I'm not essentially disagreeing with you, but you should in fairness also say that if you really are good at it and "develop" the best players who are actually amongst the best young players in the league, not just your club, but your team isn't one of the best teams in the league, then retaining many of the ambitious ones may be impossible.

This is not an argument against developing them, but all clubs who then lose them understand the frustration.

Genuine question: How is Koukash doing with regard to marketing Salford on a local basis? We've all seen/heard/read things he's got into the national media and he's certainly raised the club's profile in that sense; but is he depending on that alone to attract a new audience or is he undertaking serious marketing at a local level as well?

But that's true of every team. The "big clubs" lose as many to aus/ RU as the "little teams" do to the "big clubs" - it's how you deal with it. I actually think part of developing youngsters now has to include building a certain culture within them, to keep them. There were rumours for years about the clique in the Leeds team, but if it helps them keep their best talent, why do they care?

It's a frustrating cycle for all at the moment, until teams are given teeth to defend their own products.

That's what I meant, you daft get.

There are also other factors that can play a part.

Bradford would probably have retained L.Pryce and Peacock if they hadn't signed Iestyn Harris.

I was born in Salford but many years ago moved to Rochdale. I work in Stockport
I feel the club is better known and that's a start: one RU fan told me when I started work here 7 years ago (almost to the day) that I was the first RL fan she had met who went to any game.
I also feel he's put the club onto a more 21st century footing so marketing success can be quickly followed up.

His use of tweets (OK sometimes overuse) and facebook fits what a lot of organisations are doing to market themselves.

For now: good, needs to progress and much is expected.

No mad mad Koukash waste of money (no money) nyah nyah nyah wot an idiot loudmouth shut tha gob posts since Friday?

I'm guessing Salford must have won this weekend?

I like him, he makes me chuckle!

We did William thank you.

The money he (MK) invested - not promised by Mr Lamb - has begun to pay off.

yep...running at 2012 average attendances and having beaten 2 relegation favourites together with a team initially expected to avoid relegation only due to the other 2 teams you've beaten and Bradford......ripping up trees at Salford, ripping up trees....

5k crowd v Cas, who brought 2k?

Yeah, real progress!

Dearie me - some bitterness it seems and the usual NZ bull. Firstly Cas brought 1500 and the paid crowd was 5,800. Unlike other clubs and regimes Salford tell the world for what it is. Easier getting in Fort Knox than the AJB.

You will see above I said `beginning`. I think we will get a lot better.

NZ Bull eh....



12% up on 2012 attendance averages......and after 6 rounds you had 6 points back then as well.

It may well get better for Salford, but the Dr wanted a 10k/12k strong army......you've had 2 of your biggest 4 draws at home already and attendances are 19% down from the opening game.

We took way way more than 1500.

If they don't win 3 of the next 6 then watch the average drop even faster than it is already....16% since day 1.

I think Salford will win 3/6, rangi will spark them somewhat but they ain't gunna be top 4/6 no way.

Away to FC I think they'll struggle.
Home to the Bulls depends on the saga at odsal, but should be 2 points for the devils
Home to the Giants......I think they'll struggle
Away to Leeds.....time to rest some star players
Away in France...too tough to call.
Home to HKA......2 points to the devils.

By Magic weekend they need to be on 12 points to have eyes on a home play-off game.....if they are on less, they then face a tough run of home games with the hoards from London and France, 2 long trips from Hull and the 2 sides from the small international airport of Leeds/Bradford.....

As a long suffering Salford fan, I will not guess at any match result. The team is only just gelling for most of the game: we still drop heads when behind.
It'll come.

There's some proper obsessed posters on this thread. Quite amusing. Picking through minutiae to find whatever flavour of negativity floats their boat this week.

Thanks for your viewpoint of which I have not the slightest interest.

People don’t seem to realise how important it is for this Salford team gel. After 15 minutes of our opening game Rangi went off injured and Gareth Hock followed shortly after. It has been a disjointed start to the season, which has seen us lose just one game which we would have expected to win (Widnes away).

We noticed a massive improvement on Sunday against a Castleford team that were unbeaten and playing well, however we were still poor, bombing too many try scoring opportunities, giving away needless penalties and gifting possession with silly errors. Assuming we can go on a run without any key injuries and getting some long absentees back (Hock and Griffin) you will this team improve immeasurably.

Hull FC this week is a tough one to call. There performances by all accounts have been poor this season, we’re a new team and unpredictable but I would be disappointed if we don’t either a) push them close or b) come away with a narrow victory.

Don’t judge this team on what you have seen so far, give them until August at least.

PS – has anyone mentioned Koukash’s generous offer of free away travel to Hull for next weeks CC game? He’s incensed at Salford having to play another Thursday night game and the impact this has on fans when the game isn’t televised.

Be careful, your accurate summation of the subject is in danger of conflicting with their private prejudices.

Yeah, about 3,000 wasn't it?



If people can't see that Salford are progressing from where they were last season and rebuilding from the brink of going completely t*ts up, then I really do despair. Mind you, I suppose a lot of people don't want Salford or Koukash to succeed.

2000, which is probably a full seasons worth of your own away following...

Bless.