If you look at this seasons top 8 then you have to ask yourself,if we are to get into the top 8 ourselves then which teams currently occupying those positions can we edge out to secure ourselves a spot.I cant see any of the top 5 not being there again so that would leave us in a battle with Catlans,Hull FC and Hull KR
I think Hull FC are a club that can only get better.They will by all accounts have a new coach and undoubtedly several quality signings still to come and the quality youngsters they have can only improve with the experience they gained .Fantastic fan base and money to spend so cannot see them out of the 8.I personally see them challenging higher up the table.
Catalans are a team that really seem to blow very hot or stone cold.Consistency always seems to be an issue with them but on their day can be devastating.Think their biggest issue is the amount of travelling they have to do every year.That cannot help them as the season unwinds and must catch up with them at some stage.An improvement in their discipline would be a big help to them.Some quality youngsters and always able to attract top players given their location/lifestyle.Be intersesting to see how they go on the recruitment front and if they will have a new coach for 2014.
Hull KR have lost a massive player in Dobson so time for someone else to fill his boots but that will be no easy thing.Their recruitment so far has been excellent and in Sandercock i think they have a very good coach who will be there next year.They will be in and around the 8 again despite a lot of people writing them off for the play offs next year.

There will also be a couple of teams from this year who will really fancy themselves for next years top 8 as well.
Castleford have one of the best coaches in SL in my opinion.They will recruit well and always produce good youngsters of their own.They will cause a few upsets next year even without Rangi Chase.
Widnes are improving every year and Bradford despite rumoured money issues are recruiting well.

So after saying all that i think if Salford manage to finish 8th it will be a massive success.A decent cup run would be a huge bonus.

I'd be very happy with 8th if I was a Salford fan. Don't think your squad is much better than that but it would be a good start from which you could build. The main question is what work is going into the academy in order to push for the top long-term. You should be aiming to produce 2 SL standard players per season if you want to compete IMO.

I think we've achieved more than this season with Theo Fages, Marc Sneyd, Adam and Jordan Walne. Our U20's also won their Grand Final last Thursday too and I expect Gareth Owen, Niall Evalds and Will Hope to make the step up from that team into Super League next season. Alan Hunte is doing a great job with our youth set-up and Koukash has promised to plough money into that area of the club too.

top 8.

I`ll be happy with which ever position 54 points lands us in

I think an equally important question would be what crowd attendance would be acceptable next year? If we finish top eight with crowds of 6-9k depending on opposition I'd be well chuffed!

I think 8th would be a very good achievement considering where we've finished this year and the quality of the teams we're trying to replace. Even if we'd signed be best 5 players from each of the top 5 teams as our new squad the a leap of 6 places would be impressive. And, in reality, we haven't signed one of the top 5 players from the top 5 teams so I think talk of anything above 7th is overly optimistic and 8th is a realistic ambition

I think a top 8 finish is a minimum requirement and I could see the main priority shift to a good cup run, the more I look at the side being built a cup run would seem more of a possibility than a tilt at winning the title.

I mused with a friend recently a scenario I wouldn't bet against. If we struggle for the first half of the season I'd see the Doc getting twitchy with Noble and him ultimately going, then I wouldn't look pasted Long or Morley taking over till the end of the season.

I hope none of that happens as I'd love to see a period of sustainable growth and stability.

I did see an interview done with the Doc after the press release where he said knowing what he knows about 2015 we will be favourites so it does make you wonder what exactly he knows about who is lined up, Slater, Cronk and Smith as our overseas imports would be rather nicely for a start.

I'd be happy not finishing in the bottom 2, to be fair.

What's acceptable to the Doc I wonder.

I think sneaking into the 8 is a realistic aim. Top 4 is asking way too much but if we can get some early momentum and some of our more senior players stay clear of injury we may be able to target 6th/7th. I'd love to see a good cup run but knowing our luck we'll draw one of the big boys early! I'd certainly hope to avoid some major spankings and think our season may well be decided by our results against the likes of Bradford, Cas, Hull KR and Widnes who will all see the 8th spot as being up for grabs.

You can't target a cup run for salvation because the draw is basically down to luck,Warrington or Wigan away and that's the end of that !
No,the focus has to be top 6, that is to say top of the second tier.