: Fri Mar 13, 2009 11:57 am  

St Ty wrote:

In my opinion one of the main reasons we have been so succesful since the inception of super league has been our ability to both retain key members of our squad for very long periods and to succesfully replace them when needed.

The ability to retain key players like Newlove, Joynt, Martyn, Long, Scully, Wellens and KC and even Lee Gilmour, has undoubtably meant we have been fortunate to maintain a consistant core and this consistancy is as big a factor as any other in any successful team as Leeds will fans will surely testify to.

However it is important to remember that many of these players were replacements for equally as important key players before them and that others have already been replaced successfully.

The hard work and sensible, well considered thoughts and actions of people behind the scenes at Saints saw Sean Long succeed Bobby Goulding at scrum half and Paul Wellens ultimately succeed Steve Prescott at full back, Willie Talau succeed Newlove in one centre role and Kevin Iro replaced by Martin Gleeson, Jamie Lyon and then Matt Gidley as the other and has also seen Leon Pryce succesfully follow Jason Hooper as Tommy Martyn's replacement at stand off.

I've a strong belief that those same people at the club who have brought through and bought players like Roby, Graham, Lyon and Gidley over the past few years will succesfully see us through a period of a year or two that will see us lose KC and Long as they did in 2003 and 2004 when we lost Newlove, Martyn and then Joynt but managed to maintain the pursuit for silverwear.

The big difference this season being how much faith the coaching staff are willing to put in such a large number of academy products. Yes this will be partially due to the financial aspect but i'm sure equally as much due to having one eye on the future rule changes that come with the franchise system and also due to the quality and performance and potential of these players.

Fine post and one that should be rolled out to every opposition fan who continuously refer to our demise.

Re: Saints 2009 : Fri Mar 13, 2009 2:34 pm  

the wicker man wrote:

What was the year when wigan had a team full of youths and beat us at knowsley Rd, they were back on the up then...was that 2003??

It's the same now, a truer reflection on wigan will be tomorrow night's game...

Good Friday in 2003 when Wigan came back from something like 22-4 down at half time to beat us. I think it was in the same season at KR when we went into a quick 20-0 lead and ended up losing 36-34 or something like that. Think Luke Robinson got a hat trick that day

: Tue May 05, 2009 4:55 pm  

Doseymarker wrote:

I can guarantee that there's one team we wont be struggling against and thats Wigan.

There even worse than I expected.

Replaced mediocrity with mediocrity and are blooding youngsters into a poor side.

The wins have kept them from getting tony smith and keeping the worlds greatest playoff coach.

He`ll be gone this year and replaced by another saviour.

Oh dear.

: Tue May 05, 2009 4:57 pm  

: Tue May 05, 2009 5:01 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

Oh dear.

Until you're in a play-off place, I wouldn't "oh dear" too much.

That side should never in a million years be 9th, which for me just shows how poorly coached it has been all season.

The fact that you can pull out a decent performance against us just highlights how farcical your current position is.

: Tue May 05, 2009 5:58 pm  

St Ty wrote:

In my opinion one of the main reasons we have been so succesful since the inception of super league has been our ability to both retain key members of our squad for very long periods and to succesfully replace them when needed.

The ability to retain key players like Newlove, Joynt, Martyn, Long, Scully, Wellens and KC and even Lee Gilmour, has undoubtably meant we have been fortunate to maintain a consistant core and this consistancy is as big a factor as any other in any successful team as Leeds will fans will surely testify to.

However it is important to remember that many of these players were replacements for equally as important key players before them and that others have already been replaced successfully.

The hard work and sensible, well considered thoughts and actions of people behind the scenes at Saints saw Sean Long succeed Bobby Goulding at scrum half and Paul Wellens ultimately succeed Steve Prescott at full back, Willie Talau succeed Newlove in one centre role and Kevin Iro replaced by Martin Gleeson, Jamie Lyon and then Matt Gidley as the other and has also seen Leon Pryce succesfully follow Jason Hooper as Tommy Martyn's replacement at stand off.

I've a strong belief that those same people at the club who have brought through and bought players like Roby, Graham, Lyon and Gidley over the past few years will succesfully see us through a period of a year or two that will see us lose KC and Long as they did in 2003 and 2004 when we lost Newlove, Martyn and then Joynt but managed to maintain the pursuit for silverwear.
.

I'd agree with that but there is one main difference. This time we are talking about losing within a couple of years Scully, Long and KC which really is the spine of the side and has been the main creative hub for us.

: Tue May 05, 2009 6:11 pm  

saintc wrote:

I'd agree with that but there is one main difference. This time we are talking about losing within a couple of years Scully, Long and KC which really is the spine of the side and has been the main creative hub for us.

I think we have put the Sculthorpe one to bed with Wilkin who has been fantastic for us this year. Cunningham as big a loss he will be, will be replaced by Moore and as for Longy I would imagine Eastmond/Smith will replace or we will go into the market place.

: Tue May 05, 2009 6:24 pm  

Joynty11 wrote:

Cunningham as big a loss he will be, will be replaced by Moore

You hope. Moore may prefer to stay at Udders.

: Tue May 05, 2009 6:40 pm  

Joynty11 wrote:

I think we have put the Sculthorpe one to bed with Wilkin who has been fantastic for us this year. Cunningham as big a loss he will be, will be replaced by Moore and as for Longy I would imagine Eastmond/Smith will replace or we will go into the market place.

ok then. So we will have gone from

Long
KC
Scully

to

Eastmond
Moore
Wilkin.

Do you seriously not think that this constitues a severe weakening of the main positions in our team? If so, why do you think we will be ok? Surely the aim is to maintain yourself as a top side and that is done by having top players in the main positions.

: Tue May 05, 2009 6:55 pm  

saintc wrote:

ok then. So we will have gone from

Long
KC
Scully

to

Eastmond
Moore
Wilkin.

Do you seriously not think that this constitues a severe weakening of the main positions in our team? If so, why do you think we will be ok? Surely the aim is to maintain yourself as a top side and that is done by having top players in the main positions.

It all depends on how good they become. I doubt there is a better 13 in SL than Wilkin, not that he plays there much. Leeds and Wigan for example carry players in that position, Sinfield for his kicking and O'Loughlin for his comedy hair.

Scott Moore could be the next best British hooker to KC already, it's not like there are several young guns fighting over his undisputed spot at the top of the tree in that position is it.

Eastmond looks a lively player, but why does everyone assume he's up to replacing Longy? What has he ever done to suggest he could?