torpointfanatic22

People have to remember Mr Bowden plays games and has done by using the press for sometime. By him coming out and saying the riders have agreed a pay cut, when the truth comes out which says they haven't they then look like the bad guys. It isn't the first time he has used the media in this fashion, I can think of countless similar occasions over the years. Like has been said before on here, the Plymouth fans are collectively a great bunch who wholeheartedly love their speedway and any possible new promotion need to know that the fans will be 100% behind them.

Disgusted, disgraced and quite frankly the BSPA must get rid of him. Crowds are down a little on last season and whilst Mr Bowden will blame the weather, the economy, basically anything but his shambolic promotion. The problem is him and pretty much everyone and I mean everyone knows it. I've heard rumours of a new promotion on the horizon, I only hope to god that its true.

Without going too much into this Nicki isn't the only one and this runs deeper than sadly I or any fan of Plymouth Speedway would want. I can only hope someone forces the poison that is Mr Bowden out of the club, the man is a total and utter disgrace.

Burmeister would come in on a sub 5 average I believe and whilst he was never as good as Ingalls he'd be a great little option. Novratril looks a real talent and would come in on a 5. Rather than bring in Reade for Glanz which would be quite simply madness, perhaps Burmeister for Holder. Not sure if that fits mind you as I'm not sure what average Tyson would come in on.

Enjoyed that meeting, although I apologise to Seb Alden for not commenting on his super pass on Karlsson in the last race on the updates as it was a cracker and summed up the Berwick team's spirit from minute one. First time I've seen Bellego and the lad looks decent...

Looking forward to this as it will be my first ever PL fours meeting and my first trip to Peterborough. Group 2 looks much the stronger, but I fancy Worky and Somerset to get through. From Group 1 I fancy Plymouth (if Gathercole turns up) and a sneaky suspicion Redcar may get through too.

If it is, I've never heard of that rule myself. Either way Mr Bowden is showing his knowledge or lack of when it comes to speedway if he thinks Reade is ready to step up. I spoke to Nicki yesterday and he has told me he is fit and ready for Friday so Bowden cannot use injury as an excuse to drop him and it will be a disgrace if he's dropped.

Yeah Bowden buying a stamp to send the contracts in probably!

It was stated that Priest would ride the day before in the local rag so I'm guessing Mr Bowden knew in advance. I'm also told the rider the team manager wanted wasn't considered by Mr Bowden, infact a list of riders the team manager wanted wasn't considered and Priest was the choice of the promoter. That may well be the case but had Glanz been there, I'd have backed him for perhaps two points meaning the overall swing of things (had it all panned out the same) would have given Plymouth an away point. Pretty harsh on Glanz is that. I'm not saying he's a match winner but him riding could well have given us a point given the way the match panned out. In fairness whilst Plymouth may have only recorded heat advantages in two races in the meeting, they did provide seven race winners which away from home is decent. Also Glasgow themselves only got five heat advantages and were only eight up going into heat 13 so to say we were never in it (certainly as far as the scorecard read is slightly over the top). One thing I find interesting here is that whilst Todd and Jimmy have struggled for form of late and had a poor meeting on Sunday no-one has mentioned (rightly or wrongly) the fact that Barker was passed by both Tigers in heat 13 having gated with the Fish. If he'd got 2nd we'd have got a point from this match. Please don't think I'm criticising Ben here as he has worked miracles at Plymouth and continues to be brilliant, but one could argue that race cost us as much as Todd and Jimmy under-performing. As I've said before if there are genuinely better options out there I'd be happy to see changes but other than maybe Lambert (who could only replace Kurtz on current averages) I don't see much out there.

Updates here... http://speedwayupdates.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=Glasgow&thread=10420&page=1

I think the tennis starts at 2 which means I fully expect it to be over by the time tapes go up at Ashfield

To fit in Lambert more than 1 change would be required unless one of the top 4 goes. The only other way would be if Holder and Glanz went and Lambert and a 3 pointer came in. Whilst Lambert would probably get more than Holder, a 3 pointer would be unlikely to score much if anything so really it would make little difference. Glanz has put nearly a point on his starting average and if his injury is OK, I'd be pretty angry if he was replaced as he has been a bright spark at the bottom end (even if he's not been banging huge double figure scores in). Ksiezak is still finding his feet and I hope he is given time as he's been doing alright, although we all know Mr Bowden doesn't really care about that. The Plymouth fans have been blessed with having two of the top five riders in the PL and probably the most entertaining two at that. Sadly this does of course mean that the bottom end has to suffer and it really does become a case of the top end scoring big and hoping that one or two of the bottom end can muck in from time to time. As far as being successful in winning team trophies, this technique of team building has failed far more times than it has succeeded. As a Plymouth fan I want to see us win both at home and away, but as a speedway fan I want to be entertained so it does really leave Plymouth with a dilemma, personally the latter wins for me and I'd rather see Fisher and Barker every week regardless. I think Plymouth have a great shout in the 4's and the pairs as it stands but that will be it this season if anything. If there is a like for like change out there that could genuinely improve our bottom end (bottom 3 in the averages) then maybe look at it but for now I just don't see anything out there unless a re-jig of the side is made which personally I'd rather we didn't see.

