The bookies are rarely too far off the mark. Make no mistake they will know everything about our recruitment and every other clubs. The past will be irrelvant to them as proven by their high expectations of the Catalan Dragons this year.

I personally feel people are getting a bit to excited, yes it is nice to have a good vibe around the club for once,but for me if we loose against Crusaders first game, then with the tough fixtures after that I think the vibe will quickly change and the people who are expecting miracles to happen will be disappointed and begin to turn on the players as in previous seasons.

That's not to say I don't think we cant finish in the top 8 if we stay clear of injuries and have a bit of luck then I think the 8th spot would be a realistic target, im just not getting over confident as some people are saying we WILL defiantly finish in the top 8.

I think a massive blow to our play off hopes would be if Big Ray got injured, I really rate this guy and there is isn't another forward like him on the team. Jewitt is vastly over rated in my opinion he doesn't make enough yards for a team with top 8 ambitions, every season seems to be a "Big Season" with Jewitt but he needs to improve. I know forwards probably don't peek till there a bit older but he needs to start making more yardage.

I Cant wait for the season to start and hope to God we can watch a decent competitive team and hope as fans feel we can come out of any game with a win, instead of having the usual as long as we don't get beat by 30 ill be happy routine. Massive season for us and its about time Salford turn a corner and get the Willows back the Old days for one last season.

All in all I think we will finish 9th/8th just depends on circumstances, don't think we will be anywhere near 5th as some people are suggesting, but hey feel free to prove me wrong Salford.

Roll on the 13th.

[ that s it put a dampner on the season before it starts who needs speckys like you

Ok we are going to win the league by 10 points that better?

I'd rather expect less and get more than expect more and get less. Try saying than when your

I think we've got quite a tricky first few weeks:-

Salford City Reds v Crusaders RL
Salford City Reds v St Helens
Wakefield Wildcats v Salford City Reds
Salford City Reds v Wigan Warriors
Leeds Rhinos v Salford City Reds

Saints, Wigan and Leeds - have to put them down as losses on the coupon. Crusaders? Could and should win that one. Wakefield? Down as an away win.

So, I reckon 4 points from 10 after 5 rounds: not really "off to a flyer", but realistic and nicely warmed up for HKR, Calans, Cas, Hudds, etc.

Loving the optimism on here, but seeing the game vs Saints as a home banker may be stretching it a bit I reckon!!! It's a very competitive league - Wakey look weak, & Crusaders will do well to match last years effort, but who else is a pushover? As I said the winning mentality can't just be turned on - but as mentioned, if Holdsworth, Patten & the props stay fit, we should give anyone a run. No more 20 minute game over scenarios, ta v much. 10th or 7th, that'd do for me - improvement.

I agree, the bookies will know all about the recruitment drive. However, as things stand there appears to be very lttle between the mid-table teams and due to our poor performances since returning to super league it's quite feasible we're not being taken seriously. I remember watching Boots'n'all in 2008 and hardly anyone was tipping Salford to take the title, even though we had only just come down from Super League.

As for their high expectations of Catalan Dragons, they've made the play-offs more recently and performed far better in the cup in the Cup than Salford.

I'm not getting carried away, but if all the parts of this team fit together, then Salford City Reds could be in for one heck of a season. On the other hand, if McRae does his usual job of failing to coach the team then it could be more of the same.

Cautious Optimism.

i think this season will be one of our best for years , a top six finish and trying to the final whistle ,something we have lacked in the past , if we get on a roll who knows what might happen , i would be grateful for a great cup run with us possibly making the final , god us fans deserve some success

I`d be more than happy with 2 wins out of the first 3 games, we really do need to turn Crusaders and Wakefield over to show some intent of not being taken for granted,
As for the Saints game ,we seem to have the upper hand over the last couple seasons at the Willows.Can the Reds do it again ?

Don't underestimate Crusaders,I saw them play Catalans last weekend,they won in a canter. Sammut(?) was outstanding. Good pack.strong all round,and appaear to be responding to Harris as coach

Not underestimating Crusaders or anyoone else.If Salford are to get anywhere near a play off spot, we have to defeat the teams who finished in the lower half of the table last season on a regular basis.
Deafeating Crusaders would be a great start to the season for us.

Already we are seeing calls for the coaches head & hysterical negativity (see v HKR thread). Mainly, of course, from people who didn't see the game. Ill discipline isn't down to the coach, neither is a pedantic referee. I'm as hopeful as anyone for an improvement this season, but [ieveryone[/i needs to be on board - the winning mentality mentioned before. Some on here seem to think the Saints game is a shoe-in somehow - WTF??!!! Sunday was a poor effort from minute one... but we can do better, even without Ray, who deserves to be fined.

I think 4 points from the first 10 would be an above par performance compared to previous years given that we play 3 of the top 4 teams in the country, 1 away at Wakefield (which we never win) and the other is in Wales, playing the only Welsh team. I think the only one we would have won in the last few years would have been saints at home (with a last minute controversial penalty giving the Rhinos a 1 point win at headingly)

So I'd be satisfied with 2 wins out of those games and being competitive in the others and delighted with any more than that