No. I think this will be a fantastic long term structure for the game as a whole in this country.

The proposed framework for the split of sky money associated with the new 2x12; 3x8 structure and soon to be put to the clubs will be more equitable than the current split, better benefitting the top 12 clubs AND those below as well. Although it won't be explicit, there'll be effective provision for what have been called parachute payments. It will be pretty ingenious, albeit simple. You'll see.

They have form on changing their minds though as Widnes know to their cost.

Can anyone provide a link to an official statement as to how the reduction of SL by two places will be effected?

I

In that case rather than attempting another sales pitch, you could address some of the concerns offered? they are certainly concerns i agree with.

Im also interested to hear your explanation about how everyone will be better off from this new split of funds? Is there more money now guaranteed? because if not someone is losing out.

I'd be astounded if Salford made the top 6, as mentioned it'd be a big achievement to make the top 8. If I were a Salford fan I'd be looking for an 8th-10th finish this year and then steadily improve and build the squad year on year.

Whilst Salford have made some decent signings they still have a comparatively weak squad when judged next to the current top 6 or top 8 clubs.

Salford is a work in progress, it's not going to happen over night, and hopefully Dr Koukash is putting as much money into building the club and it's infrastructure as he is into the first team.

People have their views, I have mine. I'd suggest that whatever concerns are aluded to, they will be better addressed under the new long term structure than under the one that has prevailed in recent years.





I couldn't reveal the precise details at this stage even if were privy to them. Yes, the 2 SL clubs that are relegated at the end of this season will have a reduced Sky allocation in 2015. That apart, and in very general terms, everybody else will be better off as you'll agree that 1/15th of the Sky money for the top 12 is better than 1/16th and 2/15th's spread in a graded fashion across the clubs outside the top 12 is better than sharing 1/16th.

Your view is that you like this new structure so any concerns will be better addressed under it, even if you don’t know what those concerns are, or how they will be better under it. They just will be better under it. Because you like it. Well, if nothing else, at least that is honest.




So apart from the clubs who are financially negatively affected by it, everyone else will benefit from it. In very general terms of course.

Outstanding circularity of argument there Sir.

think it will be 1 team relegated at the the end of the 2014 season... that being london broncos who most likely will finish bottom.

Why only 1 team ?
There has only been talk of dropping to 12 and although the exact why's and where's still need to be ratified, it does appear that 2 teams will be culled/relegated.
Of course, if the 2 were Catalan and London, then expect some new criteria to be found (or some additional Sky funds etc)
Relegation cannot work if we are trying to expand the game beyond the M62 corridor, it just isn't possible.

They won't relegate 1 team. It'll either be 2 or none. Otherwise the Magic Weekend doesn't work.

why unbalance it wth a magic weekend when 22 games plus 7 more would suffice. totally makes a mockery of a proper league by picking which teams randomly play another mostly on the back of recognised rivalries. That it is one off event that generates less money for clubs if they had played that game at the respective grounds then it should be dropped IF the RFL are insistant on the 2x12 3x8 format.

Sadly I think bottom two will be London and ourselves. We've not strengthen well enough.

I happen to agree with you to some extent, but what is our squad?
Do you know any of them? Without cheating and googling it?
I keep hearing this "weak squad" line trotted out, but no-one seems to back it up with anything.

www.thereddevils.net/the-devils/ ... ings-2014/ I'll help you out

www.thereddevils.net/the-devils/ ... ings-2014/ I'll help you out

I'm not sure why whether or not someone being able to name 1 - 25 of a squad means their judgement of it is invalid - can you name every squad in superleague? Yet you'll have an idea of how each club will go.

The point is, if you scratch away the signings made this year, your left with a team who finished bottom, and wasn't strong on paper either.

Picking up 4/5 injuries at once isn't uncommon, but will expose those players who finished bottom this season, and will cause a much greater struggle. Coupled with the fact a few of the players you signed fall into the older category, if they pick up an injury it can take longer to return, further exposing the weaker players.

Other clubs, who you see Salford as competing with - will be much better able to cope with those injuries, as have players who have proven capable of stepping in in the case of injuries.

