For once, I can't argue about Mathers; he was dreadful today and on at least two occasions, it looked to me like he deliberately avoided having to make a 1 on 1 tackle.

Don't take this as me agreeing with everything you say by the way - that would never do - but just for today, I'm with you on Mathers.

Not seen it in full yet, going to sit down to watch it once my better half heads up to bed.......shortly hopefully!

For me he has done this one too many times, so I think it is time to give young Jowitt his first start next week at fullback. Sick of seeing Mathers and others dish up half d performances yet still waltz back into the squad the following week. For a professional rugby league player to be ducking out of tackles is nothing short of disgraceful.

Only tackle Mathers made was when Hampshire chipped over him. At least he got to sit in a nice dry dugout for 10 mins for it. He was crap when he played for us and hasn't improved since. I feel sorry for any team he "plays" for. Hopefully Sammut will do well for you. Always liked him.

No bren not just today don't want you to agree with me about today the point I'm making is that he's been like that since he came here and his record of being released quickly by other sides he's been with says the same, and another thing we didn't agree about,was my judgement about our academy seems after a 60 points drubbing at Wigan there not as good as some on here thought apart from jowitt at 16 ages were similar with a sprinkling 17 18 and 19yr olds, don't want to belittle the lads but if you remember when I said last season our 16s hadn't faced the best folk chose to ignore it

If the rumours are true about Ben Jones Bishop and Jamie foster then maybe agar might put Ben Jones Bishop to fullback and Jamie Fostor to wing for Recce Lynn??
(Just a thought if the rumours are true)

I have sat back and read the posts on this forum until I have found it necessary to join in order to provide a perspective outside the small band of contributors to this site. We have lost three games two we would have not expected to win against this season and one we were albeit history would suggest it was unlikely. I seem to remember during the dark days that many of you posted saying we should all stick together and support the chairman, the coaching staff and the players that have shown the loyalty to play in the red, white and blue. Well that lasted a long time one game and it was open season on anyone connected with the club.
I blame the chairman and the board because they have put together a better team than any of us would of thought possible. The problem is they have increased your aspirations but decreased your patience. What you forget is we are a new team with playing being added all the time. We have been through this before with a similar initial prognosis.
I don't read Salford supporters criticising their board, team or coach and on the face of it could be considered to have under performed based on the team they have put together, the preparation time and facilities they were provided with. Their supporters have aspirations but understand it will take time however, their chairman's may not have the same understanding, much like some of you.

Great first post.

This season is about avoiding relegation and this team is good enough to do that. Bradford was a bad performance but a for today , who was expecting us to beat SL champions Wigan with a new team and a number of injuries?

New team it maybe, but still there are stupid, idiotic team selections, poor defensive decisions, poor ball retentions, basically we are still seeing the same mistakes from 3 bloody years ago. And this is the season where it will cost us if it is allowed to continue!

Too right

Example Shaun Briscoe face like a brocken clogg, Mathers looks nice, make up and creams, result Briscoe puts is body on the line, Mathers is hand bag if you get my drift

It's not the fact we lost its the way a number of players performed following on from the Bradford game that is a concern along with team selection and use of subs again. How is it that a 17 year old can do be expected to do a straight 30 min stint but walshaw can't do a total of 30 mins. We need Wildie on the bench as McShane is not an 80 min player and would imo be more effective if spelled.

We need to be cutting out the basic errors we make and silly penalties we concede. Play for field position more instead of trying to score off every play, but not kicking possession away on the 3rd tackle when we have hardly had the ball etc.

Teams/players if inferior to their opposition will make more mistakes, give more penaltie away....

We have the squad of players we have because of the clubs resources....it's a miles better squad than many of us could have dreamed of months ago when our financial plight became apparent....

Against Bradford we were dire, but for me all the ingredients were there for that performance/result to happen....today, we've gone to the team that did the double last year and played (and gave a good account of themselves) in the World Club Challenge last week......result.....we got beat by 22 points...

Still very, very early days....there's been good signs (and bad) the last thing the club/players need is all the negative stuff tht's going on from impatient fans....it's gonna take time....get behind the lads and show them our support....might just be the slight difference in pushing us to a win rather than a loss...

These are the players we've got.....it's what our budget has allowed us to field.....for all the stick Richie Mathers is getting at the moment, he's played 250 odd top flight games more than anyone who posts on this board.....a fullback playing behind a well beaten team is never going to look great....Billy Slater would look poor playing for us at the moment.....I've seen Mathers have good games for us....poor aswell......maybe he's out of form and struggling for a bit of confidence....like a few others? It's a dark place when you're low on confidence.....it's what we have though so we need to support....

Michael said the other day that is it....this is the squad we have to work with, so we need to back him and the players....it was always going to be a hell of a tough season considering circumstances of the last 6 months....to see so many throwing the towel in 3 games in is desperately disappointing....is it any wonder players are coming across that way on the field?

well well well.

I haven't posted for a while and only do when I feel really strong about something

1, ok Agar has shortcomings and selection today is baffling which may need explanations but as ordinary FANS we don't know who was injured or who was preserved for later in the season so lets be realistic

does Agar drop the ball NO, does he try catch a ball that others should be taking NO, does he give away silly penalties No so its not all his fault....

does he have a right to drop players YES, does he have the right to pick the team YES, does he need to change things YES. so he can change things that's his job and he has to do this.....

no more picking his favourites if they don't perform, look at CAS and I hate saying that but Powell is doing a great job and keeping his squad keen, if certain players at wakefield didn't play every week regardless they may buck up their ideas,

after all im only a long suffering fan, but my club has picked off two of Bradfords best players over the last couple of weeks so behind the scenes things are looking up, I didn't expect to win today so a loss and rest for key players may be ok in the long run,

should we lose the next two then bring on the firing squad, admittedly i do think a team selection needs looking at and as a poor layman I would drop Mathers and Lyne, play Briscoe on the wing (his real position) and never ever ruin walshaw by playing him up front again, give the lad a chance in his best position not as a fill in cos someone is injured.

1, Mather out -- Sykes
2, Fox - with confidence is a good player
3, Collis - while banned try Walshaw
4, Keinhorst - While injured Ryan/Kirmond
5, Briscoe
6, Sammutt - Class
7, Godinet - Will be good when he settles
8, Scruton - just whats needed
9, Mcshane - needs to relax and not try do too much
10, Anderson/Moore/Smith - Smith at the minute lad is going to be a star
11. Kirmond - Danny you are Captain but just play your own game
12, Ryan - if not at centre otherwise Tautai to start until opposition tire
13, Annakin - but until the force is with us - then we have to play washbrook even if as a tackler

14-15-16-17- two props, Wildie (is he injured ??) and Lauititti (this man can change a game but not off the bench)

ok guys shoot me down now-----