TheMessiahOfTheBSF

On the commercial side of things it's the biggest signing no doubt about it. But that doesn't count for anything on the track. On the track I think Nicki will have his work cut out to end 2020 with an average over 8.00. Nicki P is much like Chris Holder. With every passing year his standard is dropping. Injuries are to play a big part in that. Nicki P is a man who carries a big reputation but if you are to judge him on the here and now the picture tells a whole different story. Sheffield have signed a Speedway legend with a big reputation but they have also signed a man that's well past his best day's. The Nicki P they have signed isn't the same man putting in a strong world championship challenge. The Nicki P they have signed is a man who is no longer in his prime, a man who has contemplated retirement, a man who has Lost his GP place, a man who has had numerous big injury problems over the last few years and a man who has sat out British Speedway for 8 years.

No doubt about it. He will pull in the crowds.

Nope. See Peterborough thread. I don't think he will be as good as people think. 8 year hiatus, Multiple big injuries, No longer in his prime. Reputation doesn't mean anything in any sport. Also contemplated retirement after one of those serious big injuries.

Thankfully averages back up my claims too.

Had numerous injuries and big hiatus from Britain since then. For his standards he wasn't great last time but that's not to say he wont be great this time round. I think he'll do well but not as well as people expect. This is now a Nicki P no longer in his prime who has suffered multiple big injuries since 2011 as I said I think he will do well but not as well as some think he will.

Have to agree to disagree.

And they're both virtually back at square one after 4 years.

He is on the decline I agree. At the same time Masters hasn't improved as a Speedway rider. Which is the point I'm making to stevebrum when he say's apart from this year Masters has improved as a Speedway rider every year until 2019 because as I've now shown Harris has also improved as a speedway rider every year until 2019 using stevebrum's logic. Averages don't tell the full story. Harris has been on the decline for a few years and Masters is no better off now than he was 4 years ago even though he quit one league to try and improve as a speedway rider.

Ipswich don't need a No.1 and neither do Peterborough. Only 2 legit No.1's in this league Doyle & R. Lambert. What ever Ipswich & Peterborough lose out on in Heats 13 & 15 against teams like Sheffield & Swindon will be levelled out because Ipswich & Peterborough will hit a 5-1 9 times out of 10 in Heat 2 whilst having the beating of reserve pairings like Perks & Rowe, A. Morris & T. Kurtz. Solid 1-7 is better than a No.1 and weak reserves. Out and out No.1 means nothing if tail end isn't up to scratch. For example Doyle, Batch & Jensen would outscore Klindt, King and the other HL but at the same time. Allen, Covatti & the other TBA would outscore Stewart, Perks & Rowe by the same margin.

Hans probably. Nice Christmas gift that would please the fans.

Using SteveBrum's logic this tells you Harris isn't on the decline and he's just had one bad season. However being realistic. Harris is on the decline despite the averages saying 3 years of improvement. Which is why I haven't brought into stevebrum's argument about one bad season. 2019 - 6.16 2018 - 7.78 2017 - 7.63 2016 - 6.58

We can finish in the top 4 no problem. 3rd or 4th should be the target with the rumoured 1-7

question to acef and stevebrum. What is your opinion on Chris Harris. Is he on the decline?

Stats don't lie Steve. Both of them are virtually no better off than they were 4 years ago and that's in a league that gets weaker with every passing year.

Forget about one good season let's look at the final GSA's over a 4 year period. Masters increased from 7.18 to 7.35 = Virtually no improvement. Thorssell increased from 7.06 to 7.33 = Virtually no improvement. The two Wolves boys over a four year period have seen a combined + 0.44 not even half a point. They were on low 7 point averages four years ago and they are still on low 7 point averages four years later so where is the legit improvement because +0.44 combined is nothing. Masters 2019 - 7.35 2018 - 8.11 2017 - 7.92 2016 - 7.18 Thorssell 2019 - 7.33 2018 - 7.25 2017 - 8.64 2016 - 7.06

Away from home At home that team would win the vast majority of meetings tbh.

Thing is you have to judge them team as a collective group and not just the HL's. What we're losing in the HL department we more than make up for with the second strings. We would have a team full of second strings and no reserves. But all second strings capable of scoring 6 points a meeting which would mean a league point in every meeting.

