Arch Stanton

Wouldn’t have moved King from 5 either personally. Once Riss has been moved to 2 he probably thought Barker and Batchelor as a pair at 3 and 4 looked a bit iffy so moved King in there. I prefer keeping things simple, Barker at 2, Riss and Batchelor 3 and 4 and King at 5. Although certainly an argument for Riss at 5 on current form. Only one man’s opinion matters though at the end of the day. Perhaps Hawkins is far more of a tactical genius than any of us gave him credit for

Definitely this. I’ve always been of the opinion that your weakest rider in the top 5 should be at two, even more so when you have a top tier number 1 like we have this year. It’s a complete waste having Riss at 2 and I don’t understand the reasoning at all.

Track was definitely an improvement though Baldy. Nearly impossible to be any worse from the Peterborough meeting! That outside run wouldn’t have worked in the first meeting. Also thought the young lad was really impressive.

Agree to disagree on this one.

That’s one scenario where it wouldn’t have bothered me if Lynn were granted “special dispensation”. They had Kildermand in their declared 1-7. If the rider changed his mind and refused to come then that’s not the fault of Lynn and they should be granted a facility or enabled a replacement. That’s what the “special dispensation” rule is there for. It’s when that gets clearly abused that rankles.

Can only see an away win to be honest, with only Etheridge and Blowhorn possible weak links. Starke back at reserve is a big plus though and we wait to see if Barker’s move is ratified. If it is, then you’d fancy him to contribute more than Heeps has been so it could be a good competitive meeting.

Perfectly summed up really and I agree with your last point. Any changes still have to fall within the points limit anyway as always so not sure why they’ve brought this rule in in the first place.

He’s good as well though

Shame if that was what we tried. Would have been a game changer for sure.

I read it the same way although I’m not 100% convinced either way. We’ll never know will we? We’re only the supporters after all. IF the rule is no changes once the season is underway, then just because Belle Vue have made one then we shouldn’t be using that as a reason to make one too. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

One thing I will say about Chris Louis, in the years he’s been promoter, he’s never been slow in making changes. Tiger was incredibly frustrating on this front when he was promoting and would rather persevere with struggling riders for the season than make a change. Chris Louis has been the polar opposite and I’m pretty sure he’s made team changes in every season he’s been a promoter. https://ipswichwitches.co/barker-back-at-ipswich/ “It is no secret that with the doubling-up, other than dipping into the international transfer market, which in fairness we tried, there was one option that the club simply could not afford and when we looked at what was available here, Ben was the obvious choice really. He knows Ipswich, he knows the club, he knows the track because he has been with us a couple of times before. Wonder who the international rider was? Can’t be Klindt as the one change wouldn’t have fitted.

“We built a team knowing that the nucleus of it in Erik (Riss), Cam and Troy (Batchelor) are coming off of bad seasons, that’s why were able to build this team really. We had no right to expect them to be back to their top form just because they put on a Witches suit, so we knew we would have to give them time. Unfortunately, with the way the way the Premiership works with just six teams, it’s a short season and it has a transfer window, that opens after 25% and closes at 75%, so you are forced into making moves quickly if you need them, so it hasn’t enabled us any time with Cam.” That seems to confirm that changes CAN be made before the league fixtures start, meaning Belle Vue haven’t broke/bent any rule. Unless of course this is just more bluster from Louis who has now demanded to make a change because Belle Vue have

He hopes..

Iversen has been a big disappointment.

Absolutely. It’s entertainment isn’t it, so let him ride whenever he likes..

I’ve seen some really good meetings here over the years to be honest. Granted, this isn’t one of them but Monmore is no better or worse than 90% of the tracks in the UK with a mixture of poor meetings, mostly mediocre and a sprinkling of excellent ones. There are a very few select tracks that produce excellent meetings more often than not and we all know which ones they are.

Massive loss just isn’t the same is it? As someone else just said, Tatum, Louis and Crump all very similar and any of them are fine as a sidekick analyser, but the coverage desperately needs a lead specialist commentator.

Have to agree he either states the obvious, or says something that makes little sense whatsoever. Just rambles away he’s terrible.

Don’t put yourself down! We all make mistakes..

I personally think both Tatum and Louis are excellent, but as sidekick summarisers. Neither is right for the lead commentary role and they’re gonna have to find someone to fill that particular role I think. Tatum is trying, but struggling to generate his usual enthusiasm and that’s totally understandable. Seems a bit flat today bless him.

Half decent meeting by the way. Bit more of an outside line that worked this week unlike the first meeting against Peterborough. Better crowd than I was expecting too for a dead rubber.

As I was told again last night, the number 8 is part of the squad, and can be used to cover any member of the team without the need for the club to re-declare. The number 8 must also be used if your rising star is missing. If neither the rising star OR the number 8 are available, Then another rising star up to the missing riders average can be used.

Both those two always looked to have artificial low averages and they’re not the problem. Neither is Doyle obviously and Starke and Rowe are absolutely fine as reserves. At the start of the season I also thought Heeps was on an artificially low average that he’d put a point on, looks like I was badly wrong there. I’d love to see him click but it doesn’t look like happening. He looks way way off it and it’ll cost us unfortunately. Shame, as the team looks fine otherwise.