We have a few players that have left this year and a few new signings for 2012, so how do you think we will line up in 2012 ? Basically what would you say is going to be our strongest starting 17 if everyone is fit ?

1. Brett Hodgson
2. Joel Monaghan
3. Chris Bridge
4. Ryan Atkins
5. Chris Riley
6. Lee Briers
7. Steffan Ratchford
8. Adrian Morley
9. Michael Monaghan
10. Garreth Carvell
11. Ben Westwood
12. Trent Waterhouse
13. Simon Grix

14. Micky Higham
15. Paul wood
16. Chris Hill
17. David Solomona

Yeh ive not included Richie Myler or Ben Harrison, with Ben Harrison you need to start him as he's not really an impact player from the bench. He's not really a loose forward so you would need to play him either in the 2nd row or at prop but he isn't going to start ahead of those names above, so it would be hard to accomodate him in the starting 13. It would be between Harrison and Solomona for the last bench spot but Solomona is more of a player that could change a game from the bench

With Chris Hill's style i think he'll offer us more impact and go forward from the bench ahead of Mike Cooper who has done nothing wrong, its just he'll probably have more energy and pace from the bench.

With Chris Bridge its either 13 or 3, i think he'll start at 3.

Ive gone for Ratchford ahead of Myler, its probably not going to happen but thats just my own thinking. Salford fans rated Ratchford the better of the 2, i think he'd have the better all round game in the half backs than Myler. He's probably going to be our long term fullback but i don't see him starting ahead of a fully fit Brett Hodgson, we'll probably drip feed him a few games at fullback every now and then. Its either start him in the halves or leave him out altogether, centre is a possibility but Bridge on his 2010 form is a far better centre than 13.

Anyway it makes for some debate in the off season, i'm sure people have their own ideas.

I was almost not going to post on this because any team that does not have Richie Myler starting at 7 should be banned and the poster made to chew the Cud out of Jordons G - String.

Sorry RW but its the way it is



1. Brett Hodgson
2. Joel Monaghan
3. Chris Bridge
4. Ryan Atkins
5. Chris Riley or A.N. Other (Cough Cough)
6. Lee Briers
7. Richie Myler
8. Adrian Morley
9. Michael Monaghan
10. Garreth Carvell
11. Ben Westwood
12. Trent Waterhouse
13. Simon Grix

14. Micky Higham
15. Paul wood
16. Ben Harrison
17. David Solomona

Fundamental issue with having a ball playing 13, is it creates a 'too many cooks' scenario. We would have a 1, 6, 9 and 13 all lloking to make plays, which would confuse the situation.

I'm sorry but Richie Myler isn't a natural organiser, if either Lee Briers or Michael Monaghan are off their games like in the play off loss to Leeds we need our scrum half to step in and take control, not only did he fail to do that against Leeds he failed to do it against Wigan in the challenge cup quarter final when we were missing Lee Briers. Those were our 2 biggest games of the season.

He can't be classed as a 17 or 18 year old rookie anymore, he's 21 now with plenty of experience behind him. I think the Salford fans are in a better position to know whose the better out of the 2 than any of us, they rated Ratchford a lot better.

Ben Harrison got in the England squad a while back (was it against France at Leigh?). I think for six months or so he's looked like a shadow of the player from around that period. I don't know what has happened - one thing is that he's carrying too much fat - but he's not busting tackles or driving defenders back like he had done previously.

But i'd still like to see him in the 17.

I don't want Higham near my first choice 17. I would rather try a youngster.

They rated Ratchford because he stayed.

Add Evans, Hill, Cooper, Ratchford, Blythe, and O'Brien to that and it's quite a reasonable squad.
I fully expect Evans to be pushing for a place in the side, Cooper came on a bomb in the second half of the season, Ratchford is a very good SL player, Hill should prosper in a full time environment, and I was really impressed with O'Brien on the few occasions I saw him last year.

That is true and it was amazingly how quickly there opinion had changed to that view

bare in mind Ratchford wasn't even in the team when first talk of Myler joining you guy's came about.

P.s. not sure how someone would drop Myler for not being an organiser yet pick Ratchford at 7 when his best rugby has been playing centre???

I think it's great that we have such a big squad to choose from, personally I'd go for:

1. Brett
2. Ginger Chris
3. Chris B
4. Ryan
5. Joel
6. Lee
7. Richie
8. Adrian
9. Michael
10. Chris H
11. Super Ben
12. Trent
13. Ben H

14. Paul
15. Garreth
16. Dave
17. Hooker

I would be starting Chris H to be honest, because I prefer Garreth to come on off the bench to run at a more tired defence. I'd have Ben H starting for the same reason as GDMM said, we can't have 1,6,7,9,13 all creating plays. I think the only reason I would want a ball playing 13 is if we didn't have one at full back. The hooker on the bench, I'm not sure who I would have there. For me, Mickey makes too many mistakes and it is similar to the Wigan situation where McIlorum comes onto the pitch and they don't create enough in attack. If we could get Richie or Steffan and turn them into a hooker then great, but I personally can't see it happening. I would have Dave on the bench too to fill in in the second row or loose forward position should one of the 3 starters gets subbed. I have nothing against Mike C, who I think has had a great season, but I see him coming in when we have injuries. In the future, I would like to see him take over from Adrian when he retires.

