I'll be interested to see how many English qualified Salford end up with.

They appear to have hoovered up a lot of decidedly average antipodeans since the end of the season. Palea'aesina, Bailey, Anderson (V), Nero and Leo-Latu are all purely journeymen standard these days and an indictment on the British game's ability to produce the quality required ...... unfortunately.

Luke Patten is the exception amongst their 'overaseas' recruits but only time will tell if he's 100% committed in what will be akin to him joining a 'championship club' set-up.

A: These English, Scottish, Welsh or Irish players will be with us:
Ratchford, Gibson, Broughton, McGilivray, Smith, Sneyd, Spencer, Sidlow, Jewitt, Boyle, Wild, Adamson, Neal, Parker and others.
B: To date we've chosen not to hoover up any of your antipodean journeymen

but there's still time


C: Yes, Luke Patten appears to be the best signing we have made so far, but If he proves to be as committed as Daniel Holdsworth (and just as effective), I'll be more than happy.
D: The 'Championship Club' set up, as you so put, will be for just one more season. And whilst the new stadium at Barton will not be anywhere near full (unless of course Leeds, Wigan, Saints, Hull and Wire bring a hell of a lot more fans than they did this year), it'll certainly be more akin to SL standard than a few others.
I don't expect Kevin Sinfield to join Salford. I'd love him to as he's been one of the best SL players year in year out for the last few years. But let's face it, he's just not going to is he.
I've tried to answer without any bitterness, but it does seem that very few fans of other clubs have much respect or enthusiasm for what our board is trying to achieve, and the criticism that goes with it seems a bit petty imo.

Has Ratchford signed a new deal then Jim?
Good for the club if he has but he needs to be playing at 6 imo and Holdsworth at 13.

He has, I'm not sure if it's a 2 or 3 year deal.
I think he's going to find himself as a utility player as Holdsworth will defo be at 6 and Patten certain to secure the number 1 shirt.
All a bit weird really, as we all rate him very highly, and even last year in a poor(ish) team he couldn't secure a regular spot. Injuries had him sidelined once or twice which didn't help.
He has a bit of the maverick about him, which we've not had for a long time, but I just think McRae doesn't rate him as much as the fans do. I could be wrong.
I do think he could find a regular place in other SL teams and would hate to lose him.

What would you have done with the Baldwin's?

That's a little harsh. Although, I would say we could have, prehaps, signed some younger players.

Anderson is a very good player, Danny Tickle knows all about how hard he tackles. Palea'asina still avergaes over 8 metres per carry, and a change of team may bring him back to his wrecking ball best? The little I've seen of Leo Latu he looks like a classy player, fast from dummy half and, also, tackles hard. Wild is still producing the goods at Hudds, plus he scores tries. Nero, Gleeson and Bailey are strange signings IMO, I would like to think they are just adding a little depth to the squad, but knowing McRae he'll probably dump 1/2 of our younger players to accommodate them. Additionally we've signed Adam Neal, part way through last season I know, but he definitely improves the front row that started last season.

Our main problems in 2010 were lack of go forward and defence. Palea'asina will certainly improve the go forward and the likes of Anderson and Wild should help improve the defence.

Don't forget we've still got Cashmere, Sidlow, Broughton and Gibson who can all turn a game.

P.S. Thanks for the last two.

a successful salford team might just persuade the national press that are moving to manchester to improve their coverage of the game

the hard part for all teams recruiting 7-8 players is making them gel, its no coincidence that the teams that recruit the least tend to do better
crusaders were an exception last year but still didnt really click till halfway thru the season

Sorry if any of my comments appear petty but for the national game to improve, IMO the pool of available talent needs to be increased in quantity and continually improved in quality by the best coaching available, which currently appears to come from down under. Salford hoovering up other clubs quota 'exempt' players is all too typical of the short-termism that licenses were supposed to do away with. Hopefully that situation will improve as and when the Barton site comes online and I guess that is where Wilkinson's focus will be.

I don't have a particular downer on Salford and would point to the opportunity given to Jodie Broughton and his progression to the fringe of the International set-up in under 12 months. Just a pity from my point of view that he had to leave Headingley to get that chance.

Dear tvoc, sorry, I certainly didn't mean to suggest that you and you alone had made petty remarks. Most of what you stated is quite pertinent and accurate. It just seems that whatever Salford do, or are trying to do, isn't being immediately welcomed by the majority of fans.
We all know that we should be seeking to bring through more local talent, but we have to face facts, we simply aren't in a good catchment area and have 3 premier league football teams on our doorstep to compete with.
Now I've filled myself with paranoia, I'm off to demolish 8 or 10 cans of Stella ! All the best.

top 6 for us next season ,no problem and with sinfield ,top four ,and your the clown ,

You seriously think that Sinni has signed for you??? I think that you may have got the wrong brother!

I had enough fun last season by telling delusional cod-eads they would'nt finish in the top 4 and now you come along




i suppose in the cold light of day it'd be no fun pointing out the obvious to a brain dead crank and pi$$ poor troll so i'll just wait for re-appearence on this thread at the end of next season when you are no where near top 6 and Sinfield is still firmly in the Blue 'n' Amber.

Ian is playing Rugby Union these days.

If that actually happens ill show my a*se on the town hall steps. You will definately improve on 2010 but you won't yet be top 6 contenders. Youve signed some decent players but theyre not all just going to gel and play together perfectly straight away.

Ok, lets engage the old grey mattar a bit.

Sinny is already a Leeds legend and as HE IS STAYING he will break pretty much every record going (he says without checking any of the record books). After being one of the most successful Leeds players of all time do you think he would really want to move to some lower league club?

Sinny will retire at Leeds, move into coaching at Leeds, become head coach at Leeds, become President at Leeds and genrally live at Leeds for ever and ever and ever ahmen.

Oi!!!! You forgot the getting knighted bit.


Careless

Apologies.

Fancy forgetting that

Sinny is a legend, hopefully one day we will see him coach rhinos!

Yup. I can just envisage him stood on the touchline with a wry smile, a suit, and a few greying hairs as leeds count down to another grand final win.

He'll be our alex ferguson. That old b*stard seems to have dedicated his life to winning man united as many trophies as humanly possible.

Hopefully sinfield will do the same.