Says in the rugby league weekly that Gardner has become the ninth new red, hope sinfield rumour is true, we'll have a tasty side next year!

Does anyone know why Gardner didn't play on Friday? OK Saints won but I think they would have been better with Gardner if fit because Francis Meli's performance was shocking, especially his defence! If Meli plays Saturday I can see the pies targeting him big time. (Meli's too old and too slow now for me)

If this is true, I'm glad we've signed another proper winger - a three quarter line of Broughton, Gibson, Henry and Gardner will do for me. Especially with Nero, Gleeson and Bailey as back up. Stongest back line we've had in a long time

Still think we could do with another prop and hooker though. Or am I being greedy??

Ideally we could do with another quality experienced prop at the expense of one our three younger props. Another hooker I agree but I doubt finances will allow, plus we already have about 25 players by my reckoning for 2011. Maybe a mega rich Salford fan on this forum can donate about 200K a year to the Reds Revolution??

From From Kazakhstan to Knowsley Road.. to the Willows

He must think Pamela is Vinnie's sister?

It would be an additional bonus, but do we really need another prop? or do we just need one of our younger props to step up a level next year?

Neal - of all our props this guy has the most potential, big and strong, especially for his age, and fairly quick with. Already demostrated he can make decent yardage and with a full off-season in the team he could well take his game on to another level. Sometimes runs a little bit too laterallly, if he straightens up I'd expect him to make much more of an impact.

Jewitt - Agressive in defence and makes some good hits, but needs to make much better yadrage than he currently does.

Boyle - Take him or leave him to be honest, at the start of the season he looked to take the ball in quite well, but always strikes me as a bit lazy. Could be wrong about the lazy bit.

Sidlow - Second Row/Prop? Moves well for a big guy and does look good running out wide. If he can handle the rougher stuff in the middle next season, then he will bring a much better balance to the team, when switching between prop and second row.

If, there is any truth to the Sinfield rumours, than hopefully we've signed him as a hooker and we've got what we need. Still can't see it happening, but I don't see us signing him to play at 6 as his game is farily similar to that of Holdsworth's. With Patten coming over I see him as a third playmaker, which would mean we don't need a particularly creative 13 either. So, hopefully, we've got ourselves a new hooker???

On the Gardner topic, I would say he is on a similar level to Hodgy.

I can see where you're coming from LincolnDevilsFan but in reality we'd need all of them to be able to step up.

Assuming Cashmere is a guaranteed starter and Feka is guaranteed a bench spot - that means we will need at least two of those (possibly 3) to fill the other 2 spots (one starting, one or two on bench). If one gets injured it starts to look very threadbare, although we do have Parker to throw into the mix as well. If it is Cashmere that gets injured we are expecting an awful lot from our young props

I do rate all of the young props and hope that they do continue to develop and fulfill their potential, I just think one more experienced prop is needed for strength in depth and to allow the rotation of the younger ones

Does anyone think Luke Adamson could make the transition to hooker? Just a thought!

I agree, without Cashmere we could end up struggling again next year, and yes it would be better if they made the step up next season ,from potential to quality performances. Jewitt and Sidlow, in particular, have been with us for a while now and show glimpses of what they are capable of achieving. They really need to start putting it together for more than just one match. Jewitt would be nailed on for the 17, if he just ran the ball in that bit harder and made some extra yards.

Hopefully, Feka can pass on some knowledge and teach these guys to run like a wrecking ball.

My thoughts exactly, for me we still need one more experienced prop, a bit of a workhorse like Stapleton or Rutgerson. Let Jewitt, Boyle & Sidlow fight it out for the other spaces, it's a great position to be in.

You have hit the nail on the head. Jewitt is a tough opponent and has cut down on the silly pens lately. If he could just make a bit more yardage on his drives he has the potential to be a top quality prop. I don't think it's a neccessarly a strength problem, it may be just his running technique and footwork that needs to worked on.

redshed - It's a funny one with Jewitt, you feel he should make more metres than he does - he's strong and fairly big and seems to have the desire - but somehow he doesn't. Maybe it is a technique thing as you suggest

LincolnDevilsFan - I agree about Sidlow and Jewitt needing to deliver this year. They've had plenty of chances now and I'm not sure how many more they'll get

Anyway, sorry, I seem to have turned a thread about signing Ade Gardner into a debate about Props, sorry about that

He was dropped to facilitate Kyle Eastmond. We needed Jamie Foster on one wing because not only is he fab, he's also our first choice goal kicker now and he was the only fit goal kicker. So that was one wing spot taken, which once upon a time was taken by Gardner. Since we also needed other players on the park and Gardner can only play wing, Meli was shunted back to the wing and Flannery played as his centre. However, that was - as ever - a stupid decision. Gardner would have been better on the wing and Meli dropped. Alas.

All we need now is a good hooker.

We already have one

We're getting 9, possibly 10 players, the majority used to playing at a higher level and bringing their previous clubs coaching experience to the mix + we assumably have another assistant coach to appoint. If our pack should be twice as effective after all this investment and a pre-season to boot. ( we normally only start recruiting nov-dec, now we have almost a full squad ready for pre-season ) We have Nero-Adamson-Wild-Anderson-Sidlow, possibly Bailey -Parker all vying for 2nd row - Loose forward positions, and hopefully a packed Shed, fully vocal spurring them on, I'm fairly chilled, if players don't perform next season their going to be out .

Has it been confirmed nothing on FB?

Nope.

Still just speculation
betfred [url=http://www.bettingpress.com/category/Rugby/St-Helens-winger-Ade-Gardner-to-join-Salford-City-Reds-201009240033/Saints flyer linked with move to Willows[/url
moneys on it being true

I can't understand how we can keep the majority of players happy. If you look at our starting centres&Wingers.
Wing- Broughton/Gardner
Centres- Nero/Henry
What about Gibson? How will he play? Unless he starts playing more of a hooker role. Generally we never have a winger or centre on the bench just forwards and a hooker.

One word answer 'Injuries'. Is it not a nice position to be in?

True

Sorry never thought about injuries to be honest.

There will also be a lot more competition for places next year, no doubt the players will be 'Training the house down' over the winter to make the 17. I have a gut feeling there may be a few surprises and our starting line up won't be what some have predicted.

Hopefully, then we will get the best out of each and every one of our players. I think McRae will have trouble naming a squad; cause the odd headache or 2

.

Still we have a variety of quality players so i can't wait for 2011! Also on Sinfield rumours can anybody see this happening honestly? How longs left on his current deal?