I wouldn't be happy I'd rather Holdsworth play stand-off because he has the abilty to put players through gaps from first reciever. Quality half backs like DH always appear to have time on the ball before releasing it at the exact right moment. How ofter do you see a player make a pass too early because their focus has switched to thinking about taking a hit? Holdsworth to me seems calm headed and brave and he's prepared to take the impact of the tackle for the benefit of creating space for a teammate.

I know the scrum half and stand-off positions are more similar these days with one playing left and one right but I'd rather have Holdsworth creating attacking plays from scrum situations. (Rather than just feeding a scrum and making a simple pass to say Ratchford)

A fair few of the team sheets had Holdsworth down as the scrum-half last year. League Express also classed him as a scrum-half in their 2010 polls.

Could it simply be that M Smith likes the number 14 shirt? Besides, it saves him changing his twitter name.

Like I said the two positions are very similar these days but I think not having Holdsworth in the stand-off (First reciever) role from attacking scrum situations would be a mistake.

As for the league express I personally think it was more a case of giving him some recognition due to the high standard of stand-offs in the top 5 list.

I doubt it. In the match reports they had Holdsworth down as scrum-half for plenty, backing up the interchangeability of the two positions that you highlighted.

Best squad iv'e seen at Salford in 20 years, i hope they don't let us down.

Probably just keeping the same numbers as last season.

, Remember Kevin McGuinness Squad number - 33
doesn't mean Smith won't be first choice

second Red League's comment easily the best squad we've assembled for some time , hopefully that will equate with competition and places to be fought for .

I wouldn't read too much into the holdsworth, ratchford, smith numbers. I still think Holdsorth and Smith will be the main starting SO and SH

Wasn't Adamson Snr at 12 last year? If so seems a bit harsh to lose it (although i know it doesn't mean too much)

Wonder who they've got in mind for 21........

Thinking about it, you're probably right.

Reading the comments about us having the best squad for 20 years brings back bad memories of '07

Hopefully we're more successful this year than we were that season...

The player quality is alot better than the 07 team imo.

very good squad that plenty of depth and versitile players, a bit of quality in there aswell can see salford really challenging for the top 8 and i wunt be suprised if you did get in the 8. and really good to see some young home grown players in there aswell hopefully they will get a bit of game time, good luck anyways

I'm still very torn between the 2 and who should start. I suppose wellhave to see what we can gauge from the next couple of friendlys.

RE Adamson. I'm V disappointed the longest serving player and the most dedicated (IMO) has lost his number to a new comer. Perhaps it was just hoe things panned out but for a lad who has been our key defender (along with malc) for the last 3 years I think not being given a starting squad number is pathetic. I agree they mean very little but I'd like to see te newcomers put in the effort and amount tackles he does per game. Then at least if they do he could focus on his attacking role more as opposed to making 57 tackles a game leaving himself fecked for when we do actually have possession.

Unless someone is willing to help our man o steel out in this department I fear with the loss of mal and swain he will be very much on his own.

If he is as dedicated as you think (which I don't doubt) then perhaps he'll see it as motivation (a la Stuart Littler when he lost his #3 jersey)?

Don't underestimate the work ethic of Stephen Wild! This said is it right that two players should be doing a high percentage of the tackling? What would have happened to Salford last year if both were injured? They should be sharing the defensive duties especially considering most teams now have 3 forward interchanges.

Pffff Stephen Wild. Please.

And no it's not right but it's what's gone on for the past 2 seasons at least.

Opta stats will say it all. And I'll be the first one to post them.

Are you luke adamson's dad by any chance?



Oh by the way ive heard that the Reds were in the TC yesterday for the media day, so shouldn't be long before the team photo's are up on the reds website.

Looking at the 2010 SL Stats Luke Swain averaged 33 tackles a game and Wild averaged 32. Wild made more metres per carry, scored and made more tries and averaged more tackle busts and clean breaks!

and bear in mind wild was injured a lot last season, im sure he had a operation on something, so to still get stats like that shows something .

Hopefully our attack and ball retention will be better this year, meaning we won't need to make as many tackles.

its just a number!!

If has to be because if you look at the stats Salford have made more tackles than any club in Superleague over the last two years. 2010 was however a slight improvement on 2009 when the team made 8827 tackles.

Here are the tackle numbers for 2010:-

Salford - 8749

Huddersfield - 8629

Catalans - 8595

Quins - 8534

Hull KR - 8457

Crusaders - 8397

Hull - 8275

Wakey - 8165

Bradford - 8048

Leeds - 7934

Wigan - 7933

Castleford - 7868

Warrington - 7828

St Helens - 7767

This equates to having to tackle for 6 more sets per game than Saints!



Another area that needs improving is metres per carry. In 2009 the team averaged 6.3 and in 2010 they only managed 5.5!

No, I just own a pair of eyes.