And who's to say whether they're appropriate,you ?
It's so subjective.
Having heard Ed Farish on Monday ,and knowing that Graham Lowe is football director,you have to believe that they have a better idea than you or me.
This is not a 10 year plan.
The Doctor is looking for immediate impact and the longer term will be important but not the be all and end all.
There will be a balance but they don't need us pontificating about what they really need to be doing.
Keep the faith,the management team know best !

Whoever thought we would hear that from a Salford supporter

What is clear is that there are two types of signings being made, firstly for the here and now, mainly loan signings, and longer view signings like Mauro and Foran on 3 year deals. This brings some stability to the squad. We all need to remember that a lot of players are coming off contract at the end of the season and for the first time in many years we will be able to be selective (and where necessary) ruthless in who we elect to keep. Ed Farish was quite clear about this on Monday evening. Maybe the shape of the future squad is already mapped out and the first moves are being put into place. It is refreshing to think there is a strategy and implementation plan rather than the reactionary approach to signings we have had in the past. Well here's hoping anyway

In all fairness there is a huge difference between being able to spend maximum cap and being a few hundred grand short. The kind of player we could attract previously would have come primarily for the money knowing the chances of success with the club were remote to say the least. For this reason I would imagine the club had to pay these players more than their worth just to entice them to sign for us.

Having a wealthy and ambitious new owner will not only allow the club to spend a lot more, it will also change people's perceptions and should allow the club to get much better value for money. It's a win win.

I would seriously pee my pants with excitement. I rate him highly. He would be an excellent adition.

hmm you would "seriously pee": are you saying you normally "jokingly pee"
not sitting near you!


On a serious note, the good Doctor is an expert on management and marketing:
he wants this for a business plan and less for the rugby
It follows that a marque signing is part one of a longer strategy.

My concern is that the seeming rush to land the big name now may tie the club's hands in the future. Landing a big name that [iin my opinion[/i the club don't need (e.g. Morley) means there's less money left under the salary cap to land the big name player they do need.

I'm sure they do, but if this forum isn't for pontificating on what the club are doing, then what is it for?

John, relax mate, it's really early in this exciting era we're embarking on and you're beginning to sound spooky like Lance!! You're worrying too much.

I think a lot of people are falling for the 'We must progress slowly to maintain momentum' idea of where the Club are going. We are not privvy to the finances, short term plans, long term plans, needs, Personal goings-on etc etc that the people who are in charge of doing it for a living. I think we can apply opinion and conjecture but at the end of the day they know better than us. Ergo, perhaps we should trust their judgement at the moment.

I'm just loving the ride at the moment. Some people are quick to forget how dire things were at the end of last season, the same people who would have chopped-off their own Kajimbas to be commenting on stories and threads like this one are turning critical a little prematurely imo.

Butcher, I agree completely.

But (isn't there always a but) who remembers the razzamatazz with which Richard Branson (well known virgin of some parish) took over London, promising the earth - none of us want to be let down in the way Beardie let down the London fans.

So far, I'm absolutely convinced Dr K is doing it rightGet the financial backing right
Build a sound management team
Generate some interest in your marketplace
Deliver the best product you can[/list

and

have some f'ing fun along the way

I think realistic people see that the Doc offering a kings ransom for Tomkins for what it is which is him announcing his arrival as a major player on the UK rugby league scene.

On the marque signing Morley would have done it but like many think he is now too old, the issue you have is you need someone young enough to have his best days in front of him and also to be well known in the media. So in the UK that would have to be Tomkins in RL, maybe Farrell in RU or heading off to the likes of Slater in the NRL. The problem we suffer from in UK is the general sporting press seeming lack of interest in rugby league and the need for any major signing to grab headlines.

The Doc could do worse than trying to get someone from another sport or a media darling involved in a non financial way to assist getting the club more widely known not only in sporting circles but to the wider general public.

It says in the comic earlier that we'd get an answer from O'Dwyer about the 3 year contract offer. Would hope that if there's an announcement to make its done when the new players are introduced tomorrow.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald O'Dwyer is competing with two much younger players for a starting place and is desperate for a new contract so don't think we should hold our breath to be honest.

Shandy ,
MEN are a bit late with the reporting
At the Supporters meeting on Monday , Farish mentioned they had offered O'Dwyer a deal , but intimated it wouldn't be picked up as he has a young family and his Misses has a very good Job over there, so he couldn't see him upping sticks if there was a reasonable chance of a 1 year deal at the Titans & some game time .
If you read the NRL press he seems desperate to stay as he's been with the club since they formed.
Maybe they will send us Jamal Idris instead ...

As for the Tomkins story it's PT Barnum with a touch of Ambramovich, Salford's normal press is a mention on RL Extra or a side story in the MEN , were linked with Tompkins 6 days ago and I still hearing the club mentioned & debated on Talk Sport - 5 Live - Sky Sports News - all the major dailys- and countless twitter pages & Blogs both here & in Australia .
and so far it's cost the club the price of a text .

I wouldn’t be overly disappointed about this. He may be a better player than what we currently have but should we be looking to sign a 30 year old that takes up an overseas spot on a 3 year contract? If he was a top International calibre or origin standard player like a Menzies or a Hodgson it’s a bit different. If the new owner has genuine ambitions to win trophies then I think the club should wait for better players to become available rather than just trying to sign someone because there’s a chance they may be available now.