Re: Our Own Worst Enemies! : Sun Jun 22, 2014 6:45 pm  

Unlike the gentleman who rang the phone in on GMR, I can see improvements in the team under Iestyn. Our attack seems to be getting a bit more fluent, and it's noticeable how much more Junior S'au is being brought in to it. He was outstanding again today. (Incidentally, Trevor Hunt on GMR was saying he's like to see the double move incident again because he wasn't sure. I was sure: it was a double move.)

There were plenty of decent performances today: Rangi looked a handful, and Niall Evalds makes me wonder if we needed to sign Kevin Locke, although I'm sure he'll be a real star for us.

It seems clear that we were lacking three things: a bit of organisation in attack at times (i.e. someone to steady things down when we get a bit overexcited), a goal kicker and a better kicking game from open play. In other words, Michael Dobson. I can't understand why some people have questioned his signing.

I think we defended well, but were let down - once again - by individual errors, and we gave Warrington field position to score on too many occasions.

Overall, I think we can be quite pleased with that result, particularly as we had only one half-back, and both our first choice second rowers were absent. I thought Andrew Dixon and Matty Ashurst both played well in their place. Some Warrington fans over on their forum were thinking they'd win by a margin similar to the one they got over a woeful Bradford the other week, but they're clearly delusional.

As for the ref, there was a lot of moaning on the phone in from fans of both sides, noticeably a Warrington fan whining about holding down. It's something Warrington never do, of course. I couldn't see anything particularly wrong with the ref's performance. In fact, Jack Dearden thought he had a poor game, so, adopting the usual rule of thumb that Jacko is wrong, he must have had a stormer.

Re: Our Own Worst Enemies! : Sun Jun 22, 2014 6:49 pm  

Agree with Bonita here - & my opinion Won`t come as a shock to Walshy Aveit GT, TS & their mates but again steady improvement for me under Iestyn.

Evalds was excellent as he has that `awareness` factor whether Full Back, Wing or Scrum Half.

My Marks today

Evalds 9 - see above
Johnson 5 - Defensively not up to scratch & service from centre is weak.
Walton 4 - Mistakes and for me a better second row prospect
Sau 8 - Nobles best recruitment and gets better each game.
Meli 6 - Quiet but should have scored after long run in second half.
Chase 8 - Joy to watch but his place kicking poor
Lee - 4 - Poor today but tried - fed the ball into the middle and we lost possession and they scored!!!
Morley 8 - Outstanding - Great effort
Tomkins 6 - Sharp again and contributed.
Tasi 6 - Quiet effort today from him.
Dixon 5- Defensively worked hard but anonymous in attack
Ashurst 4 - Never at the races and mistakes again led to tries
Walne - 4 - Disappointing today after last week - Mistakes again costing us a try

Griffin 5 - Penalty machine but made some hard yards
Rapira 5 - Some big hits but nothing in attack
Pulatea - 5 - Steady , mistake free but nothing outstanding
Platt 4 - Wont win Supporters man of the season and short of pace

Re: Our Own Worst Enemies! : Sun Jun 22, 2014 7:16 pm  

I thought the effort today from the lads was top drawer. There were some very good performances and I thought the team are starting to gel. This was the sort of performance I thought we'd start to see after about five or six games into the season.

I thought Adrian Morley was immense today and I think he's shown, especially today that he's not just here to turn up for one last season. I think he played the whole of the second half on a very warm day without a break. May I suggest that if he can play like this could he play on for another season?

One person who I've been doubting is Steve Rapira but some of the defensive work today was awesome. If he can stay on the field and achieve fitness he may turn out to be a good signing.

Our defensive structures are definitely improving and today it was very noticeable the third man in going round the legs. It not only stops progress but slows the opposition play the ball.

Every winning team needs team spirit and it's starting to shine through. I for one think it's starting to build and a few good results and we'll see a different Salford.

Well done boys for an immense effort today. I thought it was money well spent supporting a team that are starting to show pride in the Red Shirt!

Well done to the fans for a great turnout and shouting for our team.

Re: Our Own Worst Enemies! : Sun Jun 22, 2014 8:17 pm  

Anyone have any specific information on why 3 players named in the 19 on Friday afternoon were noticeable by their absence this afternoon?

If all 3 have sustained injuries,will they be available for selection for the brought-forward fixture next Saturday night?

Re: Our Own Worst Enemies! : Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:14 am  

I thought we played well at times, our forwards were excellent and matched Warrington's for most of the game. Tommy Lee had a bad game but afterall there only human. We missed 2 of our best forwards in Hock & Hansen. Also losing Fages wasn't ideal. There is definitely improvement defensively. Also point out the fans were brilliant and turned up in good numbers!

Re: Our Own Worst Enemies! : Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:31 am  

Fozzysalforddevil wrote:

I thought we played well at times, our forwards were excellent and matched Warrington's for most of the game. Tommy Lee had a bad game but afterall there only human. We missed 2 of our best forwards in Hock & Hansen. Also losing Fages wasn't ideal. There is definitely improvement defensively. Also point out the fans were brilliant and turned up in good numbers!

I'm not intentionally trying to put a dampener on things but we conceeded 36 points. Compare this with the 28 pts and 14 points in the previous two games against Wire under Noble. OK we may now be getting an extra player in the tackle to slow down the PTB but the fact is we still conceeded more points.

Re: Our Own Worst Enemies! : Mon Jun 23, 2014 7:48 am  

Warrington away is one of the toughest places to go too, plus there playing out of there skin at the moment probably the form team in the competition as when we played them last time they were going through a really bad spell, were not too far away for me it probably won't happen this year top8 that is but certainly next year i have all the confidence in them.

Re: Our Own Worst Enemies! : Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:19 am  

Fozzysalforddevil wrote:

Warrington away is one of the toughest places to go too, plus there playing out of there skin at the moment probably the form team in the competition as when we played them last time they were going through a really bad spell, were not too far away for me it probably won't happen this year top8 that is but certainly next year i have all the confidence in them.

I feel for Iestyn Harris. He must feel like he's working very hard fixing the leaks in the bucket, only for the lads to trip up and drop it, probably due to fatigue. I'm sure all the work will have to payoff at some stage. I think Iestyn's Wigan style defence requires extra fitness and it's about our players adjusting to the extra intensity.

Re: Our Own Worst Enemies! : Mon Jun 23, 2014 8:23 am  

Yes i think we dropped the ball 3 times which led to tries, it will be interesting on the highlights. Harris has improved us but we seem to be getting tough game after tough game, im hoping Cas will have the semi final on there mind and we'll get a win we need some players back though!

Re: Our Own Worst Enemies! : Mon Jun 23, 2014 9:18 am  

What about the In Goal Judge impeding Meli on the lead up to that first try. Why on earth was he so close? Many things not running right against us currently but it will level out.