And who better to form a valid opinion?

I actually love the fact that you try to lay down the conspiracy theory that IL made the signing and not the coaching staff.

If you do not agree with it fair enough, but don't be silly.

Our coach has been given total support from IFL when it comes to recruitment, the notion that because you do not agree with it hence it cannot be a coaching decision smack of yet more Dave O, trying to find a negative/be controversial, which sadly has become your trademark in the last year or so while posting on here.

Properly pleased about Deacs.
Even during his Bratfut heyday, i always hoped that he'd come 'home' at some point.
Good move i think. And will give us top goalkicking cover whilst Paaaaaat recovers.
As for Pryce? Well, bit baffled by that one to be honest.
Lazy and soft seems to be the general concensus. And i wouldnt disagree.
Maybe (hopefully) he can finally prove us all wrong in 2011.

And that is so perfect a riposte to a very silly but sadly recognisable argument that no further comment is needed.

Sorry john but didn't nobby get told the same thing?

What did Nobby get told?

As long as the wage was at a suitable level i'd give Pryce a 10 year deal. IF, and it's a big if, but if he ever reaches his potential i wouldn't want him playing against us.

On a serious note. Pryce has had a difficult time, he spent the best part of 3 years out injured. Anyone would struggle to come back from that. Psycologically it would put a fear of getting seriously injured again in his mind which is something he needs to overcome. I understand why people say he is lazy but i don't agree. I think he looks lethargic as he has little speed off the mark due to his size. I'm with Rogues when he said Pryce could do with loosing a stone or so and do some serious sprint training to improve his speed off the mark. IIRC he didn't have a full pre-season last year, something he will have this. I'm hoping for big things if he earns his chance to get into the team.

Finally, if Maguire and IL saw fit to give him another contract it must have been for a reason. One thing i'm sure of is they know a hell of a lot more than us.

Deacon surprised the hell out of me since he signed from Bratfurt.

But Pryce, I mean come on .

How does he manage to scam an extra 12 month contract ? Complete waste of time. As bad as Vaeiliki is Pryce, hopeless.

Just for those who blame his height for being 'slow'. Usain Bolt is 6'5", as is Greg Inglis. Just saying like. Anyway, if you compare him to Goulding his stats aren't so hot (tries exluded) www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 In terms of metres per match, Goulding is around 30m per game ahead of Pryce (Paaat is around double). He's also behind in carries per game, tackle busts and runs from dummy half. The only area he's up is tackles, possibly because opponents target his wing. You do want him to come good as for a lad that size he should be a huge player, but he really needs a strong season.

Just for those who blame his height for being 'slow'. Usain Bolt is 6'5", as is Greg Inglis. Just saying like. Anyway, if you compare him to Goulding his stats aren't so hot (tries exluded) www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010 In terms of metres per match, Goulding is around 30m per game ahead of Pryce (Paaat is around double). He's also behind in carries per game, tackle busts and runs from dummy half. The only area he's up is tackles, possibly because opponents target his wing. You do want him to come good as for a lad that size he should be a huge player, but he really needs a strong season.

Madge would be better off playing Pryce as a centre in my opinion. When he plays on the wing he is easily put into touch when defenders gang up on him but I have never really seen him be taken down too much. If he was to play in the centre he attracts a couple of defenders and offloads with space made for his team mates. I know its in the other code but this is something Bath RUFC have done with Matthew Banahan who is actually bigger than Pryce and is now playing extremely well as a result of his positional switch. Pryce has all the potential in the world as far as I'm concerned he just needs someone to let him know hes a 6ft 6, 18 stone plus juggernaut!

An OK player from the neck down. Madge needs to get inside his head and sort out his mental attitude.
Sort that out and he an ok squad cover player. If Madge cant get though two him all Pryce is doing is holding back one of the youngsters who we might loose .

Pryce must have a picture of a jack russell licking leneghans strawberry.

i am actuall quite pleased Pryce has signed. he'll more than likely be on peanuts, hes a massive unit and next season is gonna be even tougher. people will want to knock us off the top. we need a big capable squad. we dont know how pat is going to recover and how confident hes going to be ( look at amos ). we need someone who can put th eball over he line and he can certainly do that. beacuse of his size people interpret his attitude as being poor due to laid back body language but i remember alot on here critisising Pat when he played at full back saying he never breaks the first tackle and she should because of his size. Pryce is the scapegoat for many on her and to be honest when he played he never really let us down. A few mistakes but no more than any other player. He could score 30 tries next year and it wouldnt be enough for some.

