: Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:10 am  

The quality of Deacon's team organising skills are proven when he's not playing and the team looks like headless chickens.

But it's pointless arguing Deacon's ability with Tigertot since he clearly will never rate him no matter what the evidence.

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:12 am  

However "rubbish" Deacon is, his record surely offers evidence to the contrary?

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:11 pm  

DILLIGAF wrote:

The quality of Deacon's team organising skills are proven when he's not playing and the team looks like headless chickens.

But it's pointless arguing Deacon's ability with Tigertot since he clearly will never rate him no matter what the evidence.

The evidence is clearly that he offers nothing but kicking. Most of the organising I have witnessed comes from the hooker at PTB - Lowes & Newton. It is interesting that 'organising skills' are the one skill that can't be measured or proven. If you compare the much maligned Jeffries stats from last year he stuffs Deacon in all these offensive areas - Tries, Try assists, Metres gained, Carries, Tackles, Offloads, Attacking Kicks, Runs from dummy half, Tackle Busts, Clean Breaks.
Every half back has organising responsibilities & abilities, the only reason it's trotted out for Deacon is that he has nothing else to his game.

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:16 pm  

Meanwhile, Hood doesn’t envisage bringing anyone in to replace the former Cronulla player. “We were always happy with the squad we’d put together and are perfectly happy to go forward with it,” he said. “This was a special opportunity that materialised and it’s now been whipped away from under our feet but we’re still in no worse position than we were to start with.” Link

Meanwhile, Hood doesn’t envisage bringing anyone in to replace the former Cronulla player. “We were always happy with the squad we’d put together and are perfectly happy to go forward with it,” he said. “This was a special opportunity that materialised and it’s now been whipped away from under our feet but we’re still in no worse position than we were to start with.” Link

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:34 pm  

DILLIGAF wrote:

The quality of Deacon's team organising skills are proven when he's not playing and the team looks like headless chickens.

Unfortunately Deacon needs to do more than organise to be rated as a top scrum half in SL. Just because the team are rubbish when he's not there does not mean he's a great player. He lacks pace and does not take on the line enough IMO.

When half backs fail for other teams a reason oft-cited is that they are playing behind a beaten pack, yet if Bradford have one of the best packs in the league, surely Deacon should stand out more and be a match winner in your favour. Unfortunately he seems to have been anonymous even when the pack is on top in the games so far this season. The likes of Burrow and Long are still able to make something from nothing when the chips are down - not a trait I'd associate with Deacon. Even his kicking game isn't as good as it used to be.

I would rate him firmly in the lower half of a league of SL scrum-halves, with Jeffries firmly rooted at the bottom on current form.

Back on topic, Lee Smith will be out of contract at the end of the season but I doubt he would want to go to Bradford unless they offered him markedly more money than Leeds.

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:38 pm  

af wrote: Link I wonder if this lends credence to the idea that Bird was just a ruse to make it look like the Bulls were trying to spend up to the cap and be in the hunt for 'marquee' signings, when in actual fact it is just a smokescreen for more cost-cutting. I'd be feeling short-changed if I were a Bulls fan (other than my current passing interest in them as my second club ). Ok, there is no point in signing someone for the sake of it but I'd like to think the club would be in the running if a quality player (a back in ANY position) became available...

af wrote: Link I wonder if this lends credence to the idea that Bird was just a ruse to make it look like the Bulls were trying to spend up to the cap and be in the hunt for 'marquee' signings, when in actual fact it is just a smokescreen for more cost-cutting. I'd be feeling short-changed if I were a Bulls fan (other than my current passing interest in them as my second club ). Ok, there is no point in signing someone for the sake of it but I'd like to think the club would be in the running if a quality player (a back in ANY position) became available...

: Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:15 pm  

Tbh without his magnificent goal kicking, would we still think Deacs was even worth having in the team. I would, many of you wouldn't.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:18 pm  

DILLIGAF wrote:

I'd say Deacon,... decent enough to play for a top team, .

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:20 pm  

tigertot wrote:

:wink:

i think tonight fully shows it up that for us to play well we need Deacon is a load of tosh.

: Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:24 pm  

DILLIGAF wrote:

The quality of Deacon's team organising skills are proven when he's not playing and the team looks like headless chickens.