I had an opinion on his goal line defence from watching him play for Swinton against Championship opposition. However, at no time have I written him off as a halfback on that basis! You and others probably would, mind.

However, what IS Saints fault is to put all their eggs in one basket before securing anyone's services long term. That is just dumb and that is exactly what Saints did at the time. And now they have been dumb again.

Sneyd has played mainly at full back. so down to foran (who i think has been used as interchange hooker on occasions) fages at 7 and flaky mcgoldrick at 6. So if gaskell was any use as a 6 he'd have ripped the 6 shirt off mcgoldrick and mcgoldrick would be in the centres. If he's as good a 6 as you claim a side wouldnt sign him on loan and whack him in the centres

So do you have an opinion on Ashe's creativity, passing ability or general ability to dictate or control a game rather than his ability as a whole. Or that of Gaskell for that matter as you hammer away at our supposed junior retention issues & then explain what either player would bring to our current plight.

Sneyd began the season at halfback with McGoldrick at fullback. Then McGoldrick went to centre, Sneyd to fullback. Then he was shunted in at halfback initially with Foran and then Foran went to interchange hooker and Fages came in at halfback. So maybe the problem is McGoldrick?

We had people coming through to replace the 6 option, if Eastmond won't deal and smith wants off theres nothing you can do when eastmond still has time on his deal. Not everything with negotiations will be saints fault you know!

He's been and gone in the blink of an eye. I remember a superb tackle which gave us the turnaround moment at Leeds. I also remember a couple of try assists. But I've only seen him twice and so my images of him are sketchy. And now I won't get the chance to form a proper opinion because he's been dropped, along with just about everyone else who has played six for Brown this year!


Everyone has seen what Gaskell can do and so I don't really need to elaborate, especially when the discussion is invariably about whether people think he is good enough. That is very subjective. I think it was foolish to let go of our only fit specialist six and leave us entirely without a fit specialist six, and one with some experience too. It seems the club has come around to my way of thinking because they are now loaning a specialist six with some experience.

But that one was and this current situation is.

know what happened in the negotiation periods do you?

If the problem was Mcgoldrick maybe gaskell would have had the 6 shirt off him...but he is more flaky than mcgoldrick!

Crikey ive flicked through the last two pages and its still taken me ages.

I like the deal, good experience for him and cover for us. People complaining about going to Warrington and asking for handouts are silly. He is better than anything we currently have who is available to play so why wouldnt we want him? Ego gets the club nowhere and i think they've done well with the deal.

Glad to see a recognised half-back at the club for a few games.

As i said before Ashe has has 7-8 games over a 3 yr period. I've seen him regular in U19's too both at FB & in the halves. Weak in the tackle which he's evidenced on many occassions in last few weeks costing us a number of tries. One of these assists was borne more from a fumble at Leeds.

You don't wish to elaborate on Gaskell? Why not? You're quick enough to tell all & sundry what a "dumb" move it was to release him. What would his skill set bring to aid out current plight? As others have mentioned this "specialist six" you mention doesnt play SO even at Salford. Likes of the French kid has even less experience.

Come around to you're way of thinking lol. I must have mis-read the whole thread. You appeared to criticise the clubs approach & decisions & described O'Brien as potentially a hindrance.

If Gaskell wasn't deemed good enough, is it fair to just sit him in the U19's & forget about him? I repeat he is seen as a maverick type player & was spoken to constantly about following a game plan & described to me as a coach killer. Im sure the player himself has an opinion, if he asked for a move himself clearly being out of favour what it not be senseless to keep him?

If he was the best halfback at Salford he would be playing there. McGoldrick has played alot at centre but he is preferred in the halves ahead of Gaskell. Says alot really.

Should of just kept Gaskell , don't see why we have done this , Gaskell could of kicked on by now given time , bad news for saints

How is it bad news we've signed a halfback? And the Gaskell subject has been done to death.

Gaskell wasn't good enough and wouldn't follow game plans! Along with all the other problems why should we have kept him?

Just read through this thread and for the last 3 pages there is just grumbles about Salford

. Hope Gareth plays to his potential and continues from where he was at when he last played for us. He's an intelligent player and has a great kick.

Brad Dywer who is our 3rd choice Hooker is on loan to the Giants.
But I don't see them as a rival come the play off's.

The last 4 will be Wire, Wigan, Leeds & Saints. If Saints don't make it then either Catalan or the Giants.

Give over, it's a sad situation when Wire's fourth choice halfback is better than anything we have. This is a recognition of massive failings in the recruitment, squad building and youth development at the club.

Agreed

He is also a very good goal kicker and from what I've watched of you this season, that looks like something you desperately need.

Our youth development has been made look better than it is by the likes of Graham and Roby. We seem unable to successfully promote young players consistently and we are years behind Leeds, Wigan and now apparently Wire. I think it has a lot to do with who we have sorting our youth compared to them.

So it seems that quite a few of you are now agreeing with what I have been saying for the last four years?

Just look at the England U18 academy team that beat France last weekend.

I've never tried to make out like our youth set up is superior. The first team shows it without going into the academy teams

We were told at the time they joined the first team that Lomax, Makinson and Percival were also very good goal kickers! What is 'very good'? Personally, I think our present crop are above Longy in ability but below Foster/Gaskell. In other words, pretty decent but inconsistent.

I'm with a lot of your comments on this, but I think you are flogging a dead horse here.

Let's see how he does - he can't be worse than Wello, Wilkin and especially Ashe at HB.