The season is soon approaching and looking over on the VT, it seems that opinion is divided on how we are going to perform this season. Some people are saying that we're going to get the wooden spoon and others see us as being one of the more improved teams in the league.

Obviously we're the fans of the team so what do you all think?

I'm not going to get carried away and predict playoffs but I do think we'll improve on last season. With the distraction otherwise known as Richie Myler out of the picture, a year of SL in the books for the team (including our younger players such as Ratchford, Adamson, etc) and the addition of some good young talent, I think we should have a decent season. Stapleton will obviously be a loss and I'm disappointed that we lost Wilshere but I think we should avoid the bottom spot again and hopefully push towards the pack of teams that are on the outside of the playoff places although ultimately I feel there's little chance of us getting close to 8th.

13th if we're lucky. Call me a doom lord but the quality of the squad is dire. Looking forward to it getting underway again though, hope we take a few up to Hull Kingston.

Its hard to call this year. last year we finished where i thought we would but we got some of our points (leeds away the best example) from unexpected sources. I hope this year we win games against teams like Wakefield Castleford Harlequins and Crusaders. while its nice to beat the big boys i think a more consistant season is built on beating the middle ranking teams (especially at home) If we can add a few more of those wins to the unexpected then i dont see why we cannot be on the fringes of the eight this year. But the nature of sport is that it is unpredictable and my track record is appalling so i will steer clear of any efforts to predict anything. When the season ends i want to be able to sit back and say that every player contributed to the season.

Im with you on the prediction (celtic have got some decent players AND a real coach which will put us under more pressure) but for some reason cannot bring myself to be looking forward to the season...maybe its the underwhelming signings, the past performances, the lack of going to the game being much of a laugh any more, the stadium "developments", membership/ST shenanigans...I dont really know...how odd!

Without having seen much of the other clubs in SL it's difficult this one. i think we've managed to strengthen the back line significantly this year whilst our pack will more than likely feel the loss of Stapo. I'm glad we've managed to bring in the likes of Broughton & Gibson which adds youth but also a lot of future potential to the squad. I also think Houldsworth (based on the Swinton game admittedly) could be a good signing for us. This year may be similar to last with some good wins sprinkled between a fait few hidings and I think if we can finish 12th or above we should be more than happy. Can't see the Crusaders doing much and there are always 1 or 2 teams that underperform so if we can get a decent start then we can hopefully push on.

So in summary my 3 main wishes (amongst many others) for this season are.................

1) Continued development of young players (Adamson & Ratchford in particular)
2) Movement on the new stadium.
3) A more expansive game plan. We've brought some flair and pace into the squad let's try and use it!!!

Would be good to have a chance of making the playoffs going into the last 4 or 5 weeks of the season. Would only need 3 or 4 more wins than last season for this to happen so its not impossible.

I agree with Karlos, we werent too far away last season, a few games we let slip though our fingers it could have been a lot different.
Im just a little worried about the lack of a replacement for stapo, i know parker will probably fill the role and it will become a strength but i feel he would be better served in the 2nd row.

This season i feel with a good start and a bit of positivity both on and off the field i cant see why we cant be in or around the playoffs come the end of the year.
It just depends on the hunger the players feel to succeed, its alway competative early in the season, its when its May/June/July when you have your place in the league and you need to want to better yourself as a player and as a team is when the cream rises to the top

We shall see...

I feel that by the end of the season either one of our own youngsters or someone we have brought in will be shooting the lights out and worthy of the hype that Myler gained off the back of a few decent performances last season. I hope they show a bit of loyalty but doubt my final prediction will instill that in them.

I think as others have said that the longer the season continues the more the loss of Stapleton will be felt. Play Parker there and think you'll run the risk of him not turning up for games and ultimately wanting out.

Think that for the first time in ages we have a good back line and can see one of them hitting the heady heights of a 20+ try season.

Think that Mcrae wont last the season and that Millward will come in until the franchise is won or lost.

There will be the inevitable calls for Father Ted to go and questions asked about what he does in the old hacknyed style.

And most worryingly for me think we'll get the final notice that the stadium isnt going to go ahead and that were living off borrowed time.



[size=150=#FF0000And on a lighter note.[/size


Somewere someplace Trish will still be wearing her beige suit.

Ignito will join a Village people tribute act and tour the world.

Sibbet will get a paper cut running through the Salford sign at the end of the tunnel at a Sky game and miss 6 rounds battling gangreene.

Alker will break every bone in his body, but stick a plaster on and get back on the field.

KOTS will be responsible for record profits at the Guiness brewery.

A decent pint of beer will still be missing at the ale stands.

