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Honestly First met Luke a few years back now when my daughter was teaching at his school in Berwick and I used to chat to him at Newcastle when he came down on his free Sundays to watch. He is a great kid who is "keen as mustard" and wants to do well and he will be well looked after up at Armadale and I hope he takes this opportunity with both hands and makes a good go of it. After all he deserves the chance and he will not be overawed by the step up and his attitude is spot on. If he puts 1 point on his average next year he will have upped it by 50% so you need to look at what you expect him to achieve because if he does end up on a 3 by the end of next year I will guarantee that no other rider in the Edinburgh team will have upped there average by that amount as its all about perspective If he can get dialled into the Edinburgh track he will be okay, as has been pointed out there is a good home track advantage up there and he will get well looked after with all the help needed for him to improve. Good luck to him for next year and stay safe, and all he has to do; to look for inspiration; is look at how Kyle Bickley did last year; he had a hard time at the start of last season, persevered, and by the end of the year didn't want the season to finish, so let Brummie matey boy "knock" as hard as he wants, if you get stuck in and work hard you end up proving the detractors wrong. I for one will be rooting for him Go for it Bonnie Lad Regards THJ

Michael Palm-Toft 7.96Charles Wright 7.68Ben Barker 6.87Tom Bacon 4.50Jordan Stewart 4.09 Nathan Greaves 3.99Jack Smith 2.73 So this team is confirmed....huge well done to Bears management - three genuine heat-leaders, and full of young potential. Loving the Bacon and Smith signings, think they could love the STMP every week....but it is MPT and Wright signings that make this VII, didn't think we would see a top three that good - pressure off Barker now and he will fly - on paper that is one, if not the, best teams ever put together by the Bears. Well done Jitendra.

So sad many memories of him lighting up Foxhall. I really hope that he recovers soon.

Pretty much sums it up. "Welcome to the real world" where there is more to running a team than just playing Fantasy Speedway with any name that springs to mind. We can thank the organisation who are the sole guardians of the "best interests of British speedway" for making the rules that we have to play by, one of which is that Birmingham, having been stripped of all its Tony Mole riding assets, by said organisation, a couple of years ago, has to now balance out asset building with on-track competitiveness, whilst those teams with an asset base can plough their resources into a focussed effort of maintaining a competitive team. It'll be several years of team building before Birmingham will be able to mount a title challenge, and I hope that the fans come to realise that. Sights need to be adjusted accordingly. Anyone who thinks "we are Birmingham, therefore we entitled" needs to take a reality check. We are in a different environment, and we're playing catch-up with the established teams in this league.

Local Wolves newspaper is reporting " ''SPOON MUSEUM TO BE BUILT IN WOLVERHAMPTON " Initial fears that a phone box was being converted into the Cradley Heath trophy cabinet have proven unfounded as thankfully the report says JD Wetherspoon are putting a National beer museum into the "Moon Under Water" Pub in Lichfield St, Wolverhampton.. Footnote: Wolves fan stalwart Stal asked me to remind fellow Wolves fans that:- 1) Cradley have never won a top league title when Wolves were in the league at the same time. 2) Hamill & Hancock did not win World Titles in Cradley colours! Have a Merry 'Flange Free' Crimble Lefty

Fingers crossed both Becker and Lidsey are good, I would have been happy with either. Don't see why it has to be an either/or.

Castagna being one. Good luck to Luke at Edinburgh.

Honestly As it is coming up to Christmas I thought I would share this little chestnut off the Scunthorpe 2019 thread (Page 21) from Gazc where in response to a question posted by "allthegearbutnaeidea" where he asked "Why does every team want Rasmus Jensen?" Glasgow Gaz responded back with... Quote "Probably appeals as his average is attractive in a watered down league , I would be disappointed if my team signed him. No dis-respect to him but I have never been impressed any time I saw him albeit he was banging some big scores in towards the end of last season". Just hope the rest of Christmas isn't such a big disappointment Gazc and signing Rasmus Jensen doesn't spoil your entertainment to much next season, although there is always Hogmanay where you can drown your sorrows, like eh!!! #teamspirit #PMSL Regards THJ

Just makes the ruling of no NL teams allowed assets all the more ridiculous. Brum could have spent the years in the lower league recruiting and placing themselves in a much stronger position moving forward.

Agreed, Looks like a business signing rather than the best option with the points available. Ultimately if Brum are to survive at a higher level there will be a season or two of building and preparation i just hope that the team can be competitive enough to keep the fan base through the tougher early years.

I'm actually changing jobs because of this Panthers side. I'm going to be looking for a job near the Showground so I can attend meetings after work. I'm even taking a paycut to do it. That's how excited I am.

No one cares. Just sign the petition or don’t. If it doesn’t help then it doesn’t help but no harm is done by signing it.

Your calculator is broken. Even if Mellish got a reduction (and that's a big if), he'd still be on 4.63 What team could accommodate a reserve on 4.63? With the current points limit most teams are spending less than 4.63 on both reserves combined! Bit crazy that he's never been above NL reserve and is stuffed with a 5.03/4.63 average, yet you can have a seasoned ex-pro who has held a 1st division average of near 6.00 and drop him into the NL on a reported 3.50 average.

