BWitcher

As I said, you've confirmed in this post you haven't a clue what you are/were talking about. You thought he might be good enough to finish in the top 5 in the final averages.. you were completely wrong. Yet still don't seem to grasp why. Now you say the same thing about Morris. Again, completely wrong, for the exact same reason.

If you were 'disappointed' with him in 2018 then you had completely false hopes and were very wrong to begin with. He did exactly as expected, maybe slightly better.

I agree with pretty much all of that, which is exactly what I said would happen.. and was slated by most for. I think he actually as well as could be expected. Anyway, apologies for any offence, a few crossed wires but as I say we're pretty much in agreement. As I said above, he will be more equipped for riding at No 1 next season.. and most importantly, if he goes there, it will be on the back of performing well in a less demanding position so would have that added confidence.

Agree with you here, we have to hope/believe there is still more improvement to come from him. He has had a taste at No 1, it was tough, but he will be better equipped next time. That may well come this season.

Tungate beat Thorssell at least twice in 2017 at Monmore, certainly did so in the play offs. I highly doubt Thorsell beat the other two, or indeed any rider in the top five of any side by 'the length of the straight'. Anyway, the simple facts remain.. signing Thorssell in 2018 was an awful, awful signing, almost condemning the team to a season of mediocrity before a wheel was turned. The signing of Thorssell in 2019 would be an excellent signing giving the team a great chance of success before a wheel has turned.

Exactly. Which is why having two of them on such low averages... and neither starting at No 1 gives a big advantage. Masters will start at 1 but highly unlikely will stay there. One of those at 3 and 4 will move to No 1 at some point.

They won't but if they did, the same principle applies.

Correct. You were both very wrong. The rider who will top our averages out of Masters, Schlein, Thorssell (assuming he signs) and Morris will be the one who spends the longest riding at 3 or 4.

Thanks Wolfie.. I'd forgotten how crazy it was to sign him in the first place on that average So he went down 1.39.. which fits in with me stating (as I did before a wheel was turned last year) there is a 1-2pt difference between riding at 4 and 1. Plus of course factor in he was coming back from a nasty injury. Keen to know who the riders are he was losing to in 2018 that he was beating by the length of the straight in 2017.. or are we to assume this is made up?

Not arrogant, just correct. Your response just further emphasizes what I said. I'll give you a chance though, name these riders that he lost to in 2018 that he was beating by 'the length of the straight' in 2017. I'll give you some help, barring a mechanical issue or a fall there won't be a single one. The difference between riding at No4 to riding at No 1 is around 1-2pts. Jacob's average fell by 0.72 (based on his average being 7.97 at start of year, not sure if that is the right figure). Based on that he at the very worst stayed the same, but realistically it appears he improved. The difference in riding at 4 and 1 isn't just about the significant difference in the fourth ride either. It's the mindset and pressure of being No 1. It's the first race being off the outside gates and of course it's about confidence.

You've just shown you don't understand it at all in your answer. How much he increases his average will depend on his riding position. If he starts at 5 he will increase a little.. if he starts at 3 or 4 he will increase a lot.

No he didn't.. and yes, most fans haven't a clue and simply fail to grasp the difference between riding at No 4 and No 1.

Surely we can't be stupid enough to give him a year elsewhere. They may all have agreed some time ago, just spacing out the announcements.

Cook owns Wells?

I'm afraid your account has been closed after consultation with the traders. The decision is non-negotiable.

Klindt, fomerly a 4/6 shot to return to Poole has seen his odds drift right out to 16/1 following TNT's declaration he will be at Poole

He will do considerably better as he won't, at least initially be riding at No 1 which was a major reason for his average dropping.. exactly the same with Thorssell. He won't take any dialling in to Monmore, he is as good as most there already.

Thorssell is an absolute must signing on his average. With him in the side it would give Morris, Thorssell and Howarth all with scope to increase their averages, potentially significantly. If Becker is a 4.00 and gets dialled in to Monmore he too could improve. A VERY good looking team so far.

Adonis, take a moment to actually read and you will see we are in agreement.

The same thing to which you said "the only connection is in the minds of people who go looking for things to be offended about , pathetic really" i.e. we are in agreement. There was nothing offensive posted for ArnieG to get worked up about.

He didn't apologise as there was no need to. He simply stated there was no offence intended.. which of course there wasn't.. neither 'intended' or 'caused'. What is offensive is you bringing paedophilia into a conversation about a speedway team. What is wrong with your mind to even begin to go there?

You're the one with the issue and it's your sick mind that has tried to connect two perfectly innocent comments and turn them into something they quite clearly are not.

You call yourself a speedway fan? That has been a fun part of the sport ever since I've been following it (1984).

It's not funny at all, it's perfect sense. Many fans are tired of paying the same, or increased prices for a product that is being consistently lowered in standard. No business can expect to survive in that fashion.

Legally.. but it's all a game of favors..