I'd give Goulding another season as he's only 21. Classic case of a younger player being brought into the first team far too young and inexperienced then paying for it.

This is where the divide is between Wigan fans, those who think kids should be brought in at 17/18 and those who believe they are more able to cope at 19/20.



As for Karl Pryce, I can't understand why folk don't realise that our Karl doesn't do enthusiasm. He's not bright eyed and bushy tailed with endless enthusiasm all day! That's just not him!

Was he does do is score more than one try every two games. According to Bilko's stats KP has played 58 SL games, more than half off the bench and scored 37 tries. That record will stand against any SL wingman/centre in the game. Fitness may well be a problem and the new regime may have a problem to deal with there perhaps. KP is here for next season and again is a young player. This could be his last chance with the new coach.



Goulding and Pryce could be fillers for a year if they are not careful, with George to go and his money to strengthen elsewhere in the squad.

Id let Carmont go and give Goulding a year to prove himself. He was made the scapegoat for Tim Smiths failings in defence at the start of the season. Went to Salford found some form and came back looking very good it was just unlucky he got injured.



IIRC he was made the scapegoat in the 2008 season as well after some shocking "team" performances.



If we let this happen Goulding would finally get his chance in what seems to be our most stable team for some time so nobody can defend him if he doesnt perform if it does not work we have the likes of Charnley and Thornley who can get some experience in the odd few games and obviously if Pryce pulls his finger out he may be in with a chance.

Yet IL reckons Mr Pryce has the potential to be 'World Class'.

We are definitely after Ryan Bailey and James Graham

You would be mad to let Feka go, he does need to get in shape, but he is still devastating going forward.



Ryan Bailey would be a good signing, I'd take him at bradford aswell, adds aggression, gets in the other teams faces and is an old fashioned nasty prop.



James Graham, well, he'd walk into any side in the world but I can't see him leaving Saints.

You gee'ttin' a source?





I'm glad we're after some new props, especially Graham although I doubt he'd leave Saints. Question I have is who would we release/sell-on?



Fielden?

Feka?

Coley?

O'Carroll?

Prescott?



Say we were to sign Bailey and Graham - 2 out of the 5 names would have to be released. So who would you choose?



For mine it'd be Coley and O'Carroll. Although I know alot of people will choose Fielden and A.N. Other. Only reason I'd keep Fielden is for his workmanship in defence, plus I actually want to see how he fares under Maguire.

I agree with him, and think he can be anything he wants in the game, but it is up to him to knuckle down and earn it, he has all the raw materials.



A Pryce, Ainscough long term Wing Centre partnership could dominate SL for a long long time, but both have to earn it.

The same can be said for all of our youngsters and senior players IMO.

If the Bailey rumour is true then we can probably afford him as the squad stands now.

If the Graham rumour is true then a massive wage earner will have to leave.

Wasn't Graham quoted as saying he'd "come to Wigan for Fielden's wages."

I can believe it about Bailey, Graham still seems a bit far fetched but so did the thought of Fielden signing before he arrived.

I'd just be happy if he knuckled down and became 'Wigan Class'.

If what Graham has said, in your post, is true then so be it. A RL career is only short and a player must earn his worth IMO. I just hope if he did sign, that he wouldn't fade away like Fielden has done.



Even if one of Bailey/Graham were to sign, we'd have 6 props on our books with one coming through from the academy (Ben Davies) that makes for 7. Something, or should I say someone, like it or not has to give.

I would honestly expect for at least one of Fielden or Feka to move on considering all the conjecture on here about the wages they're supposedly on.



Graham is gonna want a wedge wherever he moves on to, I wouldn't have thought Bailey is gonna take up a massive slice of the cap but would obviously still not be on peanuts!



If I'm honest I can't see either of them being a real goer, Saints ain't gonna sell to us and surely Bailey wouldn't pass IL's due dilligence testing?



Also if Graham was going to move on surely he'd be off to OZ?

That's certainly what I'd be doing if I were him. Play like he has been doing for the past few seasons and a transfer to the NRL won't be far away.

Depends whether he's bothered about the ££ or the rugby. He'll get a lot more dosh over here.

Used to mean the same thing

I would take James Graham in an instant. He is probably the best prop forward in Super League and the metres he makes alongside the number of carries is simply staggering. He would be one of the few players who could make it in the NRL IMO. So if there is any slight possible chance we could sign him or make him available - go for it!



But all that said it just isn't going to happen.



Ryan Bailey on the other hand is a much more realistic target. Never liked Bailey, always thought he is a thug and one of those players you would love to see get owned. He's nasty, always getting little digs in and is right in your face which at the moment we need. So on a short term contract I would be quite pleased with Ryan Bailey. We would be stronger with him than without. Competition for places is a positive thing.

I wouldn't attach too much significance to this. The Saints and Wigan relationship now is not the Saints and Wigan relationship of the Mo/DW era. IL and EM seem to get on pretty well. It's also worth remembering that money talks. If Graham wants out and announces that he's leaving at the end of his contract come what may, Saints may well feel a need to cash in while they can.



The most likely stumbling block IMO is the cash we'd be required to fork out. Even if Fielden went to Celtic, I find it hard to envisage a frugal chap like IL producing the sort of transfer fee Saints would demand.

Has anyone thought we may be swapping fielden with cash for graham.



Just a thought.

I'd say it was more likely that Fielden may be going somewhere else (not Saints), and that we'd use that money to snare Graham. But when push comes to shove, I still don't think even that is particularly likely.

This is a rumour I heard a couple of weeks back, from a pretty reliable source.



That being Fielden would go to Celtic and we would make a move for Graham.



The reasons being that although Saints have improved themselves financially over the last few years, they are in need of a cash injection at the present time.



I can only think that Graham is their most saleable asset in terms of transfer fees. Also I very much doubt an NRL side would pay a transfer fee.

I think were living on another planet if we believe signing Graham is a possibility but then i thought that about Fielden himself i suppose.



Still i'd be more then stunned if we did sign him.

It reminds me of the time we signed Fielden this..



I'm being asked by people on the street if i have heard the rumour some i dont really speak to but they ask because they know i'm a wigan fan.



Joking and laughing it off but having the "what if" in the back of your head.

Exactly, no one saw that coming but It happened.



All we can do is hope.

Ditto. I agree, I dont see it at all, but "what if"

Someone told me 3 weeks ago they were after Graham but I dismissed it as rumour.

I wouldn't want Bailey. He always seems injured.