Bagpuss 10,788 Posted March 5, 2014 The draft riders were drawn/selected, subject to availability and fixture clashes. Bates could hardly ride for 2 Thursday tracks (Swindon and Sheffield) so requested that Swindon release him - which they were more than prepared to do - and he became available to be signed for any other EL club, subject to his availability! So why bother with a draft where teams picked riders in turn? Might as well of made it a free for all in the first place. The idea was to make sure clubs got their assets and then to make the reserve strengths as even as possible. Poole chose last so by replacing Smart with a rider chosen earlier in the draft (Bates) rather than one if the leftovers (Greenwood & Hopwood) they will gain an unfair advantage, as usual. As has been said once Bates chose Sheffield over Swindon he should not be permitted to appear at reserve for an EL side until 2015. Should be quite simple and straightforward, anything else is unfair and once again means an uneven playing field. 8 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv 10,706 Posted March 5, 2014 I dont think it would be right for Bates to return to the draft list for this year. If Poole or any other team needs to make a change it should be from those remaining plus the extension (any details of those added??) 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebrum 6,824 Posted March 5, 2014 Not really sure why some are hung up on Bates going to Poole. Fair enough he turned down a place to ride in the PL for Sheffield which is totally the right thing to do at this stage of his career. Isn't this the same lad who wasn't ready for PL at reserve with Scunthorpe last season?? Not sure Poole could be accused of pulling a fast one this time (yea i know, first time for everything ) if Bates replaces Smart. We want to be encouraging promising lads like Bates to try his luck in the EL reserves spots this year, NOT penalising him for doing the RIGHT thing! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arson fire 4,785 Posted March 5, 2014 I dont think it would be right for Bates to return to the draft list for this year. If Poole or any other team needs to make a change it should be from those remaining plus the extension (any details of those added??) wonder if Brady Kurtz would have added to that list once he'd ridden in the CL....thus then gaining a team spot .... Had his ave not been upped 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve0 5,517 Posted March 5, 2014 Not really sure why some are hung up on Bates going to Poole. Fair enough he turned down a place to ride in the PL for Sheffield which is totally the right thing to do at this stage of his career. Isn't this the same lad who wasn't ready for PL at reserve with Scunthorpe last season?? Not sure Poole could be accused of pulling a fast one this time (yea i know, first time for everything ) if Bates replaces Smart. We want to be encouraging promising lads like Bates to try his luck in the EL reserves spots this year, NOT penalising him for doing the RIGHT thing! So what about encouraging Lee Smart then? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel Smith 5,671 Posted March 5, 2014 Not really sure why some are hung up on Bates going to Poole. Fair enough he turned down a place to ride in the PL for Sheffield which is totally the right thing to do at this stage of his career. Isn't this the same lad who wasn't ready for PL at reserve with Scunthorpe last season?? Not sure Poole could be accused of pulling a fast one this time (yea i know, first time for everything ) if Bates replaces Smart. We want to be encouraging promising lads like Bates to try his luck in the EL reserves spots this year, NOT penalising him for doing the RIGHT thing! I cannot agree more. There certainly hasn't been any pre meditation on Bates side. Just simply putting PL first. This can't be said about Poole. Ford has made it clear he didn't want Smart but again, these opinions were said before Bates withdrew from Swindon so Poole can't be made culpable for that. This could be pure and simply, a possible stroke of luck for both parties and neither should be punished just because it involves Poole 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SCB 0 Posted March 5, 2014 The point is Bates is higher up the draft than Lee Smart so should not be allowed to replace him. If Poole want Bates all the teams above them in the 2nd round of the draft (so all except Coventry and Lynn) should have to agree to it as they may want him. Would be interesting if Swindon decided they wanted him Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steve0 5,517 Posted March 5, 2014 I cannot agree more. There certainly hasn't been any pre meditation on Bates side. Just simply putting PL first. This can't be said about Poole. Ford has made it clear he didn't want Smart but again, these opinions were said before Bates withdrew from Swindon so Poole can't be made culpable for that. This could be pure and simply, a possible stroke of luck for both parties and neither should be punished just because it involves Poole This stupid draft system is supposed to encourage young Brits in the draft. No one has turned a wheel yet and some are already talking about replacing Lee Smart. If that does happen then it just shows how much of a crock the draft system is. Where is the encouragement for these riders when someone supposedly better comes along and they are dumped?? As I said - what a crock if it happens! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel Smith 5,671 Posted March 5, 2014 So what about encouraging Lee Smart then? That's only down to him, he has to start well. Poole first and foremost want to win and if these kids don't perform, forcing them to remain in the side will do more harm than good. This is for them to learn and they should not be susceptible to being fired. This is a results game and the top league, no favours given. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YerRopes 3,009 Posted March 5, 2014 The point is Bates is higher up the draft than Lee Smart so should not be allowed to replace him. If Poole want Bates all the teams above them in the 2nd round of the draft (so all except Coventry and Lynn) should have to agree to it as they may want him. Would be interesting if Swindon decided they wanted him The powers that be will no doubt ensure that any rider cannot be replaced with another who is higher up the draft list or has a higher average... That would be CHEATING . 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebrum 6,824 Posted March 5, 2014 So what about encouraging Lee Smart then? If he he refocused and ready to kick his career on, absolutely. But at 26 ( In April) is really `one for the future` anyway? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel Smith 5,671 Posted March 5, 2014 The point is Bates is higher up the draft than Lee Smart Only by opinion. They were both B grade picks, Smart could have been chosen first by anyone and Bates left out. Bates couldn't do 2 Thursday tracks and rightly chose the PL. People shouting we should be encouraging these boys then in the same breath saying another should be banned. No logic 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pete cc 322 Posted March 5, 2014 (edited) So what about encouraging Lee Smart then?Lee ,Don't read this. Edited March 5, 2014 by pete cc Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hodgy 976 Posted March 5, 2014 Difficult one this. Unfortunate for Bates that his EL pick clashes with his PL opportunity - could have happened to any of them. Logic should say if a conflict of EL/ PL race nights I say he should go back on the list. Guess he would like to be part of this new trial system but at his stage of career PL is more beneficial. It definitely shouldn't be a free for all but in this case you can't expect the lad to have to choose. I thought the new idea was to bring the Brits on, not penalise them. Maybe having clear and concise rules and regulations in place prior to making a major change (often referred to as risk analysis), would reduce the knock on knock on knock on effect. You could see it a mile off but some don't want to hear it, it'll be alright on the night. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YerRopes 3,009 Posted March 5, 2014 Only by opinion. They were both B grade picks, Smart could have been chosen first by anyone and Bates left out. Bates couldn't do 2 Thursday tracks and rightly chose the PL. People shouting we should be encouraging these boys then in the same breath saying another should be banned. No logic A good point Screamer in terms of encouraging the youngsters, but this is Poole and Matt Ford we are talking about.. Unfortunately it's just a question of time before Lee Smart is thrown on the scrapheap by the 'win at all costs' Pirates.. Poole should be booed wherever they go for their appalling attitude to the sport and the EL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
