Patton

Another good signing,Quite an eventful close season but very productive.Watson leaving has given us stability and I think we are in a better position than if he had stayed.Gel a team now and hopefully we will have a good season.

This is a perfect fit for us because Dec Patton will probably be competing for a starting place at either 7 or 9. It also gives us the cover if Kevin Brown gets injured.

The only thing that concerns is the "Short Term Deal" which implies it's probably only for one year. This seems to be going against the overall plan for long term consistency. I suppose this could be due to the way contracts are structured nowadays or a hesitancy on Dec Pattons part. Despite that it gives us a high calibre well balanced squad for this coming season. 

The short term deal is probably about value i.e. His personal valuation against what Salford value him at. Also like McCarthy probably and a few others there's a surfeit of players. Wigan have got rid of 17 and brought in 2 so it's a buyers market and Catalan have lost about 10 and brought in a couple. I think we're the only team in SL to hugely increase our squad.
So to me it's a chance for the Club and Marshall in particular to have a look at Patton, see how he goes and to measure him as a half back for the future and put a value on him for next year.
Good business all round, we get a proven half back, probably cheaply and Patton, who has no Club, gets fit, plays, gets at chance of a longer contract and at least is in the shop window.

Fantastic bit of business for us. He's a very good player a dominant 7 with a pretty good kicking game and good organisation skills. He's been the victim of the wire recruitment policy and when he's been given a decent run he's showed he can do well and really step up.

Not a fan myself, I’ve never seen anything in him. Always seems like he thinks he’s much better than he is.. Really hope he proves me wrong, great opportunity for him, and I think we’ll definitely need him over the season.

I remember quite a few comments about Hastings that were very similar before he came to us. Not saying that Patton is the next Hastings or anything, but it's interesting to see how a change of club can be massive for some players. He's been endlessly messed about by a Warrington side for most of his pro career. Will be interesting to see how he adapts to a more secure environment. I'm a bit like you in so much as he hasn't set the world alight for me, but he's got obvious talent that just needs the right fit for him. Hopefully that's us.

cheers