I think we need to stick with Brown. Starting with Walker was a joke but we need to hang in and hope he knows this aint Huddersfield and we will hang him next year if it does not come right.

For me, the strong bench and weaker starting team was clearly an error which Brown has to hold his hand up to, but he is known for tinkering with his team instead of finding his best combination and sticking with it. Saying that, he is working with the hand he was dealt, the no half back issue has killed us all season and our props, for most if the season, have been second rate. Walmsley has been the standout and LMS for the last few games playing from 13 has been in his best form since joining us. As for the rest, well, there is a reason we are vying for 5-7 position in the league, half backs or not.

Whilst Walsh and Masoe will be big pluses next year, I fear these signings may not be enough to get us back into the top 4. We need a 6 and another prop at least. I hear we may be after a very physical english back rower, which will divide opinion, but I think Brown should focus his efforts in the areas where we can make the biggest impact.

McManus will stick with Brown for the duration of his contract, that's pretty obvious, but next season will be the deciding factor as to whether he stays on after year 3 IMO. The club won't want to be paying more compensation to sacked coaches, that's for sure.

For me, the biggest issue was that our last home game at LP, after what is now seemingly a false dawn, was a complete anti-climax. It could still be the last home game for TP, Meli, Lance et al and we went out with a whimper. It certainly wasn't the best advert for season ticket renewals and the business is clearly the most important thing. Our product this season has been sub par, everyone knows that and its a combination of things that has caused it, but mostly out poor recruitment over the last 4/5 years. Unfortunately its like turning a supertanker and only a big shift in our player recruitment will make any significant difference to our fortunes on the field and in turn, make our business more profitable.

I don't think we need a 6 and a prop to be top 4. But we do to challenge.

We got 5th with less this year than we already have next year.

The period with GOB has shown what we can do with a loan halfback.

So give us a fulltime half and some of this years losses become wins.

In the end it's not satisfactory to have a throw away year, but it's been a bit like that. Even so there are positives and whilst last night did not work out I could see the plan with the big fellas on the bench. Brown tries to match a side to the opposition so he does have a plan, but was failed by players turning over easy ball. Wilkin - kick, Walker - carry, there were others but the events are a bit of a blur.

Last night was the most obvious game I have ever seen where the coach lost us the match more than the players.
To pick his opening side as he did and leave better players on the bench was a ridiculous decision. Coaching 101 - start with your strongest team and finish with your strongest team. Why Brown feels the need to mess about with a proven formula is beyond me.
Had we won last night then next week would have been meaningless (therefore a game he could experiment seeing if Walker was a starting prop, putting players again in other roles than their best position) - so every effort to win should have been made, including playing Roby as we have been told he is fit and available, starting on the front foot, aggressive defence and holding them out. Not letting them get a 22 point lead.
One of the worst coaching decisions he has made all year and jeez he has made some of them.

All of the arguments why this year are not relevant when judging last nights performance

Makes you wonder what brown was doing between June and February last year. He had plenty of time to sort out his personnel. As for starting the year without half backs.... Gaskell??? Almost the same as the Lunt situation at hudds.
I thank brown for bringing hudds up a peg- but he's not a top class coach and saints should have better.
Wouldnt have done any worse to keep purtill, and it would have been cheaper!

Agreed. Not enough bravado and fist pumping from brown.