Arch Stanton

You have absolutely no idea this is the case at all.

Think I’ve read the word “Seth” more times on here since Crump signed than Crump himself!

Yes. Crumps decision is purely a racing one.

I’ve seen a few saying this, but he’s just done an interview with Mike Bacon of the local paper, who asks if any family are coming with him. He goes on to say his son Seth has one more year at school, and his wife will come over a few times during the season. So maybe it’s purely a racing decision from his part?

I’m not even gonna bother having a bash to be honest. Swindon look a touch better than the rest, but apart from them the rest could literally be in any order.

He’s always loved Foxhall, after a month or so I can see him scoring well at home. Nobody can be expecting him to hit the ground running so we’re going to need to be patient and not make knee jerk conclusions after a few meetings. He’s going to have to show something in the early meetings mind you to show that there is something still there. I remain on the fence and it’s just a wait and see situation. Nobody can confidently predict what’s going to happen which makes this the most intriguing signing of the winter. We also have to remember this isn’t a half decent heatleader who was a 7-8 pointer who is making a comeback, it’s a rider who last posted an average over 11 in a much tougher league. I don’t think an average of between 7-8 is unrealistic. We started with Harris on an inflated average last year who dropped over a point and half and we still made the play offs so even if his average drops as most are predicting, it doesn’t mean the end of our chances.

Tut tut some people just never learn

Iversen confirmed.

Yet. Could well be Peterborough’s last two signings

In the Gym twice a day getting fit

See what you’re saying but it’s a meeting with past and present Panthers so being a former Showground favourite it could happen. It might be a case of “crikey we got away with one there” rather than “look what we could have had”

5 weeks tomorrow we kick off at the Showground. Can’t wait to get going now! Always a long Winter but Spring is on the horizon. Can’t beat the start of a new season

Could see Crump line up in the 50th anniversary meeting?

Crump is a proud man. If after a couple of meetings he realises he’s nowhere near it then Ipswich won’t even have that decision to make. Crump himself will make it IMO. But, you just don’t know. It’s gonna be very interesting to see what level he’s at and I’ll bet all eyes will be on Ipswich’ first fixture. Could really do with him riding the Ben fund too. Good practice, decent yardstick of his current ability and would surely boost the coffers hugely which is the name of the game for this meeting.

If Iversen is available then I’m not sure we (Ipswich) would have gone down the Crump route after bringing Iversen in at the tail end of last season. I’m pretty sure the money on offer at Ipswich would have been better than at Peterborough just like it has been the factor in signing Crump. Maybe Peterborough have agreed to Iversen’s demands of only doing the start of the season?

On the Harris thing, it looked a poor signing from the off on his average but I guess they were desperate in the end. Once his average dropped off a cliff to just over 6 there was little point dropping him IMO. Plus none of us know what is written in riders’ contract these days. Maybe he had to have the season? Same rumours cropped up as to why he was always getting heat 15 after stinking the place out all evening. We just don’t know. You also can’t keep chopping and changing willy nilly throughout the season. Get a reputation for that and you’ll struggle to sign riders in the winter so you have to be a bit careful. Not saying don’t make changes, but finding the right balance.

We think similar, let’s hope we’re both wrong! IMO I think it depends how he rides regarding replacing him. If after 8 meetings he’s struggling to be even slightly competitive, then I think they will change it and not risk writing off the season from the beginning. I remember Michael Lee making a comeback for Lynn, was retired for half the time Crump has been and was only in his early 30’s, and he lasted 2 meetings. I was there that Good Friday at Foxhall where he fell a couple of times and generally wobbled around at the back like a junior. Now I’m not saying Crump will be anything like that bad, everyone is different, but I just think some are overly excited to see a great name returning and not being realistic about the situation. The fact he also doesn’t sound very confident is another red flag. Smacks of desperation and a bit of a publicity stunt for me. Let’s hope everyone is vaulting the hell out of me in a couple of months and making me look a prize pr@t!

You see I think the total opposite to you. They haven’t been shy of making changes when necessary and if things aren’t working out, I’ve no doubt they’ll change it up again. JL back in the day was often criticised for never making changes and sticking by riders for far too long, and since CL has taken over he seems to be stuck with that same criticism which is unjust IMO. He’s made changes for the majority of the seasons he’s been in charge.

Me too. I also hope that when changes are made, he doesn’t end up the fall guy. If we need to strengthen (and we will IMO), then strengthen elsewhere. Drew should stay in the team all season no matter what. Really looking forward to watching him over the season

To be fair Baldy, it seems as though we had our team sorted pretty early, and there was clearly a confidence that a visa would get sorted for Holder. That confidence ultimately was misplaced mind you. There are riders out there (NKI/Bjerre) who don’t want full seasons but will make themselves available mid season. There’ll be options later on if things aren’t going to plan.

Too early to tell. We’ll know a hell of a lot more after a meeting or two. I wouldn’t write any team off from a play off place based on their starting septet. Changes will always be made.

BTW, 8.21? How on earth do you “reassess’ to that odd figure? Was it a case of stick a 3 pointer at reserve and we’ll give you a random figure to fit him in? Anyone know what our team total is?

More pleased to see Drew in the team in all honesty. I know the majority will love the fact a legend is back, but I have serious doubts personally. I fully expect expect him to start the season very slowly, but after a month or two the hope would be that old habits return and things slip back in to gear. We’ll see.. Edit: Hopefully he does the Ben fund and a few other pre season meetings so we can get a rough idea of where he is at.

https://ipswichwitches.co/2020-witchesjason-crump/

https://ipswichwitches.co/2020-witchesdrew-kemp/