Apparently Meli was due back in the country at the beginning of this week but there has been no sign of him... here's to hoping!

You're an idiot
L

Yeah here's to hoping, because we will tear SL up with Gilmour in the centre and either of these on the wing Amstrong/Eastmond/ Foster. We need him back and quick, he may not be the worlds best winger but he has a bit more experience and size that we could do with, now that Talau's gone.
Oh, and here's to hoping that Gilmour shakes his injury off or we really are screwed, till he does arrive back

hoping he is back soon so we arent left with with a major problem on that wing.

He IS the major problem on that wing!!

When will people start to admit that Meli just isn't good enough. You all go on about not bringing in an aussie etc to fill the vacant centre spot but you would quite happily have this clown back on the wing? Get a grip. If he does manage to learn how to sign his name on his Visa form then maybe he will show just how poor he is without a specialist centre playing at the side of him. Personally I would give one of the young lads a go, they can't do much worse. Make him earn his spot back and if he ain't happy about that then get rid.

Good enough or not, thats a different argument the simple truth is he is the best we have so for people to wish for him not to come back without us having a replacement for him is stupid.

As it stands we'll definitely be stronger with him in the side than without him.

Everybody can see that he is a clumsy player and is guaranteed to make some howlers through the course of the season. He doesn't do himself any favours either with his laid back body language, which a lot of people interpret (wrongly, I think) as demonstrating a lack of interest.

But he generally returns the ball very strongly, which, when your gameplan relies on getting over the advantage line early in the set and getting some quick play the balls, is quite a significant thing. He can finish as well.

In todays St. Helens Star it says Meli is hoping to arrive THIS weekend. It said our coach will wait and see how he is fitness wise etc. as to whether he will feature in the opening game.

I wasnt meaning I hope he doesnt come back and we're left with no left-side attack. I ment hopefully we could get someone who looks interested week in week out

According to Paul Wellens at his forum last night Mick Potter has a few suprises in store for him when he arrives back.

Read that again, and realise just how contradictory that is.

I once again reiterate; you're an idiot

At the end of the day I cant stand Meli not trying some times, the fact that I would prefer someone else on the left wing is no reason for me to be attacked and called a idiot its my opinion and I am entitled to it.

Francis Meli was fantastic for us for the vast majority of last season. Look at his performance in the play off qualifier against Leeds at KR for an indication of how well he was playing.

Lets just assume he hadn't dropped a bomb in the Grand Final which lead to try against us, would we still be here suggesting he's a shocking player?

At the end of the day Francis Meli is 100 times better than any of the shocking players to have emerged from our academy in that position in recent years. He is more than worth a spot in the team.

If their opinion is worth anything, they usually get by ok. If it is just blind bangwagoning and scapegoating then expect to be called an idiot.

Where are you going to find this wonderful replacement from now?

Yes Meli had some shockers last season, but on the whole as the season went on last year he did seem to get better and his attitude seemed to improve. But I get the feeling that Meli is going to be the new Gardner and no matter what people will look to blame him for everything.

Lets wait til we see him on the pitch to pass judgement how he will do this season hey!

Er... he wasn't. He had a decent mid period of the season, but he was awful at the start of the year and his Grand Final performance was embarrassing.

I don't mind Meli. I'm actually a fan of his game when gets the ball but he had his worst season last year by far. He was badly exposed both defensively and at kicks.

I'm hoping he comes back eager to impress a new coach this year. He's not made a good start considering he's not even here.

I agree Meli was consistantly inconsistant last season.

Is Francis in the last year of his contract? I can`t believe we always have a scapegoat at Saints.

Is he? I wouldn't know, myself. I've only been an active fan since the middle of the 2007 season. But I don't remember anyone else playing on that wing. So how do we know we don't have someone better?

Because DA would've played them when Meli's confidence was as low as a gnat's chuff last season.

Must be a very long way down from that horse of yours Dave.

People keep saying that Meli is the best we have, how do we know this if we do not give others a chance? Persoannly I have not been to any of the pre-season friendlies but reading what others have said that have been then by all accounts Armstrong has had a few decent games, why not give him a chance?

One of the main reasons we cannot compete at international level is due to the fact we have no decent backs because most of the decent backs playing over here are foriegners, and until we start giving some of the youngsters a chance this will never change. We have an academy setup for a reason, so lets use it.

A few decent games in friendlies doesn't mean he is ready to play SL level week in week out.

I think its probably a pretty safe bet that if last season we had had someone more capable Anderson would have played them, same for this season if it looks like someone will be better we have to have faith that Potter will play them and put out the strongest team we have available for that game.

But how do we know this if he is not given the chance?

We don't, but the coaching staff probably have a lot more experiences of when the time is right to start introducing players to the first team and when they are ready - thats why they are coaches and we are fans!