Did we?

You met Sean Long tonight?

Yep, and Andy Gregory.

I do think a bit of criticism of the coach and players may have positive effects at this point...

1: Spot on. For my money Michael Monaghan was possibly the best player in SL in 2011 but sadly he has not looked the same since the injury at the end of that season.
2: Possibly too early after Briers' absence to say this, but yes, if GOB doesn't get game time in the months ahead he never will
3: Asostasi is slightly younger than that but the alarm bells which went off in my head when he didn't materialise in the Samoa World Cup squad seemed justified by his performance last night
4: For me Myler can be fantastic in a supporting half back role but isn't a half back who runs a game
5: Spot on again
6: If there is any crumb of comforting thought to be had from last night at least it's that I have seen all the forwards there (except Asotasi obviously) play better for us than that. Given the backline hadn't changed last season's there's still an obvious lack of pace there. Whether Russell and Penney can make a difference without, er, weakening the defence will be interesting.
7: Interesting comment, I'm a big Smith fan but if any complacency has crept in I think he'll be the first to recognise it.

The team has been steadily on the slide for the last 2 or 3 years ,but we have had the luxury of some poor opponents to cushion the blow. I am not doubting the ability of the players ,and we have a bunch of players that will give their all if pointed in the right direction, but at the minute we are lacking a general on the pitch to provide direction & organisation. Hopefully someone can fit into those boots eventually. Ratchford is better going forward & will never be a full back & Monas is a good hooker.
After their first couple of tries Saints confidence grew & our players were bullied down the middle by their enforcers with little protection from the ref. I think a major boost to Saints though is the coaching influence of Keiron Cunningham who has known for years just which strings to pull to beat the Wire.

The team that was "on the slide" for two years made it to two successive GFs in that time, and if it hadn't been for crushing bad luck with injuries may well have won it last year - even Phil Clarke voiced that opinion last night. By all means bash the current lot based on last night, but let's not belittle the team that gave us our first taste of glory for decades.

Sorry but that's my opinion. Since the year they finished top they don't seem to have been as effective , letting too many teams back into games over the last couple of years. Rebuilding or at least bringing players in to compete for places should have started sooner ,but now we are left with a gaping hole to fill which has not been helped with the injury to Lee Briers.

I know hindsight is a wonderful thing but TS has advocated on many occasions that he prefers evolution rather than revolution but it was clear to me and other that the evolution should have gathered pace in the close season prior to the 2013 season. Yes we got tot a GF which does puncture my argument a little but the result of such inaction is what we face now with the added complication of Briers retirement.

M Monas, Moz and Hodgson should have gone prior to the 2013 season which would have left us with only 2 or 3 to replace for this time around. It was always going to be Briers last season so we should have had something in place. The mystery is why TS appears to not be confident with GOB which would have the obvious heir to the throne to me.

As for the captaincy issue ....... not many plusses on that front if the Saints game is any indication
Still, early days

Murphy is all about shock and contraversy when he speaks in public. At James Roby's formum last week he slagged everone off, including players, management, the game itself, and anyone else who got into the firing line.

Legendary

It was said to me that before Smith would let the players out of the dressing room he gave them the Murphy treatment too.

A bit of rant does no harm.

The way the players were apologetic on twitter i would imagine they got the hairdryer and both barrels of the shotgun.

And the football boot, and the slice of pizza.....