szkocjasid

This guy knows

They don't have one strong reserve though!

Basically the (poorly written) rules were different last year than they were when Wolves were missing their top 2! They've changed again for next year, so even if Ipswich were missing Doyle & Sayfutdinov for the play-offs they couldn't draft in Lambert!

3 home & 3 away for any riders without rolling aves, also includes the likes of Lidsey & Bellego

Doyle's average could drop, not because he's not performing, just because it's difficult to maintain a 10+ ave. However I don't see Rew dropping much (if at all), Sayfutdinov should up his ave & Hume will be back to a 4.0 ave once rolling aves are used (no longer including his 25% reduction). Can't see a likely change for Ipswich, unless Hume struggles out of the RS berth!

1) if riders are upping their averages, the team should be doing well, so won't be looking for changes. 2) as I think all the teams look decent, I can't see any that will be dropping their averages much to allow for strengthening up.

I'm not convinced of 2nd place for Lynn, most of the teams have positive points to them & I'm expecting it to be very close. I certainly can't understand why so many are putting Lynn for the bottom (or bottom two). So they may be lacking a top rider, but will always have good second strings & the leagues best number 6 imo. I also feel any of their top 6 are capable of double figures, not in every match, but they can take turns being the top man!

100% agree, so much time & effort into getting Emil, but missed out on a stronger RS?

That reason makes no sense to me, can't imagine them dropping Doyle & saying they wanted to move away from what they've tried before and freshen up the number one position! If that comment makes no sense at the top of the team, then it also makes no sense at the bottom of the team! I guess they've got to try & explain their reasons somehow, can't really say they've signed the strongest RS available can they?

Watching the stream now. A few of the Newcastle guys gave it a bit of a go, but on the whole the team looked terrible & you can certainly see how they didn't finish the season. As a neutral it was good any time a Newcastle rider made the start & any non 5-1 result felt like a heat advantage for Newcastle! The commentators do need to learn what team riding is thigh, riding flat out & passing your partner up the inside, isn't team riding lol!

Pretty much agree with all you've said. Riding at number 6 is a lot harder than the RS spot, so Kemp should've been looking at putting a point on his Prem ave if signed.

I disagree, after their top 2 Ipswich don't look all that strong to me. If Ipswich picked Joe because they thought they didn't need Kemp - big mistake. If they picked Joe because they feel he has a better attitude than Kemp - that's their perogrative, but not what I would have done.

I can't see 3 teams finishing below Birmingham, I'm just trying to find ways for Brummies fans to be positive about the new season, but it's not easy lol!

With the points limit reduced, most teams should be weaker, so I'm suggesting Edinburgh with minimal changes shouldn't do any worse than last year! Are Birmingham are a similar strength to Edinburgh? If so can be chasing a play-off spot!

I'd have to disagree, he has a higher average & is younger than Thomas, personally I think they are similar just now, but Rowe will likely end up the better rider.

Good signing, certainly has potential to do well!

Certainly a tough one to predict for me, don't think there will be big difference between 4th & 7th

Joe's best chance to score well

Harder to compare as they are built more differently, Oxford obviously stronger at the top, but weaker at the bottom. I figured Edinburgh were the closest match to Birmingham for how they built their teams

For an alternative opinion of Birmingham's strength I'm gonna compare them to Edinburgh. Now Edinburgh reached the semis last year & have only slightly weakened from a 42 to a 40 limit, Cook for Masters & Bickley for Sarjeant - so you could say that's a sensible team to guage yourself against if you wanna reach the play-offs! Top 2: Morris & Sedgmen vs Pickering & Cook. Edinburgh a little stronger (Birmingham have the strongest & weakest) Second strings: Nielsen & Bowtell vs Castagna & Fredriksen, similar strength (Edinburgh have the strongest & weakest) Reserves: Proctor & Pearson vs Hook & Bickley, I'd say Birmingham edge this. Biggest difference between the teams is the 3rd heat leader Wright vs Thomson where Edinburgh are definitely stronger. So if Birmingham are not much weaker than last year's top 4 side, they must be strong enough to challenge for a top 6 spot this year right?

Now all teams are finished can revise my prediction: 1. Sheffield 2. Belle Vue 3. Kings Lynn 4. Wolverhampton 5. Ipswich 6. Peterborough 7. Leicester Edited 24/3 - realised Belle Vue will get lots of bonus points

If he does well fair play to him, just stating my opinion that there's better choices out there!

I find that very hard to believe in Kemp's case, Rowe I can see being happier in Poland. If you're right Connor Bailey would be my 3rd pick then Joe.

Honestly feel he's the 6th best. (Mulford weakest).

With the riders available, that's a terrible signing imo. Especially when you compare his home / away split for Leicester 5.62 (6.64) vs 1.94 (2.71) in the Champ.