I've rewritten nothing. You know damn well he isn't talking about the last 3 or 4 weeks alone.

So? That was a different time and if you remember we fell apart due to losing a couple of key players, like Longy.

Potter hasn't had that. He inherited a top side who hadn't been beaten in the Challenge Cup in years and which was 2 poor showings away from being undisputed as the best team in SL and we've only got 1 player injured at the moment.

This season we've played like turd throughout. The fact we are second is a reflection of how talented a squad he inherited. The fact that we've played so poorly is the reflection of Potter's influence. If things develop and improve as he moulds it into his style then fine, but the problem so far is that there have been no signs of that happening at all. The defense is probably as good as under Anderson, but the attacking has just died off recently, the last what 7 or 8 weeks have been simply awful. That isn't a form blip or because of inuries as most of them were back, the side doesn't know what it's supposed to be doing, confusion reigns at the moment.

It's worrying when a player as experienced and easy to coach as Sean Long comes out a week before the play offs and admits he doesn't know if he's coming or going when it comes to team tactics. If Long feels that way, heaven only knows what the likes of Eastmond feel who don't have the years of experience at the highest level to call upon.

This season has been very strange. Flat to the point of having no nipples even is how I'd describe it.

I honestly cannot remember the last time I walked away from a game thinking "We played really well today" having won the game.

But Potter has had that, Long was missing for the last semi final as well! Your point was that Anderson would have won the challenge cup this year, but he undoubtedly had a better team in his first year in charge as the current one and he didn't win it then. Anderson also inherited the great side of the Millward era.

I'm not trying to say that Potter as good a coach as Anderson, the fact is it's impossible to tell that yet. We shall see.

someone with a bit of sense

To be fair, this is pretty much how I feel. I really can't see us winning the GF.

About the only refreshing thing has been the emergence of some promising youngsters.

We have played drab rugby all the year round, and although I acknowledge Potter may have had to make unpopular decisions, this does not affect the brand of rugby. Brian Clough made some tough decisions when he went to Forest, but the football was played the right way.

I think how we shape up at the start of next season will be a telling factor in his future.

Start poorly and he's brown bread.

IMO there are two types of coach
1)DA type, probably the best team coach we've ever had
2)Eric HUghes type, built a squad to finally beat wigan to the league, but not the greatest team coach to say the least.

IMO only Wayne Bennet can do both to a high level, but even St.George fell away in the playoffs.

Right now we need a team builder, after next year we'll hopefully need a great team coach again.

IMHO i cant blame Potter for what has gone on this year.

People just need to lay off and see what losing a few more games is like. Christ Saints fans dont half annoy me sometimes.

No one minds losing. It's the level and style of the performances that has got everyone miffed. If we'd played a good style of rugby this year and come up just short in the Semi Final because of injuries, it wouldn't be too bad.

Instead we've limped along all season with no enthusiasm, no spark, no inventiveness, no cohesiveness, no spirit and with the most awful, bland style of play. It's like he's ripped the soul out of the club and turned us into a poor version of Bradford.

We've got everyone fit now and have for the last few weeks. It's been a good while since we've had a few missing. Yet we've not scored more than 20 points in a game in an age. The attacking side of things is a mess and if you look at Long's comments in the papers you can see why.

If we lose to Wigan on Saturday Potter will deserve the stick he is going to get.

Can't argue with that, really. A monkey could coach the style of rugby we have played for the most part this year.

Potter's position is secure and safe. McManus isn't a knee-jerker.

But why is it safe and secure? Because he's got a long and expensive contract and we can't afford to release him from it?

Or because he's actually doing a good job?

I'm not going to slag potter off as I think he's had tough hard season with injurys and a pretty thin squad.

I would agree at times this year we have been shockingly poor and very boring to watch but don't forget he's had 2 hard acts to follow in millward and DA.

I can't think of to many times DA had ashurst, lomax, eastmond, dixon playing regular. In fact vinnie Anderson and fozzard didn't make the 17 in a few finals.

I'm still not sure on potter but he's done ok so far by coming 2nd and 80 mins away from grand final.

IMO DA is best coach saints have had for many years but his 1st year wasn't so hot. I do however think we would have beat hudds in the semis because DA would have changed our game plan with hudds defence closing us in outwide.

Lets give potter some more time before calling for his head.

If you're talking about 2005, he only had half a year. However, he still managed to coach us to top spot, so came away with silverware. If you're talking about his first full season, that was 2006 and no coach will beat that year.

I know DA didn't have full season in 2005 and injurys cost us that year also.

Millward won it in his 1st season which wasn't a full season in charge but that don't make him a better coach than DA.

All I'm saying is Potters doing the best he can with what he's got.

Yet he couldn't coach the team through two home matches in the play offs having lost one key player...

I may be wrong, but didn't Potter only sign a two year contract?

Saints are going through a transitional period. People like Cunningham and Long are nearing retirement. Potter has blooded a lot of youngsters which Anderson didn't, hopefully by Potter giving them this chance they may re-pay him in years to come. You can't blame Potter for having the weakest squad in years.

Saints are going through a transitional period. People like Cunningham and Long are nearing retirement. Potter has blooded a lot of youngsters which Anderson didn't, hopefully by Potter giving them this chance they may re-pay him in years to come. You can't blame Potter for having the weakest squad in years.

We're two games away from being crowned Champions and yet people are writing off this season and saying we need to build for the next?

Don't wish your lives away dreaming for what you might get next year if you can get it now.

Think of the season as starting now, just two games. Think about it. Starting again, surely you'd fancy our chances against slack-mouthed pie eaters and dough-headed Loiners?

Er...so long as it doesn't rain.

Best post i've read in a while

Spoke to Daniel this morning and hopefully the interview will be broadcast later this week. He says he never gave up hope of going well this season even when they were 5 and 10 earlier on

Squad have really come together since then and whilst theyre 2nd favs on sunday against Melbournes superstar squad ( his words) theyve already beaten the top 3 sides in the play offs so there's no fear

says he still keeps a keen eye on SL and didnt expect last weekends results - still looks out for saints and says no reason why they cant win at OT

since losing DA and getting Potter, when are you going to change the forum name from "St. Helens - the-entertainers.tv" ? surely this is now against the Trades Descriptions Act?

I know. How this forum hasn't got my name on it somewhere is plain disrespectful.

St Helens RLFC - Home of Saddened! and dull RL

We only lost one league game from May till September that year, after his appointment and that was the last one that didn't matter.

The 2005 team was the 2006 team but with much more flare. Unfortunately, they bottled it on the big occasion three times. Something that happened at least twice as much in the Anderson era as it did in the Millward one.

I think Anderson was a better coach than Millward and ten times the bloke but, motivationally, I had my doubts until the last two weeks.

Haven't most of the youngsters used this year already played under Anderson? The difference is that Potter has [ihad[/i to use them, Anderson didn't.