Everyone half knowledgeable in the sport of rugby league knows that Salford’s game plan in Superleague 2009 is based purely around the percentage game.
McRae obviously feels his team lacks ability and his tactics offer Salford the best chance of competing or pulling off a surprise victory.

The game plan is so predictable and extremely rigid with identical tactics & interchanges for each match regardless of the opposition or what the scoreline is throughout the match. Unfortunately if Solly knock on half a dozen times, miss a few vital tackles and get out jumped defending attacking kicks on our try line, it all goes t*ts up and it’s game over!

The problem with McRae’s game plan is that the team must start extremely well, get in front and then stay in front for the rest of the game because the team simply don’t have a plan B. I may be wrong but I can’t recall one occasion this year where the team have showed the drive or know- how to come from behind and get themselves in front.

On Friday we looked so flat coming on to the ball with some players running about 3 or 4 steps maximum before receiving the pass. Is it any wonder the team consistently failed to make enough hard yards against a determined Cas defence?

Personally I can’t understand why McRae didn’t switch Ratchford to half-back at 0-12 because with Smith and Myler failing to get the forwards going or offer anything creative the game was gone anyway. I can only speak for myself but I’d rather have lost 26-46 and seen us have a real go by throwing the ball around and trying something different than watching the usual, dour rugby that McRae’s tactics serves up . . . . Is it any wonder fans are staying away in droves from the Willows? and don’t get me started on some of his team selections!

Could not agree more but unfortunately our coach is a dinosaur compared to the modern day coach and it aint going to change anytime soon.

Never mind it's only 2 more years of one man rugby left.

good post [itheredshed[/i

I'm sure nearly every Salford supporter is totally baffled as regards the 'gameplan' tactics we (or should I say, our head coach) has to offer.

Like you say, when they fall behind, there doesn't seem to be anyone out there to initiate a fightback.

The most annoying thing for me is, that the teams we are bracketed with i.e. Cas & Wakey don't seem to capitulate as often, and seem capable of turning possession into points from any position and at any stage of the game.

I suppose we should all be used to it by now, but not that many years ago we had the likes of Mark Lee, David Hulme etc etc to provide moments of inspiration and kickstart a comeback if one was needed. It just doesn't appear to be there of late.

I thought we were on par with Celtic, and we'd struggle to win more than 3 games all season?

What salford lack its that Xfactor, the indivdual or individuals who can make a difference or do the small things that will get us over the line in a tight game.

At the moment the majority of the team dont have that little bit extra in them, it cant be coached imo as when pressure is put on them they revert back to type regardless how fit physically they are it has to be in them.

Which means we have to spend a little bit more money on a better standard of proffessional, im not talking about chucking 200k on one player but 10k here 10k extra there will bring us a better player who can cope and thrive at this level.

Then Mcraes game plan will work and we'll win more and people will watch at winning team regardless how entertaining they are.

I'm not too sure about that. Salford had a fair sprinkling of so called 'X-Factor' players during the 2000–02 period. Plus we do have some today: Myler, Ratchford, Wilshere, Talau to name a few. Even Henry has had his moments.

I'm more concerned with Salford's inability to get up for bread and butter matches, for want of a kinder phrase. Collectively, the team seems to have a motivational problem. Salford perform much better against the very best teams in the competition. Why?

so looks like we will lose on Sunday

I have never known salford to have a plan b but i suppose there is a first time for everything. the unfortunate thing is no one as any idea to implement a plan b so you will be waiting along time to come.

I'm not even sure if we have a Plan A

Yes it's like we win a game and then the players feel they can dine out on it for a month!

At the beginning of the season I would have been happy to have won 2/3 games and shown a competing spirit at Leeds or Saints.

We've done a lot more.

Fair comment but after beating Saints we should have been more professional and followed it up by beating Celtic, surely one of the teams target games this year?

Yes we should have carried the win against Saints to the next game, as you said, Celtic must have been one of our target games & to capitulate as we did against them was totally unacceptable, it was embarressing to watch.
In the club house after the game, John Dixon came in to speak to Celtic fans & he spoke of the game plan he had set his team & they stuck to it & won the game, we had no answer to it, appeared to have no game plan & for the coach to say, the team perhaps eased off when 12-0 up after 15 mins is a stupid statement to make,if there was only 15mins left in the game could understand saying that.
As your threads name, WE HAVE NO PLAN B.

We do its called give it the the forwards while there stood still and lets see what they can do from a standing start.
Everyone has been complaining about the opposition being offside which they have been by a yard the majority of the time but ffs they could be a yard offside of 20 yards onside giving it to the forwards while not having a good run onto the ball will do nothing for gaining any distance

Also off subject how good was bosc's solo try 2 friking chip kicks class

kicked with both feet, first left and than right to confuse the defence, what would we have done?

Absolute quality! It's the kind of 'off the cuff play' Salford's gameplan so desperately lacks.

Brought back fond memories of a certain Neil Baker in the 80's!

Sorry i think ive grab the wrong end of the stick here, what we need are:

Players that will treat their own line with the same respect they treat their opponents and will try everything to get over it and not be stuck in goal too easy

When a bomb goes up or a grubber kick is sent though and there is a chase on to have only eyes for the ball, catch it and take who or what ever comes with it

If they drop the ball dont get depressed about it and switch off, that next set should be defended like our lives depended on it until a error is forced or we get better field position how ever long it takes.

If a tackle is going to be missed (you going to miss tackles somtimes your human) slow the runner down with grab at a arm or leg give the attacker somthing to think about all the time rather than lay there and watch him run off

Make the right decitions in attack when a chance comes, ive lost count the amout of times we pass it to the wrong person in attack when it should go to one of our pivots or strike players it gets lumped to another player who just trots in and takes the tackle.

I agree with you its totally mental with our players, when they are switched on they are good enough to be beat anybody and are able to do all of the above thats the most frustrating thing about it, unfortunatly our problem is being switched for a full 80 mins and playing at that intensitiy week in week out.

Do the small things right, give them the platform and our xfactor players will be able to work their magic and we'll start talking about entertaining

It certainly did



I'm gonna start a [i'bring back Neil Baker' [/icampaign as soon as I've finished my Pot Noodle

maybe you could sing it next time you come to the willows

what do you want me to sing mate





spellcheck is a useful tool