If you're not getting into Salford's side and we are bottom of the league then there has to be a good reason.
He's simply not good enough.
He might be a good lad who tries but that's not sufficient.
Hope he goes well for you but,if this had been announced next Monday we would have thought it was an April Fools wind up.

Howarth is so slow and seems unable to bend to pick up the ball, off loading him is good business without another player. Getting Gaskell in exchange is the icing on the cake.

Imagine what the Saints fans will make of his speed after Roby!!!

Answer

I feel sour grapes from TheVee, Because I thought Gaskill to be a great prospect and he has gone backwards due to lack of game time. Longy will get him firing and to have 2 goalkickers is unbelievable. I see Salford Reds Arising.

Far from sour grapes. Check my posts on our board on my views of Gaskell they have always been the same I have never rated him but by all means believe what you want. I agree Salford probably are on the rise with Dr Flashcash but if you think Gaskell is the start of that rise then you are in for a major disappointment.

Re TheVee: At this time of the season no matter what money we have we are not going to sign big major players,so to have a prospect like Gaskell with a point to prove is not rocket science. On loan so if it doesn't work out, no harm done from our point of view.

Perfect description.

If Gaskell works there is the chance at the end of the year to try and sign him, we at this rate don't have someone on the roster who isn't going to make the team out of the way. So we lose a player with no chance of being part of future plans and gain the chance to run the rule over a player who might be a valuable piece of the machinery.

I feel we are ruffling a few feathers. Ha Ha

Quote ="TheVee"How is Howarth? Is he really as bad as most make out? '" Just ignore them, here's Stuart's highlights video for you to have a look at . . www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tPnX7OPo0Q

Quote ="TheVee"How is Howarth? Is he really as bad as most make out? '" Just ignore them, here's Stuart's highlights video for you to have a look at . . www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tPnX7OPo0Q

All the hype surrounding Gaskell is unbelievable. Ive watched the kid since he was 12 playing for Blackbrook. He was lucky to gain a contract after Scholarship at Saints but then had a growth spurt and started to look a decent player playing at reserve level. I never in a million years thought he would play first team at St Helens. He did and did a decent job in 2011, both him and Lomax shocked most opposition. However since then, once teams knew what he was about his been dire. Head down, will not take the line on, does not organise and the biggest disappointing thing is that he cannot spot a decent pass.

His been given a decent chance at Saints under Rush and he started the season under Brown but he blown them chances because of the above failures. Some of Saints fans love for Gaskell is that he is a local lad who had a decent season a few years ago and was still young enough to turn into something better. The reality is that was as good as he is ever going to be.

This is a nothing swap as it wont effect any of our seasons.

And your ongoing vitriole against the lad is a joke. Gaskell has played, and played well, in a grand final. What he was like in his junior days is irrelevant. You were one of the Saints fans who thought Jamie Foster was rubbish as well, yes? And he didn't look remotely rubbish playing for Bradford last night.

Gaskell will no doubt be low on confidence as he's been treated poorly at Saints. I hope he has a stormer for Salford today.

He is joining a team just beginning a new revolution after the havoc of the last 2 years. Im sure he will get a good run in the team and hopefully regain this confidence and improve over time. Then he wont be going back !

Last 2 years? Last 20 more like!!

Forget the so called hype.
We've lost a player we didn't want,and acquired one who played well in a Grand Final.
This isn't Wally Lewis ,its simply a lad we have on loan until the end of the season.
The rest is up to him,not us.

Saints fans are split into factions over Gaskell.

Personally I'm disappointed to lose him.
My assessment is that he is a good standard of SL player. He does make poor choices but for me most halves that try things will get some right some wrong.
He's not a Lockyer so putting him in the team will not alter the standard of those around him. But you should get more creativity offering more chances going forwards.

He has a decent boot on him for a kicking game, but I'll agree he is not an organising half from what I have seen.

In 2011 he got better and better.
In 2012 he was a bit hit and miss at the start of the year, but then the whole team was under Royce. After that he was axed by Rush and that was that.
2013 he got 3 games. As a team we have been getting better, true Gaskell did not make himself indispencable in those 3 games, but I've seen nothing from Lance or Wheeler that made me think they were doing anything more than Gaskell did in his 3 games. The big change was Wilkin coming in at 7, which Gaskell never got a chance to benefit from.

For Salford it's a no lose senario, you may have a little gem on your hands, or if he does not shape up, come season end you have lost nothing and you can get a different fella.

Now that's a balanced assessment, and one I'd agree with.

Howarth starting at hooker for Saints! Ill go with a comfortable Wigan win!

Some good head high passes from the lad in the 1st half! old habits die hard!!

I can live with Howarth playing like that every week until we get Roby back. Passed the ball and tackled well.

I knew Gaskell would bring positive things to Salford. Glad he scored a try. That'll help boost his confidence. And he was on the winning side too, which is great. He was much missed at Wigan today, although in his usual position of 6 (I know he played centre for you).

Howarth went ok. He worked hard and respect to the bloke for taking on such an exposed position in a derby game with no preparation at all.

Was a fantastic solo effort from about 40+ metres out with possibly his first touch of the ball. Hopefully starting as he means to go on!

Well, he will certainly work hard for you. He isn't shy of work either in attack or defence. I hope he enjoys his time with Salford.

Watched Howarth in the Wigan game , to his credit he grafted & did what was asked of him , and for the full 80.

Godwin , played out of his skin and made lots of metres scooting from acting half back , something Howarth isn't capable of . and with Sneyd - Foran & Fages we've got distributors of the ball a plenty
We do need attacking quality and Gaskell proved he's got that from the off , he's going to be a handfull especially when the ground firms up.
I still think we're up on the deal .

Just read Gaskell got injuried for you today anyone know what he done