szkocjasid 3,027 Posted December 7, 2021 (edited) 12 hours ago, BassoontheGasso said: Poole would be making a big mistake to go top heavy next season. Ben Cook at 4 is too risky. Fine at No.2 but his average is mostly built on a spell at reserve. Riding at 4 last season his home Av was 4.00 and Away it was 3.50 (No B Points) Zach Cook in the 1-5 is a no no imo because he wasn't good at all on the road last season 3.38 Away GSA inc bonus. Have to build the 1-7 to get Zach riding at No.6 Any team building plans should start with the following formula imo to give the team balance and to ensure certain riders ride at a certain number that suits them best. One of S. Worrall or Lawson to join DK (All three is a mistake as it leaves riders riding out of position and asks them to punch above their weight at this moment in time) 1. Steve Worrall 2. Ben Cook 3. 4. 5. Danny King 6. Zach Cook 7. Drew Kemp or 1. Danny King 2. Ben Cook 3. 4. 5. Richard Lawson 6. Zach Cook 7. Drew Kemp Given that second strings can ride from numbers 2-5 I'm not sure how number 4 is risky for Ben Cook but number 2 isn't? If a team manager was trying to be "tactical" he could have moved Schlein to number 4 to counter Brennan / Pickering in the finals last season, but no change was made! Likewise when Plymouth put their weakest top 5 rider Bowtell at number 3, Poole (if they raced them) could've countered by putting Cook at 3! However very few managers, if any, swap riders depending on the opposition. Very little "tinkering" is done! Edited December 7, 2021 by szkocjasid 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BartoszZmarzlikFan 491 Posted December 8, 2021 12 minutes ago, szkocjasid said: I get the point you are making that having Zach Cook "out of position" means he'll score less in the top 5, but isn't this countered by having say Ricard Lawson "out if position" at number 3, so scoring more than he would do if he was at 1 or 5? Lawson would score the same whether it's 1, 3 or 5 imo because he's one of the top performers in the league who knows the majority of tracks inside out by now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BartoszZmarzlikFan 491 Posted December 8, 2021 5 minutes ago, szkocjasid said: Given that second strings can ride from numbers 2-5 I'm not sure how number 4 is risky for Ben Cook but number 2 isn't? If a team manager was trying to be "tactical" he could have moved Schlein to number 4 to counter Brennan / Pickering in the finals last season, but no change was made! Likewise when Plymouth put their weakest top 5 rider Bowtell at number 3, Poole (if they raced them) could've countered by putting Cook at 3! However very few managers, if any, swap riders depending on the opposition. Very little "tinkering" is done! Teams normally put the weakest 1-5 rider at No.2 and the strongest second string at No.4. No.4 is normally a rider a club has more confidence in winning a crucial Heat 14 for example. No.2 is an easier role because you're riding with the club's No.1 three times who should be doing the business which takes the pressure off the second string a little bit. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skidder1 7,637 Posted December 8, 2021 12 hours ago, BassoontheGasso said: Teams normally put the weakest 1-5 rider at No.2 and the strongest second string at No.4. No.4 is normally a rider a club has more confidence in winning a crucial Heat 14 for example. No.2 is an easier role because you're riding with the club's No.1 three times who should be doing the business which takes the pressure off the second string a little bit. No. 2 is the most difficult for exactly the same reasons as you give above - plus he rides against the opposition No.1/ heat leader. Points mean money as its their job Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaizer 2,864 Posted December 8, 2021 19 minutes ago, Skidder1 said: No. 2 is the most difficult for exactly the same reasons as you give above - plus he rides against the opposition No.1/ heat leader. Points mean money as its their job Is heat 8 still protected? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skidder1 7,637 Posted December 8, 2021 1 minute ago, Jaizer said: Is heat 8 still protected? Dunno. I'll ask Danny when he's less busy. I assume it is as nothing to the contrary has been said. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mac101 1,201 Posted December 8, 2021 3 minutes ago, Jaizer said: Is heat 8 still protected? Yes unless you change over reserves 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisa-colette 6,031 Posted December 8, 2021 Does it need protecting if there aren't any rising stars anymore? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Weeyin 1,022 Posted December 8, 2021 32 minutes ago, lisa-colette said: Does it need protecting if there aren't any rising stars anymore? Its been protected in the championship for a few years, even before rising stars 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jaizer 2,864 Posted December 8, 2021 36 minutes ago, lisa-colette said: Does it need protecting if there aren't any rising stars anymore? Think it was to protect riders coming up from reserve who generally ride at 2. However where issue arises is where teams lined up with no.3 in averages at no.2. if protecting it should also mean no.2 has to be no.5 in averages 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
szkocjasid 3,027 Posted December 8, 2021 3 hours ago, Jaizer said: Is heat 8 still protected? It is, but it's a pointless exercise. Peterborough could have Hans Andersen & Chris Harris protected in heat 8, but Jordan Palin not protected in heat 9! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Catalan 717 Posted December 8, 2021 7 hours ago, Jaizer said: Is heat 8 still protected? Yes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skidder1 7,637 Posted December 9, 2021 First rider announcement 'hopefully next week' - according to Danny Ford in this week's Speedway Star!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lisa-colette 6,031 Posted December 9, 2021 Fingers crossed then. Be nice to have some team news before Christmas. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wee Eck 703 Posted December 9, 2021 On 12/8/2021 at 12:50 PM, Jaizer said: Is heat 8 still protected? I think it’s only protected against using a tactical substitute. The team manager could swap reserves or even replace the team’s number 2 with the number 6. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
