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!