan Brown's appointment he's been much happier and is willing to give it a go and see what opportunities he can get. Could still be going out on loan at some point this season but that's not certain.

You know I don't expect to see Gaskell next week, why??

Because as woahful as we where against Wigan that same side can still match most of the rest of the league with just Roby and the pack, and Lance wandering around doing little.

I do not like it, but something in me wants an injury because that's about the only way Gaskell is ever going to see the light of day at LP this year. Maybe a bout of flu, just to leave the coaches with no option but to put personal slights to one side.

I doubt Rush will pick Gaskell at all unless he has to due to injuries. I always doubted that Rush just didn't like him but it was confirmed to me recently.

You hit the nail on the head. We will make the playoffs easily just banging it up the middle and ignoring the backs altogether given how weak most of the league is and how strong our forwards are, and then we only need to win 3 games in which anything could happen. Rush might very well see no point in changing anything and maybe we'd be in a lot worse position if he did try and move people around and alter the pattern of play - maybe he just isn't capable of playing any other way. I don't rate Gaskell as the answer just yet, but clearly the time has come now with a lot of easy games to trudge through and a completely malfunctioning backline to at least give him a runout and see what happens, but this is clearly not going to happen.

Sure - that's provided we can keep Roby (who's body must be close to breaking point the amount of reliance we are placing on it) on the field. With a fully fit squad we can make the top four. But take two or three keys players out of that side for any lengthy period and we could be in very serious trouble.

If that is the case then I am worried about him moving back to looking after the kids, if this is how he treats them.

Read this morning League Express. Confirmed about Finch and about Gaskell but nothing about Brough but it is a done deal. It is hard for you guys to believe a Wiganer.

I heard similar at the weekend, apparently he does have his favourites, and they're not based on ability