I think the scenarios are a little different. We have been at Robin Park for over ten years now and will be for many to come. We have stability. How are Saints going to tempt Bellamy "Well we are building a brand new stadium for the new season, well when i say new season i mean July maybe August, ok maybe the 2012 season but if not well definately have it ready for 2013. So in the meantime look up Widnes on the AA routefinder". Yeah, I reckon he will be packing his bags as we type.

Packing his bags? I reckons he's on a plane already.

What is it a flat pack from IKEA ?

What he means by new is newER, the Stobart is newer than Knowsley.

Now you're being too gracious mate. You're wishing that Saints come out of a dip before they even go into one. Do you think they've agonised in a similar fashion these past 10 years over our exploits? They've loved every minute and they'd love it if things stayed that way. Let them wither on the vine and flounder in the wilderness for the next decade. The 1 or 2 stars they have in an ageing team will leave and their crowds will fall to sub-5000 levels. I'm going to enjoy saints decline into mediocrity every bit as much as Wigan's resurgence.

The anticipated St Helens decline is hugely exaggerated. I see no reason why they won't continue to be a title challenging side.

I posted in another thread a got told potter will be bradford coach next season

I do think they will struggle at Widnes for the next two seasons. Crowds are certain to drop to sub 6K once the novelty drops off. They only get 7-8k for the Catalans / Quins / Hudds games where they are now.

I agree, i think some people are underestimating them through pure hatred

Top clubs dont just fall apart, wishful thinking though it may be!

Wigan didn't just fall apart after their last golden age which you could say really ran up to 95 (98 at a push). We still competed and reached finals but if you look back a gradual decline was in effect. We lost that invincibility and others overtook us.

And that is what will happen at stains over the next few years

It will be intresting to see if they chuck cash at ozzy players

if, as rumoured, we have signed Shenton and Perry for next season - I am happy with the squad being one of the best in the competition. A lot will depend on the coach who gets appointed obviously, but I am not concerned about any impending doom looming on the horizon.

this decline has apparantly been about to happen for about 10 years now...."you wont be able to replace Martyn/Newlove/Sullivan/Joynt" was replaced with "you wont be able to replace Long/Sculthorpe/Albert/Gleeson/Talau" - and now we are getting "you wont be able to replace Cunningham/Wellens/Gidley/Meli".

We replaced all the "irreplaceable" stars of the early 2000's - I see no major reason why we wont be able to replace the latest bunch.

People said Sullivan, Talau and Meli are irreplaceable?

He is actually very replaceable, as is Wellens at this age.

We've been in decline for about 10 years according to you lot, one derby loss and suddenly we're going to fall off the map!

We're only 4 points behind you despite nonsensical injuries levels in the backs this year. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we topped SL and made the cup final, I'd take that as far as withering on the vine is concerned.

I agree. I don't really see where the decline is going to happen. Cunningham leaving won't effect you greatly, you've been carrying 3 first team hookers in your squad in preperation for him leaving. Most other teams would love to have a Moore/Roby partnership, whilst you'll have a fair bit of money free from him going.

I don't think anyone has said saints have been on the decline at all really. They are having a small dip compared to what we have been used to and it could be made worse by playing at Widnes.

Our decline apparently started when we lost to Salford in the challenge cup and yet we were still a top team untill 2004



Two terrible years and then we finished 3rd for 3 years in a row getting to a couple of challenge cup semi-finals and then now we are a top team again.

Talk about exaggerating someones decline.

I don't think saints will win anything this year, I just think Leeds or Wigan will be too strong in the big games at the end of the season. Warrington might also have something to say.

This year is more of part of a transition period for the saints team and the club with the new stadium on the way. You can only keep replacing players so many times untill you get stuck, like we did in 2005.

What, like reminding everyone they won the challenge cup in 2009 (agian) and swearing they are a big club?

Fair enough - although we have whipped Leeds (a weakened Leeds but arguably a more weakened Saints), beaten Warrington and lost to Wigan on goals kicked with Wilkin in the halves.

If we get our strongest side on the pitch we're better than both Wigan and Wire IMO, I guess we'll see!

I'd say you forwards aren't as good as Wire, but your backs aren't as good as ours. But you have a good medium on both!

How dare you underestimate the achievements of the massive super club that is the Warrington Wolves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish we had players like Mathers and Higham!!!! True superstars of sport.

Over 100 years of winning trophies just doesn't matter. They won the challenge cup in 2009 how can you compare? They took a million fans to the final and just taking more fans to the semi than us means that the league game a week later just didn't matter....

Their coach is a greek god.
Their stadium is like The Emirates, Wembely, Old Trafford and the ANZ stadium all rolled into one!
They have the best fans.
The best player in the world in every position.
The best mascot.
The best shirt.
The greatest players to have ever played the game.
Lee Briers.

How dare you Batesy, how dare you!

A very fair assessment.

Walters leaving Catalan is no shock at all. Jumping before he was pushed I feel.

Potter had the perfect balance over there, Walters seemed to recruit his mates. Hopefully they can get back on track next season.

Im sure all 4 clubs looking for coaches will be hunting for the next Maguire, I really cant see there being any "outside the box" appointments.