It didn't/doesn't work. Hardly anything came from either, as an individual or as a combination. Holdsworth completely went missing after 20 mins and that left Smith to serve up a very poor kicking game. Rather worrying to say the least IMO

and no, I'm no expert, so I don't have the answer

Goldsworthy has hardly contributed to any game in the last two seasons. He isn't consistent enough in any part of his game from making simple passes to kicking goals. Smith is generally a solid player but the prolem playing with holdsworth is that neither of them can take control of a game or organise the players.

As for the pack bar feka being a revelation the pack fell flat on its a#$%, they lack strength and aggression and considering cas had a few out of there pack and we still struggled to make yards is a very worrying sign!

Holdsworth*

Have to admit I was impressed with the much improved Feka and at least Patten adds some attacking spark (much needed with Holdsworth doing sweet FA, don't think I noticed him all game). You weren't helped by losing Godwin almost straight away and then Howarth later. Gleeson also needs to learn how to hold the ball (I know, I know, bad conditions...)

It wasn't all bad and when you built up some speed around the ruck there were plenty of good signs that I wouldn't expect to see in a match played in those conditions. Hope your boys can get some confidence and string some wins together this season (except against Wakefield).

Can you with hand on your heart say that there is no better players in their positions playing rugby league outside of super league,Patten and Holdsworth in my opinion,are just steady run of the mill guys,nothing to get excited about,do not frighten the opposition when they get the ball,well just ordinary,but expensive.I like Smith,no problem with that lad.Now,who signed these guys Lance?

Feka 10/10 and a fantastic transformation. Well done that man. He now needs to have a word with Sidlow and Jewitt.

Long hard season on the way, Salford worked hard but without the platform of some quality forwards it will be a difficult long hard season.

I know the conditions were bad but how many points did Cas score off the back of Holdsworth mistakes?

How many times has Holdsworth missed touch with a penalty???
That was when we lost the game.
So controlled in the first half, following a game plan and not to take advantage of a penalty in a sin.

It's a game we could have won, no lack of effort, and the odd stand out performance, but when will we learn that we have to do the basics right to stand any chance of winning?

which two players were allowed to go home for Christmas, and it shows, Holdsworth is not even going through the motions, his first attempt at goal said everything I needed to know his whole body language was totally wrong. Perhaps the captaincy wasn't the problem maybe it was the contract we gave him, I am sure he wouldn't drop that.
So back to the drawing board, only good point was our 2nd try.

I didnt expect much but even so i am disappointed.

Having watched both games this weekend, and knowing how our backs can play in better conditions, I would say we have more to offer than Widnes, but when you take into account our self-destruct button it doesnt look good.

To be fair, I think he was trying to use the wind to curl it in from the right, pretty much what Dixon did to perfection when they scored down the same side in the 2nd half, just didn't work at all.

Was pretty annoying to see him pretty much throw the ball forward into the hands of a Cas player twice during the game.

Tonight was always going to be a forwards game with the conditions so maybe we shouldn't write them off after one game and give them a bit more time under the new regime. If Godwin is out for an extended period of time then things could be changed up though with Smith moving over to hooker...?

Exactly Pev,you know as well as i that pre season is critical to do your stamina work,and the set plays,formations etc.To be honest i thought our attack out wide was pretty good with a bit more working on,on dryer and warmer days im sure we will score some more top tries,its that bleeding pack of ours that worries me.Feka was top man tonight for me.

You did some good work out there tonight and the conditions were poor, keep the faith and a nice new stadium to boot, God luck for the season (apart when you visit cas of course)

Holdsworth has to be dropped after that display, simple as. If PV is doing his job and being fair then Sneyd must start against Saints. We have the fastest player in SL in Broughton and all the play goes down the right.

Big well done to Feka, I only wish others had improved as much compared to last year.

With out putting undue praise on the 2 half back, they can't do nothing with a defeated Pack surely? My issue with these go why is it when it comes to the 4th or 5th tackle either: or, seems to be out of place (I'm sure there is some grammar points for you geeks to pick up on there) For so many years out last tackle kicking options has been a shambles, despite numerous coaches, how can this be?

Our kicking game tonight was shambolic at times.

What Kicking game?

Holdsworth is totally disinterested and really does not want to be here, that is so obvious from the way he has been playing for the past two years.
I feel sorry for Smith, he has shown what he can do behind a dominant pack (Saints in the play offs) and now he is behind that shower of $hite.
20 metres max on any set of six tells its own sorry story.

spot on.

smith on his day is a class player my issue with him is yes he is playing behind a poor pack but i do not think he is consistent enough at times but still offers something.

if you think back to when holdsworth joined us he played a handful of games and played really well then got injured an the club thought we had a master in are mists and offered him a nice bumper contract. i think he was just lucky to look so good on those days told his pal pattern you can get a good wage here an got him on board.A full season he did nothing and still appears to not offer much other than the same old he does each game , kicking game is poor an even to fail to kick a ball in touch is poor.

do not quote me on this but was he not like 4th or 6th choice half back at his old club with younger players getting more game time than him

I think you lot are being a bit harsh on your lads after last night, in all fairness it was a lottery and fortunately for us we held the ball a bit better. criticise them after they have played in decent conditions, not after that debacle last night. Imo smith needs to be at hooker to keep him busy

Tidy ground but as an old fart , I prefer the Willows for the craic and the snap

I don't think you can drop DJ after one game, nor to be fair anyone as it was never going to be a true reflection of anyones talent in those conditions.

What did impress me was how vocal Moon was when the players were in a huddle, seemed to me he did all the talking.

Being harsh is what Salford fans do best



No point reading too much into the game as I'm sure neither side wanted to play old-fashioned RL. Cas made better yards especially around the ruck and it's reflected in the scoreline. Holdsworth had a stinker, but it's early days and imo judgement shouldn't be too harsh until half a dozen games in or so. Feka was our best player by miles and his hard work is really going to bare fruit in better conditions. The whole team looked nervous and pressured, and didn't really settle at all to the conditions. There seemed to be a lack of cohesion in attack and it seemed dis-jointed, perhaps due to DJ not having his best game. Patten looked promising coming into attack too.

Best to strike this one off and have a look at them in better conditions.

Running out of room guy's

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