oldtimer 340 Posted May 23, 2013 Swindon are missing 3 riders for their match against Birmingham (Thursday) Andersen and Kildemand are preparing for the Danish Final, with Morris injured. On Saturday Workington will use 3 guests and R/R against Glasgow, Howarth and Ashley Morris are in Poland for Team GB in under 21's. No wonder crowds are falling, there should be a rule that if more than 2 signed riders are missing the match should be postponed. If Glasgow get beat they can't say Workington beat them when the truth is it's a Workington select team, with only 3 team riders. If this happened in football and more than half the team were from other clubs, would the fans stay away? Would they complain? Why do speedway fans just accept this farce? 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Posted May 23, 2013 Swindon are missing 3 riders for their match against Birmingham (Thursday) Andersen and Kildemand are preparing for the Danish Final, with Morris injured. On Saturday Workington will use 3 guests and R/R against Glasgow, Howarth and Ashley Morris are in Poland for Team GB in under 21's. No wonder crowds are falling, there should be a rule that if more than 2 signed riders are missing the match should be postponed. If Glasgow get beat they can't say Workington beat them when the truth is it's a Workington select team, with only 3 team riders. If this happened in football and more than half the team were from other clubs, would the fans stay away? Would they complain? Why do speedway fans just accept this farce? I think that increasingly, as reflected in attendances, speedway fans are not accepting these sort of happenings. It's also a reason why the mainstream media no longer takes much notice of speedway. Sad, very sad. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oldtimer 340 Posted May 23, 2013 I wonder if there is any limit, would it be allowed, if through other rider commitments and injury's, a team had R/R, 5 guests and a Conference league reserve? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mdmc82 2,878 Posted May 23, 2013 Coventry spent most of 2011 with team made up of guests. Had 4 riders missing (Emil, Shamak, Piotr & Kennett) against Peterborough Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paulco 7,145 Posted May 23, 2013 Swindon are missing 3 riders for their match against Birmingham (Thursday) Andersen and Kildemand are preparing for the Danish Final, with Morris injured. On Saturday Workington will use 3 guests and R/R against Glasgow, Howarth and Ashley Morris are in Poland for Team GB in under 21's. No wonder crowds are falling, there should be a rule that if more than 2 signed riders are missing the match should be postponed. If Glasgow get beat they can't say Workington beat them when the truth is it's a Workington select team, with only 3 team riders. If this happened in football and more than half the team were from other clubs, would the fans stay away? Would they complain? Why do speedway fans just accept this farce? Workington's guests make them much stronger on Saturday Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Islander15 1,065 Posted May 23, 2013 If this happened in football and more than half the team were from other clubs, would the fans stay away? Would they complain? Why do speedway fans just accept this farce? It has this past season with Watford, and seeing as they nearly went up attendances weren't affected. However I do think that they're should be a maximum of R/R plus two guests, anymore and you don't feel like you're watching your own team! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mr Blobby 2,699 Posted May 23, 2013 Workington's guests have made them stronger all season. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SCB 15 Posted May 23, 2013 The worst I've ever seen was Eastbourne vs Coventry in 2008. Coventry had 4 guests, R/R and their two reserves. To make it worse, one of the guests in the 1-5 was Chris Schramm! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fromafar 10,466 Posted May 23, 2013 I think that increasingly, as reflected in attendances, speedway fans are not accepting these sort of happenings. It's also a reason why the mainstream media no longer takes much notice of speedway. Sad, very sad. Have to agree,I think it is one of the main reasons that new fan drift away,it is very difficult to market as a serious Team sport when Everyman and his dog can ride for any team during a season.If as a lot of fans insist it is just 4 men producing decent racing you would as well just Promoting Individual Meetings.How many tracks are racing in front of increased attendances this.Answers on aPostage Stamp please. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Backless 538 Posted May 23, 2013 And in the mid 1970s ('76?) Mike Patrick took a photo of three Wolves riders which appeared in one of his books as the nearest he got to a team picture all year. Still, the sport had a few good years So,, what if a team already with a couple of injuries picks up another at (say) Ipswich on a Thursday. You'd be happier if at 10pm on Thursday the match at Somerset was postponed? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mickthemuppet 976 Posted May 23, 2013 Swindon are missing 3 riders for their match against Birmingham (Thursday) Andersen and Kildemand are preparing for the Danish Final, with Morris injured. On Saturday Workington will use 3 guests and R/R against Glasgow, Howarth and Ashley Morris are in Poland for Team GB in under 21's. No wonder crowds are falling, there should be a rule that if more than 2 signed riders are missing the match should be postponed. If Glasgow get beat they can't say Workington beat them when the truth is it's a Workington select team, with only 3 team riders. If this happened in football and more than half the team were from other clubs, would the fans stay away? Would they complain? Why do speedway fans just accept this farce? They did. Ipswich Town football club used 20 loan players from other clubs last season. Can Speedway teams equal that. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Speed Hopkins 4 Posted May 26, 2013 The guest rider rule is the biggest reason league speedway isn't a serious sport. The catch 22 is that league speedway also couldn't survive without it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frigbo 524 Posted May 26, 2013 It has this past season with Watford, and seeing as they nearly went up attendances weren't affected. However I do think that they're should be a maximum of R/R plus two guests, anymore and you don't feel like you're watching your own team! That's not true. The Watford analogy doesn't work because the players were on loan and not just stepping in for one match. This compares with Eddy Kennett being on loan to Swindon for example, not teams full of other sides' riders as a one off. The Workington match last night was ridiculous, the Comets were significantly stronger by picking the low average, in form riders from elsewhere. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Panda 366 Posted May 26, 2013 Not wishing to provoke a storm or anything but surely it is time to consider a squad system..........it would do away with the need for guests and r/r and probably doubling up/down too...........doubling up/down should be restricted to being at reserve only anyway.............I think it would work in the Elite League.........may be not so much the lower leagues and it might encourage more GP riders and other good European riders not at GP level to compete over here...........would also be a chance for British youngsters to have a better chance of EL experience................ Just my view............ RP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
topaz325 1,880 Posted May 26, 2013 Ok Worky without a meet for two weeks then postpone another due to whatever, then miss another weekend with the GP taking part, then another rain off for example and the fans will drift away too. The guest rule is not ideal but untill there is an alternative.....i would rather the original Workington team took to the track as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
