As smith on loan can he play against us?

It's got nothing to do with pressure of expectation. Big city distractions is likely to be be closer to the mark.

Must say I have to agree with Chetnik to a certain degree, whilst were not massive yet thats what the Doctor is here to achieve, so yes Tim Smith entered the big pond in the same way any player KL WH MCB et al will be entering the same pond. Lets be honest anything Salford is headlines now whether you like it or not.

I can't think of any club chairman directors and players talked about like we are now, and yes I include Wigan Leeds Saints Wire etc.

Wiggy and the Tinker can't wait to open that awful show by talking about us usually sniping about how much we have spent, in fact the KL fee according to the peg seller by all accounts is astronomical. (incidentally Phil Clarke said if your that concerned ask the RFL (Blake Solly) the question).

Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to big us up or anything I mean the truth at the moment is we are the second worse team in super league (I'm not including London as they arn't a super league club) but see the table we are second bottom the table doesn't lie.

However joining Salford now is entering the goldfish bowl where everything and everyone is under scrutiny.

Kind of a nice place really thanks to MK Salford is now a big pond.

No way will we be considered a big pond until we've had 3-5 decent seasons competing at the top, then cementing ourselves there... but yes, coming to Salford is entering the goldfish bowl.
Let's not get carried away

Who's getting carried away I've just described us as the second worse team in super league (rightly or wrongly), however I believe Salford is now a big pond, who else has just signed the Kiwi International fullback or any NRL International player for that matter ?

Apologies SRAO, the carried away bit was not directed at you, I was merely highlighting the goldfish bowl that you had in your post as IMHO that is all we are at present.
Fair enough we've just signed Locke, however, we are a few years of sustained success away from being a big pond...or are we to believe that Cas are the finished article??????

I doubt that, we have Leeds on our doorstep and he has managed to keep himself undistracted here as far as I can tell.

I just think it's because here, he is the general and organiser, the main man if you will. With Salford, your pivots probably shared the responsibilty a bit more and Tim is perhaps an expert at playing in games he is running, rather than picking up on other players plans.

I think you've got it spot on here.

Doubt it, Tim Smith still lives in Darwen I believe and is settled with a wife.

The pressure to perform as one of Koukash's big money signings wont have helped him, far less pressure and scrutiny at Wakefield.

Irlam ?

Daft decision to allow him to play against the Devils later in the season.

Listening to the commentary on BBC on the the Wakefield V Leeds match he seems to to have had another good game in Their 16-14 Win.

I have just watched the Wakefield Leeds game on TV and thought that Tim Smith displayed skills that he kept well hidden when playing for us. Very disappointing that he didn't fire on all cylinders in a red shirt.

Did Tim Smith not really want to be at Salford?

That's the question I keep coming back to!!!!!!!!!

If he does he's a very lucky man as its a beautiful area and i've spent a lot of time on the moors around there. I watched the games and high lights when Rangi was out and Tim seemed to be working his butt off trying to do all the on field jobs and thats probably why it didn't work but i also realise it never really clicked with Rangi as his partner. Wakey just seems to suit him, even more so under Webster. Its just one of those unfathomable rugby league conundrums.

Let's hope the same doesn't happen with Dobson

Why would anyone want to be in Salford?

Tim's well known mental health problems may have something to do with it. As far as I'm aware, Dobson doesn't have any, so we should be OK. The bigger question is whether he'll be able to work alongside Rangi.

That's the point I'm making.
I think it will work but there'll need to be adjustments

Tim Smith played ok

Was most interested in how well Jones Bishop played. Wonderful try. And nearly got another one too.

He also showed how to beat Wakefield - run at Chris Riley!

As opposed to the slag heap that is Ponte Carlo.

Indeed. What a foolish post!

The difference with Smith to Dobson is that Smith only performed at Wakefield were as Dobson performed wherever he went. Wigan great, Catalan great, hull kr great. Tim smith obviously struggles when pressures put upon him, at Wakefield he has none and he has thrives there.

Hmm, pressure? It depends what type of pressure. With 'World Class' signings such as yourselves he would of had no pressure as other players would of took responsibility however I agree off field pressure, at Wakefield he doesn't really have any - he got a bit of stick off fans but thats about it. I think Dobson is a good player but I think it will effect Chase like what happened in the WC when he was playing along side Sinfield.

Pressure from the owner and supporters to perform. Had he got off to a flier he'd probably have been ok, as it happened he didn't and people started to get on his back. I have even heard boo's directed at him when his name has been announced etc, these type of things can affect different players in different ways.

Less pressure at Wakefield, he isn't a £75k signing there playing in a team that the majority tipped for the play-offs this season.