greyhoundp

I fervantly hope that a way forward can be found, however i fear the worst, especially seeing as IOW stalwart and captain Ben Hopwood has reportedly signed for Stoke, Daryll has gone to Kings Lynn, Brendan to Mildenhall, all that remains from the Team are Brandon Freemantle, Chris Widman, and Danny Stoneman. So it seems the riders themselves can see the writing on the wall.

The reasoning is they have proven scorers there, still with an amount of improvement left, in Jack they have a young lad who will average around a high 6 average, same as our Max Clegg in 2013, maybe i should have put the words (at the moment). However the riders are not around that were around in 2013, which is as it should be, No Nielsen, Ellis, Blackbird, Morris, Kerr. Yes Cradley will have a strong Team, just as Coventry and Mildenhall have.

Marcus, you are in NO way to blame, indeed you, your wife, and your various friends and sponsors have done a tremendous job over the years, and Im sure every rider who has taken part, owes you a debt of gratititude, bcuz were it not for you,and your team, none of the previous tours would have taken place, its better to have tried and failed, than not to have tried at all, Yes some things were insurmountable this year, but dont blame yourself in any way. Marcus hope you are soon 100%, enjoy your Christmas, and have a good New year, we are all rooting for you.

If you have signed Jack Kingston,you have yourself a good rider there, and will take some beating, I have you down as favourites to win the NL in 2014 already.

Yes Pete, but dont you think that the powers that be seem reluctant to grasp the changes that are needed.

I think what he means Neil, is or those that have been around longer than Mildenhall, its the 70,s/80,s all over again, and for those of us who can go back to the sixties, we can remember when Cradley were given everyone elses cast offs, and invariably finished bottom of the league, and we still were one of the best supported clubs even then. I dont buy into this trying to stop us winning the League stuff, and i certainly DONT want to keep seeing 60 point home wins, the signing of Brady Kurtz would almost have guaranteed that. So now we can go out and sign a promising youngster, who we could have as our own asset. Im still dissapointed to see us release Dan Greenwood, and possibly keep Gareth Isherwood, Dan is more than 1 point average better than Gareth, and lives in Cradley, but i guess being local doesnt count for much these days. Most supporters want to see us develop our own riders, yes Steve Worrall is a good signing, but back this up with another Heat Leader such as Starkey, 2 x 3 pointers Nathan and Cleggy, then push for the League in 2015, with OUR assets. Try a different strategy in 2014, not the same cheque book Speedway we have seen until now, or if it needs to be cheque book Speedway, then sign the best 15/16 year olds, and develop them as our own.

Yes, I dont think Gareth Isherwood has the equipment, but for a guy of his experience, to finish the seasons end down at reserve, isnt really what he should be doing at this stage of his career, personally i would prefer us to go with 2 x 3 pointers, Nathe at four, which would leave Cleggy at 2, then we need another 2 decent Heat Leaders, possibly Tom who in my opinion has reached his level, and could even see a return for Starkey, thats without checking the averages. 1. Starkey 2. Cleggy 3. Steve 4. Nathe 5. Tom. 6. Michael 7. Freemantle

I myself would like to see Michael Neale as our 3 pointer, Im guessing we will want Nathan as our other reserve, usually thats how we build our Teams, 1 reserve as a 3 pointer, and 1 with experience, personally i would have chosen Greenwood over Isherwood, but now thats out, will we retain Isherwood?, personally i wouldnt. Maybe they will go with 2 X 3 point reserves, such as Neale, and possibly Freemantle whom some have been suggesting, thereby enabling Cradley to have a stronger Top four.

I didnt mention a name, but as i understood it the 3 main men at Stoke were/are Messrs Tatum, Vasey, and Crabtree, Now if you had said one of the fairer sex, then maybe i would have known who, but you didnt, so i come to the conclusion its an ex rider, as you said it wasnt Mr Tatum, its below Malcolm to do that, which leaves only one, anyways i hope Stoke have a better 2014.

Pleased for Dan, and Storm have got him on a bargain 5+ average, should make up into a 3rd heat leader berth this season, Cradleys loss, Storms gain good luck to ya Dan.

Hmmm, only just read the news, Im pretty sure Dan will end up at Coventry, especially on his average, and being known to Lorro.

Intersting to see Dan in your Team, but not impossible.

Im intrigued, i would have thought Mr T, would have been the main problem, is this person an ex rider ?.

Great to see Cradley back, this is the True name of our Club, now lets Ommer Um, great to see Steve in Cradley colours..

