That'd be truer with the players Salford signed this year if they'd got them in 2009. As it stands, it's a lot of big names who are past their best and are really only there for a retirement package. I suppose it depends on who's responsible for those signings, Noble or Koukash, as to who's really to blame. Noble has shown when at Bradford that his choice is established players rather than bedding in youngsters. But even so, the smarter thing to do would have been to sign in guys in their mid 20's so you've got the foundations for a long run at the top rather than a bunch of guys on their swansong season who are just their to pick up one last pay cheque.



I think it's a motivation issue rather than a tactical one at Salford, and I don't think that binning an experienced coach in favour of an unseasoned coach is the right move for them to make.

Tim Smith is legitimately the worst halfback in the league now that Holdsworth has returned to Australia.

I'm glad he's not an illegitimate halfback, that would be a right b@stard

Brian Noble's signings, in order of age:

Greg Johnson (22)

Jake Mullaney (23)

Lama Tasi (23)

Jason Walton (23)

Steve Rapira (25)

Junior Sa'u (26)

Tommy Lee (26)

Rangi Chase (27)

Harrison Hansen (2icon_cool.gif

Tim Smith (29)

Gareth Hock (30)

Francis Meli (34)

Tony Puletua (34)

Adrian Morley (36)



Aside from the obvious three examples at the bottom end there (two of whom are "fill-ins" on one year deals), can you explain your assertion that these signings are "a lot of big names who are past their best and are really only there for a retirement package"?

Hmmm...? How many are actually Nobbys and how many are the Docs?

Morley was the Docs for sure.

Chase the Docs too.

Disagree. I think Salford have done exactly what's been expected of them and there's only the Doc who believes otherwise.



It was said at the start of the season that they had a decent 17 on paper but not much after that and that indeed has proven to be the case with all the injuries they have had. Add into that needing to gel, it was always going to be a battle for 7th/8th and nothing more. In that case, they're performing as many people predicted.



In terms of their recruitment, Hansen and Johnson have stood out for me, whilst Mullaney looks decent at full-back. Sa'u looked dangerous against Cas. Hock can be unpredictable in both attack and defence. I know a lot of people bag Tommy Lee but I think he's had much more of an influence on this Salford side in terms of creativity.



Chase proved at Cas he can't steer a team to a play-off place on his own so Salford are going to have to find some x-factor from elsewhere.

Lets hope Harris proves to do a better job than he achieved with Wales in the World cup, some of those selction and tactical choices were odd.

To be fair to Harris he was actually using Welshmen rather than the Aussies that were available to other nations.

Still think they should have done better though.

Noble looked well and truely peed off about it all on the BBC, but still have 'professional' answers to the questions. Would have him at Hull in a heartbeat, think he's been very badly done to.

Really?





Way past his sell by date IMO, I couldn't see a Noble led Hull team improving you on where you are now to be honest!