How about, are you crazy?

No, the thought of another season of Ade at his best just sent me slightly crazy with excitement there. My bad...

Totally agree but been consistent with that view for sometime.

A few of my brothers mates from Essex came to the game. They are aware of the game and it's rules etc. They have been reading up on the sport etc this week before coming to the game so picked up on the Longy revelations.

Their first suggestion as Meli made his error in the first half was, "What kind of bet could he have riding on that?". I didn't think anything of it at the time, but after watching the various angles they showed on the replays the more plausible a solution it becomes.

The ball was all but grounded, he could have dropped on it with little risk. He could have pushed it dead, he could easily have chucked it off the side of the pitch. Instead he threw it almost vertically upwards. He wasn't attempting to clear the ball from the field, he was passing it, and not off the field either. I'd love to hear his explanation of just what he was attempting to do.

Ever since I started watching Saints we've pretty much always been well off for at least one good winger.

Ledger, McCormack (pre-injury), Hunte, Sullivan, Quirk, Albert - that's one hell of a list. Granted, there have been one or two disasters - Kebbie and Carrington spring to mind, but they were identified as failures within a season and gotten rid of sharpish. Just about every NRL observer had Meli pegged as a washout with dodgy hands BEFORE he arrived. The kid can't help himself. The failure lies with McManus (who chose to award Meli an astonishingly generous long term contract despite his form being ordinary to say the least), Anderson, (who knew that Meli partly cost him his second GF and chose to let him cost him a third) and Potter, who let Meli cost him one too. Talk about tragicomic.

Gardner was on the verge of being shipped out and then decided to become bothered. For at least two seasons he was excellent value for money. But he's slipped back into his old ways. He may be worth one more season - only because I don't think we should replace both wingers at the same time.

What some of the Academy lads who can't get a gig at 2 or 5 right now must be thinking is probably unprintable.

Wellens
Meli
Soliola
Gidley
Pryce
Wheeler
Eastmond
Graham
Cunningham
Puletua
Flannery
Wilkin
Roby

Moore
Faasavalu
Fozzard
Clough

That should be our best 17 next year imo

In terms of Meli's error-proneness, I can only compare him to Ainscough at wigan. I know which one I'd rather have in my team, Aisncough every time.

TBH if you look at the way Sts have had to play over the past two seasons, its remarkable how well you've gone with the lack of pace out wide. Hopefully Soliola will add some punch in once centre, but had you got the likes of a Peter Fox or similar on each flank Sts would have a lot more points in you. In terms of Meli himself, I feel very sorry for the guy. He obviously tries hard, but frankly GFs are where players need to stand up and be counted and not make huge stuff-ups.

very true

wello by an even larger country mile for me

If Wigan dont want Ainscough we should be sniffing imo - he'd be cheaper than either of the 2 we have and I'd rather have a young lad with the potential and fantastic pace and finishing ability than a carthorse and a liability on the wings. Wigan have Richards and Roberts on good wonga so you never know ....

i agree. but i'm not sure if it was wigan(heirachy sp?) that did'nt want to play him or noble? he started like a house on fire scored tries for fun and then *BUMP* nothing....

i.m.o i feel he was very hard done by? but that's only my opinion as i dont know anything about the internal side of wigan warriors r.l.f.c or come to think of it brian noble's mind

I was told it was a couple of things (by Wiganers) firstly his contract meant that after so many appearances he would get a pay rise - this might have had an effect on the goons salary cap and the other thing I heard was that Noble just didnt fancy him as a player ... both seem plausable and if you factor in the fact they brought in Roberts on a long term deal and Richards is pretty much nailed on for a spot on the other wing it looks like Ainscoughs opportunities might be limited (unless he wants to drop down a division on a dual contract). I believe Leeds have a top young winger too who's actually out of contract atm

Pretty much sums it up for me.

He has blundered two GF's now, and like Gardner has the capacity to time it for big occasions and at critical times in the game.

We have not had a decent winger since Albert.

There's no point criticising Meli and then wishing for Ainscough. He could score thirty tries a season but if he costs the GF what's the point?

I thought Meli had a great game, other than his two mess-ups. And to be fair, if Maurie hadn't done his stupid rubbish attempt to offload, Leeds wouldn't have had the ball and Meli wouldn't have popped it up for Leeds to score.

There are a lot more players to blame than Meli.

We have to make two changes for next year if they like it or not



Meli has to come of the wing so maybee put him in the second row
And Leon has to make way for Wheeler at 6 so put Pryce at wing or fullback Leon has been pants this year



And Saints decision to have 3 Hookers next year

Meli did a Meli! But, when he does he sure does do it in style!

I'm not a particular fan of his BUT surely this one match shouldnt reflect the season he has had, which IMO has seen him be the most improved!

I said on another thread we'd do as well playing Armstong on the wing as Gardner.

Whilst he finishes strongly close to the line, he does lack the pace of a decent winger. He also had a purple patch around 2006 when he was virtually mistake free under the high ball - this seems to have deserted him.

Meli, while he does make some monumental gaffs, I hold in higher regard, he does return well and can finish and create oppotunities unlike the Arrow from Barrow. Let's face it, Sully was equally inept if you kicked a ball at him. The real problem for me is that if you took Meli out of our team, we'd be scoring even less points than we are now.

So, if we were to have a back line of Wellens, Lomax, Gidley, Wheeler, Armstrong, Pryce & Eastmond - would we be doing better or worse?

Maybe a Freddieesque venture to the 2nd row wouldn't be a bad call.

But Sully could finish from anywhere on the pitch. Neither Meli nor Gardener are even close to Sullivan in terms of classic winger finishing.

Had Sully had Gardner's opportunity on Saturday it would have been a try.

People are blaming Meli for making mistakes then suggesting we have a look at Ainscough.

ainscough has potential and coached correctly could be a massive asset, Meli has had his chances, many many chances but he just keeps making critical mistakes.

I've said this before I think he would be better in the centre/second row with soliola where he couldnt be targeted by kicks like he is now

As a non-Saints fan, Meli is error prone in defence, but is at least a threat with ball in hand. Gardner is error prone in defence and attack. I think he's been made to look like something more than he is in attack because he's played outside Lyon and Gidley for such a long time. You lot see him play more often than me, so I might well be missing something, but he doesn't look nearly good enough for a top club to me.

There is a reason (hic) why hes not playing 1st team (hic) and its nothing to do with his (hic) rugby performances

I think you will find many of us share your opinion.