And lastly.

An atmosphere will be found hidden at the back of the shed and make a very welcome return.

Can't see us doing any better than last season, still think we lack the quality to compete on a consistent basis week in week out. We might pull off a few shocks like last year, but thats about it. A cup run would be nice again to try and stir up a bit of interest within the city. I'll comment more after seeing us in the first few games. Just hope we can take a few down to Hull KR (not just the usual 50 of us) and maybe just maybe get the season off to a winning start.

Wooden spoon for us, Crusaders to make the playoffs

For work on the stadium to start by the end of March 2010
Alker to smash the 900 tackle barrier yet again


Adamson to improve further, and to score a hatful of tries
Broughton to be top try scorer for the reds
Salford highest attendence Vs Wigan 9000 (As its on a Sunday afternoon

)
Holdsworth taking the flak away from J.Smith
Matty Smith to be a revelation
Wigan to make a bid for Ratchford half way through the season

And with that, any credibility in Karlos' post disappears.






On a serious note, I reckon we're looking at 13th. We're lacking quality in a few key areas.

BetFred will open a book on what will happen first:-
The end of the DFS sale or a start on the new stadium



Mid table finish
Crusaders go belly up
We win at leeds again


McRae replaces Steveo on Sky


John Merry joins the board as biggest Shareholder

I reckon we're just about where we were last year. But, that's with a full squad. Once the injuries begin I reckon we're going to miss Stapo who played like 3 forwards at times last year.
What I'm looking for is individual and collective improvement, especially from the young players we've had since NL1. The likes of Stef Ratchford, Lee Jewitt, Adam Sidlow and Luke Adamson. Furthermore, swan song seasons from the old guard. Malc, Fitzy and Stuart Littler. (These guys could set a real example for the newbies and players who may be lacking in enthusiasm after a rather mediocre 1st year; J Smith, Paul Parker, Talau et al.)

I'm looking for the experienced guys who've had there best years at other clubs to show that they really do want to achieve something at Salford City Reds. To prove that they aren't just here to elongate their careers. To prove they still have the hunger and are willing to learn, improve and progress.
I'm looking for Cashmere to take on the leadership qualities of Stapo and set a brutal example of the required standard to the other forwards and for the other forwards to attempt to rise above Cashmere in the pecking order.
And most of all, I'd love the players to really enjoy their individual and collective challenges.

Not ar$ed about our place on the league table, but to see the team playing every game as though it's the most important game of the season would be what I expect.

What I expect from the shed this year is more doom and gloom and negativity from a minority, based upon, not a hate of the team but a hate of themselves, their lives and the recognition of their own insignificance in the overall runnings of the universe. Displacing their angst and aggression on the team "they pay to watch and have a right to criticise" without realising that they're making every other paying supporter as miserable as a Rochdale Hornets fan.
I expect the Birchwood muppets at the front of the shed to continue to nark everybody else off and for everybody else to suffer in silence when they should probably be arranging a lynch-mob and taking them out... (For the record, I have no intention of inciting violence but these idiots really should be dealt wth by the club. I know they may have technically done nothing on camera but the camera's don't hear these buffoons. And their behaviour at some away games is dispicable. Celtic and Wire away for example. To see the police getting involved with Salford fans is just terrible.)

So yeah, let's wait and see...

ditto

i'm quite optmistic about this season for some reason. Last season we weren't up to speed at the start and that killed us for confidence etc. Hopefully we have learnt from that and make a better start. A few wins in the first 5 or 6 games and we could have a good season. Last season we lost quite a few games by less than 8 points, with a bit more quality in the backs this season there are games we could snatch with a bit of luck.

So who might these Birchwood muppets be then? Me and Beav don't stand in The Shed so i hope you're not talking about us?? Plus we didn't go to Celtic away last year!!

The only other Birchwood Reds i know are close to pension age and are not the sort to be causing trouble!!

Plus how do you know these chaps are from Birchwood?

Haha. Not you matey. Or Beav. Or the pensioners. But there are a few, chaps and chappettes, who mingle with a few locals near the dugout. How do I know they're from Birchwood? Well, a very reliable source whose more than capable of conducting accurate research.

Totally cool with you!

Don't know if it's been mentioned elsewhere but the pre-match entertainment for our opener against you is the X-factor 2009 runner up, Olly Murs.

It might encourage a few of your younger female supporters to attend, then again, it might just discourage everybody else!!

The latter I suspect. Now if you had the dancing girls from Strictly performing, I'm sure it'd be a different story!



Sure it'll be the usual away match gang. 2 weeks to go. Come on!