I feel we are ruffling a few feathers. Ha Ha

Quote: TheVee "How is Howarth? Is he really as bad as most make out? '" Just ignore them, here's Stuart's highlights video for you to have a look at . . www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tPnX7OPo0Q

Quote: TheVee "How is Howarth? Is he really as bad as most make out? '" Just ignore them, here's Stuart's highlights video for you to have a look at . . www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tPnX7OPo0Q

All the hype surrounding Gaskell is unbelievable. Ive watched the kid since he was 12 playing for Blackbrook. He was lucky to gain a contract after Scholarship at Saints but then had a growth spurt and started to look a decent player playing at reserve level. I never in a million years thought he would play first team at St Helens. He did and did a decent job in 2011, both him and Lomax shocked most opposition. However since then, once teams knew what he was about his been dire. Head down, will not take the line on, does not organise and the biggest disappointing thing is that he cannot spot a decent pass.

His been given a decent chance at Saints under Rush and he started the season under Brown but he blown them chances because of the above failures. Some of Saints fans love for Gaskell is that he is a local lad who had a decent season a few years ago and was still young enough to turn into something better. The reality is that was as good as he is ever going to be.

This is a nothing swap as it wont effect any of our seasons.

And your ongoing vitriole against the lad is a joke. Gaskell has played, and played well, in a grand final. What he was like in his junior days is irrelevant. You were one of the Saints fans who thought Jamie Foster was rubbish as well, yes? And he didn't look remotely rubbish playing for Bradford last night.

Gaskell will no doubt be low on confidence as he's been treated poorly at Saints. I hope he has a stormer for Salford today.

He is joining a team just beginning a new revolution after the havoc of the last 2 years. Im sure he will get a good run in the team and hopefully regain this confidence and improve over time. Then he wont be going back !

Forget the so called hype.
We've lost a player we didn't want,and acquired one who played well in a Grand Final.
This isn't Wally Lewis ,its simply a lad we have on loan until the end of the season.
The rest is up to him,not us.

Saints fans are split into factions over Gaskell.

Personally I'm disappointed to lose him.
My assessment is that he is a good standard of SL player. He does make poor choices but for me most halves that try things will get some right some wrong.
He's not a Lockyer so putting him in the team will not alter the standard of those around him. But you should get more creativity offering more chances going forwards.

He has a decent boot on him for a kicking game, but I'll agree he is not an organising half from what I have seen.

In 2011 he got better and better.
In 2012 he was a bit hit and miss at the start of the year, but then the whole team was under Royce. After that he was axed by Rush and that was that.
2013 he got 3 games. As a team we have been getting better, true Gaskell did not make himself indispencable in those 3 games, but I've seen nothing from Lance or Wheeler that made me think they were doing anything more than Gaskell did in his 3 games. The big change was Wilkin coming in at 7, which Gaskell never got a chance to benefit from.

For Salford it's a no lose senario, you may have a little gem on your hands, or if he does not shape up, come season end you have lost nothing and you can get a different fella.

Now that's a balanced assessment, and one I'd agree with.

Howarth starting at hooker for Saints! Ill go with a comfortable Wigan win!

Some good head high passes from the lad in the 1st half! old habits die hard!!

I can live with Howarth playing like that every week until we get Roby back. Passed the ball and tackled well.

I knew Gaskell would bring positive things to Salford. Glad he scored a try. That'll help boost his confidence. And he was on the winning side too, which is great. He was much missed at Wigan today, although in his usual position of 6 (I know he played centre for you).

Howarth went ok. He worked hard and respect to the bloke for taking on such an exposed position in a derby game with no preparation at all.