He is the same standard as a lot of the reserves in the league next next season,I’m quite sure he will give it his best shot and wish him well.To say he will will be the worst rider in the league is very disrespectful he did not create this situation.There a few 2 pointers who will find his home track a challenge to say the least.

A different paper round?

well, they certainly did that in the final last year..

You could get a job as a head gardener. Own bull541t supplied

Try getting a job with the showground caterers, you can't get much nearer than that

Maybe because he did not know which way brum where going N.L or championship. And when the limit was set low teams had to act quick and sign the team......

Thank you to all the Warriors family for allowing me to make history, and the been the first opposition supporter to announce another teams rider. Such an honour, another example of how the Warrior Way is so inclusive.

Sales of "Guess Who" going through he roof this year

But agree we need to see a "new" name. Some one to excite us jaded supporters....

If you say so..... Take it you didn't see many meetings there this year?

That doesn't sound dodgy at all!

Not for me now sadly, we need a number 1 so the last two should be a 3pt reserve and someone around 7.5.

Good question!

Feel free to send Nathan back to Ipswich if he is not needed He will be most welcome Mind you so would Pawlicki and/or Thorsell (Sorry to sound like one of those appeal adverts)

Nice to see the Colts full of up and coming young riders That is what the N.L is all about they may not all make it to the top but they have the chance to

dont use it dc we all go private!

My predictions for 2020 are 1) Everyone will still hate the Glasgow promotion for trying to run the club professionally 2) The same tadgers will still be on here with their "well known sources" talking crap.

Exactly, but Ray is never too positive about the Poole team or anything to do with Poole really! Actually Gavan is prob more positive about it!!

“I’m as excited as a terribly excited person who has a really good reason for being terribly excited." JCF: Permission to sing boisterously, Ged? Ged: If you must. JCF: [singing] Row, row, row your punt Gently down the stream! Belts off, trousers down! Isn't life a scream?! OY!

Exactly. If we end up with Jacob and Ashley I'm very confident of our chances, certainly compared to what has been built so far elsewhere.

Yeah, exactly. Where's Jim Bowen with his "look what you could have won"??? We've had a fair bit of talent come ride for the Brummies at NL level, not one scrap of which we enter the Championship with. Thanks BSPA.

He must have some cr&p staff- everything that has gone wrong is down to them

There might be no Thurrock Council debate on it so what’s the problem. They have backing from the council and the local MP. You’ve made your point the petition is worthless. Let’s move on

Welcome to Tobias Thomsen. Cue the "what, not Danyon?" Outrage...

I take your views, since you have been watching him more often. However we do have a decent track record of improving riders once in the Monarchs family. Here’s hoping we do so again.

Cos we are saintly.

We are going to try everything to get the Hammers back in Essex. It took 12 years to find the Hammers a new home after West Ham closed, let's hope we are more successful now Arena Essex has been compulsory purchased. There are lots of occasional speedway fans in Essex, as shown by the attendances at the last meeting, free and subsidised meetings and the Lee Richardson Memorial. The way speedway has been run over the last 10 or more years has driven fans away from every track, but as a constant attended since 1990, I can assure you we have enough of a fan base and potential fan base to maintain a team in Essex. It's a shame you couldn't make it to Arena for speedway over the years, as it's always nice to meet other forum members. The management and fans are fighting hard to return the team to the area and surely other fans and teams should be supporting that.

Why do I glance at Championship and look a bit envious & sadness of what is being missed??

An excellently built team that, again, will be very exciting to watch at the NSS. Palin & Rathbone both look decent 2 pointers and like S4K has said, I can see them both having very good season but possibly going under the radar by one or two others. Bickley & Flint are as good a top 2 at all the tracks that anyone will manage to field. Looks like a play-off team at this early point in the season.

Yes, Pawlicki I would accept.. but most other riders wouldn't replace Thorssell on the average he currently carries.

Thought id heard that Rye House is no longer SCB licenced......certainly plenty to be sorted out before a team gets on track.... plus i hope the Dugard you are referring to is Martin as Kelsey isn't worth 0.35.

Didn't someone come on here recently and say 'wait until you see the Aces team'. Well I waited and its ok, but no better than ok

Congratulations John on your First born Grandchild. Got my second one on Monday so life is great.

Funnily enough av just got back from the RVI in Newcastle after visiting my first Grandchild born at 04.16 this morning. Mother and baby are doing fine and there is nothing a plum like you could say to take the shine off it Regards THJ

