It is much too early to say whether the Problem is actually with Potter at all.

With all the players fit Saints still are a superb side who are more than capable of winning Super League. Yes there are still weaknesses, the main ones being a general lack of pace in the threequarters and a tactical reliance on a quick Play The Ball. The facts are though, that despite the flaws we still have a champion side.

The main problems this year are injuries, adapting to a slower play the ball and the competition creeping closer whilst we are in transition.

The squad is thin, and a few injuries in the wrong areas of the squad really hurts us. This isn't a problem unique to Saints.

The heartbeat of our side is reliant on a fit Cunningham and Long. Take one or both out of the team and we struggle. Take 2 or 3 props out and we struggle. Take Gidly out the team and we struggle.

However saying that, in the last few games we have underperformed based on who we had in the 17. The biggest disapointment for me has been the lack of organisation and our choice of tactics. I am not sure Potter has worked out how to play without Long in the squad. It looks like nobody has taken on the responsibility of organising the team, and choosing what to do on the last tackle etc. Either Pryce injects himself in, or the team looks like a bunch of headless chickens. The scrum half, usually Eastmond, looks like he has either not taking the responsibility of stamping his mark or Potter has chosen to share the responsibilites amongst the other senior players. Whatever the tactics, they aren't working.

Despite all this, it will no longer be a problem (this season) if Long comes back soon.

Also we have been found out prior to the play offs and now we not only have time to improve and bounce back but also have a week off.

The future this season is rosey, but our success looks like it will be based on keeping our main players fit, and having a full set of props to choose from.

Potter will be better judged at the end of the season, but his real challenge will be next year when the transition is well and truly on.

I'd go with that

Not yet we don't. We have to lose to Huddersfield again first.

exactermundo, no need to panic

We will beat the giants next week.

We will be on the end of cricket score at Leeds.

We will beat Catalan.

So is losing 7 games in a more level super league that bad?

not bad at all, if we get to 40 points i'll be happy with the regular season

Losing seven games isn't great whatever way you try and pretty it up.

But I have to say to me it's our poor recruitment that is the main problem with our season.

I still say players have gone and not been replaced and we are relying too much on bringing players through. As we have seen, young players haven't the strength to play enough games so we have suffered with lots of injuries to them also.

It is obvious Props take several years to mature Jammer had great props around him when he was 'learning' and no we haven't got great props how are we expected to bring them through.

Tony P is not a prop and was the wrong player in my opinion I don't like him and don't think he adds enough. We need a true top class Prop and that's what we've needed and missed this season.

Add that with our obvious lack of pace in the backs and they are our blatantly obvious weaknesses.

I think we have been losing 5 or 6 a season under DA but with super league a more level playing field.

Not bad going but it's the way we been playing that's the problem

we lost 4 in 2006 when we were massively dominant, 7 lost games is not a bad result, wigan would kill for that

Lost 7 so far

Get Wilkin at stand-off again. He kicked Leeds to death in the CC earlier this season. Opened up a new dynamic of his game, and solved a perennial problem which has come to the fore in the last few weeks; organisation.