Ben91

He'll always be in his brothers shadow, he's a 4 point something reserve, if that is what was expected of him then nobody would be disappointed.

Well this thread is dying a death isn't it? Speaking of Nelson, he scored 8 in a 4tt in Oz the other night with Jason Crump also featuring in the meeting, good to see he is keeping race sharp and performing well back home. Also saw a couple of photographs of Jason Bunyan from the NZ GP media announcement, could be a potential ride there for him as a multi time New Zealand champion whilst I've also heard there could be interest from a few EL sides in Jason, would make sense with the average conversion the way it is. Perhaps he'll be lined up for a doubling up spot at Coventry with Adam Roynon? If it does happen it's all good for keeping Jason race sharp and good publicity for the club with one of our riders making reasonably regular sky TV appearances. http://snpa.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/Auckland-Inaugural-FIM-New-Zealand-Speedway-Grand-Prix-Announcement/G00001WBZd61eBZc/I0000HJJ90ESbQ.A

Does it look like I've quoted him? I do agree though, just like the PL team the NL team is too expensive to watch, there's no two ways about it. It looks like Nick Lee and Jed Collins are two names being mooted from the promotion looking at this press release http://speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.13798.6 with Collins being the name better of the two if this is to be believed. Perhaps something along the lines of this would be feasible: 1. Mason 2. Owen 3. Sarjeant 4. Hazelden 5. Morley 6. Collins 7. Freemantle 8. Lee

You've misquoted me, there was a comma in there. Is it that important that you need to go grammar police on it? I know what I meant, there was nothing wrong with it and if you've read it wrong it's not my problem. Back on topic: Whilst it is good to win things and keep the fans coming back, who are the riders we are going to sign who will win us meetings and be decent signings who could move up to the Rockets side in the future? Most are assets of other clubs, we need to make our own assets, to do that we need to blood new talent and not just one rider here and there, 2 or 3 because the chances are out of each 2 or 3 we put into the side only one will be good enough in future. Until they are given their chance then who will know and they won't get the track time to improve with competitive action. At the end of the day, the purpose of the Raiders is to develop riders not to win the league, that is what the Rockets should be aiming to do each year.

Where did I say Freemantle was untried? I said I'd be happy to see two untried reserves but my preference would be Freemantle and Greenwood. Scunthorpe's team last year was the result of 2/3 years worth of NL experience for most of their side, Rye will be starting some riders off from scratch with their breakthrough seasons being expected to be 2013 or 2014. As I've said before, we are not a win at all costs stand alone side, so to try build a win at all costs team would not be beneficial for anyone, bringing through young riders for the future of the rockets would be. Mason is the experienced rider, Morley and Sarjeant are looking to break through during the season, the other 4 spots should be for youngsters who can make a name for themselves. Running double headers and charging less for the stand alone meetings will keep crowd interest up, the double headers aren't everyone's cup of tea but if they were moved along a little quicker then there would be no issues.

This is where the NL teams have a conflict of interests, the stand alone sides want to build winning sides, whilst by the nature of the league they have to do so with young Brits in their side in the main. I'm happy for the Raiders to go to tapes with two untried youngsters at reserve in 2012, my personal preference would be Dan Greenwood and Brandon Freemantle as they have the potential to do well in the sport, although any of the lads who have impressed at the training schools will do. If we can't sign decent youngsters with potential in the ilk of Sarjeant and Morley for the rest of the main body of the side then I'd be happy to see more youngsters given a chance to get some experience under their belts in the same way Scunthorpe have done the last few years, it hasn't done them any harm has it?

Big point there, admission prices, if they are any higher than they are now then I think a lot of fans stay away, no matter what seven riders we track. Keep them as they are or even move them back in line with other PL clubs, just don't increase them for Gawds sake.

If we were a stand alone NL side then I'd agree we would need a strong reserve. However the purpose of the Raiders is to bring through future Rockets, with Morley and Sarjeant we are certainly doing that. I'd expect to see Hazelden and Owen line up in Lakeside's NL venture, so the rest of the top 5 is a mystery. Ben Hopwood, whilst he is now an asset of Rye is looking for a new club and I think with One experienced rider in David Mason it would be a mistake to bring Barrie Evans back. It'd be good to see Brandon Freemantle back to continue his development, whilst I'd also consider Dan Greenwood.

That team is barely better than some of the sides the Devils used to line up with in the NL! Wells will have to have a blinding season to back up Barker and that still leaves you with a team of 5 reserves.

