So it's saints next. Crickey where do you start. Assuming no injuries and maybe a couple back .What team do we put out? Here goes.
Litten
Barron
Vuli
Sutcliffe
Swift
Hoy
Clifford
Satue
Dwyer
Sao
Griffin
Savilio
Cator
Subs
Evans
Brown
Fash
Lov

Sao has to go back into the front row, I'd drop Taylor. Hopefully we have so options back in the centres so Griffin can go back into the second row.
I assume Ben Mac will be back and go back in at 6. For some of the flack he's copped it was painfully obvious he was missing going forward on Saturday.
I'd also be tempted to play 1 or 2 younger players like Laidlaw or Gardiner.

Lane, lovodua and one of either Evans or Taylor definitely need dropping after the weekend

Hopefully Sutcliffe, Carlos, Cator and Mitch are back.

Definitely drop Lane, Scott, Mcintosh and Evans, probably Lovodua too.

Blimey, where to begin.
As others have said, hopefully Mitch will be fit and Sutcliffe too.
Have a feeling Shaul might be involved but not sure where.

Hoy
Mitch/Litten
Scott/Mitch
Sutcliffe
Swift
Mcnamara
Clifford
Sao
Dwyer
Fash
Savelio
Griffin
Cator

Brown
Satae
Lovodua
Gardiner

Assuming Carlos, Sutcliffe and Mitch are fit
Shaul
Mitch
Carlos
Sutcliffe
Swift
Hoy
Clifford
Satae
Dwyer
Fash
Savelio
Griffin
Sao
Subs
Brown
Cator
Taylor/ Gardiner/Laidlaw
Litten
Drop Macintosh, Scott, Lane, Evans, Lover, Houghton, I'd also drop Taylor but he won't drop them all

Still think we are missing a trick not trying Shaul as a nine
Has the ideal running game from dummy half and dont tell me he cant tackle or pass.
I would back his defence and passing against Dwyer anytime

I'd rather drop Evans than Taylor, who for the first 2 games showed up okay. Definitely better than Evans anyway. I'd say based on that he has earned another chance but seriously needs to show something.

I thought Evans might go better this season but have to say watching his efforts against Salford.
I could have done better.
As puddings go, he has to be the most expensive fc pudding ever.

Must admit I tend to agree, I even thought he’s a poor man’s Paul McNicolas on NRL money…… ridiculous.
Think Pearson needs to have a long hard look at the recruitment and re signing policies as it smacks of someone with no knowledge at all. If Clark’s been involved he needs to be moved from any role in this dept but that’s another topic.

As for Friday I’m not sure where to start as so many need dropping but we simply don’t have enough cover for that amount and doubt any team would have.

Both Taylor & Evans should be sat out but who can we bring in to allow that? Do we just go Satae, Sao, Brown, Laidlaw? Hopefully Sutcliffe, Carlos & Mitch are fit for a spot in the 17. Think Griffin has to go back to 2nd row so Lane can sit out a game or two.
For all the bagging McIntosh has had i thought he was far from the worst out there and was one of the few showing some effort.
Lovodua snd Houghton again can both sit out for me if Cator is fit and can go at 9 with Dwyer.
Again I know McNamara had his critics but he’s a better option at 6 than Lovodua especially defensively so he’d come back in if fit.
Or do we move Hoy in to the halves and give Shaul or Litten a chance at FB? I’d rather go with the future but depends if St’s is the right game to bring Litten in.

What started out of a season with renewed hope it’s all but evaporated after Saturdays 5h!t show.

I'd give Litten a go and move Hoy up into the half's . I'm not a fan of McIntosh either but there where far more players worst than him on the field on Saturday .

Something like?

Hoy
Swift
Sutcliffe
Mitch/Carlos
Shaul

McNamara
Clifford

Sao
Dwyer
Taylor
Griffin
Savelio
Fash

Satae
Brown
Cator
Balmforth

Can't have Lovodua, Evans or Lane in the squad this week.

Taylor is lucky to be in too.

Houghton at 9 is pointless. May as well give Balmforth a crack.

Think Mcintosh and Scott need taking out. That full edge is a mess.

