TotallyHonestJohn

If only Gaz if only.... If I could predict the Euro Millions numbers mate I would happily share them with you; after all; I'm sure you could manage with 85 million just as well as the full 170 million (I think I could that's for sure... it would be a struggle though... but I would bear the responsibility with modest humility) (Would I... Modest Humility? NAH not a chance) Also I would bring back Workington and not give a monkey's how much money it lost.... However if it helps I have had some success with a "Balance of Probability" method for the lottery that has had some near misses. This concept works on a given axiomatic mathematical formalisation in probability theory, and will bore the breast plate off you; so its lucky dips all the way mate and fingers crossed... (Good Luck Me Old Pal) Oh and on your five fold if you cant pick five teams in the Scottish leagues to win you're just not trying however here are some English ones to have a go at Bristol City to beat Reading Preston to beat Barnsley Sheff Wed to beat Wigan Swansea to beat Stoke Northampton to beat Leyton Orient Oh and here's another tip "never pick Newcastle United as they are renown coupon spoilers" Or how about Man City to beat Wolves over 2.5 goals (3-0 or 3-1 or more) Arsenal to beat Bournemouth over 2.5 goals (2-1 or 3-1 or 3-2) Norwich vs Aston Villa over 2.5 goals (3-2 or 2-3 or 4-4 or anything else? doubt it will be 0-0)) West Ham vs Crystal Palace West Ham to Win or Draw over 1.5 goals (1-1 or 2-1 or 2-2) Liverpool vs Leicester Liverpool to Win or Draw over 1.5 goals (1-1 or 2-1 or 2-2 doubt it will be 0-0)) There you go...and while I am not doing much at work here are some Scottish predictions Aberdeen to beat Hibernian over 1.5 goals (2-0 or 2-1 or more) Motherwell to beat St Mirren over 1.5 goals (2-0 or 2-1 or more) Ross County to beat St Johnstone over 1.5 goals (2-0 or 2-1 or more) Livingston vs Celtic Away win for Celtic (sorry) over 1.5 goals (2-0 or 2-1 or more) Rangers to beat Hamilton Academical over 2.5 goals (3-0 or 3-1 or more) I will be watching these with interest (although not putting any cash where my considerable mouth is) Correct there were a few caveats however I held my nerve on the top two of Leicester and Glasgow from the start and the only disappointment was my home town team of Newcastle who looked strong on paper but have been a total enigma on the track; and to be fair with some good individuals in the side they just have not gelled as a team. However as often is said it ain't the team on the sheet of paper that does the business its the team on the track. Finally I have seen Derren Brown and to be fair its all he does (run the options) however you don't connect with it because it isn't written down... (so you don't see the methodology; or the con) and as said don't write off Redcar yet as they look really strong with Lawson now in replacing Toft in that home leg!!! it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the Leicester/Redcar clash and I ain't predicting anything on that one... Good luck to all concerned Regards THJ

Honestly Newcastle apart it wasn't very far away was it; (and not to blow ones trumpet too hard) I still haven't changed my mind and think it will be a Leicester/Glasgow final; although I would love to see our nearest and dearest in Redcar upset that form book and do it for north east speedway, however; and IMHO whatever the outcome it is building to be a good finale to the end of the season Regards THJ

Honestly I wish I could predict the lottery numbers as easy Regards THJ

Tero wont so R/R at home and how about Todd Kurtz down there? We will have about 6.47 for the away leg and 6.97 at home Ully will be back into the top 5 and if we get the Edinburgh meeting in before the cup final and Clegg has a blinder (double figures off 4 rides) and Lasse has a mare... depending on what drops off the other end of the rolling average Lasse could end up as the reserve, (only a very outside chance of that happening though) Regards THJ

Yep see where your going with this and if Nathan isn't fit Broc Nichol will fit both home and away.... Regards THJ

Agree Josh Pickering and Jake Allen both good shouts Still think Steve Worrall is your man for both legs as for Summers well he is injured and out for the rest of the season I believe Regards THJ

Honestly Who says MPT is under 7 from the 1st of September Michael Palm Toft is on 7.87 and with his 5% home uplift that gives you 8.26 Heeps may be racing on the Friday and Worrall fits both home and away Regards THJ

Honestly Steve Worrall for MPT would be a good shout or what about Ricky Wells or Cameron Heeps if they don't have a meeting that night? Regards THJ

