My take on where Northampton Saints are at the moment, why fans shouldn’t be too upset, why Boydy shouldn’t change his Covid19 selection policy & why it might be a blessing for 2020 - 21 season: A thread. 1/14

Last season started off with a largely inexperienced team, playing a style of rugby alien to the majority of them. 2/14

It took time, patience and trust in the style and the largely anonymous youth that came from nowhere to be considered as potential international class players. 3/14

The lads sneaked into the play offs, finishing fourth and surprised everybody but themselves. However, at the end of that season the first team squad, bar a few players, picked itself. 4/14

At the start of this season, Boydy and his crew of ever improving coaches, got off to a flyer; beating Saracens to get the show on the road. Being able to pick a team based upon the strongest combinations playing (as always) a huge part in these early successes. 5/14

Every team, even the successful ones, have a dip in a season that they have to come through. Unfortunately Saint’s coincided with the build up to lock down; the ability to play themselves out of a trough, taken out of their hands by a once in a lifetime horror pandemic. 6/14

The Covid19 player protocols left all teams with a choice; play your strongest side one week and a heavily weakened team the other (easier for those with a bigger squad) or have two core squads, equalise the strength and hope to get by. 7/14

Clearly Saints feel that they have the depth to split their squad, and to be fair, bar some critical mistakes, they may have stole a couple of those games that they lost with a bit of loose play. 8/14

But as the record books show, only one game has seen a W next to its entry since the return from Covid19. Boydy and the team are livid about their position, but they and we, should show the trust, patience and belief we all gave the team at the the start of last season. 9/14

So why shouldn’t we be worried? Our start from last season gives me hope. To all intents and purpose Covid19 has left us in a similar position; not this time Boydy has had to ‘dilute’ 2 teams with inexperience to field 2 competitive teams that can compete at the top table. 10/14

Let’s be honest, if Boydy could field a composite team, it would likely look very different to both of the Covid19 squads. But this is where Boydy has already shown his man management brilliance; sticking to the plan and backing ALL his players to step up. 11/14

..Whilst it may or may not come before the end of the season, Saints are in a position whereby they have 2 squads that could potentially hit the playing heights (if not the league heights) of last season. That should excite fans and not frustrate. 12/14

Personally I’m excited and confident that Boydy and his crew get the opportunity to build again, only this time, the build could create a pool of players and a strength in depth that we’ve never had before. 13/14

Caveat: Whilst it would be great if this happens before the end of this season and we squeeze into the play offs again! Awesome... if not, then role on next season... where I expect things to get REALLY exciting! Keep the faith folks!! #WeMarchOn 14/14