enotian

No it doesn't. You've pointed out that if there's one league and all the teams in one region are poorer than the teams in the other, then by virtue of having more fixtures against poorer teams, would finish higher up the combined table despite having always been beaten by teams in the other conference. In your example by virtue of the Northern teams being of a higher standard the worst two or three wouldn't be able to make the top six because they have 20 harder matches (i.e. against northern teams) than the best teams in the south who only have 12 harder matches. That inequality is exactly why there has to be two separate 'conferences' (and unfortunately for Newcastle/Plymouth why there doesn't really need to be an even number of teams). Importantly, as I pointed out in my original response, the quarter finals need to be 2nd north vs 3rd south and 2nd south vs 3rd north. That means if the northern teams are all better than their southern counterparts then three of them will make the semi finals. Not perfect but it's sport it's not supposed to be perfect. It's all theoretical anyway so don't even get started on the averages after year one!! Where a six pointer in one conference could be a nine pointer in the other.....

No. Exactly not that. Fixtures as have been announced. 10 home against your five conference rivals and (i.e. twice each) plus 6 home against the teams from the other conference (i.e. once each) making 16 fixtures. My point was that there shouldn't be one league table as the mix of fixtures could mean that the total points could be skewed if one conference is weaker than the other. So there should only ever be two conference tables with the top three in each progressing. Not the top six in a combined league progressing. This is perhaps a subtle concept but it's the only way of ensuring that the league standings are not skewed. i.e. everyone in the same conference has rode against the same opposition the same amount of times. It has the added benefit of their being two conference champions and also makes the play off's a little more distinct from the league. Should have done it years ago.

That's right. So it should be two 'conferences' with both the conference champions straight to the semi's and hopefully 2nd in the North plays 3rd in the South etc in the quarters. Meaning that if the top three teams in the Championship are in one 'conference' they can all make the semi finals. This regional split should have been implemented ages ago. 16 home league matches is just about right and hopefully the cut off will be end of August.

So far as I am aware the Newcastle promotion have a similar reputation, yet still struggle to attract riders. The point is that, whether it's Poole and/or Glasgow or not, there is a disparity between what some clubs can afford. Not the fault of those clubs, they live within their means. My point is that their isn't sufficient clubs left to sustain the three tier structure so the Championship needs to be a sustainable standard for the majority, which inevitably means less professional and featuring less expensive 'international' standard riders. But whilst clubs with larger budgets remain in the Championship the rest will try to be competitive on the basis that if they're not the crowd levels fall. Either way is unsustainable in the long term unless you can reduce costs. You could argue that if speedway in Newcastle is unsustainable (due to a Sunday race night and/or high stadium rental etc) then they should drop down to the National League but that's the problem. Even if Belle Vue and Cradley continue it's a maximum six team league which just isn't viable and not great news for the development of young British riders who struggle to make Championship level pay (Thomas, Wood etc). With only 22 tracks in operation, now would have been the opportunity to have restructured to two tiers, widening the gap between both and getting rid of doubling up for all bar British development riders. Workington's demise last season should have been the tipping point. How many more will fall before it's inevitable?

Wasn't meant as a jibe at either. Regardless of how they fund it they're (plus whoever else you allude to [I didn't know there was further south than Poole]) big fish in a little pond, resulting in riders pay expectations increasing. It's sport if you can afford to why wouldn't you. Only trouble is when others try to compete and it becomes unsustainable.

Trouble is even if investment can be secured Newcastle will struggle to be competitive and that isn't sustainable. With Glasgow and now Poole money in the mix, a Sunday race night, no access to foreign newcomers and a track that doesn't suit the modern bikes we're always going to struggle to attract riders. With no blame attached to the promotion. The 2019 team on paper was decent but it became apparent that the likes of Worrall, Jorgensen and Bjerre weren't there as a preference. Why the authorities insist that the three league structure is maintainable is beyond me, given the number of tracks which have folded recently. Looks like there'll only be three stand alone National League clubs next season if Plymouth run at that level. You can't cut costs at Championship level because half the riders need to be competitive in the Premiership and on the continent, effectively using the Championship to supplement their priority fixtures. With the reducing number of tracks the Championship needs to be the development league for young British and UK based riders who don't ride on the continent. At that level the costs can come down. But with the likes of Glasgow and Poole splashing cash at this level there's only going to be more closures as the have nots struggle to keep up.

Wouldn't cricket grounds be the best fit? Is there historical precedent in Australia? Clearly they're not obvious bed fellows but I know a lot of the Counties struggle financially. Would it be possible to have a permanent speedway track covered by cut out sections of the cricket outfield? Not in-expensive but less so than a new stadium. Generally speaking you'd be appealing to two different demographics so wouldn't be competing for the same audience [debatable].

That's exactly the point. A so called major final being held when most of the riders have packed up for the season (Bjerre and Jorgensen included no doubt). But traditionally the season has always ran until 31st October so that's what promoters do. The fact that the riders have moved on and end their seasons at the end of the Polish/Swedish play offs and GP series is totally ignored by the traditionalists and we end up with what could have been a season highlight being a literal damp squib. Not specifically Newcastle's fault or a pop at Sarjeant (who could make 5 'gates' and score a hatful) but a point on promoters apparent lack of understanding of what the customer wants or how their product (the riders) work. A recipe for disaster. Especially after any number of blank weekends during the season.