Saying that if McNamara, Sutcliffe, and either of Carlos or Mitch aren't fit I don't think we can change things too much.

https://twitter.com/Miitchy13/status/16 ... 8ljcQ&s=19 Mitch is playing for the army RU team. Guess he's unavailable for Saints

https://twitter.com/Miitchy13/status/16 ... 8ljcQ&s=19 Mitch is playing for the army RU team. Guess he's unavailable for Saints

Id like to see some youngsters who are deemed ready or almost ready introduced with one eye on the future and to take a stand and say certain performances just wont be tolerated.

Hows Staveley, Balmforth, Laidlaw, Gardiner and Litten all doing?

Can Staveley play second row?
Rather see Laidlaw/Gardiner than Evans and Taylor.
Put Balmforth on the bench for Houghton

Wary of introducing too many at once but need to start phasing some in, and the dross out.

Staveley started SR in the last few league games for Newcastle.

Agree on not chucking too many kids in at once

Litten
Swift
Sutcliffe
Carlos
Barron
Hoy
Clifford
Satae
Dwyer
Sao
Savelio
Griffin
Fash

Lovodua (lucky)
Taylor (very lucky)
Brown
Cator.

Quite a hopeful squad, this. Cant really see both Carlos and Sutcliffe been ready, maybe Sutcliffe more likely. McNamara if fit can slot back into the halves and put Hoy back at FB.

After watching that side on Sunday, all hope and optimism I had with the new Smith era has evaporated. I genuinely, now fear for the Club's very existence, with relegation a stark reality if that is the best we have to call upon. I know Andre and Sao are rusty and, before their respective injuries, were two of the better players we have, but the edge defending would allow a championship team to fancy a crack at us. Hoy had the chance to hold up a Salford try, albeit with the game gone, but just let go of the player, meekly. Sneyd looked world class, when in reality, he isn't , as we all know, so what we do to stop Saints is frightening to think of. People cannot take another season like the last two and we are in dire trouble right now.

Can't argue with your thoughts and another season of more performances and results like the one against Salford will almost certainly see the club struggling to get a large number of members & season pass holders to renew for 2024 even with the possible wholesale clear out, as its all just become too regular.

No disrespect to Salford but I really can't think of a try that you can say they created as they just simply didn't have to as our defence was a total embarrassment along with the attempts at tackling. The squad we all accept isn't good enough to challenge for the GF but it is certainly good enough to be able to put effort in at the very least and far too many on Saturday put in little, if any of that.

Friday is all about what Smith does in terms of squad changes, who he drops and how many firstly then the reaction from which ever players are lucky to make the 17. Some players should never wear the B & W again but unfortunately we aren't in the position to be able to get rid of them all such is the number that need to go asap.

All the hard work in bringing the feel good factor back in to the club and in 25mins of the first half it had taken a massive hit, by the 65th minute of the game it had almost gone then by the 80th minute it's has disappeared completely.

Weve had coach after coach now who have continued to select the same players , its about time we had a coach whos going to drop them now. Ive totally lost interest in going to watch this bunch of players. Gone on way too long the poor attitudes

Hoy is an attacking full back but you have to have something of a defence and im afraid he hasnt.
Bit underwhelmed by him at the moment as i havnt seen anything to suggest he is a Jai Field type full back.

I actually praised Hoy about 20 minutes in before he did chase Brierley back and drag him down just before the line (and nearly in to touch), and also swept across and put another good tackle in (can't remember who it was on) to stop 2 certain trys. It was 2 great bits of defence. But his effort on Wright was an embarrassment. Literally ran backwards with him for 5 yards then just let go.

Not fussed about the result , I think its more about putting in a performance that puts a little pride, passion and respect back in the Jersey .

No Carlos, Sutcliffe or Mitch.

Cator back in the squad

Really looking forward to seeing that tenacious,tough tackling,fleet footed Josh Griffin back in the centre again on friday.
We currently have the worst two centres in S/L.The worst two second rows in S/L.The worst wing in S/L.The worst nines in S/L.The worst Front row in S/L barring Sao and Satae who i think have lost interest so irrespective of what Smith says that he expects a reaction my guess is another embarrassing thumping by Saints

Massive trolling by Super League to schedule Saints v Hull on Comic Relief night.