There is no doubt that Saints have had a terrible run with injuries but also poor discipline has meant a number of suspensions that has compounded the problem.
No matter how good our coaching staff are the "next man up" can only go so far and I think we would have struggled given a similar situation.

I think the problem for saints has been their success combined with an ageing squad.
The success means inevitable contract increases as the likes of Welsby, Dodd, Knowles, Lees etc would have had big increases for saints to keep them. Their success has made them move away from their model of if we can't afford them we let them go. So players like Luke Thompson or Bentley, Fages and Coote were let go because they had Lees, Bachelor, welsby and Dodd. It wouldn't surprise me if most of them were now on bigger contracts that the players that left. This means that there is less to go round the rest of the squad which is why you see players like Ritson. So I think the gap between the top earners and the lower paid players is bigger and so is the quality.
That is fine if all your top earners stay fit but an awful lot of them are getting on a bit.

I think we ended up in a similar situation in 2012/13 after a few challenge cup wins and a couple of grand final appearances I think we ended up with an expensive 1-13 but after that there was probably a lack of depth. I don't begrudge any player getting all the money they can because it is a tough sport but in a salary cap sport you have to manage the squad especially if it is an ageing squad.

Wigan have managed this really well when you look at the players they have let go (Gildart, Sutton, Bateman, Smithies, KPP) but they have managed to replace them. I think we have a better balance now but it probably did need the clear out under Powell. We were all questioning letting Daryl Clark go but you can't allow yourself to have too much cap tied up with a small proportion of your squad.

I thought the fact that a challenge was allowed after the ref had blown for back chat was astonishing - you're essentially encouraging the players to criticise the referee - the exact opposite of the behaviour we should be encouraging.

Am i not allowed to react to a post, whether i like it or not?

You can only take a captains challenge when play has stopped, so players who now feel they have been taken high, just shout at the ref until he stops the game "Just like last night", then take your challenge. Yipppeeee! We can now add an extra half n' hour to the game.  

Anybody is allowed to react or post about any post they like it’s a free forum. Last night I reacted to the way you called me out but I am not bothered about you posting what you want what annoys me is when people make it personal we have a few posters on here who do that. It’s ok to disagree with what someone says I have always said post a counter opinion instead of an angry one. I think W71 reacted in the way he did because myself and him and a couple of others often come under barrage for saying what we don’t like about our club. Btw it’s not personal but I really am not a liker of Beaumont and he is not the only one in this sport I dislike just he is one of the more vocal ones so will get spoke of a lot more is all.

Fair enough, but the game inevitably has to make changes, and Degsey is prepared to throw out ideas (were fans shouldn't take as gospel i should add), and he will also have dialog with the other clubs owners to reach the best outcome for the game. We as fans will have our own opinions, but to disparage him constantly is just not called for. BTW - Your very own Dave Cain showed immense respect, and satisfaction to Degsey's views in that interview, and gets a    from me.