the rest of SL will be quaking in their boots at this news.Should have been released

Should have been released!? I'm afraid until some one can prove to me how much he's getting paid, such a statement is completely OTT. He's showed since his return how much more strength he add than the young trio of backrow we have. We don't have the squad depth to be casting people off and flanders seems a professional guy, hard worker who'll do exactly what the coach asks, whether its run wide, play tight, tackle for 80 mins etc.

If we had new signings queuing up then maybe we wouldn't need him, but the fact is that there's not a lot of people available. If we've paid him a king's ransom, then we would be mistaken, but he's worth a squad place for me.

We'd be third. I'm a grand up on this conversation. Please PM me your personal details so I can send the debt collection boys round in 7 years time. And please don't put 'Mr Yellow Giraffe, Giraffe House, Knowsley Safari Park'.

Solid squad player - if his wages reflect that position it's a good signing.

People whinge about lack of squad depth in the pack, then whinge when we re-sign forwards. Go figure.

I've still got a feeling this won't be our last signing for 2012.

Do hope you weren't referring to me there Vee? Wouldn't want you to lose a knee cap over a misunderstanding.

I agree. Fingers crossed.

You really have got to be the most depressing person in the world!!
Also, much of what you are saying doesnt really stack up.

Apart from the fact that not all these ins and outs have been confirmed you are trying to point to the fact that we are losing 6 players and only gaining two, whereas Warrington are losing 2 and gaining 3.
However you then go on to contradict yourself.
Armstrong and Frodsham have hardly played this season and therefore cant really be considered as major losses. I assume we have other players coming through the reserves who are adeqaute replacements for these.
You say Makinson has replaced Gardner and therefore we dont need a signing to replace Gardner.
So we are really at 3 out and 2 in and one of the outs isnt yet confirmed.
Also one of Warrington's ins havent been confirmed.

All in all, you are clutching a straws big time and making wild and stupid generalisations.

Also, if you seriously think we wont win anything for another 6 or 7 years to take us into double figures then please name your price and I will happily bet that this will not be the case.

Ha ha!! I hate to admit it but I did actually laugh out loud at that.
I will allow the mods to hand you my personal details in 7 years time. I am that confident.

As for us being 3rd with a full side, it is obviously hypothetical but I disagree. Our strongest 17 is as good as any other.

edit: I have also just noticed that in a seperate thread you have mentioned Ratchford as a possible signing for us as it has not yet been announced he has signed for Warrington. A slight inconsistency here I reckon...

i'd rather play Flannery than Dixon,Ashurst and Magennis?

Flanno is a good player but injuries this year could be catching up with him? thats the only concern i have?

At this point, this is good news.

But time will tell.

Always seen him as deadwood tbh. Who else is there though

It's disappointing, of that there's no doubt. Is there anyone better available? Probably not and that's just as depressing.
I pray this is not our last signing

Honestly as a 2nd rower behind soliola and Wilkin, this gives us a good player on the bench and cover for injury.

Who did people want in the 2nd row? Steve Menzies is the only other guy I can think of whose been available recently and mbe it's no accident we have announced this after he announced he was staying at le cats

Flannery is a good re-signing because we're already losing some experienced players, we can't afford to lopse 5 or 6 of them in one go, we've been doing that for too long.

Our squad has been decreasing by experience and quality since 2006. We've probably replaced half of those that have left with youngsters filling the other spots. The last couple of seasons it's come to the point where after our starting 17, we look so light in terms of star quality. In comparison to Warrington and Wigan our squad is lightyears behind. They have 20 - 22 uality players who they can feel comfortable rotating and rely on. If we lost Graham or Pryce or Roby or even Meli, we'd struggle because we don't have the depth and quality to replace. I think we're 2 or 3 experienced players short. I do admire our strategy of giving youth a chance, but they're not physically mature enough to play every week at such a consistent level. You need to have a balance and with our luck with injuries, those youngsters would still get a chance.

1. Why can't we sign any NRL players?
2. Better young players for example like Chris hill who we didn't sign and Jake Emmet who we let go. I know they are props but with TP still with us he could easily switch to 2nd row.
3. Flanners is pants and has been since he joined us as a rather poor replacement for hopperman. Our quota places are very precious so why waste them on a "second rate aussie".
4. I'd rather have vinnie anderson back from dire now he's on a free and off quota.