Honestly... Geoff I am far to modest to say... Arrrggghhh OK a cant hold me water any more it was me ME; me me me me me me me me me me me me me me... Oh... the relief... there a said it... it was me!!! and again being ever so modest Steve Lawson pointed out I am the only Comets team manger with a 100% win record and away from home to boot... it was the best £16 quid I ever spent for the BSPA "Manager for a day" licence I had to buy to do the job... and what an honour it was... and definitely worth listening too (or puttin up with) Boozer Bewley snoring in the back of the van all the way back home... (he slept all the way from Ippo to Penrith and when he woke up he said he hadn't been asleep but rather just "restin his eyes" until both Dan and me pointed out he was doing a dam good impression of someone snoring all the way back as the radio didn't even drown him out) (and he whipped the spare bike tyre!!! you can take the boy out of Maryport but you cant take Maryport out of the boy... Tut Tut... he says he didn't but I seen) Also not to claim all the glory I did get some help from Dickie Jull who was a great motivating force as I didn't know any Danish swear words but he translated my instructions brilliantly... cheers Dickie... Yeah... happy memories... Regards THJ

Honestly It happened last year at Workington when they won the lot (H18tory) and got the treble up; Rene Bach had a month at reserve after starting (and ending) the season at No 1 and it was one of the reasons Workington did as well as they did do because they always had a rider dropping into the reserve berth who could score points which took the pressure off young Kyle Bickley and of course allowed them to take the extra rides when it mattered. (and sensible team management of course) (Especially at Ipswich for the away win) With the experienced riders Newcastle have you would have thought they would have done better than where they have ended up in the league (2nd bottom) and you cant fault Martin Phillips for his team build strategy it "looked a very good team on paper" with strength in depth; however we all know how often that little saying is proven wrong. After all Workington were stitched on "Wooden Spoon" candidates at he start of the 2018 season and look what happened there. It seems to have been the case that not enough of the Newcastle riders could/can perform together on a race night to knock out the wins. Sheffield away proving the point with three of the team doing the necessary and there not being a fourth rider who could step up to the plate (not withstanding the injury to TJ and Matty being missing) (and why no guest for Matty?) and this has been the same for the whole season. When Worky did the treble at least four and sometimes five of the riders pulled the stops out and supported the team by scoring points covering for the two/three riders who were having off nights and this rotated throughout the team and at the end of the season there wasn't a full point difference between the positions 1 to 6 across the averages (0.87 in fact) with the top three riders averages dropping and only Jensen; Bewley and Campton upping their averages and Young Dan missed half the season through injury. (is this why we love the sport?) So as stated fair play to Martin he provided what looked like a very competitive team on paper that unfortunately as a team haven't lived up to expectations and if they all did click in a meeting someone would be on for a hiding but its a big if? and all of them in the top 1 to 6 (including Clegg) are capable of knocking in double figure scores (and have done so) but when only one; two and on the odd occasion three of them have done it together its not been enough to carry the win. Never mind there is always next year... On the riders who were involved in the crash which was a "bad one" and I heard after the meeting they both have potentially season ending injuries if the early prognosis by the track doctors are correct, which is such a shame as Redcar were coming good for the business end of the season and were looking the part. MPT seemed to pick up extra drive coming out of the second bend on the 3rd lap and the bike reared up and he came off the back and then young Nathan ploughed right into him which did look horrendous. (and very painful) Good luck to both of them and here's hoping they get well soon; and good luck to Redcar in the play offs and I agree it will be "a terrible shame if injuries were a deciding factor in the end of the season for the Bears" and it will be a tough ask with two key riders being out injured but here is one "Jawdee" who will be rooting for you. So whether its the Lions the Tigers or Wyverns!!! go get um Bears... Oh My... Lions and Tigers and Bears... Oh My!!! Oh and that Wyvern thingy that isn't really a Wyvern but I wont go there... Good luck Bears on whoever you get in the play offs... Regards THJ

Honestly Not quite correct as Claus Vissing appealed but his was rejected as noted from the SCB Web Site "APPEALS have been received against suspensions by both Craig Cook and Claus Vissing. These appeals have been considered by the SCB members and it can now be confirmed that Claus Vissing's is rejected. However, following new information submitted by Craig Cook, his appeal has been accepted and a date for a full SCB hearing will be set. Craig Cook is therefore free to continue racing until the hearing but Claus Vissing's suspension remains in place until up to and including Wednesday August 21. No appeal has been received from the other suspended rider, Edward Kennett". However the "New Information" provided by Craig must have been "Prima facie" evidence Regards THJ