I actually disagree with Dave in that I'm in favour of keeping Pryce. However the "Madge did X - Everything Madge does is brilliant - X is brilliant" argument just kills every debate stone dead.

He is the landlord of the Last Chance saloon and the brewery are on the verge of calling in the stocktakers!

This sums up my opinions of Deacon and Pryce as well.

Hard facts often do.

Madge has hardly put a foot wrong since he's been here.

But I still find the argument that "this decision is crap, so it can't be down to Madge, it must be down to Lenagan" laughably ridiculous. Presumably Madge also wanted to keep Ainsough as well, but Lenagan insisted on releasing him. You couldn't make it up.

Come off it. There is nothing controversial is suggesting the owner of a club is not 100% out of the loop when it comes to who gets signed. You have been in game yourself long enough to know that and Pryce was brought to the club in the first place by IL.

I don't know about you but whenever I come across something I can't explain, I look for explanations. I certainly can not explain why Pryce has been given a new deal because the way he plays the game is exactly the opposite of the Madge ethos. Do you disagree on that last point because if you don't you must be as mystified as I as to what Madge sees in him if you insist the one year deal is all down to Madge. It does not add up to me.

I certainly can not fathom why a winger who could not force his way into the side unless we had injuries and who is of his age has been allowed to take up a top 25 spot (you can guarantee he won't be receiving his wages form the £55K pot).

Whoever's decision it was we shall just have to see how it pans out but I am not hopeful he can realise his potential (to put it mildly) and if he does not it will have proved to have been a poor decision whoever made it. If he does, great but there is certainly nothing wrong with questioning this signing or wondering why Madge would sign him given the expectations Madge clearly has from his players.

Dave

The articles I've read about Deacons deal say that he's going to be assistant coach in 2012, what does that mean for your current assistant coach Wane?

Is Maguire off after two years with Wane stepping up?

Well given you said this:



and given the hard fact he will actually take up one of the top 25 salary cap wages does he, in your opinion, represent a worthwhile use of one of those slots?



[uIf[/u IL is the reason Pryce is still here it does not follow he would interfere in other decisions.

As you say Madge has hardly put a foot wrong while he has been here which is why I find it mystifying he would sign Pryce. Pryce being kept has nothing to do with the signing or release of any other player.

Personally I think it is far a fetched notion that any owner has no input into who stays and who goes. Madge is after all IL's employee and so might just have to do what he is told every now and again.

Dave

The articles (the "official" ones, at least) all say "an Assistant Coach".

You find it mystifying because you think it's a mistake. But you're not as qualified to have an opinion on this as Michael Maguire is, or, given that you don't have contracts and salary info to hand, as Ian Lenagan is. And maybe they don't think it's a mistake (and I know which side I would listen to).

You're trying to dress it up in sensible terms now, but this is just a continuation of your Ainscough obsession. You can't possibly have a pop at Maguire because you'd look ridiculous, but to you IL is still fair game. So therefore, when a decision is made that you feel you're on safe ground disagreeing with, you come flying out of the blocks with "this has got IL's fingerprints on it" nonsense.

Can't you just be content that things are going very well at the club, and that the guy you volubly criticised has a significant responsibility for it?

Chuffed about Deacs signging up again.

Not sure about the Pryce one, but he offers cover if nothing else. I just hope if hes given a chance, he wont be booed before he even touches the ball.

great news about deacon. as for pryce , mmmmmmmmmm . All i will say on that one is that there is certainly some negative feedback regarding his fitness and application in pre season, but its early days yet.

No change from the original plan then, bar his extra year playing. Thought it was a bit strange.

Has there been any official confirmation about Pryce's extention?

I am very happy if it comes of. I know it is very easy to say "in madge we trust" but in all honesty (apart with a couple of squad selection errors) has he even given a reason to doubt his jugement?.

I think with Pryce, people judge him on what they expect to see from him as opposed to what he does on the field.

I dont think however that Pryce will ever make it at Wigan. Even if he does turn into a good winger/ he will still divide fans opinions and get heckled by our own support, win lose or draw.

Confidence is a hard thing to come by and he will never get it here because he does not get the support he needs from certain sections of our support.

The best thing he can do is have a good season and get himself a gig somewhere else.