szkocjasid

I would prefer Ermolenko & Cami Brown to Peter Schroeck!

No harm in asking, might be missing Speedway

Should go for Alun Rossiter

Not every team can win the league, if that's what's considered a successful season, does that mean 6 clubs had poor seasons & only Belle Vue did well? As Sheffield topped the "qualification league" and won the KOC, I don't see why they'd necessarily need to change the team makeup (strong top end, 2 x RS at the bottom) because of the disappointment in the play-offs.

I think many people are being far too hard on Edwards. Moving up from a RS with a 2.67 (3.24) average in 2023, to the more difficult number 6 and getting a 3.55 (4.23) average is decent progress imo. Gilkes should maybe have done better, but can't see how people can fault Edwards.

That was to be expected, needed their top 5 to all perform so the reserves don't need to.

Obviously you don't want riders to get injured, but do you plans teams around that? Would Ipswich say no to Doyle & Sayfutdinov on case one of them gets injured? As for Rowe, as soon as he rides one match his rolling ave would shoot up for the next month's averages.

Rowe was at number 7 not 6. Anyway he got a 5+ average at reserve, so even of he only gets 4 in the team, he's still good value on his average imo

I've seen lots of comments saying Howarth is a must for Sheffield as "no one is better round Sheffield on a 5.05 average". But looking at his home vs away split, it's 5.42 (6.03) at home & 5.00 (6.08) away. Based on that, I'd suggest he should be signed for his away form?

He signed on a 4.00 average when he came over, if he was a British would have been on a 2.00. Just as well he didn't score.

That's only for the top 5, not reserves. Wouldn't surprise me if the teams forget the rules, but the BSPL should know them.

One of the problems with the play-offs are the previous 24 matches are instantly forgotten, if a team loses in the semi-final or final, it's a disappointing end to the season. Leicester finishing 2nd in the table is obviously a good season, but all the focus is now on them losing in the play-off final, so it's hard for fans to look back on the season fondly. For this same reason Fricke having a high average for 24 league matches is forgotten as he didn't do well in the play-offs. Are there riders out there who perform better when the pressure is on?

Catching up on Speedway Stars I've missed, don't know if this was mentioned but how was James Pearson able to guest for Jordan Jenkins. Jordan's average was 3.74, but as a foreigner Pearson should be on a minimum 4.00 regardless of his Champ average right? Just as well he didn't score & Sheffield won.

When Leicester were having their tremendous run-in to the play-offs they didn't need a stronger 1+5 as the top 5 were all doing their jobs (& more). Unfortunately when it mattered in the play-offs that form deserted them.

Probably want to get the play-offs semi finals organised, give them lots of time to publicise it. For commercial reasons obviously

I feel I have a memory of a club doing fund raising, maybe for a new stadium, with the money being kept "safe" with the understanding that of the stadium didn't come to fruition, then the money would be given back? Birmingham could do something similar.

If it was the difference between running or not, I'd let Birmingham run in the Champ on a Monday. Don't sign riders from a Monday Premiership club & do your best to avoid clashes with doubling up riders. Like you say, with less fixtures, should be achievable. Even if it means gusts used occasionally, would anyone notice?

Lets be honest if Peter Schroeck needed to be told / reminded to bring in a high scoring Luke Killeen into heat 12, then he shouldn't be a team manager. If I was the Oxford promotion, I would've sacked him on the spot. Maybe he's good with motivation, ot working with the kids, then fine - let him do that. But keep him away from any tactical decisions.

Forgot about that, not many great options after Starke, so would've gone with Scott in that case. Maybe Starke for the KOC final?

Can only imagine two massive crowds, with the fans really keen to get one over on another

I know Oxford like to promote their youngsters & that is admirable, but there is a time & a place for doing that. Imo it's not when you are chasing a Premiership play-offs place (dropping Kemp) not in a grand final (not using Starke?) Maybe they tried a guest & couldn't get one, but I agree Starke could've made a big difference.

Looks a very strong team.

Any Oxford fan or neutral who felt Oxford were unlucky with refereeing decisions, should also admit they should've had a bigger lead after the non inclusion of Killeen in heat 12 of the first leg. Would a 14 or 16 point lead have changed the tone of the match, we'll never know. But if the refs getting the blame, Schroeck should too.

I don't think a Speedway exam would do any good, I'm sure he could ride round safely in practice. But against two opponents in a grand final, every rider is going to race harder, go for gaps they normally wouldn't etc. The only crash I've seen was his one with Jody Scott, I'd have excluded Vinnie, but wouldn't call that dangerous riding. Not seen enough of him to comment on his other crashes.

A journeyman? Kasprzak was a world number 2. If Boughen can have a career like KK did, he'll have done very well