: Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:48 pm  

They won 26-24. Last minute Carmont try.

: Sun Jan 25, 2009 4:51 pm  

Wigan are no closer to us now than they were last.

Saints haven't really weakened except the centre and Wigan have lost the only top player they had.

Saints have much to sort out this season and many worries, Wigan are not one of them. They will beat us when we aren't at the races, ala the past 2/3/4/5 years.

: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:07 pm  

Jukesays wrote:

Why not play a youngster there instead then?

Wigans 1st 17 IMO - average age 25
Saints 1st 17 IMO - average age over 27

I would also ask that as Saints have been undoubtably the most successful team of the last 4/5 seasons is it not worrying that your Youth development doesnt seem that much better than ours considering Saints have had far more opportunities to utilise tham as you have been in a position of strength? Whilst we have had to stave off the Relegation and practically Fight for every point we have Won in the last 3 years?

No Leulai, Fair comment, Tomkins is only 20 and as you know I rate him very highly.

We will miss Keiron no doubt and he will leave a massive hole, (it tickles me you still make fat jokes about him, when you now have a hooker called piggy!) But aside from that, that s next season, the topic in hand is will you beat s this year? In my opinion you may do once, but we will still have the upper hand. Not sure what you think here mate?

As we have discussed I think, if not addressed we will have problems in the upcoming seasons with players that we have lost, as a lot of the youth sides havent impressed me. However, at the risk of repeating myself this topic was about this year, and I still think that you are a good prop short to compete with our pack, and are depending an awful lot on an unknown half back partnership. I guess it's going to be an interesting year though.

: Sun Jan 25, 2009 6:59 pm  

No1_Saints _Fan wrote:

They won 26-24. Last minute Carmont try.

You can't even get that right.

Oh! and Piggy scored two tries.

: Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:07 pm  

No1 Saint wrote:

to Answer rogues with Amos Roberts , cameron phelps and Pat Richards at the club how the hell is a player like Ainscough (who from what I hear is a damned good young player) going to get the game time he will need to develop?

So as Ainscough went on tour with the U18 academy I wouldn't expect him to be anywhere near the first team for at least 2 seasons.

Are Saints going to move Gidley and play Foster?

And now come Dean McGilvray is not ready to take over from Meli?

: Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:42 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

So as Ainscough went on tor with the U18 academy I wouldn't expect him to be anywhere near the first team for at least 2 seasons.

Are Saints going to move Gidley and play Foster?

And now come Dean McGilvray is not ready to take over from Meli?

Go back to your own forum.

: Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:44 pm  

No1_Saints _Fan wrote:

Go back to your own forum.

I take that as a compliment.

In other words you've LOST.

: Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:45 pm  

JLM23 wrote:

No Leulai, Fair comment, Tomkins is only 20 and as you know I rate him very highly.

??? Not too sure what you mean by the 1st bit?? Tomkins Will be a good un in time, This season maybe 15 games or so, Next Year He will start.

We will miss Keiron no doubt and he will leave a massive whole, (it tickles me you still make fat jokes about him, when you now have a hooker called piggy!)
You Lot called Terry The same whilst You had KFC - I think the main point here is Neither of us has Mickey Higham Now Thank God!

But aside from that, that s next season, the topic in hand is will you beat s this year? In my opinion you may do once, but we will still have the upper hand. Not sure what you think here mate?

Don't disagree, unless you guys get a few injuries to key players i.e Long/KFC etc. I Don't belive your squad has the depth of previous season???

As we have discussed I think, if not addressed we will have problems in the upcoming seasons with players that we have lost, as a lot of the youth sides havent impressed me. However, at the risk of repeating myself this topic was about this year, and I still think that you are a good prop short to compete with our pack,

What about the Back Row though??? Were far stronger in this area???
PS As you know,Don't even think about mentioning Wilkin's name in this debate!

and are depending an awful lot on an unknown half back partnership. I guess it's going to be an interesting year though.

That's the key for us, although it's strange to hear all your lot saying Wigan won't be any more of a threat this year as we have lost our Best Player, Yet for 2 x seasons Your Lot called him No Good!

To sum it up, I reaaly don't know yet wether we will beat you this year or not as ijuries etc will have a big influence over this
HOWEVER
My involvement in this thread came about through again Saints fans accusing Wigan on signing Ageing Over the Hill Foreigners etc when the Facts show that we are far from an ageing team and with only 1 foreigner more in My 1st 17 over Yours then it isnt that big of a difference that everyone makes out.
Do you not think that given the ageing nature of the current Saints squad More should have been done by Your club to introduce English Youngsters into the team earlier????
Tyrer/Foster for Gidley??
Smith for Long??
Moving Gilmour to centre cant be a great advert for your Youth!
Don't get me started on Meli
Havent you got any other options than sign an Overseas 29 year old on a 3year contract?
Flannery average to say the least!

My answer would be that Saints should sign the players they want to that gives them the best chance of success!
Wigan will do the same and I don't see any Young players development being restricted at Wigan through the signing of any of the players over the last 12 months.
Some of them won't get as many games but that will be down to
A/ Taking time with them and introducing them slowly
B/They arent as good as the players they are meant to be taking over from.
Not because there is some internal conspiracy going on at Wigan to neglect the Youth, Far from it!
Goulding/Ainscough/S.Tomkins/Prescott/O'Carroll/McCollorum/J Tomkins/Hansen/Hock/O'Loughlin will all be in the 1st 20 players used this season.
Will Saints be fielding more than that out of their 1st 20????

: Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:09 pm  

Rogues Gallery wrote:

And now come Dean McGilvray is not ready to take over from Meli?

Because he's signed for Salford. He also chose not to play first team last season because he was finishing his college course.

: Sun Jan 25, 2009 8:33 pm  

steve wrote:

Because he's signed for Salford. He also chose not to play first team last season because he was finishing his college course.

Has he? That was too easy

So Saints let a young player go and it's o.k.

Ainscough is still at Wigan, is 18 years old and is not at not Widnes, not at Salford, not at Celtic, not at Huddersfield, and we still get pilloried on here by some who know less about Rugby League than my dog.