proud panther 1,505 Posted May 17, 2022 This isn't any different to BWD at Newcastle at the moment, in my opinion. He might ride again, but if he doesn't, at least Brum have found a replacement. The bottom line is that there isn't enough riders available for the league, & Plymouth have got a similar problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_martin 1,606 Posted May 18, 2022 7 hours ago, proud panther said: The bottom line is that there isn't enough riders available for the league You don't need to tell anyone at Birmingham or Plymouth that. It's the fantasist clamouring for the reopening of Bradford, Coventry, Eastbourne, Reading, Swindon etc. who need convincing. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tyretrax 2,253 Posted May 18, 2022 2 hours ago, uk_martin said: You don't need to tell anyone at Birmingham or Plymouth that. It's the fantasist clamouring for the reopening of Bradford, Coventry, Eastbourne, Reading, Swindon etc. who need convincing. It's the same with people saying we should have a squad system, where do the riders come from? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainb 5,015 Posted May 18, 2022 7 minutes ago, tyretrax said: It's the same with people saying we should have a squad system, where do the riders come from? They come from abroad, like they used to before Covid. I don't know why they've not come back Brexit? or maybe the Polish U24 league, maybe a bit of both. Looking at some of the riders riding in the PU24 they were exactly the type of riders that would have plied their trade over here, there's a number of stand out young Aussies that are riding in that league but not over here. They need tempting back some how. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cinderfella 865 Posted May 18, 2022 12 minutes ago, tyretrax said: It's the same with people saying we should have a squad system, where do the riders come from? Although I would like to see the PL & CL merged to make one large league I do acknowledge that the shortfall of riders makes that improbable without changing the whole format. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wtf 621 Posted May 18, 2022 6 minutes ago, iainb said: They come from abroad, like they used to before Covid. I don't know why they've not come back Brexit? or maybe the Polish U24 league, maybe a bit of both. Looking at some of the riders riding in the PU24 they were exactly the type of riders that would have plied their trade over here, there's a number of stand out young Aussies that are riding in that league but not over here. They need tempting back some how. The problem is cost. The way squad systems operate in Poland and Sweden particularly, is based on being paid for the meetings you ride, and a healthy signing on fee as a retainer for your services if you don't ride. The UK essentially doesn't pay signing on fees at all, and it's main attraction to riders is that you should ride every available meeting bar injury or dramatic loss of form. In Poland particularly, 2 bad rides and your replaced for the meeting and as many have found out, won't ride again that year. Squads just don't work without funding and we all know the UK doesn't have a pot to pish in 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainb 5,015 Posted May 18, 2022 6 minutes ago, wtf said: The problem is cost. The way squad systems operate in Poland and Sweden particularly, is based on being paid for the meetings you ride, and a healthy signing on fee as a retainer for your services if you don't ride. The UK essentially doesn't pay signing on fees at all, and it's main attraction to riders is that you should ride every available meeting bar injury or dramatic loss of form. In Poland particularly, 2 bad rides and your replaced for the meeting and as many have found out, won't ride again that year. Squads just don't work without funding and we all know the UK doesn't have a pot to pish in That has been the attraction to riders in the past in getting them to the UK, the sheer number of pay days, it seems that the younger riders with ambition are taking their chances in the PU24 league at the moment and who can blame them as they may well hit the jackpot, a la Jaimon Lidesy. Of course the majority of them won't make it, so hopefully once they've realised that they'll adjust their goals and start coming back over here. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HGould 2,213 Posted May 18, 2022 Lets play devils advocate for a minute and consider this. A 10 Team PL and a 10 Team 2nd Tier (PL a PL/top CL mix and CL a lower CL / NDL mix) - A buddy up system where a core Squad of say 12-14 can be signed Belle Vue / Berwick KIngs Lynn / Newcastle Ipswich / Oxford Peterborough / Redcar Sheffield / Scunthorpe Wolverhampton / Birmingham Poole / Eastbourne Swindon / Plymouth Glasgow / Edinburgh Leicester / Mildenhall You'd have to allow scope for likes of Kent ; Workington to come in and possibly jiggle pairings round a bit to match race days instead of geography. Would require a fair dollop of good old 70's style rider control. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cinderfella 865 Posted May 18, 2022 3 minutes ago, HGould said: Lets play devils advocate for a minute and consider this. A 10 Team PL and a 10 Team 2nd Tier (PL a PL/top CL mix and CL a lower CL / NDL mix) - A buddy up system where a core Squad of say 12-14 can be signed Belle Vue / Berwick KIngs Lynn / Newcastle Ipswich / Oxford Peterborough / Redcar Sheffield / Scunthorpe Wolverhampton / Birmingham Poole / Eastbourne Swindon / Plymouth Glasgow / Edinburgh Leicester / Mildenhall You'd have to allow scope for likes of Kent ; Workington to come in and possibly jiggle pairings round a bit to match race days instead of geography. Would require a fair dollop of good old 70's style rider control. Glasgow & Edinburgh paired together? More chance of Rebecca Vardy and Coleen Rooney being start line girls together 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HGould 2,213 Posted May 18, 2022 like I said "devils advocate" / "jig the pairings around" some people just can't help being negative. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lbw 869 Posted May 18, 2022 9 minutes ago, HGould said: like I said "devils advocate" / "jig the pairings around" some people just can't help being negative. Sometimes it's great being negative, like me covid test! 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
uk_martin 1,606 Posted May 18, 2022 36 minutes ago, iainb said: Of course the majority of them won't make it, so hopefully once they've realised that they'll adjust their goals and start coming back over here. British Speedway. The recycle bin for those who fail to make it elsewhere Out of interest, does the BSPZzz impose any conditions on Polish riders who sign for British teams? And what assessed averages would those Polish juniors who fail to make the cut in Poland be given, bearing in mind that the reason they didn't make it was that they are not very good? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iainb 5,015 Posted May 18, 2022 11 minutes ago, uk_martin said: British Speedway. The recycle bin for those who fail to make it elsewhere That's OK though, not everybody can be world beaters... those "failures" are the lifeblood of the leagues Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cinderfella 865 Posted May 18, 2022 1 hour ago, HGould said: like I said "devils advocate" / "jig the pairings around" some people just can't help being negative. ....and some folk don't recognise a touch of humour 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GiveusaB 1,145 Posted May 18, 2022 1 hour ago, HGould said: Lets play devils advocate for a minute and consider this. A 10 Team PL and a 10 Team 2nd Tier (PL a PL/top CL mix and CL a lower CL / NDL mix) - A buddy up system where a core Squad of say 12-14 can be signed Belle Vue / Berwick KIngs Lynn / Newcastle Ipswich / Oxford Peterborough / Redcar Sheffield / Scunthorpe Wolverhampton / Birmingham Poole / Eastbourne Swindon / Plymouth Glasgow / Edinburgh Leicester / Mildenhall You'd have to allow scope for likes of Kent ; Workington to come in and possibly jiggle pairings round a bit to match race days instead of geography. Would require a fair dollop of good old 70's style rider control. Interesting suggestion. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites