I think maybe the Leigh result has been a good thing.We're all really excited about the signings but maybe we're over optimistic about how well we will do.Will we really be anything other than comfortably placed above the bottom 2 or 3 rather than play-off certs.If you look at what we have signed we have improved the squad with good solid performers with a couple of high class signings.We should now perhaps lower our expectations and be glass half empty rather than half full.

I would be happy with a few more tasty bite packing the shed out.

Looking at our team and as long as we don't get battered with injuries I would hope we would secure a 10th place spot at the worst.

I'd also hope that we would perform better against the teams around us and beat them rather than getting a couple of shock wins again. A bit of consistency would be a good thing.

I'd like to go to an away match and think we have a chance of winning today, instead of how many will we lose by 40 50 60 or 70 ?

Agree with Fungus we need to look at beating the likes of Cas and Wakey instead of us being a guaranteed 2/4 points to them. Rather than a mid season shock win over Saints/Hull.

Why do you go ?

Must admit I am a bit partial to a bit of rlTasty Biterl every so often and it would be good to see them doing some of the catering at The Willows.

However having them packing the Shed out would be a bit weird (and would leave one hell of a mess to clear up?!)

The OP makes a good point.

For me, the Leigh result hasn't changed my expectations of what we could achieve. Friendlies are for ironing out weakness before the season, so wont be bothered if we don't win one as long as the team learns and makes progress. If we can become a little more consistent we will rise up the table considerably from what we are used to.

You lost to Leigh???
that worries me because salford and bradford are similar this year,
lots of new players, takes time to gel.
and im worried because your new look team got beat by a championship team, bradford have a few friendlies, i thought they would be easy but having second thoughts now after your game...

Wigan lost to Leigh last year whats your point.

he's worried that we will win the league like Wigan did

The bookies are never too far off the mark and one bookmaker have early odds on us finishing in 11th place finish above Wakey, Crusaders and Harlequins. This said the position could improve a little once the rest commit.

I personally feel quite optimistic about the new season but I'm not allowing myself to get too carried away because I've been disappointed more times than I can remember over the years. Things certainly seem more positive and I can definately see some progression after two hard years back in Superleague. I feel the quality of the squad certainly looks as strong as it has for some years but I still have some doubts about Shaun McRae motivating them and being able to get the most out of the players. Rather than just blindly focus on the positives of new signings I think you have to take a look at the potential weaknesses also.
I think one of the key factors will be how the younger players perform this year? For instance If you look at the prop situation after Cashmere and Feka (Impact Prop for short spells) I'm concerned that neither Jewitt, Neal or Boyle are capable of stepping up to the mark. I really hope I'm proved wrong and at least one of them really does it for us this year but I'm not holding much hope for anything other than average on a good day. I think it will also be a massive year in Luke Adamson's career after an injury hit season in 2010, despite having the potential his future could go either way for me. Another doubt I have is Matty Smith at scrum half, despite doing OK at Saints in the play-offs I'm still not convinced he's a natural in the position. Perhaps playing more regularly with Holdsworth (Hopefully) will help his game develop? Another big factor will be how much effort the new players are prepared to put in because a few are getting towards the end of their careers. The centre's Nero and Henry worry me a little(Not from a defensive point of view) I'm more concerned about their speed and attacking ability to score and create tries out wide. Another worry I have is we still only have one experienced hooker and most teams have two these days.

My prediction is a 9th place finish if the key players like Holdsworth, Cashmere, Patten, Wild and Broughton remain relatively injury free. 12th place at worst if we have injuries and problems.

Agree with most of what you say there, think some people are getting a bit carried away with the season ahead, whilst its nice to have a buzz around the place i like you think 9th - 12th will be where we finish think with McRae still in charge and the weak back up in the forwards will be out downfall.

I also don't think the forwards bar cashmere/fekka are up to much, Jewitt gives to many penalties away and makes to little yards for a team that wants to make the top 8. Think he is overrated personally.

Im not going to start on M Smith as some of you know he is not my favorite, but lets hope he proves me wrong this season.

Still i can see progression and i will be most happy if we finish 9th-10th and cut out the hammerings we have had in previous Super League years.

Roll on Feb.

The Leigh game certainly seems to have a brought many of us back down to earth.

The lack of yards being made by our forwards still seems to be a major issue. Against Leigh I witnessed them both getting dominated, severely, and then running over the top of their players. Out of Neal, Jewitt and Boyle I thought Neal looked the better player towards the end of last season, but then none of three looked particularly adequate against Leigh and Boyle definitely has a few pounds to shed before the season starts.

As for the centres. Gibson is head shoulders better than either Henry or Nero, when it comes to creating space and passing to his wingman. Knowing McRae he'll probably go with the Aussie players over a young Bitish one.

WHich brings me onto the coaching staff. McRae needs to come up with some sort of winning mentality and fast. He needs to take stock of himself and come with some ethusiasm, some desire to win and, most of all, a fricking game plan. Something we definitely didn't have at Leigh.


On the plus side!!!

If Danny Holdsworth can get the team firing and organise the attack then we could score some points. We also have some players with a little bit of, lets call it, X-factor this year. Not Karaokee champions, but the likes of Feka, Broughton, Gibson, Cashmere, Patten and Ratchford, the type of player that can produce something that little bit special and turn a game around for us.

I agree with everything as a whole but I think the bottom line is (and I hate to say it) we are not going to make the play off's with Shaun McRae as coach, and if we do (by miracle) it will be short lived.

I hate to be blunt but the fact is (and I have it from several good sources) he cant coach at top level. I'm not trying to burst any bubble here. I too am buzzing and as excited as ever about the new season but I think Shauns main problem is he cant develop/guide or coach the younger members of our squad. Anything our younger home grown talent have learnt has been self taught or taught from other staff. If you look at other clubs and coaches, with up and coming talent, they know how to harness that talent and that rawness and coach it into a good performance onto the pitch Eastmond/Tompkins/Burgess Etc. I think the likes of Adamson, Jewitt, Ratchford, Sidlow have done well to progress at this level in the environment they have. I hear it that since the arrival of Mike Eccles things have changed for the good. I don't think fitness will be an issue this season. I also here that Phil and Mal are a great combo and are a breath of fresh air. I believe that this overall combination will see us reach 8th and finish 10th.

On Adamson I think watching him play through injury last season and put his body on the line week after week when fact is he wasn't fit says allot. Especially in a sport were fitness is paramount. I'm sure all of you will agree his determination and commitment isn't in doubt and again I think he's progressed well considering he hasn't been coached properly. I think Adamson is our future in terms of captaincy. He leads by example, he's committed , a solid performer (when fit) and above all has the respect of the entire squad.

An interesting bit of info I came across after "wiki'ing Mr McRae was his track record. Which isnt comforting to say the least. Apart from Saints (were he had a pre made squad) his results as a "coach" have declined considerably.

Years Team Gms W D L W%
1996–98 St. Helens 70 50 2 18 71
1999 Gateshead 30 19 1 10 63
2000–02 Hull FC 87 48 3 36 55
2005–06 South Sydney 48 12 1 35 25
2007– Salford City Reds 18 3 0 15 17

I appreciate there not update, but still not pretty and clearly show a steady decline. Has he won more than 25% in charge of Salford ?

Have we or are we still paying Karl Harrison an annual fee/payoff ? If not then i'm sure we could shove Bomber upstairs or into gardening duty and make way for a willing an able coach.

rant over.

Mcrae's contract was the biggest blag in the history of salford coaches