Honestly Time for one league; make the second division a true second league rather than a pseudo premiership; make the multiplier 3 for doubling up/down riders and no one in the top league with an average above 4 in the preceding season to be available for doubling up/down the next and reset this each year then you will have enough riders to go around; meaning anyone achieving a top league average of 4.01 or more can not race in the second tier the following season until their average comes back down to 4.00 or lower. Back in the day (sorry to hark back) the likes of Tom Owen and Joe Owen were 6 and 7 at Hull yet top riders in the second tier, then when Joe kicked on he stayed in the top league, Tom came back down. Carl Stonehewer was another who was in this position. Over 40 plus riders used from the 2nd tier this year doubling up and still over 30 in there now and teams with six championship riders and one high profile name in them so for all intents and purposes a championship side. (its a joke really) Especially when there are only 7 teams in the top league meaning they only require 49 riders... The current sides in the Championship should have the option to come up or stay in a reformed league 2 made up from current NDL sides and anyone who does not want to go up in to the top tier with a far stricter rule for doubling up/down. Get the young kids starting out as the key doubling up riders those who are 2nd strings at best but usually starting out in the reserve positions. The gap between the top two leagues is blurred to say the least. We can't compete with the wages in Poland so we struggle to attract the top riders for the top league although we do see some very good competitive racing in both leagues with the guys we have; however we need to concentrate on our own leagues and what will work in this country with what we have available and stuff anyone else; The NDL and junior leagues should be just that for developing junior riders IMHO and the issue is; there isn't currently enough clarity between the top two leagues and riders are driving the terms and conditions (especially the ones doubling up) rather than the promoters and teams setting up the structures that support the sides in the league they are in rather than the riders. Workington gone, Berwick Edinburgh Newcastle Sheffield and Redcar must all be feeling the pinch because having been to all these venues this season the crowds have looked down on previous years visits (although Scunthorpe's crowd looked healthier than I have ever seen it?). Time for radical changes not tinkering around the edges But its always been the same and I cant seeing it changing if I am totally honest Regards THJ

Honestly Two passes the whole meeting against Newcastle Heat 07: Bjerre passed Etheridge on the back straight of Lap 1 and Heat 09: Jorgensen pulled a hard move to go under Jonasson on Bend 4 of Lap 1. Then the event that was nearly Heat 10: The first running of the race saw Jonasson fall on Bend 3 Lap 2 when in third. Bjerre allegedly fell at the same time when chasing (he said he laid his bike down). Both were excluded from the rerun, however up to this point Wethers and Jonasson has passed and re-passed on the first lap and a half. The race when rerun with Gappmaier and Wethers was a gate and go affair unfortunately and as much as Wethers tried he got nowhere and then went wide into the thick stuff on the last bend and came down hard and was withdrawn from the meeting. The other 12 heats were all from the gate and done and dusted on the exit of the second bend of the first lap, the meeting was awful as a spectacle. Sorry... Regards THJ

Ben Barker Friday; Ben Barker Meeting 1 Saturday; Ben Barker Meeting 2 Saturday; Ben Barker Ben Barker Ben Barker Ben Barker Ben Barker? what part of Ben Barker do you not get... Ben Barker for both days and all three meetings!!! Regards THJ

Definitely Ben Barker...

Ben Barker is your go to guy for Saturday

Never thought he would go in the first instance let alone now... unless there is an injury before the cut off date for changes Newcadtle wont be switching anyone else out... Regards THJ

Is it not 2.43 as a Brit would get the 2.5% rebate... not that it would make much difference as it would have to be a Brit with an average that low... Regards THJ

Considering I was standing in front of Paulco having a pint with him (that he bought by the way!!!) I had exactly the same view as him and can't remember seeing you there HT but never mind... also Paulco stated Clegg touched the tapes not broke them... Clegg was the one moving before the start and the instigator of what followed... I think Mick Bates got both decisions spot on with the Clegg warning and all 4 back as his jump pulled everyone else forward and he (Clegg) didnt break the tapes and the Starke warning too was correct IMO by not stopping the Starke race as he had penalised himself by jumping (twitching) stopping and missing the start ending up at the back. Only if the jump gains an advantage should the race be pulled back... and to my mind that would be if the offender ended up in front of an opposing rider... I can't comment on the Redcar meeting and Graeme Hunters performance but I would have Mick Bates referee all my meetings if it were possible he is definitey one of the best in the country as far as I am concered Regards THJ

Honestly Ya both wrong (IMHO) I stand on the tapes line and Clegg moved first and Bickley went through them... Mick Bates the Referee tonight got it spot on... all four back and a warning for Clegg to sit still... Clegg was correctly penalised and Bickley done nothing wrong although he broke the tapes... Regards THJ BTW it was the same when Starke moved in a later race but didn't touch the tapes but disadvantaged himself at the start by leaving the blocks in last position and Ref Bates let it go... Good refereeing.. Regards THJ

Honestly No idea... I think you have interpreted it correctly though... had a good craic with a few Edinburgh riders in the bar after the meeting at Brough and they are all aware of the situation (and knew about the changes before they were made public) and they have been told there will be further changes... could be a bluff to spur them on or a guenine statement from the club of impending changes... however the ones I was talking to all thought it won't be them... haha... we will just have to wait and see if it's a management psychological tactic to gee some of the under performers on or a promise? Regards THJ

David Bellego perhaps Regards THJ

There is always Ben Barker... he is a bit of a track specialist... or Ulrich Ostergard who is starting to find some form... Oh hang on a minute.... Regards THJ

Yep another change due early August I believe (was told) Regards THJ

Craic tonight two out and two in with potentially another change early August... Edit... I wasn't going to be so rude as to name names however it would appear that Pienpeesman has let the cat out of the bag on the Edinburgh Newcastle thread Regards THJ