This is everything that is wrong with Speedway yet time and time again the same thing happens. A supposedly prestige event ends up a scratch challenge fixture made up of whoever is left standing/can be bothered and prepared to ride on a rain sodden track, whilst the punters freeze their nuts (or equivalent) off in the bitter cold and wet. And the promoters wonder why nobody turns up. Of course it's all the fault of the weather...... I'm a supporter of 30+ years and now can't be bothered to go to a nicely poised Cup Final 2nd leg against our local rivals!!! Shambles.

and with one Archie Freeman a potential NL rider next season and the fact that, as a Sunday team with limited finances, we struggle to compete for big names (even though we're perfect for doubling up for the same Sunday reason) NDL could be a possibility. However, if the rumours about Kent and Plymouth moving up are correct, plus the demise of Stoke, I'm not sure where that leaves the NDL anyway. I wouldn't mind watching NDL if it's competitive but then I am used to watching 3rd tier sport Perhaps if they made the NDL for any U-24 Brit, plus one over 24 rider and one U-24 foreigner the standard wouldn't be too diluted but affordable for the likes of Mildenhall and IoW and more sustainable for the majority of CL clubs. It would mean most of the riders would be UK based.

Dean and Darren Standing

Don't worry Dandelion, I think THJ might just be on his period. We can't all have insider knowledge so you keep speculating if you enjoy it. The sport is supposed to be fun after all... Although I must agree with THJ in that I've not enjoyed this season/Diamonds team at all. Perhaps if you were in charge of team building we'd be somewhat better off.

Berwick!!! Not Glasgow? Who'd have predicted that?

Can't see them going for a third Dane ahead of a second Swede Hancock, Woffinden, Laguta and Lindback, would arguably make it the best 15 riders again. Don''t think (with the exception of G Laguta) that anyone else stands out as deserving a place? Drabik as a double U-21 champ could have a shout if they go for four Poles.

https://app.box.com/s/fzngmofjdpxqb3ycqmkihyjmezg8mepe SGP Round 10 scorechart to print or electronic

Round 7 scorechart https://app.box.com/s/fzngmofjdpxqb3ycqmkihyjmezg8mepe

Havelock, Loram, Louis??? plenty of relatively recent experience to be passed on there. But to be fair does the team manager have that much of an input? Cieslak let his riders select the wrong gates and the Russian bloke didn't look like he knew where he was. To be fair the BSPA are doing a lot more to develop young riders than ever before but it will take a while before this bears fruit. No need to reinvent the wheel after today. It was embarrassing but any country would have struggled without Woffinden and Lambert. Cook and Harris were just the next two taxi's on the rank and were exactly that.... rank, but I'd struggle to thing of anyone who'd have done any better. The challenge for the BSPA is how to get the talent to become world class.

Some SON spreadsheet and pdf content here https://app.box.com/s/fzngmofjdpxqb3ycqmkihyjmezg8mepe

which are not the official green sheet averages as they only include this season's fixtures (and bonus points). i.e. they're not the rolling averages used for team building or position.

it looks okay on the excel version (with a colour background) but I should probably change it for the pdf. I only use the excel version.

SON score chart. Excel or pdf. (I think the format is correct) https://app.box.com/s/fzngmofjdpxqb3ycqmkihyjmezg8mepe

none taken sir. my point (not made well enough) was that as others strengthen it's often the #7 that get's the boot in the numbers game. perhaps Edinburgh for example. in which case Ruddick would appear to be a better option. note that Simon Lambert scored 3 at Kings Lynn last night. capable but not suited to Newcastle.

very interesting. I wonder if Austin Novratil gets an invite to practice whilst he's over for the SON. Yesterday 11 lasts (i.e. only 4 heats we could have gained a heat advantage) and our bottom three scored 4 vs Leicester's 22. Still not convinced there's a better 2.00 option out there than Phillips unless someone like Gilkes feels ready to go Championship after only a handful of National League meetings but perhaps once the points limit increases that'll either give us more points to play with or free up a 2.00 discarded elsewhere.

Reality is there is nobody knocking on the door who could go a better job at present than Phillips. Of the kids in the National League (Jenkins & Edwards) don't seem to want it yet or (Palin, McGurk, Ablitt, Gilkes, Thompson's) are too young. Others don't have places in the National League (unless Danyon Hume can get an injury reduction) so don't appear to be interested (Lawlor, Parkinson-Blackburn). Plus if there was a candidate I'm sure the Glasgow money tree would shake first. Without being able to make a change what should be done is to make better use of Clegg. I reckon there was about another 4-6 point swap in last night meeting if Clegg had been used in heat 5 and 8. Wasn't required last night (although it did get close at one point) but there'll be tougher opponents and he'll not be a reserve too much longer. No point in giving Phillips or Lambert the easier heats if they're not developing/scoring. I'm not sure that Lambert will ever get the hang of Newcastle but could be decent at reserve away from home. It's going to be frustrating to watch but in lieu of any alternatives you just have to accept it for what it is.

Nicol was impressive. These American's aren't phased by the tight turns of Brough. To a lesser degree Aaron Fox and Max Ruml have looked decent in 'recent' ish season's and it looks like Becker has the hang of Wolverhampton already. At 4.00 assessed it makes you wonder why the Diamonds never look in that direction.