He replaced a guy who was playing at 80% "with no obvious drop-off" - in my mind that does not equate a starter.

I don't think Spags has to adjust to anything, especially not in a situation where the player in question is not under contract.

Spags was brought in to implement his schemes and I for one would give him all the possible (under the current circumstances) tools to do it, and not handcuff him into using certain players just because they played well in the past.


Again I'm a Saints' fan first and foremost, not a fan of individual players.

This!

I'm guessing there are numerous players Spags can get by with if necessary that will be easy to sign as free agency winds down.

Those guys will be dirt cheap, which is kinda what we're stuck with.

Once again, Danno you tell it like it is.:cool:

Right, and given Vilma's age and degenerative knee issue, is he ever going to be 100% again??? Given our current situation of having very little cap space and no first round draft pick I think Spags very well better forget what players fit his "scheme" and stick with talented players like Dunbar that already have proven to be starters.

Ok. You're certainly entitled to that opinion, but I have to disagree with you on it.

Vilma's current or future health and the level at which he can perform is hardly an issue we have to include in the though process of evaluating whether Dunbar should stay or go.

Granted he did a fine job as a replacement last season, but my point about it was that he wasn't replacing a player who was playing at the level at which he can at his best - if he had been, the difference would've been clear and not so much in favor of Dunbar.

Like Danno stated, Spags can probably find players that better suit his particular schemes and what those schemes require from players at certain positions fairly cheap at the end of the FA period.

Now those players might not be his 1st or 2nd choices, but he'll have to make due with those players because of the cap situation the Saints are in, and that is exactly what I would like to see the Saints do.