Re: 19 Man Squad Anounced for Salford, 5 out but TP returns. : Thu Feb 09, 2012 12:42 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Looks that way on paper doesn't it. But the fact that it's freezing and early doors in the season will balance things out a lot and it wouldn't surprise me to see Salford win. We very often cop a few homes defeats to unfancied sides early in the season.

Your comment may be tongue in cheek, given that Salford haven't beaten us at home since the 1980s, but regardless of that I am wary of the match tomorrow night because of the occasion. We are still rusty, we are missing a few (aren't we always?!?) and the weather is going to be crap. But everybody will be expecting a big performance (just as I'm sure Salford and Widnes fans were on their opening nights).

WHY CAN'T THE WEATHER HAVE CARRIED ON LIKE IT HAS BEEN MOST OF THIS WEEK? (Just felt like shouting in frustration!)

Anyway, given the above I don't think we can assume that Salford will an easy team to put down. I hope the match is a contest but I hope more that we win as it is important for the team to put down a few markers, not least that they can cope with the pressure of expectation. That one will be important come the end of the season if we are looking at another Grand Final appearance.

Re: 19 Man Squad Anounced for Salford, 5 out but TP returns. : Thu Feb 09, 2012 12:42 pm  

BackrowSaint wrote:

6. Lance Hohaia
2. Ade Gardner
17. Gary Wheeler
5. Francis Meli
21. Tommy Makinson

20. Lee Gaskell
7. Jonny Lomax

14. Anthony Laffranchi
9. James Roby
10. LMS
4. Sia Soliola
12. Jon Wilkin
16. Paul Clough

8. Josh Perry
11. Tony Puletua
19. Andrew Dixon
24. Nathan Ashe

13. Chris Flannery and 23. Scott Hale to miss out

That would be my strongest team as well. I guess the only question marks are in the forwards. Royce has been saying the squad will get rotated so that means that Flannery will probably get a go.

Hopefully Ashe will get on at some point, maybe for Gaskell.

Re: 19 Man Squad Anounced for Salford, 5 out but TP returns. : Thu Feb 09, 2012 2:42 pm  

Noel Cleal wrote:

That would be my strongest team as well. I guess the only question marks are in the forwards. Royce has been saying the squad will get rotated so that means that Flannery will probably get a go.

Hopefully Ashe will get on at some point, maybe for Gaskell.

Yeah, I think Flannery may get in too, but I hope not for the expense of Dixon. He doesn't deserve to be dropped.

I think this is a massive game for Gaskell. Wello will probably return next week so if Gaskell wants to keep the stand off spot he needs a big game. Similar for Tommy Makinson too, if he can show he's a solid enough goal kicker who can kick the vast majority of his attempts, Foster may struggle to get back in depending on how Ade goes.

Re: 19 Man Squad Anounced for Salford, 5 out but TP returns. : Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:22 pm  

I see what you mean Backrow, but then when you ask those who went to London they said Gaskell kicked ok, but did not kick them all so the poor kicking game may have been in referance to other players.

Makinson getting the chance to kick could make life difficult for Foster but that would require 2 things, kicks from the touch line with near 100% success and Ade to have a stormer.

In the end Foster topped our try scoring by some margin last year even if you put Ade and Makinsons tries together I don't think it topped fosters.

I think early on Royce will be happy to change almost anyone not fit or not firing. Until he's happy on the combos.

Re: 19 Man Squad Anounced for Salford, 5 out but TP returns. : Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:25 pm  

bewareshadows wrote:

I see what you mean Backrow, but then when you ask those who went to London they said Gaskell kicked ok, but did not kick them all so the poor kicking game may have been in referance to other players.

Makinson getting the chance to kick could make life difficult for Foster but that would require 2 things, kicks from the touch line with near 100% success and Ade to have a stormer.

In the end Foster topped our try scoring by some margin last year even if you put Ade and Makinsons tries together I don't think it topped fosters.

I think early on Royce will be happy to change almost anyone not fit or not firing. Until he's happy on the combos.

I agree with all of that, having seen Makinson kick before he may be capable to pull it off.

With regards to Gaskell, he'd be one of the first names on my team sheet, I'm just not sure Royce sees it that way too.

Re: 19 Man Squad Anounced for Salford, 5 out but TP returns. : Thu Feb 09, 2012 4:53 pm  

When he says rotate the forwards, I would expect he mainly means that he will rotate the props, so TP coming in could mean a rest for one of the other props, maybe Clough. That would leave Wilkin to continue at loose forward, where he started last week. If Flannery comes in, he would be for one of the back rows, who I dont think need a rest just yet! As you say, Dixon had a cracker last week, and should keep his spot.

Re: 19 Man Squad Anounced for Salford, 5 out but TP returns. : Thu Feb 09, 2012 9:13 pm  

I'm hoping Dixon goes well, our back line is full of talent who can push for places, would be nice to see Dixon coming in, especially as Sia's contract is up this year.

Re: 19 Man Squad Anounced for Salford, 5 out but TP returns. : Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:09 am  

bewareshadows wrote:

I'm hoping Dixon goes well, our back line is full of talent who can push for places, would be nice to see Dixon coming in, especially as Sia's contract is up this year.

Sia's deal must be renewed. He's one of the few players we have that can make an impact on a game individually.

As for Dixon, would no one else be tempted to play him at centre? He's better than that useless lump Wheeler.

Re: 19 Man Squad Anounced for Salford, 5 out but TP returns. : Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:15 am  

Dixon very much reminds me of Joynty in the lines he runs.

Re: 19 Man Squad Anounced for Salford, 5 out but TP returns. : Fri Feb 10, 2012 12:20 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

As for Dixon, would no one else be tempted to play him at centre? He's better than that useless lump Wheeler.