Honestly Pal are you kidding? You express deep indignation and outrage at anyone suggesting anything they have heard as rumour on here flippantly dismissing it and going into offensive mode in your responses; demanding evidence and proof of what they say; and what do you know? you are guilty of it even when you have the information provided for you. The hypocrisy of it all is astounding! For your information I have never been associated with any business that has failed, you have had the information provided for you; and you still make your own version up; you are a complete "Numb Nut" Can you not read? You wanted the information and evidence and you were provided with it!!! and you still get it wrong!!! and make up a statement like "my business never went into LIQUIDATION like yours" You SCREAM!!! "I want all the information and detail" and when you get it you act like a like a Tory Brexiteer and say "oh no!!! err!!! I don't like that information" ("it's rumour" (sic)) I will make something else up on my own and post a defence ("as its lies" (sic)) or dismiss it out of hand making either personal attacks or pulling the "no one loves us everyone hates us" card. Honestly!!!! Sound familiar? You ask everyone to produce evidence!!! and did so of HalifaxTiger!!! who is a sensible chap with many contacts throughout the sport up and down the country; who is known to talk to all and sundry about Speedway: and again do you honesty think he will share any of the names of the people he talks to with a clown like you!!! and especially as to who and where he gets his information from!!! Lets face it you do not need to be Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes to realise what is going on. You asked HT "to produce evidence about the large sums we are supposed to be offering EX Workington riders for this coming season" He doesn't need to provide it really does he as it is already out there!!! Do you not read the Speedway Star?, (obviously not) do you not believe people on here when the say "Laura Morgan stated in the Speedway Star what was going on"?, (obviously not) but think about it? Now I will type this slowly so it has the chance to sink in to that "Snadger" you have for a brain. The Workington Promoter went public and stated one of her riders was offered a five figure sum to join Glasgow this year, now the smallest five figure sum I can think of is £999:99 pence however we all know that's not the figure now do we Sherlock? no it was £10,000 to come and join Glasgow!!!; (Ten Grand) however she stated he (the rider) stayed loyal to the Comets, and she felt it was making life difficult for other promotions to build a team when these kind of inducements were being offered to riders. However and again!!! do you want all the texts and correspondence verbatim on here? or the actual hard copies? to sate your want for proof, its a forum not a courtroom; and even if you were provided with them you wouldn't believe it anyway. Your next demand will be "well which riders" Who Who!!! well again Sherlock just sit down and think about it for a minute!! Like eh!!! You have already signed one Ex Workington rider so it wont be him will it?; and all Workington have retained from last years TREBLE winning team are two riders; and again giving some due respect like HT; I wont name names; however you don't need to be Einstein do you Sherlock to work out who it would be FFS!!! like do you? as you only have two to choose from so take your pick you have a 50% chance of being correct. So HT can stand down I would say!!!! Like eh? Then you bang on about these inducements and salaries being rubbish as Glasgow are losing £100,000 plus per annum and that's not possible to offer these type of salaries and inducements!!! and that the sign on fees are coming from sponsors!!! which to be fair every one accepts and has no issue with; to a certain extent; however when you are shown the figures from company accounts of what AV are underwriting the Speedway team to the tune of!!! you still cant grasp it; now I accept that the information was in a very crude form and I could argue context from other posters on here who have also looked at the AV accounts and defended certain aspects, however that was not the intention, the point was to show by how much the club is being underwritten by AV!!! and how by the course of action they are taking is skewing the whole Championship. You try and defend what is being spent and what is being saved by saying "Again re last year losses steps have been taken to address this no full time team manager, new track fence done, track alterations done, no full time Den manager, also den closed out with speedway and football days which comes to a fair amount" Honestly no one cares about how much you are making; losing; or saving!!! can you not see its the hypocrisy of the whole situation and the damage it is doing to other promotions. This is before we even get to mention the points money and other inducements being offered. But no they don't do that everything is open honest and above board!!! Aye righto!!! The best bit of course is where you have stated in the past "you do not care about other teams" you don't care how Glasgow operate as long as you are okay" and "you are not bothered if other promotions fold" really show you up for what you are and with a selfish and self centred approach like that are you sure you aren't a Speedway Promoter already. You do come across as an Ostrich who sticks his head in the sand so please do not get aggrieved if someone comes along and pokes a stick up your sphincter. So there you go Sherlock I would suggest you get your facts right and look at what is being said and digest it before blindly jumping in all indignant and go off half cocked as you will invariably get a response back and if you do not like the content you can always push the "Ignore" button rather than blindly trying to defend the indefensible with demands; threats and mockery that quite frankly is a load of "Old Tosh" (thought about putting something stronger but what's the point) and gets somewhat repetitive!!! and on the previous years quoted they were for context only as it was "Your Club" promotion/backers remember that posted that it has made six figure losses every year since taking over at Ashfield and yet you are not prepared to accept any rational post from anyone with your deeply delusional arguments Finally if you do want evidence (Hard Evidence) Detective Chief Inspector Taggart "There hasn't been a murder!" but next time you venture South look me up and I will be quite happy to show you numerous texts to prove the point. (as would Laura I imagine) (in fact I could introduce you to her I am sure you would get on) It was Colonel Mustard in the library with the candlestick Light blue touch paper and stand well back Regards THJ

This is supposed to be as good as the current crop of GM's but PJR is going down the route of extended service life. Along the lines of the new Goddan and Gerhard. That's what I understand anyway. We'll just have to wait and see.

Winning races is obviously important in speedway but in league matches its probably even more important to not fill last places. With the team that it looks like we are going to have next season, I don't see us filling many last places at all. We have a top five that is strong all round, and if Becker lives up to expectations he will be beating most opposition reserves. Injuries permitting, I cant see this team finishing outside the top 4 in the league.