torpointfanatic22

Well I never saw Morris going, of all the permutations I thought of Morris, Newman and Holder were the constants however while I personally wouldn't have released Morris, I can see why they have as far as the numbers go. We need to be stronger at reserve, ideally Morris at 7 was my plan but that meant we had to replace Chapman with someone around the 5 mark. Clearly not many options around! That said, Kurtz is an asset, although I still don't think he warrants his average but is, at this moment in time, more likely to score points than Morris. The way it has been done, if true, stinks, dare I say it 'Bowden-esque'. Anyway the talk is Benko will fill the void that Chapman has left so I guess that makes us a bit stronger, which we desperately need! 'Golden boy' Simota and Risager are on borrowed time so I do hope these aren't the only changes made.

I was amongst a handful of 'moaners' that said the Fish was past it and was no longer the quality required to be a number one in a very competitive PL but it seems that point has been proven. The Fish has always been a 'win it or bin it' type rider which while very exciting to watch can be incredibly frustrating. We need to strengthen both ends of the team and if we end up with another three pointer at reserve in place of Chapman, we could replace Fish with a 9+ point rider.

Given Plymouth have around 2.5 points to play with, they could still sign BWD to replace Chapman. Bit of a risk but at the moment it can't really get much worse!

He had Worrall and Wright easily beaten and to be fair I don't think many will come to the OTA and beat messers Grajczonek and Kurtz. First meeting of the season so we'll see. I'm not convinced he is the Fish of old though.

I'd hardly say he couldn't get going all night, he was a decent 2nd to Josh in heat 1 and was comfortably in front and looking quick in his second before his engine went bang. On his second bike I'd agree he wasn't anywhere near as quick. I thought Somerset showed yet again how strong they are at the top end. In the pre-season I wondered if they would be a top 4 team given the septet they were tracking but with Kurtz, Grajczonek, Worrall and Wright up top they will take some beating. However if Starke has an off night I still think you may be vulnerable. From a Devils point of view, well the scorecard probably does do it justice although I still find it unbelievable how many jump starts you lot don't get pulled back on at your own track.

Our record is poor at the Oak Tree although we have run you lot close a couple times. Kyle missing is a huge blow although Rusty isn't a bad guest, Ash missing is also a blow as he looks to be in tidy form on his return from injury. The Devils are yet to race this season so are likely to need the match practice - Therefore Rebels by 14 for me. I fancy we'll be a lot closer on our next visit though! Any weather updates? I'm planning to make the trip across from Hampshire.

In the NL I'd have tended to agree but that was more due to the inexperience of the visitors. Since we've made significant track changes, since moving into the PL the track is very fair. From a home point of view I think the track needs to be prepared in a more consistent way as it is often different from one week to the next.

As always the BSPA like to put a loop hole in the rules. I understand the reason why an 'extreme circumstances' clause is put in but they just open themselves up to manipulation. Like everyone on here I'm pretty certain the Fish would easily have obtained a seven point average last season but yet again the BSPA do themselves no favours. I said on the Devils forum that I think we will be top 10, maybe top 8 at very best which I thought was ambitious. I don't think we'll be bottom of the pile though.

Exactly the point I was making. He wasn't on my 1-7 but was a damn sight closer to it than Chapman was. Just to be clear I'm not knocking Chapman but one season in the NL with an average around 5.5 doesn't make you PL ready. Morley is by far the better option if we're talking purely about on-track ability regardless of any rule breaches!

The only logical reasons for not going for Morley (unless it's money) must be either that he doesn't want to come to Plymouth, which I'd be shocked at. Or Uncle Len doesn't want him signing for another PL club in case he decides to use him at Rye if thinks go Pete Tong! Either way if Morley wasn't considered by Plymouth then the promotion have had a mare!

I'd have taken him in a heartbeat over Chapman as I think the lad deserves a chance at PL level where as Chapman needs another season at NL level regardless of whether he is or isn't allowed to double up!

Been told it's a two-year contract so would hope not! No bigger than than we would already of had at reserve with the points we had available. I don't think Benko would have done much this season anyway. Yes he had some bike troubles and a shoulder injury in 2014 but he did next to nothing to make me believe he would be anything other than a PL reserve, his home form was OK but his away form was arguably the worse I've ever witnessed. On what I saw last season it was more of a case that he couldn't get any worse in 2015. But of course it's a shame that his family are having troubles so I do wish him all the best. As for the way forward well if the two originally muted to complete the seven do sign then it's another three pointer and hope for the best, maybe Tom Perry? Unless we make a couple of changes...

He'd probably avoid a ban too! In all seriousness if Somerset were told he was a 7 then he should be a 7, that's what we are signing him on or led to believe we are signing him on so lets wait and see. I'm happy either way to be honest.

One rider I'm really shocked hasn't got a PL place is Adam Ellis. The fact he has signed for Lakeside in the EL and they are a Friday track rules him out of signing for Plymouth but I can't help but think he has made a mistake as I feel it would help his development far more to be riding PL next season. With the reduction the Brits receive he would fit into the 4.64 that Plymouth would have available that's if Holder is indeed the next on the list.

His form last season would also be an issue!

In all honesty though look at who is available who could fit at reserve. Wilson, no thanks, Franc, no thanks to name two and of the others out there yet to be signed up I have to say none excite me in any way. Do we look at an assessed five pointer like that Castagna fellow who might do something? For me we'd be taking a bit of a gamble whether we look at a rider with PL experience who is still unsigned as the options are limited, an assessed five pointer or an untried NL rider. So given those options I'd happily take Holder and say Ben Morley rather than say a James Wright and a five pointer. Mellgren would be interesting if not a bit pricey! That said if we do go down the three-pointer route we could in theory sign another 'number one' (not that we would). I wonder if we may just see a rabbit pulled out of the hat for one of our final two...

Well they aren't going to come out and say 'We got away with it this year so thought we'd have another go in 2015' are they!?

Simota was one I wasn't particularly keen on coming back as his average has been achieved by scoring big points at home at reserve so is basically inflated. However he is an entertainer (when the track is right) which means he's probably the only one bar Newman I would have been OK with having back. He's one that I would say you could carry if the other six were improvers because he will put a few 'bums on seats'. He must improve his away form in a big way to justify being in the team. If we sign a half decent reserve then I fancy Simota to drop back down pretty quickly. More importantly for me though are the final two. If I were the promotion I'd be on the phone to Richie Worrall as now that Jack Holder has been re-assessed to a 7-point average I fancy Worrall could be the odd one out and we can still fit him in! So I hope they hang fire on naming the final two until we see who is without a job at the OTA and I really hope no matter what happens James Wright isn't one of them!

Arguably the signing of the off season for me. Lambert could be a 9-point man by the season end.

Now that would be worth watching! How long does he have until he can get citizenship? Could he go NL for a season?

Did you not already know? Shocker!

You're quite right although he did come in on a starting average of 9.69 so dropped nearly a point. He is definitely on the decline but 7.89 as a starting average is fair. As I've said before if we finish the team with strength in depth and avoid other riders that are on the decline we will probably do just fine.

I thought that as Aussies have always been 5's but had heard rumours he was a 7.

Is Holder a 5 or a 7?

That's how you build a side full of potential improvement!