Are you suggesting that it had no influence at all?
Also neither are hero or villain to me just people who have played for Saints but if Lambert had represented SFC at the world cup I would hold him in higher regard but he didn't.
Players are going to have to really stand out if we're expecting top dollar and they're waiting for the big move. I agree that being a stepping stone/shop window club is the reason we persuade players that would usually bypass us to come here.