Arch Stanton

Exactly. You'd think reading some of the comments we'd drafted in a ringer who was far superior to what we had which isn't the case. Anyway, it appears we're working on a couple of solutions according to RH so it's going to be interesting to see what they come up with. Can't see a lot myself in all honesty but we'll see.

Worth pointing out that Shanes was replacing Hume, who has also hit double figures at Foxhall and been riding very well. We picked a good replacement guest last night, but the reality is that will be short lived and we're very unlikely to sufficiently replace Hume long term. You can put good looking teams together in the winter but you need luck along the way in this game. We've had plenty so far, unfortunately it's been of the rotten kind. But despite that, we're still in the mix at the business end of the table.

Shanes made all the difference. Without his hugely impressive contribution that's a home loss. Replacing Hume is a major headache for the promotion as Mountain has been struggling in all honesty. The Glasgow heatleaders were better than ours. King is struggling at the moment too for some reason. Every faith he'll get it right again he's too good not too and Newman and Sedgman will only get better with more meetings. Was thinking the same, money talks. Maybe ask the sponsors to contribute a little bit more to help secure him and make an offer he can't refuse.. I know Guy Nicholls was very influential in helping the club make changes last year at a significant cost. He wants to see success at the club so maybe could help again in that department. Can't hurt to ask.

Glasgow are our bogey side no doubt and have an excellent looking side again. But we've now got a good replacement in for Nico, Newman is back in the side and we have a good guest for Hume in Shanes. So no excuses here we need to put an end to this Glasgow hoodoo!

Nah not for me Dean.

It's seriously not Skornicki is it??

Well done Witches. Biggest positive for me is Heeps. He was in fantastic form before illness struck so great to see he's picked up exactly where he left off on his return. Good to see Newman pick up a win in the end also he'll obviously need a bit of time to get up to speed so good for him to pick up a win in his last ride. An expected win though as Berwick are pretty pants obviously and missed their free scoring reserve so not getting carried away. A few issues need addressing i.e Covatti and Hume's replacement. JPB did well as a guest today but I think it's very unlikely we'll be able to replace Hume sufficiently and we do look vulnerable at reserve. Will be interesting to see whether we go with the planned replacement for Nico or rethink the strategy and spread the points available more evenly to try and get a decent reserve in.

Hawkins says we're making progress on a replacement for Nico, which will leave 2.4 to replace Hume. Should give a clue as to what rider is lined up..

The Golf has had a bit of a makeover since you last visited! Great place for a few beers and a bite to eat before the meeting

Isn't Castagna now a 5.00? And would have been a shade over 3 if he'd kept his previous average? Any scenario we now have to accept we've been dealt a poor hand and will ultimately end up with a team weaker than it should have been. That's why it's pointless with all the pre-season predictions in this sport. A team looking like one of the favourites on paper at the start can get ripped apart in the blink of an eye.

He started well but then tailed off and then flopped when it really mattered. I could have totally read Chris Louis' comments wrong, but I don't think he was overly pleased with him in the end.

Tom Bacon guests for Hume this evening, and JPB guests in the return fixture at Berwick at the weekend.

Unfortunately it seems you are correct http://www.ipswichwitches.co/story/hume-suffers-broken-arm Poor lad get well soon. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say Hume was the most important member of the side. We went big with the top 5 and using two 2 pointers but Hume in particular would have made that work as he was a steal on a 2 point average. I genuinely can't see another 2 pointer out there so now the team in charge need a rethink IMO. We now have two riders to replace and the best bet now for me is go with a lower averaged rider than Nico in the 1-5 and somehow find a capable reserve on the points left? Not going to be easy. Incredible that we never once got to see our original declared 1-7 take to the track which IMO had every chance in lifting silverware. No luck whatsoever this year. Edit: Ah I see you edited your post from last night Jason but you were spot on with the extend of the lads injuries. Get well soon to both lads involved in last nights crash and of course Nico.

I'd rule out Brady Kurtz. Can't be without him AND Newman when there's a fixture clash with Poole. No thanks to Kus either. Great at home, rarely bothers to turn up away. I'd take any of the others.

Rather have Risager!

Think we have 7.88 to play with?

Newman riding in the British semi on Sunday now in place of Charles Wright so I'm assuming he'll be back on Thursday for this fixture?

Bang out of order that!

Thanks Badge. Pretty much confirming there that we won't get to see the originally declared 1-7 so looks like a replacement for Covatti is actively being sought.

Bet you're the life and soul of every party!

So reading CL' comments after Thursdays win against Redcar, he'll be discussing Newman's return to the side with both him and Ritchie Hawkins on Monday. His imminent return to the side then just leaves us with the Covatti conundrum. My hunch is that they'll just extend Sargeant's stay to now cover Covatti instead of Newman. Personally as much as I like Sarj, I wouldn't go that route. Another replacement nearer to Covatti's scoring potential would be preferable, but even R/R would be preferable to Sargeant. King, Schlein, Newman and Heeps all eligible to take a ride is surely the best way to go if a suitable replacement can't be found? I'd go R/R in the short term until the full extent of Covatti's injury/absence is fully known.

Newman scored 14 riding at #1 on his last visit here so he'd have been very useful! His return to the team is being discussed on Monday so his return looks imminent which is good news.

Sickness bug.

No team manager now either. Hawkins struck down with the same bug as Cam..

Terrific *sigh*