Dont be silly Tony, this is Speedway we are talking about, Its guaranteed there will be a scramble at the end of October to get the Play Offs and KO Cup final run, why ? because they are totally unable to forsee any fixture pile ups., all it needs is certain rounds of the KO Cup to be run by a certain date, with the Play Offs its a little more difficult, but still doable, again just bring the cut off date forward. Then for those who want, they can enter the National Trophy to see September & October out, and even hold the League Shield in the same year between Play Off winners and KO Cup winners, that should be a money spinner. The promoters need to realise, Speedway is primarily a summer sport, and we dont enjoy watching Speedwaay on freezing cold late October nights, and also realise its somewhat ridiculous to have a league fixture to complete after the Play Offs have been run. Also there are 20+ weeks to hold meetings between May and the end of September, more than enough for most Teams.

We do on at least a couple of times, each season lol.

I honestly hope you are wrong, bcuz in that scenario everyone would lose, not least Mr Tatum.

I certainly dont think he is blameless, however i do believe its time the leaseholder considers withdrawing from Promoting, of which he certainly is a proven failure, and concentrates on being a Landlord for The Stadium, and taking a regular rental income, for which he has more talent, and then allowing someone who has had considerable success as a Promoter in the past, to stand or fall by his own decisions. This could well be a win,win, win situation for Mr Tatum, Stoke Speedway, and supporters of Stoke Speedway.

I know this is Stoke 2014, and as such Malcolm is part of that, Malcolms record in the NL prior to joining Stoke was good, in his 1st season in the NL with Stoke they were for the most part of the season challenging for Honours, since then things have resumed in a downward trend, culminating in them finishing bottom of the NL in 2013, and not completing there fixtures. Stoke speedway needs a shot in the arm, begining with Messrs Tatum withdrawing from the Speedway side of the Stadium, and Malcolm Vasey taking overall control of the Speedway operation. Things may then begin to look up, because though Malcolm appears too be manager and joint promoter, i do believe he is trying to work under constraints imposed by others, for instance Liam Carr was apparently not re signed due to the promotion allegedly not wanting to pay his travel costs, but Buxton can, what does that say about Stoke Speedway ?. I do worry about the future for Stoke Speedway while the current incumbants continue to have a major say in how it is run, On behalf of many Stoke fans, i ask Mr Tatum to seriously consider his position at Stoke Speedway, and consider leasing the Speedway side of things to either Malcolm Vasey or other persons, who would bring a more positive outlook to the promotion of the Sport, Im sure there are people out there who would be willing to come on board.b Stoke is a fine little Stadium which has been allowed to be dragged down to the point of almost NO return. From the financial side of things, surely its better that Mr Tatum and Co take a regular rent from the Speedway, rather than continue to struggle as THE promoter, and facing loses year in year out, and becoming something of a butt for peoples jokes, I dont doubt that Mr Tatum has the interests of Stoke Speedway at heart, and wants to see them winning, however it is apparent to almost every Speedway supporter in general, and Stoke fans in particular, that he does not have there confidence to carry out that role, and has been pretty poor in recent seasons, due mainly to decisions he has taken, and supporters have shown there displeasure by staying away, that CANT continue.

Not bad RB1, but would prefer Michael Neale to Gareth Isherwood, i was impressed with him, when he guested against us last season, there looks to be seven improvers then.

Nowt new yet, except Will P, has said he would not be unhappy If Tom Perry was back riding for us in 2014, and Nathan Greaves, and Max Clegg, so you can go from there. By the way, i hope by some miracle, we can still see The IOW in the NL for 2014. If you were to have an air fence meeting, surely this would go a long way to raising funds ??, this combined with the £9,000+ that you have already raised would surely see you race again in 2014, normally where there is a will there is a way, do the IOW promoters have the will ? Im sure they do..

I thought or am i mistaken this was a Stoke 2014 thread ?.

May i suggest Gustix, that you put yourself forward as a Moderator, you seem to enjoy visiting the various BSF threads, and enjoy directing us lesser mortals to the correct Threads, Im sure you would find the moderators job enthralling.

I feel your own Jack Kingston is a typical 3 point reserve, begins the season on a 3 average, and finishes on a 4+ whilst showing glimpses of things to come, the Ellis and Lamberts are few and far between, Ellis was a beginner who had shown lots of talent in a handful of meetings the previous season, whilst Lambert NEVER was a 3 pointer, perhaps the wayto go, may be to use rolling averages, therby stopping a Team having a rider on a 3 average, who really is way above that for most of the season.

The shortened version of cricket is real money spinner, maybe NOT for the purists, but its what Joe public wants to see, County Cricket produces the Test match players,but very few want to watch it. Speedway has to look at ideas like this, 13 Main Heats for the usual points, 5 Single lap races, and then perhaps we could look at a way of producing Tag racing, ie similar to relay racing, Maybe a stupid idea, but something has to be done to GET excitement back, and crowds through the doors, lets all try to think outside the box. The tried and tested formula, is failing..