Bagpuss

Kerr certainly wasn’t because he wasn’t part of the team but to say that Proctor and Jorgensen didn’t contribute to finishing clear top is daft, they were a pretty good engine room. I acknowledge they were both dire last season but why should that be any more of a barometer than the year before? I think this team will have every chance of finishing top four. The frustration is that they could have gone with three or four new faces in an effort to finish first.

Apart from 2018 when we had by far the best away record in the league and finished clear top? Lambert, Jorgensen, Proctor and Riss were all in that team. By all means criticise them for a dreadful 2019 but don’t gloss over the year before that. And yes I get people’s frustration, many of us wanted a clear out with fresh faces and I appreciate and agree with that. But don’t rewrite history.

No idea but he would be a great number seven. I think the expectation will be that all seven can improve, particularly on the back of a pretty awful 2019. Whether they can or not is another matter. As we know it won’t be through home performances as there’s very little wrong with those, it’s about being far, far more competitive in away fixtures. The hiding at the Foxhole last March set the tone unfortunately.

We have that issue at Lynn too

Proctor has plenty to prove, he is at reserve for a reason but should make hay there early on looking at some of the other reserves around. If his confidence and his shoulder are in good nick from the off he could put two points on his starting figure. You can certainly see why he has been signed on that figure. Assuming Cook and Riss return and Robert can get back to his 2018 form or near to it then we have very capable heat leaders and a good reserve which gives the side a good structure. Disappointed MPT won’t be back and Kerr and Jorgensen have to improve from poor seasons to warrant their inclusion and for the team to finish top four. The final signing will be crucial, it needs to be somebody who can contribute consistently as the number seven position has been troublesome for far too long.

Ahead of Swindon spinny? Wow.

Meanwhile the next rider looks suspiciously like Riss.

I can’t argue with that mate as things turned out as you predicted but I’d also argue that Lambert and Kerr significantly underachieved in 2019 and the number seven spot once again was an issue. Only really Riss and MPT (along with Cook) met expectations. I’d have had a bit of a clear out for 2020 personally to try and sort the away form but that’s not going to happen and while disappointing I don’t think anyone should write off our chances. Assuming Cook returns and we have a decent reserve the team will have a much better balance than the one which started last season but fingers will have to be pulled out on the road.

So what’s your barometer, 2018 or 2019? Very little difference in personal or I daresay attitude between the two seasons but little things either go your way or don’t and they add up to either a good season or a pretty bad one. Impossible to know how this coming season will go until it gets into full swing. I’m sure the experience of 2018 left everybody desperate to go one better, the hunger is there to win it and tat doesn’t happen by going through the motions.

I suspect he was always returning to Wolves and nobody else got a sniff.

With Kerr and Jorgensen signed I’d be very surprised if MPT is at Lynn. A pity as I’d have him over them both.

It wasn’t meant to be in 2018, the injuries completely screwed us over unfortunately, without those we would have won the final by twenty points on aggregate IMO but that’s sport. Even if the referee had done his job correctly we would have been without Palm Toft for the second leg and with two ineffective guests we had no chance. Just one of those things. As for 2020 I would be much more positive than that, I don’t agree with some of the choices made so far but we are going to have three good heat leaders and a decent reserve so all is not lost. Apart from Swindon every team has question marks over it and look at where Ipswich finished last year, as well as us in 2018 and Swindon the year before that. Unfancied teams can do well.

I don’t go very often nowadays for various reasons, some speedway related and some not so I do get people’s apathy. However could you please explain a couple of things from your post, firstly what shenanigans robbed us in 2018 and why you think we have no chance of finishing in the top four in 2020. Thanks.

If nobody signs Pickering I’d be astonished, maybe he doesn’t want to ride Premiership or can’t get the correct visa? Must be a reason.

Come on Sidney, let’s be having you

I thought I read that he expects to be fit for the start of the season?

I think you have to name the seven riders separately, and they seem to be getting on with it this year after dragging it too long last winter. As has been said with the two local papers and two local radio stations it makes sense to make seven stories out of it rather than one. You would imagine the other four will be named over the next couple of weeks so not long to wait. I’ve never understood the clamour to know ASAP anyway, we are four months from the season starting so there is no great rush. What would be quite good but probably beyond the current group of promoters is a launch day where everyone names their teams and the media get properly involved, race suits are revealed etc etc. All in one place with as many riders as possible present. Launch the prospect of the new season with a bang.

Let’s hope it’s a nice surprise and not a nasty one.

Bit far for me But the point is that needs to be a minimum requirement for every track. Diehards won’t care but if you want new people to come and keep coming then they will need and want nice facilities.

You are probably right but sometimes when people write garbage it’s necessary to counter that opinion with something much closer to reality. Might also be a good idea to move to a different thread and ignore ‘trivial arguments’ if you don’t want to get involved in them, that’s usually what I do.

Indeed, in stadia with pleasant toilets, decent refreshments and pothole free car parks. Not many of those around in the UK unfortunately. Those things should be basics nowadays.

But if Bewley has the higher average in October then he will be the better rider in October, not ‘atm’ ie right now......

How about having a proper discussion without being a silly bully for once? And yes we all know they will be teammates but you are the one who said ‘ask anyone who would you choose in straight choice for your team !! i'll leave it there !!‘ 2-0 Wright so far.

I presume you know what ‘atm’ means in that context? The averages say that Wright is currently the better rider of the two and he is British champion after all. Considering their ages it’s likely that Bewley will end up the better rider but right now he isn’t. And hypothetically if it was me choosing for 2020 it would be Wright over Bewley without doubt.

Depends if he is on decent kit which he could very well be having signed for Glasgow. If so he could be an handy reserve especially at the EoES.