I've got to admit I've been very unimpressed with Tim Sheens' recruitment for next season so far. I'm well aware there will be 1 or 2 more signings to come but realistically we all know they aren't going to be world class players we are signing.

Look at our team on paper at start of last season and compare it to the squad which will start next season and I can't help but feel pessimistic about our chances of success. I think we've all now accepted that top 8 wont happen for us next season and it looks to me and the bookies to simply be a battle to avoid the wooden spoon with Wakefield next year.

Looking at Wakefield's recruitment and the players they are still linked with they could have a better squad than us next year. On paper, even Leigh's squad looks stronger than ours. I fear for us in the Middle 8's.

I admire Tim Sheens' policy of "grafters not grabbers" and getting rid of the mercenaries and breaking up the Kiwi cliques was the best thing in the long term interest for the club. But I dont think that this policy of signing hard working genuine players with a point to prove should be at the cost of quality.

Phil Joesph and Mark Flanagan are not going to put bums on seats at the AJ Bell next season like Rangi was capable of.

You really are a big wast of time and effort.

have you not got an appointment at the job centre to get to?

Pointless.

Move along and please people don't encourage him.

For the record, Rangi didn't put anymore bums on seats than anyone else. You'd be lucky if anyone from the Salford area actually knew who he was. In fact, barring the likes of Sam Burgess, I'd doubt any world-class player would put bums on seats at the AJ Bell. Even then, they'd be curious RL fans from other Clubs, who live near, coming over for the odd game.

I think it's a bit silly writing anyone off before a balls been kicked. While I don't expect us to set the world alight, I think the direction the Club have chosen to go is the right one for the long term success of the Club. Something that should have been done three years ago rather than MK gambling on short-term spending in the hope that it kickstarts success. A lot of Salford fans seem to want the best of both worlds, but until the Club can secure it's turnover it wont happen. Sheens putting into place a quite young outfit should tell you all you need to know about the next few seasons. Building a core of young hungry players makes more sense to me than blowing cash on some retirement package for a has-been.

Getting a little tired of Mario excreting his watery negativity with a new topic every week on the same subject. Slowly but surely letting it seep into the subconscious.

I'm not saying that we can't debate or be negative, but it really has to be proportionate and honest, and I just don't think that's the case or intention of our resident unemployed plumber.

If it is, so what?
I support Salford.

End of.

I do not choose a club every year in the hope of glory or glooating. Every season since the late 70's has been a "write off" but I've stuck at it. Every now and then we get a run of games that gives me joy, there are moments in many games that stick in my memeory, and the atmosphere/camaraderie at away games is wonderful. We are in SL: Rochdale, Oldham, Halifax and Swinton are not and they are my nearest clubs to where I live now. So in many ways I'm fortunate.

Simply, Mario, I don't give a tinker's damn. Perhaps I'm a hopeless romantic. Or simply hopeless. I don't care.

Might be worth waiting until our recruitment is over before we critique.

With the new format it can't really be a write off anyway!

Finish in middle 8s and we'll have some tough relegation battles with the championship sides learning from last year and seeing the difference in playing SL opposition also Leigh adding SL quality players.

Only time you can write off the season is if we finish 8th and are miles away from 4th place by the time of the super 8s.

Maybe we could ask Ian Laybourn.?

For God's sake will some bloody golfer out there please give a big bald wannabe caddie a job

The biggest write off for myself over the last few years has to be the MEN and it's so called Rugby League correspondent.

I think we have quite a pacey back line. Tim Sheens seems to be assembling a good workmanship set of forwards, who, if everyone works for each other, could really gel as a team and be a team difficult to beat. I have high hopes. Like I have every season

Sheens knows what he is doing and for me though it sticks in my throat he seems to be following the example of Castleford of buying a team rather than disparate misfits with big reputations.

I am more worried about the coach than the squad, the big benefit is he is young and will sit up and listen when Sheens opens his mouth where as a more experienced coach might think I'll show him.

Reality check.
Sheens was Australia national coach until very recently.
If we can't trust his judgment,it's time to pack up

Whilst there is a very good sense of team togetherness at Cas, over the last two years we have had a core of players who would get in most SL teams (Shenton, Carney, Gale, Roberts, Lynch, Huby, Millington, Clark, Holmes). As yet, I don't see players of this quality at Salford although I'm hoping the likes of Ben Jones-Bishop and Mason Caton-Brown begin to realise their potential soon.

Whilst I agree with the OP in some respects, the game is not played on paper and it's down to the coaching team to get them playing as a unit and to their potential. However, even playing at full potential I can't see the current squad making the top 8.