Do you know what?

Never mind reading negative stuff about our club that has been the meat and drink for "journos" over the years: the same club that's going to play in a NEW stadium, with a very young and ambitious coach with great credentials. What the hell is the matter with you guys. I know that after so many "false dawns" with our club you might just think that this is just another one.

If we don't support Matt Parish, when he obviously needs it to fulfill the brief that he was given, then as far as I'm concerned we have missed an opportunity that will not come again.

Come on you lot, let's focus on the positives here. Before some of you start throwing the accusation that I don't live within distance of the ground: save it, save it for those that have NOT been there over the years.

FFS: let's get real.

All the best.
BD

Hear hear.

Great post BD..... Thought it was just me who sees the positives we have at the club.

BD - Some of us really are trying to be cheerful - honest!!!

Sorry Shirl, I was hoping to stir some of our lot into a wee bit of action. Me thinks that some may be suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) and the rest are suffering from the other SAD: (Salford Affective Disorder). For those that fancy a fight, be warned!! I've had my tea (chicken)and I'm fully charged and have another half-hour before Linda makes me go to bed. Sooooo.........Reds fans: Do you still fancy a fight, if so make it sharp before she comes for me with my gin in me bottle.

It all seems very strange at the moment. The last game at the Willows was a very bitter pill to swallow

If the club had signed a quality 27/28 year old prop, who wasn't injured beyond his usefulness, then ttthings might be little different. Having seen our our remaining props getting dominated for the majority of last season, doesn't really fill the fans with much confidence. We could all see what was needed last season, a prop who hits hard in both defence and attack, but for whatever reason that prop never materialized. It sometimes feels like the club are always looking for the best value for money, but this is sport and we need a player with that extra bit of quality.

At least Parish seems keen on getting the players better conditioned, I really hope he turns the new ground into something of a 'house of pain' for the opposition, but the players need to perform significantly better in pre-season.

on the plus side I'm looking forward to seeing what McPhersen and Moon are capable of. Jordan James could prove a useful addition.

Well said. A very good(not entirely sombre) post.

I just feel some fans are just scared of change...hopefully the negative thoughts and processes we have all experienced at the willows will be left there, ALSO people remember the original spaceage design and feel a bit let down that the stadium doesnt look as "flash" well here is a news flash....its better than what we had at the willows. We are watching history being made here at salford a new bright beginig for everyone to enjoy.
When salford moved to the willows from New Barnes in 1901 i suspect fans at the time had the same kind of reservations as we are all experiencing in the build up to the big day when the Salford City Stadium opens its doors for the 1st time.

A quote from a pundit at the time reads

"when completed, it will be one of the finest enclosures in the county. one might also say in the north of england!"

There is no reason this quote cant be for now, its not a standard box lego built stadium, the more i see it the more im impressed with how it looks and im sure when its complete it will look fab.

Take the positive out of this move, coming out from the shaddows will be the best thing to happen to the club for a long time, taking this step will by defalt make the club think more proffessionally as now they are mainstream whether they like it or not, our decition makers have taken a great risk here and everyone needs to be pulling in the right direction within the club to make it a success.
The players will see like everyone else passing over the motorway all day every day will see where they play and that will add extra pressure to perfom both individually and collectivly as people will notice it being there and the profile of the club will grow so rather than being a salford player who plays in the back street of weaste they will suddenly become a salford player who plays opposite the trafford centre where the world is watching
The added quality of the facilities they will have at their fingertips will make them more confortable and prepared mentally and physically to give a little more.

I know you speak to players and they say "we give 100% every week" but when you sat in a dark, cold, cramped and damp changing room of the willows and your having to have a ice bath in a padding pool its harder to motorvate yourself than if you were in a nice, bright, clean, light spacious changing room.
Ive followed / stalked salford players on twitter this season and ive come to the concusion that players are simple folk, give them them good facilities and they are happy, if they are happy they play well and there is more chance of getting a result.

That extra 2% you get from the change in conditions and how the players feel about their "workplace" i feel will make a massive difference to our results next season

Its a great time to be a player at salford city reds, a great time to be a fan of salford city reds and its a great time for the city of salford.

I wouldn't describe myself as miserable, but a realist.

If we don't finish in the top 8 over the next three years, there is a serious possibility of losing the franchise. With the losses to the squad so far and the additions we have made, it's a big ask. We left the Willows on a low note following a disappointing season (Fact), and we are also clearly short of money to attract new signings.

The stadium IS an opportunity and Parish and Long could provide us with excellent coaching. But there does seem to be a lot of if, buts and maybe's surrounding our future.

I will be there for the first game and full of hope for the season, but I'm under no illusion as to what may follow!

That's the one. There is a distinct difference between the two that needs to be recognised, rather than bracketing everyone who doesn't see the club as being wonderful in every department in the same group.

The next three years are huge for the club and a brilliant chance to make a success of Salford. But it's not being miserable to point out that, if we get it wrong and current mistakes are not learnt from, we could be looking at some serious problems in three years time.

