They are but i really don't think you the same force you once were thus many teams will fancy their chances against you.

Teams will no longer have to be at their best to turn you over which is a massive change for Saints. In previous seasons you were always beatable but you had to be at your best this won’t be the case next season.

I can’t see the players that have struggled from wise in Wellens, Gidley, KFC, Meli, Fozzard , Pryce being any better next season in fact they will probably get that little bit slower and suffer from injuries more.

There is a severe lack of pace across the whole of your back line (injury prone Eastmond aside) and again teams will come to Knowsley road with their confidence high of coming away with a win.

Leeds will walk SL next season as players like Webb, Maguire, Burrow, JJB, Sinfield, Hall, Diskin etc all are either just into or coming right into their pomp as pro players.

Of course they will. This is probably good for the League.

We lack the pace and guile, but are in a lot dstronger position than most think. Wheeler should be given a shot at centre which will add to the pace of the backline, and I expect Soliola to play a hard hitting role at second row.

Also believe that one of the youngsters will step up having had the benefit of experience this year.

It's not good for SL as its one less serious threat to Leeds and seeing that there was only one realistic threat around anyway it makes SL another foregone conclusion.

If there is any doubt about the decline of Saints look at the current England team –No Pryce, Wellens or Gardner three big players for Saints that I just can’t see getting anywhere near to their previous best. When you add these names to Cunningham, Gidley, Meli & Fozard and the loss of Long & Gilmour it’s very untreatable why people like myself are starting to question if you’ll be a spent force next season

I note that you are not including the 'aquisition' of Moore and Soliola to
your list? One of those has been included in the England team, the other selected for NZ

I think you touch on valid points. For example the limitations of our wingers is a big bone of contention for me.

My main contention is that as Mark Twain said, rumours of 'our' downfall are greatly exageratted. Some of the prospects we have should just about be able to cover some of the problem areas. Lomax is ready to take over from Wellens, and Gaskell looks ready to lay a claim for a position in the backs. Also watch out for Magennis who would have played this year but for injury.

Not an ideal position to be in though, and much will depend on how MP fairs next year.

I wouldn't underestimate Saints, they will be a good side next season, but the Saints fans on this thread are kidding themselves if they really think that they are going to be stronger next season, they have an ageing squad, are losing key players. Despite a couple of acquisitions and some promising but unproven (unlike Wigan's) youngsters they can't help but be weaker next season. The gap between Saints and Leeds will be bigger than this season.

The good news for Wigan fans is that we don't have to sign anyone to improve - our team is young and we have a new coach who I am convinced will work on fitness and preparation and take things to a much higher level than this season.

Given that the gap between Wigan and Saints wasn't exactly a yawning chasm this season, I am really looking forward to the derby matches next season - for the first time in years we will be able to take on the scousers knowing we are at least as good as them....

I think though that Leeds will still have the edge on us next season; but in 2011 following the departure of Fielden things could well be different.

I didn't miss them off on purpose but i can't see how two players can cover for the loss of form of maybe five players + 2 big losses in Long and Gilmour?

Also what sort of role will Moore get next season? Cunningham isn't gonna get dropped and Roby is the future of British RL isn't he? He’s a very talented player but if he’s not playing regular first team football don’t expect him to show the kind of form he has done this season.

Soliola will be a massive plus but i can't see why you'd play such a powerful centre in the 2nd row? He's got to be your main centre for the foreseeable future hasn't he?

Soliola will make you some yards if he’s played in the pack but he’d be much more of a threat and weapon for you lot out wide.

I can’t for the life of me work out why it is you didn’t sign Fox this season? You could have created a lethal partnership with him and Soliola and given yourself the pace you so desperately need.

There are some massive question marks hanging over your squad for next season- Can Cunnigham & Eastmond stay injury free? Can Pryce and Gildley get back to their past best? How will Fozzard add to your team? Can Eastmond fill the boots of Long?

And will Graham and Potter continue to pretend that they get along?

They can disguise it as much as they want but there are some serious questions that are going to be asked of Saints.

I’ll say it again that teams will go to Knowsley road with a renewed sense of optimism that they can beat turn them over. How will Saints react to this?

You can say Leeds will walk SL all you want, but the title is decided by a couple of one off games and its not beyond, Wigan, Saints and Wire to beat them in a semi or final. The leagues best team doesn't nessearily win the GF.

I've said in another thread that I don't think Leeds are all they think they are. Saints were crap in the final and Leeds only put them away through a very dodgy video ref decision.

They are certainly not beyond the reach of several clubs who'll be snapping at their heels next season. Now that we've got Maguire, I'm very hopeful that we'll be one of them.

Write Saints off at your peril. That said, next season could finally see Leeds and Saints come back into the pack so to speak.

Stains fall won't be huge (if and when it happens), but they have definitely 'declined' from their devastating best of 2/3 years ago. I think that Wire will be a massive threat next season, sadly.

And then the RFL will be happy - not that other teams have caught them up but they have come back to the pack. Maybe explains the lack of sell outs at all the big games this season.

What I find interesting is some Saints fans belief that decline can't happen to them! They only need take a look at ourselves for an example of how an all-conquering team has a finite lifespan. For a more recent and alarming fall from grace take a look at the Bulls. Just a few short years have seen them go from near unbeatable to not even making the playoffs. There are even parallels with regards to the rumoured finances of both clubs. Of course that could never happen to Saints.....could it?

Saints will be up there again next year, no doubt about that in my mind.

They'll be in one of the final eliminators at the very least.