Grego wins the thread.

Seriously though, I don't think Saints will be as strong next year as they have been this, but the difference won't be too much. As much as I hate the guy and his terrible attitude, you can't say that Sean Long didn't inspire Saints to awesome things when he was on the pitch. They'll miss that in 2010, along with Lee Gilmour. Nick Fozzard won't add much.

All in all though, Saints should be fine for another season or two at least. Unfortunately...

I agree.........

On the positive side:

Next season we will be stronger in the pack with the addition of Fozzard and Moore; and our three quarters are stronger with the addition of Soliola.

Our other young lads - Eastmond, Wheeler, Dean, Lomax, Dixon and Ashurt - are a year further on in their development.

On the negative side:

Wellens' lack of pace is a growing problem;
KC is another year older, but that is pretty much negated by the addition of Moore.
Gilmour will be a loss.

On the whole, we should be stronger in 2010 than 2009, IMO.
The loss of Long is no massive problem.

I cant see anybody pushing leeds at the top they seem to have a very good established team that know how to win big games when it matters and a good coach who is very good and with smith going and esatwood coming in to replace him who on paper is a much better player they will be hard to beat home/away.

Saints just don't have that wow or scare factor about them anymore.

They are a very, very beatable team imo

Nor do we and so are we.

Underestimate St Helens at your peril. They have some superb youngsters coming through with a class act in Soliola and a virtual new signing in Moore. They will not be as weak as some people are claiming.

Too much wishful thinking IMO.

all teams are beatable.

I think what he means is that many teams have gone to Knowsley Road, and rolled over. Where as now teams may go there and fancy their chances. Once that happens, yes all teams are beatable, and some teams are prized as a scalp more than others, and you are still the biggest scalp of the moment, as you have had the most recent success.

I dont think your decline will be as great as many on here, but it COULD be a dificult two years for you especially if the young lads dont quite cut it.

This is not a pop, but if a similar thing happens to you as did us in 2006, I just cant see your fans getting behind you like ours did.

The grand final turnout pretty much validates that point. I totally agree.

your right there

Says a lot though; we were having a really tough time, and instead of people losing interest, ticket sales increased because people wanted to show their support. That'd never happen anywhere else, save maybe Leeds. Definitely not at St Helens.

You can't have it both ways. People in the past have had a pop at Saints not increasing their attendence significantly. But therein lies the logic of the argument. If the attendence figures have not increased to people's liking, then there must have been a good following in the harsher times - and boy were they harsh.