We'll see where we are in 2014 I guess.

Apologies to you guys here: I was only playing devil's advocate when referring to "miserable" fans. As far as sporting fans go we, as Reds fans, have more cause to be pessimistic than most.

I do think that it's important though to support everyone (well perhaps not everyone) at the club, and I dare say that no matter what they say, players and officials will at some point read our posts to test the water.
I, personally am interested to see what physical shape (quite literally in some cases) the players start next season.

I think Matt will "beast" some of our blokes in the off season and particularly in the run up to the start of the season proper.

As the old song says: "when the going gets tough".

Is Salford rugby things will never change stadium or not. That miserable for you

There's a thread on the Wakey forum concerning some comments made by Parish.

On it, a rather obnoxious Cas fan was criticising Parish, for Salford only having won one game at since he took charge. I would say his lack of success, thus far, is down to his decision to push the players harder in training. Normally this wouldn't be a good idea towards the end of the season, but long term it was probably a better decision rather than just papering over the cracks.

If Sidlow remians at the club next season, I hope he's one of the players Parish beasts. Sidlow has looked sluggish in defence this year; having seemingly added a few pounds in the last close season. The lad should, at least, be given the chance to prove himself under a coach that can help and mentor him, instead of blood sucking take his cheque home at the and of the day without worrying which young players career he ruins next, type of a coach.

Not that I have anything against McRae. The point is, Parish can see where we are looking and is trying to do something about it. When we signed McPhersen, Moon and James he commented on the quality of their defence, so at least he can see how awful our defence is. If James was replacing Feka we'd all see it as an improvement, unfortunately he's replacing big Ray, our only forward who makes yards on a regular basis.

You speak very wisely,I think Ray is going to be missed for everyone except the opposition forwards. I have to say though, that MP appears to be very keen on the youth at our club. This should not really be any big surprise as The NSW team has had to be rejuvinated in a fairly short time, and I'm sure MP would have been complicit in that.
Let's not forget that as the NSW assistant coach he will have had a fairly big input to Ricky Stuart's State of Origin team that put up a great showing in the recent series, and that team was full of youngsters.
I'm just looking forward to the new season, not to mention our new ground. I think the last game at The Willows just goes to show that there is potential for a big crowd increase. To be totally honest though, I think that we are never going to know just HOW big our fan base is until we have success on the field. P.S. if this post looks "cramped" for space, I seem to have picked up a problem when replying to a "quote".

good to see you're still laying down the law round here Dek!

We seem to be on similar wavelength BD.

One thing that really impressed me in the second SOO test was the sheer speed NSW played at. In every aspect NSW were quicker. There was clearly a realization they weren't going to win the arm wrestle, and just played at a great skill and speed level, part of that was down to speed at which they played the ball.

My point, incase you hadn't guessed, for the last few seasons the pack hasn't made the slightest dent in most opposition's defences. If we carry on that way next season, then we need to employ similar tactics

Is that you "G"? if so, "bugger off"! Only joking mate. PM me.

I think we just might be on a similar wavelength (not sure if that's good for you mate). When you look at the intensity of the game in Oz and the pace that they play it, then it worries me about the forthcoming Internationals. I don't doubt Steve Mac's pedigree or his credibility as a coach. I just think that we're going to need more than passion to succeed. I just hope against hope that we don't take injured players into this series because with or without Lockyer they are going to be a hard side to beat.

For all the glum Reds fans it might just be worth noting that Ricky Stuart and MATT PARISH, will have played a fairly significant part for some of these tourists!

All the best.

I was kinda hoping for that reception...

When I watched the second SOO it struck me on how much of a mobile pack the NSW went for, playing a loose forward at prop for instance. Think that might be the route were heading down, Neale, Adamson and maybe the youngsters Marriott and Davidson would all for me fit that description. All we need is Wilky to find some loose change down the back of the sofa to buy Paul Gallen.

Forget about new signings and who’s gone and who’s coming. The main things that Matt Parish needs to focus on is changing the defeatist attitude within the club and to significantly improve the squad's fitness levels.

A major plus for me is not allowing the players to take extended holidays and dictate when they want to start pre season training. (Weeks later than other clubs with overseas players supposedly training in Australia unsupervised - Please

)

Parish and the conditioner need to ensure all the players are in optimum physical condition with strength and stamina levels that are at the very least equal if not better than any other club in super league.

I just hope it's not another case of exaggerated PR leading up to the new season with another trip to an army camp.(Only to be blown away in the first match like the Crusaders game at the millenium earlier this year). Salford don't have the elite players so they must make up for it by working harder and putting a lot of emphasis on developing team spirit.

Action speaks a lot louder than words and Salford can't afford the luxury of cutting any corners in preparation for next year. We must hit the ground running and if the coaches and players want it enough we will see a vast improvement on this year with fewer arm wrestles lost.