Very well put. I may have blinkers on(varifocals) but having had the misfortune to sit near some of these doom mongers on some occasions I will keep my blinkers on, rose tinted ones, for the Wakefield game.

I am more depressed with the attitude of some of our "supporters" than I am with the rugby at least with the rugby we have had injuries, played some poor rugby,made mistakes, but we can do better, can these"supporters" or is this the way that they always are?

First of all, I am assuming that you are referring to me in that post, if not, then I apologise in advance for what I'm about to say.

I'm really at a loss to know why you think that number of posts made on this forum equates in any way to the credibility of what I say. I dare say that e.g. DI and MM could make 10,000 posts and very few, if any, will create any sort of credence to what they say.

Also, seeing as you took the time to read the post about over achieving perhaps you'd like to venture your opinion on how we've been doing on the field since, say, the John Harvey era? I assume then that you think we have either been on target or we have under achieved? If it's the latter, then where should we be and what would the club look like now both on and off the field?

Contrary to what you say (and LF too), I do not have blinkers on, nor do I have my head buried in the sand. I am not an apologist for the club because I also think the club could be run better, I wish that the players would show more respect for the shirt and try that little bit harder to burst out of our mediocrity but it now seems clear that it's a cultural thing at Salford that only a change of ownership will change. I understand the situation at Salford perfectly well but I also recognise that moaning about it will not change that situation. So I've learnt, over 40 years (I assume that still doesn't qualify me for your 'older heads' club

), to watch Salford with a healthy dose of cynicism and reality about our situation. So thanks for the pity but I don't think I'm less fortunate than you, I just have a different perspective and prefer not to worry about things I can't control or influence.

Red Matt has also just made some eloquent points about this forum that makes meaningful debate difficult - I talked about the players, I get posts about my head being buried in the sand and being blinkered. I want to talk about the Rugby we've played this year, it becomes a slanging match about how crap we are as a club - it seems every thread descends into this just lately.

It's not that hard to work out why there's disillusionment amongst some supporters. There was 10 years of propaganda as to how the new stadium would be some kind of panacea; then it arrived and very little appears to have changed for the better.

Just to clear something up and to allow me to fully understand: on the one hand, there are a handful of players (presumably a handful, or is it all of them?) slagging the club off on Twitter or whatever. On the other hand, there are, presumably, players [inot[/i slagging the club off, and some of them have signed or, according to reports, want to sign extended contracts. In order to remain fully unblinkered, you have to disregard the players signing extended contracts and not slagging the club off, and focus solely on the moaners. Does that sound right?

Let's be fair though. It's not like the club didn't try to achieve that is it? The original financing through a casino fell thorough because of a change of government policy. The hotel, the college, the whatever else they tried all fell through as a result of a worldwide financial crisis and the subsequent tightening of belts. The need to get out of the Willows to ensure a franchise led to us ending up in the club moving to an uninspiring new stadium, and one that doesn't bring the much needed finance in.

The players who are after contracts at Salford are the one's who know they're not going to get a contact anywhere else on anywhere near as much money.

And the Peel Holdings factor.

I'm referring to various posters who have recently found The Scarlet Turkey/RLfans forum.




Well as I noted that you have been a member on here since 2002 I can only assume that you haven't been much of a contributer to many of the debates held on here in the last 10 years. I'm not questionning your credibility however I do wonder why, when the majority of people agree that the club is virtually on its knees that you now feel the need to paint a prettier picture of the reality of what is? The long standing posters, long suffering supporters, the moderators and the genuine people of Salford are no mugs. I've said it before so I'll say it again - you can't polish a turd!




They have had valid points on a regular basis, over the top in certain instances I would agree, even leading to one of them posting threatening messages and getting banned IIRC. But they have tried to offer an opinion albeit in a different manner to yours. 10,000 posts or not, there is no point banging on about the saleability of the club when it simply isn't there.




I took the time to read the OP and then went to stick pins in my eyes.




I can venture an opinion from way further back than John Harvey. I know the bar was set much higher both on and off the field from where we are as a club now. Being the latter, there have been mistakes, however, where the club would/should be or how it may have looked on and off the field now would just be a figment of imagination? No point in fairy tales on here!

The club have tried virtually everything and failed to deliver at best. Targets have been set and not met, anything from the 'Save our Salford' thermometer to the delivery of the 'state of the art stadium', from the endless promises from our chief in charge of 'Wembley being on the horizon this year' to the commemoritive shirt or a piece of The Willows turf. Too many square pegs and round holes.




You more or less sum it up here yet you challenge anyone else who agrees with that?




It does though and it has. If it wasn't for the vast majority of hardenned Salford supporters offering their opinions on improvement I dread to think how much worse it could be.




Yet so many posters have not?




Maybe 'pity' was too harsh a word for you. Although from what I've read from you I get the impression you do wish to control and influence, though as you say with a different perspective to me.



The problem lies there in as there isn't much to shout about in all honesty is there?

I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't have started this debate as some of what people are posting on here is all too true, and more than a little depressing. Anyone who comes on here, must have some interest in the club and it's wellbeing, as there are plenty more uplifting things to be looking at on t'internet, so it wasn't my intention for this to degenerate into a personal tit-for-tat.

I guess my original post was born out of frustration. In the past few years we have had the optimism of a move to a new ground and a new start (along with the usual dash of blind faith thrown in), to make me believe that one day, the club I love, may bring a modicum of pleasure to my life. But as I posted originally, I am very worried for the future and whilst we may be able to point to some good rugby this year (though very little in the 'business end' of the season), I fear that despite the best efforts of most (the majority of the players and the coaching staff), the prospects - both immediate and longer term - look very bleak.

What a load of nonsense. If you really think our poor attendances are down to posts on this message board then you're a complete lunatic.

Not too sure where I said poor attendances were because of posts on this board, but thank for calling me names!

This has all gone off topic so if you want to PM me we can continue to discuss (with no name calling).

While I don't think it a good idea to respond to rumours - that is all there is to the DJ 'story' on the Hull forum and then in the MEN.
A bit unfair that Smith goes and the consensus is that he wants silverware and to surround himself with better players;but other players have to stay loyal.
The full back is criticised but his piece in the MEN will be edited and it appears the club have not admonished him despite some fans reading it as criticism of his employer.
Martyn Sadler,on reading the Alker book,wrote in the RLE that Salford did not deserve to be in Super League.
However,if everything was that bad why would DJ recommend to his friend that he travel from the other side of the world to sign for them ? I applaud people/players who strive for perfection and make the fact known.

Jibmeister wrote
I certainly don't think it helps.What is obvious is the lack of unity amongst the supporters and anyone suggesting or pushing to assist the club.It is always negative and a number of posters on this forum no longer attend matches.

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