Bleeds Pirate Blue

I'd suggest the reason Poole hammer so many teams when they travel to Wimborne Road is the fact we've had a team capable of winning the league most seasons for a good seven years, and top teams often easily dispatch weaker ones. Poole are also a ruthlessly run club - no quarter given - hence the numerous trophies! As Gavan implied, the track is fair with regards to its shape and size, however the criticism of its preparation is overblown by the Poole bashers to my mind. It's not perfect, and it can get dusty, especially for afternoon meetings, but more often than not it provides decent racing in my opinion.

This feels like the "Which came first; the chicken or the egg" - Poole have been league favs most seasons in recent years. Poole have also been in the league final in 6/7 of the last few seasons. Cause and effect? Or predicted outcome bearing fruit? As pointed out by Bwitcher earlier, it is often the case that the previous year's team has no bearing on the following year's teams chances of success. So with that in mind, I'd contend that the bookmakers (if worth their salt) will be pricing up their markets based on the current side for the current season. On that basis, logic suggests the 2017 Poole Pirates, favourites to win the league with all eight national bookmakers betting on speedway, are strongly fancied to be serious title contenders yet again.

Well since 2010, Poole have won the league four times, finished runners up twice, and lost in the semi-finals last year, so their perennial installation as the favourites has been shown to be a correct assessment of their chances. Your statement as to the new race format, and the potential to strengthen a side is true, but that doesn't change the fact that Poole are deemed by many to be the most likely winners again this year.

Excellent is a subjective term. Have you heard of something called the echo chamber? Might explain why you seem to like the comment so much. All I am saying is that the agreed-upon league favourites, being touted as the most-likely champions, is not getting "carried away". You, Gordon and anyone else for that matter are entitled to their opinions, and yes two 'challenge matches' in March doesn't make you champs. However, you continue to dodge the fact your own comments are hyperbolic and without substance when taken in their full context of suggesting Poole fans are getting "carried away". My understanding was that it was Shanes practising in the afternoon as he hadn't ridden the track before. I'm sure there are other posters in here who could confirm this, and whether any other Poole riders also were on track. *edited for accuracy* Starman has replied later in the thread as follows: "Yep as i said, KK James, Holder Hans and brady all had a spin, as no press and practice spin." So yes Steve, several Poole riders did get a sighter of the track earlier in the day. Didn't do much good for KK though, haha. As for how dusty the track was, I agree it was dustier than ideal. The recent weather, variable forecast and the poor condition of the track the previous Friday will have contributed to the decision to under-water. It does annoy me that the track staff seem to think whacking the hose on it for 30 secs between heats is good enough in such conditions.

Ok - so what are you deeming Poole fans getting "carried away" then, for clarity's sake? Because in my mind that would suggest they are expecting more success in the coming season than the prevailing masses. That is why I referenced the opinion of multiple national bookmakers, as an impartial arbitrator of the expectations for the team this season...

I'd contest that the "Shield" is a little more than any old challenge match, but whatever, we all have our own opinions. I'll concede that the teams are different so the relevance is marginal. You seem to have ignored that eight national bookmakers, a series of independent judges, all with a financial stake in being correct, who all agree Poole are the most likely league winners. Are you being willingly ignorant, or just plain argumentative?

Of the eight bookmakers offering prices on the Premiership, six make the Poole Pirates outright favourites, while the other two make them joint-favs (with Kings Lynn). This Poole side also just beat the defending league Champions 58-32, to win on aggregate 98-82. On that basis, suggesting that Poole will win the league is hardly getting "carried away". It's the prevailing opinion. Ah, fair enough - sorry Sid! Klindt did make a couple of "passes" I think, but it would have been fait accompli on the Wolves reserves, rather than a hard fought battle. Not exactly a difficult "pass".

*I misinterpreted Sid's post to be about Shanes, rather than Klindt* (sorry Sid) I'd have thought his credentials as the European Grasstrack Champion, and x2 British Masters Champion, show that James is capable of performing under pressure. Those are two of the highest profile events for British Grasstrack riders... You don't win those types of event against the calibre of opponent he did without some sort of challenge. In fact, when James won his European title he was having a shocking meeting and it was all going wrong, yet he knuckled down, made the final and got the job done and lifted the trophy.

Yeah, but KK will average over 11.00 at home. He is currently the best rider in the world at Wimborne Road, in my opinion. Back in 2012 when we had Ward, Holder and KK their home averages over the course of the season (as per speedway-stats.co.uk) were: Ward - 11.27 KK - 11.12 Holder - 10.60

Loving the Shanes signing. He's a thrill a minute to watch on the grass, and is pretty damn good at it too. Hopefully that ability can transfer over to speedway. While many people are going to complain about this weakened league and the fact we don't get to see all the top (foreign) riders, I'm actually pretty happy to see more young British talent on a regular basis. Fully expecting other teams to sign more young Brits as No.7s and hopefully British Speedway will be all the better for it.