As I said, 7/8/9 is not unachievable, and should be celebrated, but it won't be easy.

Of course I had to google it! I had an idea from the signings made that I'd remembered but bloody hell I know we're all geeks on here by definition but I can't remember the exact squads of every team! I doubt I'd get Leeds' 1-25 exactly right.
But yeah, as Magic Superbeetle says, factor in injuries and the strength of the top 8/top 6 squads that was the context of my post, I'd still contend that Salford has a comparatively weak squad.

You say this with such conviction... To bad it's such a stupid.... (Strong word but relevant) ... plan!

So stupid it ranks on the all time stupid list!

Bottom two ... London and either Cas, Wakey, Widnes, Bulls ... Not too convinced by Salfords recruitment and they also could be pulled into the mix.

how do you fairly distribute 29 games, if none are played at a neutral ground? the Magic Weekend fits better under this system than it does currently.

I think Salford could sneak in to the 8. I think the 6 is a reach, but I see no reason they couldn’t sneak in to the 8. They have a better first 13 than a few of the teams around them, they will drop a few points whilst they get used to each other, but if Brian Noble can take that Crusaders squad and get them in the 8, there is no reason he can’t do it with this Salford one.

I think we will see Cas, Wakefield, Bradford (dependent on squad) London fighting for survival, 2 of those to be relegated. I think Widnes will be safe.

I think Salford are above those 5, which would only mean finishing above one of Les Catalans, Hull, Hull KR. And they are in the 8. Im not sure how weak their squad is in terms of depth compared to those three.

I agree, I think currently they have a weaker squad than Catalans, Hull and Hull KR, which is why I think getting 8th would be a very good season for Salford but I'd be very surprised if they made it as high as 6th. The top 5 are nailed on (Leeds, Wigan, Saints, Warrington & Hudds) and Salford would have to have an amazing season with virtually no injuries, while Catalans, Hull & Hull KR would have to do poorly in order for Salford to get as high as 6th in my opinion.

Without wishing to put words into northmanchesterdevil's mouth (and then doing exactly that), you're making a number of assumptions here:

1. Salford had all senior players available at all times last season, and didn't have to resort to playing academy players who just weren't ready.
2. All those senior players let them down.
3. All the senior players who let them down have been retained, and now occupy the lower places in the squad.

I suspect you don't know whether any of these is true (why would you?), which is why s/he suggests you need look at the squad itself rather than just jumping to a conclusion.

13. Widnes
14. Wigan

This is what I don't get about Salfords recruitment though, why release your top try scorer for the last 5 (?) years and sign a 34 year old from saints on way more money to replace him?

Anyway I'm diverging, whilst I don't know whether the above is true (as you said why would I, I mean this is why all fans have differing opinions, because we all see different things even in the same game!) but if i look down 18 - 25 to Salford, (I confess I used google to do so) I struggle to see who is going to push the first team squad for a place, and subsequently, whose going to be able to step up in the case of a few injuries. Then when you compare it, for example, with hull fcs squad (who are also looking for 6th ... Probably) and looking at the 18 - 25 is a lot stronger, with people who will probably be looking to get into the team and stay there (Pitts and Shaul the obvious example) even without injurys letting them on the pitch

We didn't release Broughton though did we? I spoke to his Dad last year and he told me that Jodie was offered either a 1 or 2 year deal (sorry can't remember now which it was) with us on similar money to what he was already on but Jodie wanted a much longer deal, the club and him couldn't agree terms and the Giants offered the deal he was looking for, so he left. Meli is probably not his like for like replacement, Greg Johnson is to be honest, he's just as fast as Broughton and Noble is already predicting big things for him.

I don't doubt an offer was made, and tbh given the numbers that have flown round about what various players are getting paid at Salford next year it's no surpise he refused similar money. But an increased offer would still been far less than meli and help bolster the squad - accepting I just went from the squad list of Sa'u and meli (Sa'u I can understand as a signing, and I think him and broughton on the wings would of been as good as anything for next year) - how the new younger players develop I don't know.

As I said though this is diverging from the point of the thread