Ok, so I sacked this game off. I thought it would be a simple win and another entertainmentless win (just like Quins and Celtic at home).



I was wrong. I admit that. But, from the guys that went - why did it end up this way? Did we just not want it as much as the home side? Did they just turn up and us not?



What happened?

We missed the players we had out. Most teams in super league would suffer with big stars out but Salford also had few out.



We didn't have much in attack. Maybe are squad isn't as good as we thought.

Or maybe SL's stronger than most people think.

I think it was a combination of things, we had a general bad day at the office, it happened at bradford at home and it happened here. Also the injuries were possibly worse than we thought, there was no hint earlier that pryce would be out, who has a huge impact for us. His absence reduced our attacking options even more. We dont really have anyone to do KC's role when he is injured, that should be rectified next year with Scott Moore, but for this year again thats a big hole in our attack. Wilkin as well is not only a great attacking player, but his tackle count is brilliant, i really thought he'd play.

As ever though i am the eternal optimist to saddened's eternal pessimist.

At the start of the season i thought we would struggle with our squad, i have been very impressed so far, but last night was definitely an off day.

Bad attitude from the Saints players thinking they could just turn up and win coupled with bad link ups with Longy and Kyle and bad field position kicks

nuff said shocking game

How can you be sure of this?



Salford blew us away in first 15 minues, after that the game was pretty even.



I don't think it was down to attitude at all.



I think the game went when Ellis dropped an inside ball with the line begging and Salford scored on the next set. These things happen!

Do you really think missing KC was a huge factor?





Sure enough we missed him just not being on pitch as him just being there brings the best out of players but let's be honest over last month or so he not been playing well and not been playing many mins.



The loss is down to not being good enough on the day.



That team was good enough to beat a Salford team that also had players out.

as i said, a combination of things lost us the game.

Would you agree that maybe next year is to early for some young lads and need to bring in some proven players?

I've said for a while we need an experienced prop and that none of our young props are big enough yet. However, with pryce back in the side and Gidley back at centre, Wello at fullback, i think there is enough experience in the backs to allow the young lads to cover were neccesary.

To simplify it:



We missed KC badly, roby just didnt dominate the ruck early on

Opted for a simple game plan of one man rugby which fell into salfords hands

We had a number of key players out, but so did Salford so no excuses there

Salfords game plan was executed to perfection, they kicked us to death and kept giving us the ball on our own line

Salford had a 91% completion rate in the first half (their first knock on was in minute 34)

The fringe plays usually set up with Long -> Pryce were none existent with Long -> Eastmond

Some of the senior players in the pack (TP, Faas, Graham) were poor by their own standard

We got into the Salford 10m area 5 times in the first half and knocked on 5 times on tackle 3 or 4



Quite simply, you could tell after 5 mins it was going to be one of those nights. No enthusiam and whilst the kids on show could have done the job, there were simply too many of them on the night to dominate the game, which is what you need to do to Salford on their own patch. Credit to them, they fully deserved the win and we need to get out of second gear next week for wires.

If gilmour goes we need more than just a prop.



Imo we could do with 2 props or prop and 2nd row/loose forward.



We need a big tough hard running prop and a back row that can break tackles and do something with the ball.



A lot of people are saying jammer is not at his best but what do they expect when he been the only prop this year. I feel sorry for him but we have got to get him some help next year and I don't mean frodsham and emmitt

Here's something we do agree on!



A tony P clone would be nice, and another Monster prop.

Did not turn up. What did turn up was this patched up saints team that lacked enthusiasm and oomph, it also had a shockingly bad Longy in its side, who made everythign eh touched in teh first half turn to shyyt, I mean EVERYTHING. No centre play. Forwards were dominated constantly. Solly had rub of the green and the bounce of the ball, first try impossible to stop with a frekish bounce from a kick through, their second try was another kick through that looked like it was knocked on, but it was given, by this time they were all over us and deserved their 3rd try, the only one from passing. We owned the last 5 min of first half, and no idea why we didnt go in at 16 -4 or 16 - 6 as Ade was in at the corner but blew it. We owned the first 15 of the 2nd half, we scored a blinding try from a Long burst. We the had Baby BA burst through and feed yougn Ellis who dropped it, the line was open and 6 points awaited, at this stage you could see us kickign on and turning the screw. But instead it was solly who took control again, and put in another kick , this time Ade watched it, thinkin it go dead but young Henry from Solly nipped around Ade and scored ( although it looked a knock on big time )...that was that. To much youth, to many lads out of position, and no forward power, Jammer and Tony P gave us nothgn all night, cloughie did his usual efforts, and often broke out the tackle to grad an extra 10, Maurie did a few smashing runs, Bryan H drove it in, nothing special. Real light we looked upfront, real light. But the whole night was just a sham, seemed life we didnt care.



Gidley and Wilkin and Pryce back next week is a MUST. Sooner we get JC back to the better, as our forward pack looks like it needs a bit of help



2 PINT POTS NEXT WEEK