We can't sign Nrl players as the quota is full. Flannery is off the quota so won't take a overseas spot.

I don't think flannery is the greatest of players but if the is nothing else out there to replace him then I'd rather have him than not.

One things for sure, he's ten times better than ashurst and Dixon.

1. Because we're up to our limit of non-federation players.
2. I would have liked us to sign Chris Hill, but there's every possibility he preferred the option of going to Wire. Same with Emmit - he was offered a wage elsewhere that we couldn't possibly justify matching.
3. We disagree on Flannery. He's no flash Harry, but no way is he pants. Regarding quota spaces, Flannery doesn't count as non-federation, as he's been here since before 2008. This is precisely why we've retained him. If he had left we wouldn't have been able to bring in an NRL player to take his place.
4. Vinnie Anderson is at Salford. Louis Anderson would seem to have agreed terms with Catalans.

Points taken.
I meant to sat Louis.

Makes me weep this post. I've been preaching this for 2 years now and finally everyone is singing Saddened!'s tune.

A one year extension seems about right for me for all parties.

If gives Saints the safety of having a good no nonsense backrower with experience and a decent amount of ability. While at the same time it gives the younger players a further year to mature and reach the desired level.

I cant believe Saints fans slagging Flanno off. For me he would always be one of the first names on the team sheet as he is ultra reliable in what he does. Just because a player doesnt make big hits or make the odd rhino like charge into a defensive brick wall doesnt mean a player is poor.
Granted i would have preferred Saints to sign a world class backrower, but we arent going to sign a top draw Australasian, and neither is anyone else in SL. Within the UK away from Saints, I can only think of Ben Westwood and Sean O'Loughlin with the necessary experience, that would also be a sizeable improvement on Flannery.

Nice to see you havent responded to my post.
Probably because you are talking out of your backside and have no argument to come back with.
Until we know the make up of our final squad for 2012 then we cant really comment.
We could have a couple of new signings and maybe (although unlikely) leon still with us.
CC semi finalists for God knows how many years and 4 consecutive grand Final appearances in a row doesnt not suggest we are that far off the other teams.
This season we have been decimated by injury and the restraints of the salary cap mean we would never have had the squad to fully cope with all the injuries. Despite that we are still in the top 4 and are favourites to make at least another CC semi final appearance.
You really need to get a bit of perspective and reality in your life.
Failing that, if you are so despondent just stop following the Saints and make all our lives a much happier place.

Look newb, I'm not despondent or pessimistic I'm realistic. I love watching Saints and will support them no matter where they are in the overall scheme of things. Doesn't mean I cannot tell it like it is on a fans forum.

So pipe down or I'll set my friend the orange lion onto you.

Your not realistic though, we have been within the top 2 teams for the last 5 or 6 years and only this year have we slipped, mainly due to injuries. However the season is by no means over and we are still in with a shout on both fronts.
Despite this you are saying we will finish in mid-table based on looking at a squad that isnt even confirmed as complete yet.
You made a post about 5 players leaving and being replaced by 2. Of the 5, one hasnt played all year and the other has played only a few times despite all the injuries. Therefore they cant be considered a major loss. Another of the 5 is yet to confirm that he is leaving. That is therefore a very general statement.
Of course you are entitled to your opinion and it is clear that it is different to mine but I just think you are basing it on things that arent really accurate.
Watch out for the purple octopus, he is the worst of all the coloured animals!!

Oh come on saddened, not pessimistic? Really.

Sure you can tell it like you 'THINK' it is, but just remember everyone in the mental hospital think's they are sane.



I've grown accustomed to your wild prophesys on the end of days for Saints, but anyone new to this forum will take some time to adjust to your reverse positivity attitude, just like I did when I joined at the start of the year. But Saint fan put me right and now I just understand that a mild critism is positive support, a doomsday senario is generally an ok review. I'll start to get worried about Saints when you start saying that Mars being in alignment with venus will cause the decemination of the Saints club. At that point we may struggle to make the top 8.