Definite Top 8, probably Top 6 contenders. Hardly earth shattering but considering the frankly awful team this year it's a huge improvement. It's also very easy to forget how close they were to oblivion.

They need to make it easier to get to and from the ground I would think to help get the crowds to improve to a similar level to the team.

Buying a team does not work as Warrington found out year after year until they realised the successful teams only recruit a couple of players every year and have squad stability.

Salford will improve but I bet they don't get much time from Morley, Hock and Rapira. Chase may blow up at some point as well and Tim Smith cannot cope with expectation and pressure.

Seventh at best for them.

Castleford will go okay as Powell is an excellent coach and the team will benefit from a full off-season with him.

The teams in most danger are Wakefield and London.

I predict London and London then

The Hock signing is a poor one, the lad is an idiot and has been a disaster at Widnes, he's spent half the season suspended and the other half falling out with team mates, I'd go as far as saying the reported £150k he's been paid this year could have been better spent on two other decent super league standard players and Widnes could even have been in with a shout of the playoffs

I’m not worried about the development of Sneyd and Fages, infact I think the signings of both Chase and Smith will assist with their development. I understand the club are looking to loan Marc Sneyd to another Super League club next season where he will get regular game time and continue to improve. I think Marc has struggled to cement a position this season, he came from our academy as a stand-off and Vievers tried to turn him into a full-back which didn’t quite work. Since then Noble has reverted him back to stand-off and he has put in some good performances. A full season playing week in week out, in his favoured position will benefit him massively.

Fages is held in very high regard at the club, the Doctor and Noble requested he join captain Martin Gleeson at yesterdays launch just to ensure he understands how important he is the club. We have relied on Theo far too much this season, he never had a proper transition from academy rugby into Super League it was thrust upon him. Fortunatly he was good enough to adapt, but he has carried a lot of responsibility on his young shoulders which is unfair. Next season I expect to see him used sparingly and sensibly in order to continue and aid his development, rather than completely break it.

I’m also looking forward to Nial Evalds hopefully breaking into the first team on a more regular basis next season after his impressive stint recently, he is a big talent. There’s plenty more to come to, our U20’s won the Championship grand final last night and there are some really talented youngsters in the team.

Seems we've been wrote off by a few already.



So Far We've lost
Michael Dobson (Newcastle Knights)
Mickey Paea (Hull FC)
Cory Patterson (West Tigers)
Sam Latus (Released)
Ryan O'Hara(Lezignan)
Richard Beaumont(St Helens)

Apart from Paea & Dobson who on that list will we miss. Beaumont moving to Saints is a weird move as for me he isn't good enough O'hara hasn't played a single match whilst been on big money and Latus just a solitary game. Patterson has been a big disappointment and has missed half the season, Whilst we haven't managed to play Gleeson or Welham in the same side once this year.

Agreed. And Morley has spent more time on the treatment table for us in the last two years than he has on the pitch.

The majority of posts from Widnes fans I have seen regarding Hock have been very positive, confirming what all already knew, how talented he is and how they wish they had him permanently.

He's a exceptional player, who is also another year older and I believe has had another child. I trust Noble and Marwan's judgement on this one, he's going to be some player for us.

I'd say it's a question of how you manage him. You can see certain parallels between Gareth Hock and Wayne Rooney in that both could have gone off the rails. The fact that Rooney hasn't is testament to the way Alex Ferguson managed him, and I suspect Brian Noble has the experience and the respect throughout the game to be the Alex Ferguson to Gareth Hock.

I've said before that I think, as a player, Morley isn't a particularly impressive signing. He's only on a one year deal though, and it's expected that his main role will be off the field: it seems he's lined up for a coaching job at the end of the year. Salford have a few really good forwards coming out of the under 20s - the Brothers Walne in particular - and I'd assume Morley has been brought in to work with them.

Risky strategy by the Doc, though great to see someone with so much passion and the money to back it up. A lot of new players with no games to gel before the new season in a year when the league is being culled by two. Chase is a great signing, as is smith. The others, not fully convinced. Hock seems to spend a lot of time out through suspensions but is a great player, Morley is a bit of a crock but will bring great experience. Sau and Meli are good signings for mine, and the rest are largely unproven or poor squad players. I think they'll finish between 8th and 12th myself. Exciting times going forward for Salford, it'll be great to have a strong manchester team with a good following.

They will be in Australia in January and arranging a couple of games over there against some good opposition so hopefully this will help gel the team before the season starts.Going to be a tough ask creating a good team with so many new faces but its going to be a hell of a lot better than our last pre season.

New link roads directly to the ground from the motorway are already being built and will be ready for the new season.

Absolutely, the more teams we have going for the eight the better. Rangi on his own probably lifts you a place. Well done Salford!! Like I said, I think you could sneak the eight next year, which should make recruitmant a bit easier when players see that they will be involved in an end of season comp. Not sure I like the doctors brashness, but I love his enthusiasm.

Just a question, not having a go.

Is Tim Smith Quota or non-fed???

Chase
Smith
Tony Puletua,
overseas trio Jake Mullaney, Junior Sa'u and Steve Rapira

Chase has dispensation I believe due to him signing in 2008 as does Meli.

Salford's Non Fed list (Non fed is the one that counts)would be

Smith
Mullaney
S'au
Rapira
Puletua

I knew Meli was ok, I thought Chase only came in 2009.

I'm just curious as to who Saints could have fitted in with Lance bed blocking

A strong Manchester team would be great. Salford vs Manchester derby matches would be real crowd pullers.

The dispensations for players whom had existing contracts at the time of the regulation changes only applied for the club they were contracted to at that time. Meli would have had dispensation to play for Saints as they already employed him (and Chase for Cas) as soon as a player transfers to a different club the dispensation ends. It was only given to stop such players being forcibly released due to the rule changes.

Chase may now not count on the quota and non fed lists due to being an England international and Tim Smith may have signed for Wigan at young enough age to count as Federation trained as he has been over here for at least three years.

Mind you our reserves were good enough for you THIS season.

Disaster at Widnes? Far from it, Hock is a quality signing for Salford.

No dispensations due to quota changes were for duration of their careers. It was dispensations given to crusaders players that were only for duration of their next contracts.

Salford 9th/10th

London/wakey/Bulls bottom 3 any order

Who'd be your top 8?

Correct but chase was 2009 not 2008.

I think a special exemption has been applied, but can't be bothered writing it for a 3rd time. Check the other thread on this.