They aren't I agree but I think they can easily up starting GSA's. Hans had an injury hit campaign, Harris doesn't like the Foxhall track and Nicholls was never settled last year. Missing out on a Prem team place then got one at a technical track followed by making a switch to a big fast track. Tungate wont improve his average for sure. We signed him on a false average last year that was based around his points scoring around NSS. Bech you're right he's another that hasn't done anything in Britain but he should be able to get 6 a meeting in this weak league that has got even weaker this winter with big departures across the board. With Nicholls at reserve he will be riding against riders like Etheridge, Perks, Rowe, T. Kurtz, A. Morris as well as others for the majority of the evening. He's capable of beating these guy's even though he's not getting any younger. Between the three of them I can see a combined average improvement of a minimum 2.00 points. Hans a full point, Nicholls and Bomber half a point each which would seem them still all end the season on averages under 7.00.

You say Masters has kicked on. 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017 he rode for the Edinburgh Monarchs in the second tier of British Speedway. In 2018 Sam Masters quit the second tier of British Speedway to try his luck abroad. In late 2019 and now signed up for 2020 Sam Masters is back at square one. Tried his luck abroad like Craig Cook. Realised he wasn't good enough so has to settle for the easy money in the Championship.

Honestly guys you need stop worrying about Phil The Ace's 1-7. It's a good side and I would snap anyone's hand off if they offered me that side. In Britain there are two possibly three No.1's if Batchelor rides well. Jason Doyle, Robert Lambert are the only true No.1's and that is it. Then the rest of the riders are either one of the following. 1. Not good enough to ride in the league and are only signed to contracts because clubs ran out of points to play with 2. Is full of riders on a level playing field and they can all beat each other on any given night.

I'm 100% right look at Sam Masters career. Quit Championship racing to test himself abroad. He failed miserably so he's now back in the Championship full time. Jacob Thorssell you've just proven me right above. Hasn't improved for two years and the only time he did improve is when Fast Freddie took the work load off his shoulders. Much like Nick Morris at Swindon when Doyley took a lot of pressure of his shoulders. You've got a decent team but the top two aren't exactly anything to be scared of away from home.

Look at Ipswich last year. They didn't have a No.1 but still made the Grand Final. Solid 1-7 with strong reserves. This league is pish poor. We really don't need a No.1 to be competitive. As for the teams mentioned above. I only rate Swindon's 1-7. Both Belle Vue and Sheffield are way overrated imo. Belle Vue - No.1 is a proven choke artist who could never get the job done for the Pirates, No.5 Killer is back in the UK because he's failed abroad. S. Worrall never improved. Very average 1-7 imo. Sheffield - Nicki P was poor the last time he rode in the UK, Two reserves who aren't good enough to ride in this league, Howarth & Lawson who have never improved. Solid at home but will struggle big time on the road imo. Then look at other possible sides - How many years have Masters & Thorssell failed to improve at Wolves. Klindt at No.1 for the Witches unless things change so a solid 1-7 being built again, King's Lynn same crap that's been failing for years in the engine room whilst one possible reserve that already flopped in the Championship against much weaker opposition. With Peterborough - Hans, Nicholls, Bomber and BWD can all improve there starting GSA's whilst Tungate, MPT & Bech can at least maintain there's. I see no reason why we couldn't finish 3rd or 4th with Phil The Aces' 1-7

If Phil The Ace is right and I hope he is tbh then I think we have a team that's capable of challenging. Don't forget anyone who rides poorly on the night can be replaced by a rider of the same or even better standard. Solid teams where all riders are capable of scoring 6 points a night minimum which would mean a league point out of every single meeting.

Even Swindon are close tbh. Yes it's a power packed top 4 but the tail end it's awfully weak. Which will level things out tbh. Stewart, Perks & Rowe wont do anything away from home so the HL scores only levels things out imo.

Take all of that and add it to. Swindon's weak tail end, King's Lynn's same abysmal engine room. Sheffield's weak reserves who aren't good enough to ride in the Premiership. Then Peterborough are capable of finishing 3rd or 4th