Can we not start a campaign to get the General to reverse his decision to retire?

Sounds good to me.

Most of this forum were slating him after Wakefield away, even though he has been our best player for the last 18 months. Nailed on for the Albert Goldthorpe medal imo.

Good call! Can someone not arrange for Patten's passport to be "disappeared" so that he cannot return back home?

World class this season.

no the turkey faithful have said he can't defend so that must be true


MUPPETS

Your're right again BF.

I just don't get some (in fact quite a lot) of our "supporters". Anyone that cannot see that Luke Patten AND Daniel Holdsworth are in a different class when it comes to what might be referred to as total professionals just has no idea.

They have stayed totally loyal to us through all of our CRISES, retained their dignity and got on with what they have been signed to do: play! NO mysterious injuries, or complaints, they have just gone on and played.

These guys could have gone anywhere when, week in and week out The Reds were imploding as a SL club and went from one disaster to the next if you believed the popular press.

In fact it might be argued that the ONLY professional thing about our beleagured club was the attitude of some but not all, of our players.

If Luke could be persuaded not to hang up his boots and stay within any capacity then it would be great, but you have to say that this cannot have been the easiest place to come, play and settle, but despite all the problems that we've had he has continued to shine through.

I would love to see the rumours that Mark O'Meley signing for us to be true as this would create a great "Bulldogs" connection between Luke DJ and MO.

But I'll leave this conjecture to the people that are "in the know".

If Luke decides to go back then it would be great to give him the very best send off that we can.

P.S. "can't tackle"(one on one) for a fullback is a totally outdated phenomenon: the game (and the role) has changed!

Good post BD.

Pattern staked a reputation, built over more than a decades worth of rugby playing, when he signed for the Salford City Reds. On dry pitch he's shown what an excellent player he is. On a wet one he's got on with his game and worked hard!!!

Somw of his play this season has been of the highest order. One more season please mr Pattern.

Class #onemoreyear

Ideally followed by an off field role. I'm sure he'll have a successful career in RL admin somewhere.

Given the stick he's had from some of our 'experts' I'd say Patten owes this club nothing.

Best player I can recall seeing in a Salford shirt in my years watching the club.

I'll second that.

Far far to good for Salford!!

Some of his performances this year have been nothing short of world class!!

Probably the best full back I've seen in a Salford shirt!!

1 more year!!

Totally agree with above views best attacking fullback i have seen, on a par with Paul Charlton in that department.

Charlton was the better fullback with his defence, not many got past him, any breakaway he could shepherd to the touchline

But Patten is class, again'st the Catalans he even made a one on one tackle

Sorry guys, but you are all deluded!

He's shown up OK in the recent, 'Basketball Score' games. However, he was and still is the WORST defensive full back I have ever seen at Salford.

And before anyone gets back with 'how the game's changed'. Watch Sam Tomkin's defence and see how it is possible to defend and yet be an outstanding attacking player.

Patten is a LIABILITY, thanks very much to him for all his efforts and spectacular attacks, BUT he remains a one trick pony and one Salford cannot afford.

But the game has changed.

It would be nice to have the full package but highlighting Tompkins isn't fair either. Tompkins is one of the best players ever to grace RL, not just a great Fullback. I'd rather have an outstanding attacking Fullback than a defensive one. One on one tackles are no win situations. If you miss them you're the villain. What fans should be highlighting is the defensive errors that cause one on ones instead of blaming Fullbacks. Give me Pattens attacking brain and skill any day over a solid defender.

At the end of the day it's about scoring more than the opposition that gets you two points. Without Patten this year we would have far less points to show for it.

The 'Blakeley the king' song should be adapted for Patten for the rest of the season.