Am I the only person who is slightly underwhelmed by our new signings for next year?? - It seems to me we have lost 4 proven players and replaced them with an overseas player that many of us have some doubts about and 3 players who have previously had problems at Super League level (Granted Russell is young and never really got a proper prolonged run).

I know we should be positive about our side, but weren't people similarly positive about some of our signings in 2002, before it all went boobs up?.... From where I'm looking, these four signings could easily have been made during that disastrous period and would have been met with similar fanfare.

Of course, the core of a decent side is still there and we certainly won't be anywhere near as bad as back then, but I have a sneaky feeling that we might be next year's Saints - The odd glimpse of a very good side, plenty of mediocrity.

I know quality players are difficult to find, but I find it odd we seem to have been trawling reserve grade and Championship RL for replacements for some high quality departures.... Is there a possibility that the likes of Ratchford, Myler and Hill have been a bit lower paid than many might think in the last couple of years and now with Morley & co's departures, their contracts have seen them increased to a more senior level - It could explain how we kept such a high quality squad under the cap, despite the protests of many outsiders?

I am disappointed with the loss of Carvell ,he still had loads to offer & had a proven ability. It will be interesting to see if O'Brien will play much of a part considering he hasn't played since being needlessly brought back from Saints.It would have done him the world of good to see out the season with first team rugby.

Great post Dita. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we still have some funds left for a standout signing just to negate the negativity that some feel. As for what position or who I just don't know.

Seriously? Whenever i've seen him on TV or in the flesh, especially this season, he's been ill-disciplined and exhibited bad handling. I look to see if he's in your squad when we play you to settle my pre-match nerves.

im not so sure you've been looking at the right player Suzy...Bridge handling/passing of a ball in the tightest of situations is the best at our club and probability in the league.

Its his pace that is his , to use a pun, Achilles Heal!

Just watched the clips of him and he's got a cracking pair of dancing feet. Hope he continues in that vein for us. He's sharp out with the ball and I like the way he runs with it in two hands. Defenders don't know whether to stick or twist.

Some of his passing Suzy is a joy to behold & he can tackle .

Don't want to be all Mr Negative, but Youtube really isn't the place to judge a player - Its well accepted that agents have managed to flog off really bad foreign footballers to football clubs, on the back of an impressive 10 minute Youtube clip.... I'm pretty sure that similar things can be stitched together for rugby players too.

I certainly hope Russell turns out to be an inspired signing, but I think I'll wait until I see him in the flesh before I get too carried away.

I really don't see it..... Russell for Hodgson, Asotasi for Morley, England for Carvell, Penny for Williams, more play time for the likes of Currie, Rhys Evans, Glen Riley and a few others getting a steady introduction along the way.

I think that's it and I don't think we have a lot left on the cap anyway - Hill will be on a fair bit more than he first signed, similar for Joel Monaghan and Ratchford....Currie's contract won't be peanuts either, considering his reputation..... I know its all speculation and a lot of guesswork, but our squad still has a fair number of players on a good whack.

There aren't the quality players on the market that there used to be, because the NRL has a higher salary cap and the exchange rate has gone against us so the Aussie market is more or less shut. Guys like Langer, King and the Monaghans aren't available.

This time last year we were all sing at Wigan for making signings like Matty Smith and Blake Green, hardly ones to get the fans excited were they. Wigan lost a lot of quality last year with Finch, Carmont, Lima, Leuluai and Hock and they weren't able to find quality replacements. Now we are in that position too.

Other clubs are not exactly making major moves in the transfer market either: look at Marvan Koukash's signings, Rangi Chase is a good player but some of the other guys they are signing have a bit of a 'typical Salford' feel to them.

It is the new reality. The quality of Super League is at a low ebb and is declining further with better players leaving SL than are coming in. In order to be in the mix for trophies we just need to decline at a slower rate than our rivals.

Great post Sally C.

I think that is a bit pessimistic. I suspect It will be Ratchford for Hodgeson. Meanwhile Penny (£15k) and probably Matty Russell will take very little of the cap. I can not believe England, untried at SL level will be paid more than Mike Cooper. Asotasi's salary will probably be similar to Hodgeson's. So that leaves the salaries of Carvell (£135k) and Morley, who I would guess must be around £150k. Are we saying that we have paid all that out to the existing squad ? Nope. Anyway, we have also lost Blythe to Bradford.

So either we have somebody else coming in, or we have signed AN Other this year, and loaned them back to their club for 2014.

Cough cough *Daryl Clark*

Just noticed Wigan have signed Sarginson and Clubb fron London.

The days of the 'big signings' appear to have gone.

How poor will London be next season, Clubb & Sarginson are two of their better players.