If this is true I feel for the Devils fans, Werner's last good season was in the title winning Rye side in 2005, that's 7 seasons ago come March, since then he has been going downhill. He'll be on a 5 point something figure but I can't see him getting anywhere near that. When is Neil Collins signing up?

There's improvement in Nelson, Bunyan and Garrity for certain. Plus they are all entertaining, rather that than gate and go merchants like Hart who was mentioned. Neath and Frampton are a solid top two, may not improve but they will consistently do well. You can't blame Jordan for looking uninterested towards the end of the year considering there was nothing to ride for. Luke and or Hawkins will drop to reserve probably and that still leaves us with solid reserves. The team will do well, not sure why some people are complaining, it's a lot better than we had last season. As i've said previously the only change I'd make would be someone like Auty in the place of Hawkins but it's not happening, so lets see what happens come March.

Indeed, very good side we have put together. Should have a strong reserve pairing all season whilst we have a solid top end as all successful teams do, lets hope we can be in with a shout of the play offs.

Bunyan has had worse injuries before and come back as a better rider, Hart tends to rely on his gating too much, Bunyan is box office, as is Roynon. I'd go out of my way to watch either of those two, Hart not so much. If we sign any four pointers other than Bunyan or Roynon, however unlikely either signing could be, I will be very disappointed.

Bunyan is one of the most entertaining riders around, so is Roynon, both would be fantastic signings and do a lot better than Hart IMO. I'm not doubting his injuries or any of that, I just don't want him at Rye, not the sort of rider I'd go out of my way to watch, whereas Jason and Adam are.

Don't see any improvement in him, the only other riders on 4 point averages I'd be happy to see added to what we already have are Bunyan or Roynon.

No thanks.

The likelyhood that the points limit will be 42.5 again is high as it has worked for the 3 years it has been in force, so speculation is no bad thing. What hurt us last year was declaring before we knew the rules on EL riders average conversion, Glasgow held out and used it to good effect with Pijper, whilst Newcastle got Robbo on a bargain average. If we announce any more signings before the AGM I will be disappointed though, unless they are mind blowingly good signings.

Hoddesdon Mercury Twitter has confirmed that Neath, Nelson and Bowen all signed for the Rockets for 2012. Not a bad start to team building, as long as Bowen and Nelson start at reserve. No Paul Hurry please either!

Wooden spoon.

He was in my thinking when putting these couple of sides together, think he is on a 5.62 off he top of my head, could maybe go with him and Wells instead of Kildemand and Bowen in the first side, would have a little more strength in depth.

Neath 8.22 Auty 7.85 Kildemand 6.94 Sitera 5.15 Bowen 4.85 Nelson 4.76 Bunyan 4.63 Total: 42.40 or: Neath 8.22 Auty 7.85 Frampton 7.47 Wells 6.01 Nelson 4.76 Bunyan 4.63 Garrity 3.49 Total: 42.43 Both would do a job, first team would benefit from Nelson starting at reserve, second side is stronger up top though and the reserves are still quality.

That was my point, if signed with a view to being our second reserve, Luke could potentially spend time in the second string early doors, but once averages kick in, hopefully he would be our 7th averaged rider. If we go with Morley, Garrity or another 3 pointer then I don't believe we should retain him. However if we don't then I can see Luke having a good season as our number 7 because he will score shed loads at home. We can't carry 2 riders away, most teams will carry one reserve, we can't carry Luke and a 3 pointer.

Agree regarding Luke being a good reserve but only if he is signed with a view to being second reserve. His points at home would certainly help from reserve, however if we go with Ben Morley and Luke in the side it is likely we will be too long in the tail on our travels for most of the year. Jason Bunyan is a rider we want to look at as he is on such an attractive figure and would start at reserve potentially.

There is a difference between the leagues in that respect IMO, look at Glasgow this year, big hitter Screen, backed up with a solid top 5 and 2 decent reserves, when one moved up, the rider who came down the other way was just as effective. The same thing has happened with Edinburgh in the recent past. Rye's last two league winning sides were both built with at least one strong reserve too (Danny King in 05, Wuffy and Roynon in 07). Of the seven riders who finished the season Neath and Nelson are the only two who I would dread losing. Neathy seemed pretty confident last night that we will be challenging next season, so lets hope he knows something we don't!

Where's this figure come from? Last EL greensheets have him at 7.40, which would convert to 12.33, even with Brit reduction he'd still be over 12. I'd rather take Olly Allen on a 10 odd average than Bridger. Though Bridger would certainly be a very exciting addition to the side, I just don't think on such a high average it'd be wise to bring him in. The formula that seems to work is having a strong number one and at least 1 strong reserve, we need to start with Nelson in a reserve berth ideally in my opinion.