EDIT: Forgot about Dave Solo, I'd have him on the bench because Grix can come into the squad when injuries occur.

Good point, but please refer to page 8 of the thread, 'Irrational irritations away from sport.'

bear

Myler has come on leaps & bounds this year and has been more consistant than Briers for me. His side of the field have scored tries for fun, whilst I know that Monas & Hodgson play their parts, I think it's far to easy to overlook his contribution.

Hodgson, J.Monaghan, Bridge, Atkins, Riley, Briers, Myler, Morley, M.Monaghan, Carvell, Waterhouse, Westwood, Grix

Wood, Cooper, Harrison, Ratchford

Blythe, Hill, Solomona, Higham, Williams, Evans, Evans, Dwyer, Laithwaite etc.

I think we're lacking a quality interchange hooker, I'd rather see Dwyer promoted than Higham continue there. I think the 'new batch' of 20's will be pushed now, the McCarthy/Mitchell's of this world have had their time, not grasped the opportunity.

Richie Myler?

I think promote from within for an interchange hooker.

By the playoffs next year I would have aimed for:

1. Steffan Ratchford (covers Centre 1 and 7)
2. Joel Monaghan
3. Chris Bridge/ Rhys Evans
4. Ryan Atkins
5. Chris Riley (Cough Cough)
6. Lee Briers
7. Richie Myler
8. Adrian Morley
9. Michael Monaghan
10. Garreth Carvell
11. Ben Westwood
12. Trent Waterhouse
13. Simon Grix

14. A young Hooker
15. Paul wood
16. Cooper
17. David Solomona


The holy trinity of props should be the first names on the paper (moz, Gaz and woody)

I like Brett but I would blood someone new next year and would defo spare him. Looked dodgey end of the year after a storming beggining.

Bridge on 2010 form is a shoe in but looked less effective in centre last year and would love to see young blood in the team, maybe Rhys take on centre or wing (swapping with joel)

Ryan Atkins (phenom this season) and Riley were made to score for fun.

I favour Briers and Myler together. Of course, when split up we can tmaper with the formula.

I am not sure of my bench but I can tamper with that sometime. I am do prefer Cooper over Harrison recently.

You may want to word that one a little bit diffrently if you know what i mean..

Think inter change hooker may prove an issue next year. Towards the end of this season Smith went for Clarke over Higham.

Somebody mentioned Myler going there, at first I thought it was a wind up but the more I think about it, it makes sense. Even if it's only for 15 mins to give Monas a breather.

A lot depends of form but personally my starting 17 would be:

Hodgson
Joel
Bridge
Atkins
Riley
Briers
Myler
Carvell
Monaghan
Morley
Westwood
Waterhouse
Grix

Cooper, Ratchford, PWood, Solomona/Harrison.

Can't split Harrison/Solomona to be honest, it will depend on current both offer impact and can up with something different. As mention Ratchford should be slowly eased in to replace Brett at 1 throughout the season. For the likes of Hill, Evans, O'Brien, Williams and Blythe they will get their chances. I have on [ugood[/u authority that Mitchell will be at Cas Tigers on loan next season, with[u possibly[/u McCarthy going on loan to somewhere else. Higham future seems bleak at the moment, he was struggling at the back of the season for form.

Higham has become woeful, and McCarthy should be moved on too.

Hodgson
Riley
Atkins
Bridge
J.Monas
Briers
Myler
Moz
M.Monas
Carvell/Hill
Westwood
Waterhouse
Grix

Harrison
Blythe
Evans
Hooker

1.Hodgson
2.Joel
3.Bridge
4.Atkins
5.Riley
6.Briers
7.Myler
8.Morley
9.Monaghan
10.Carvell
11.Waterhouse
12.Westwood
13.Grix

14.Hooker
15.Wood
16.Ratchford
17.Solomona/Harrison

Personally I cant understand how Chris Hill is not involved in some of these predicted 17's. Chris Hill will be a good prop/second row. He is better than Cooper and in a couple of years will be take over some of the wire big names. With full time coaching and the mentoring of Smith, Hill should be in the England set up in the next 2/3 years. Top player, going to miss him at Leigh but so glad he's got this oppurtunity, definitley deserves it!

he hasn't played a first team game for us yet....and when everyone is fully fit we have a very powerful pack.

its not that hard to understand really.