I think our biggest problem is Gentle's belief in a lighter, more mobile pack. I believe our backs are actually good enough (would prefer a better winger to Crooks, but not top priority) but we are rarely playing off a good go forward and giving Holdsworth and Miller the time and space in which to play. Last night it was more obvious than ever when Saints have players like Walmsley and Soliola whereas we have Johnson and Pitts. Walmsley also dispels the nonsense about there not being the players available as Saints found him, I had never heard of him this time last year and he has been great every game I have seen Saints play.

Our forward power is non-existent and Watts (our only prop I would keep) should be being played from the bench to bring on when the game is more open since his biggest quality is his off-load, instead he has to start since even he is more powerful than the rest of our props. Whilst when on top of our game we can still win with a smaller team the simple fact is that when you are not playing well size and power can compensate and get you easy yards. It's like a tennis player having a big serve, it is not essential but if you have one then you can win a number of easy points in a game rather than requiring long rallies all the time.

It's not as if our pack is even that mobile as LMS, Farrell and JJB all seem to have have more pace and mobility than any of ours, or is that they run straight rather than going back on the inside all the time makes it appear so. All teams have some light forwards and Watts, Houghton and Whiting should be ours with the rest having some size and power. I don't see Walker and Thompson solving this problem and we should be looking for players like Sam Moa (what about Kaufusi if London go bust).

As a replacement I agree, however it would have been a treat to have both, or two similar quality players.

I'm not sure if that strengthens or weakens your argument. Watts has clearly lost some size (probably the most notable in the entire squad), so that's quite possibly a big factor in why he's gone backwards.

Mediocre was probably badly worded on my part. What I was trying to say was that he came on like he could be the next big thing then his application seemed to go downhillHis technique became seemingly lazy and he became a penalty machine, laying on too long and struggling (or not trying hard enough) to win the collision so leaving hands in. It was certainly not down to ability but almost as if he wasn’t putting in the hard work in training, becoming complacent?? This was backed up by Sandercock not even picking him (and the rumours around his attitude being off) then his ultimately being allowed to leave without a fight.
I’ve not seen enough of him this year (only your tv games and the derbies) but what I have seen seems very reminiscent of his latter months with us. Must admit I thought he’d bucked his ideas up in his first few months with you.

Seems about right to me. I'd strongly dispute the idea that he's been one of our best forwards this year. I think he's been relatively poor.

Me too.