@BurntFaceMan You could knock up a better site in about 4 hours. And even then about 75% of the work would be migrating content!!

The website is awful. Totally unacceptable in 2016 (going on 2017). I understand speedway isn't a multi-million pound sport etc, but even one-man (or woman) start-up businesses have better sites looking and functioning sites on free WordPress themes that cost very little to set up. The sport is dying, yet this country's most successful club in the last 10-15 years sees no value in improving their digital presence, and embracing a younger, tech-savvy, mobile-first audience. <slow clap>

@GRW123 Please stop joining Poole threads and making such reasonable posts based on logic. This is POOLE thread.

What don't you agree with? The fact no team in the Premiership will maintain their (up to) 50.00 GSA, or my argument for signing Chris Holder!?

Reason I'm arguing for Holder is that every team is likely to drop their total GSA of 50, unless they are vastly superior to all other teams in the league. So secure the services of one of the league's top stars, who should average 10+ and rest in the knowledge you have a go-to guy for golden JOKE rule and Ht 13/15.

Awful decision to not sign Chris Holder, in my opinion. Noddy is worth all 2.5 points more per meeting than Hans is*. MADNESS I tells ya! *I'm assuming Hans will be our No.1.

@Gater1 You say that teams can't (shouldn't) use 11+ points on a rider, but the team points limit is 50, which is an unsustainable figure for basically every team bar the eventual league champs (a successful team), so most teams in the league will see averages fall in the first Premiership season... With that being the case, why not invest in a standout No.1 who will make mincemeat of this weakened league? His average will likely drop (certainly will for Holder, Doyle etc), but you'll have one of the league's best riders! Following on from that, the riders most likely to improve (conceptionally) would be those with the lowest averages - i.e. the ones you'd have to use if you include top-end riders Everyone is so focused on rider averages based on the x1.4 multiplication, but, at the end of the day the league will be won by a team with riders capable or improving or overachieving. Adam Ellis, is a rider I'd expect to continue to make strides next season, so on the basis he earned his current average, and he is a progressive rider, he is worth including in your team. @Gavan Cheers!

Very disappointing re: Ellis, and Noddy if that also turns out to be true... What is really galling about Adam's situation is that, like others have suggested, he earned his 7.8whatever average on the track and deserved it. Compared to the likes of the Worrall twins, Jason Garrity I'd be happy to choose Adam on a comparable GSA. I'd also add - how can Poole fans who actually attended meetings in the second half of last season advocate signing Hansii on a 10+ average?? And as for those listing Davey Watt as a potential signing as well... seriously?? Hans was visibly slow and struggling badly in crucial matches as the season drew to a close, and now he's going to be our no.1??? Madness! I'd take Adam on a 7.8 all day versus Hans on a 10+!! Davey was fired twice in quick succession for being terrible, yet he's now a bargain?? I'm going to support the team we put together regardless, but give me Holder + Ellis and whatever else we can fit over Hansii & Watt + the rest ANYDAY!

It's the same limit for every team in the Premiership, and all teams will have to work with the average a rider has been given in this new league... Calm yourselves!! With the revamp of the league structure now in place the goal appears to be to lessen the quality gap between the leagues, which looks likely. People can moan about the lack of GP riders, but as a fan of speedway the most important factor to me is the quality/competitiveness of the racing. The best races I've seen in recent seasons have come from duels between the likes of Charlie Wright, Kyle Newman, Stevie Worrall, so this revamp will hopefully give us fans more of that.

Erm, how do you think the sport got into this mess in the country!?

Great interview with Craig Cook. That's passion for your team.

Fricke -1 vs Thorssell looks a great bet to me on Bet365 tonight. Just wanted to get it in before its after timing

@SteveO - Fair enough. Appreciate your reply.

@KirkyLane - I don't disagree that the current system needs replacing. In fact it is exactly what I called for in other posts on other threads. Scrap the heat format and concept of protected heats. Switch to rider grading for a season as the 2016 EL averages are worthless. Back to averages season after....

Fair enough dude. Having seen you spent the last week or so writing CHEATING SCUMBAGS for most your posts connected to Poole, it's pretty clear what you think about us. I still don't get how being a reserve, which is set by your average, shows a lack of ambition. Bearing in mind that there are plenty of rumours that riders at other clubs don't get paid regularly, you'd suggest Kyle rejects a place in the most successful team of the last decade and move to a club that has smaller crowds, poorer sponsors, with the potential of not getting paid, to highlight how much 'he wants it'? I'm not calling you ignorant for having a different opinion for what its worth. You're just coming across to me as antagonistic. If you'd care to explain how if Kyle signs for Poole, and Matt Ford signs at least five riders on a higher average than him, it shows a lack of ambition, I'd appreciate it. Whether I agree or not is another matter, but I haven't seen a sensible argument made yet...