Bleeds Pirate Blue

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...

Speedway is a team sport currently based around rider averages. If the BSPA keep the EDR system, and allow Newman and Ellis to ride in the Elite League on converted Premier League averages (the current system), then it is likely they would be reserves. Are you being deliberately ignorant, or trolling me here? Newman and/or Ellis would be fine at second string, I agree, but if Poole can use them at reserve, why wouldn't they? It bears zero reflection on their ambition as riders, it's purely a mechanic of the team building process.

Well, if the BSPA are setting the league's rules with the main purpose being to prevent Poole having Newman and Ellis at reserve is, to my mind, an incredibly short-sighted strategy. Newman and Ellis have been two of the better success stories of the EDL system (and their success has not been dramatic!), so your suggestion is more about being anti-Poole than pro-British Speedway. Currently Elite League speedway has numerous critical issues - the race format being the primary one, which has in turn created the issue with riders on false averages. I'd suggest the best way to remedy this situation is to find a race format that doesn't create such a gulf between the reserves and rest of the team with protected heats, and switch to a rider grading system for a season so everyone can achieve more representative averages.

You have to be joking re: Batchelor!! Can't see Poole chasing Harris either, despite an attractive average. I'd have thought that Ford/Middlo will be looking for younger riders for the team.

I don't think it's a decision that Kyle gets to make? Surely if Poole build a team, and the EDL system continues, which means Newman gets a 3.16 average, he'd likely be a reserve. That's not due to any lack of ambition of Kyle's.... As for the rest of the Pirates next season, I'd want to see KK at Poole, Kurtz should be back, and Jack Holder will likely be given a spot too. Ellis and Newman both deserve to be back, but it will all depend on the rules and averages they are given. Plenty of rumours that Milik will be returning. I'd have no problems with Chris Holder being back as well, so that makes: Chris Holder KK Milik Kurtz Jack Holder Newman Ellis

Congrats to Kyle for his excellent performances in both legs of the semi-final. He's had a tough year and he was superb in the two biggest matches of the season for us. Great to see a local lad getting it done on track for the Pirates. Not sure if he'll be back next year unless we do get to use his PL average. I'm tempted to say he deserves a place in the starting lineup regardless based on his commitment on track last night. And finally, it was great to see him produce those performances when several forum trolls were knocking him and suggesting Poole should replace him, or fiddle an injury to get him out the side.

Poor decision from the ref excluding Ellis. He laid it down!!