Great, so yet another temporary track with a half full stadium. It may make the sponsors happy but I personally find the temp tracks woeful. The likes of Malilla, Leszno and Byd are some of the best race tracks around and now none will be on the calendar which is very disappointing.

Having seen the line ups for this and the Sheffield semi I'm totally bemused how riders like Hawkins and Mills are in the main field yet Richie Worrall who has been far better than those two this season and has made the World under 21 finals is only a reserve. Some lazy people obviously feel the averages tell the full picture which any speedway fan knows that isn't the case. Yet again British Speedway at it's finest! I only hope someone pulls out to give him and Newman for that matter a shot as Worrall could frighten a few of the big boys!

I hope I'm wrong, as I think Ksiezak (or even you if that is you Rob) used to average over 6 in the PL and I'm hoping he can do that again. Best of luck, what's for sure is the Plymouth crowd will take him to their hearts!

James has been riding in the PL now for 5 seasons (mainly as a reserve) and has never averaged in excess of 4.70 over the course of a season. In that time his home track has pretty much always been either a big track (IOW) or a power track (Somerset), I appreciate he had spells at Stoke and Newport too. This season he started on 4.44 and has dropped to 4.30, not a huge drop in my opinion although I accept with rolling averages as they are he is probably averaging around 4.2 for this season on it's own. But with that in mind I'm staggered why anyone would think James should be doing better. He's at a new track that is totally different to a home track he's had before and he's riding in the main body when he is in truth a reserve standard rider. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying James shouldn't be in the firing line in any way, nor am I saying he shouldn't be replaced if someone genuinely better comes along. But to say he should be doing better when all the facts say he's pretty much on a par with what he's done over the last 5 seasons is harsh.

Franchetti out and Ksiezak in is confirmed in this mornings local rag. Don't think it will make that much difference but he can't do any worse.

Robert's average is 3.32. Without Gino included Plymouth's latest averages add up to 38.55 leaving 3.95 to replace him with. So Robert can replace Gino not just Holder. There is absolutely no logical reasoning behind dropping Cory in my opinion. You wont get much better than him on his average and I do feel people are being very harsh on James.

Seconded

I believe, although i might be wrong, his average means he could only replace James holder as its too high to replace one of the reserves, so I'll stick with jimmy thanks I believe your thinking of mudgway who is a new zealander not an Aussie, I'm guessing the Aussie in question Ksiezak and he didn't guest for us last season as he was injured.

Indeed it was Redcar. He's not gone too badly at the SBA in the past and he did have a full season in the PL last term. Not sure he'd be that much better than Franchetti but then Gino's GS is only 3.07 this season anyway so worth a punt imo. Won't happen but I'd give it a go.

Indeed, the feedback from the texter on the updates to me last night said similar. The two dilemma's are will Bowden get rid of him given the various connections he has down at the SBA and also who would replace him? Looking at the greensheets we probably have around 3.7 to replace him with, so who would be out there? Ksiezak may fit, Hughes probably would fit, Branford, recall Cockle (who shouldn't have been dropped in the first place), or take a punt on an NL rider. Webster, Starke, Blackbird? Sadly I don't see many options that would be much of an improvement.

In fairness Newman is no NL rider and is in fact a very good reserve at PL level but I see what your saying. That said I do feel your being slightly on the harsh side especially where Holder is concerned Holder's scores so far this season... Home v Rye - 5+2(4) Home v Somerset - 4(4) Home v Leicester - 5+2(4) Home v Somerset - 2(4) Away v Rye - 3(5) Away v Somerset - 5(4) Away v Ipswich - 0(4) Whilst Gino has... Home v Rye - 5+1(4) Home v Somerset - 2+1(4) Home v Leicester - 6(4) Home v Somerset - 6+1(4) Away v Rye - 1(4) Away v Somerset - 2(3) Away v Ipswich - 0(3) Neither rider has pulled up trees but in Holder's case bar last week against Somerset he has done OK at the SBA bearing in mind the track is new to him and he's riding in the main body when he should be at reserve. His away form bar last night is respectable given that he is again riding in a position he shouldn't be at. Gino has managed just two more points than Jimmy at home (if we include bonus points) yet he has had easier riders at reserve and has been at Plymouth for pretty much a full year now. His away form is woeful and has been since he signed for us. First question is are there better riders out there on the same averages who would do better? Branford for me isn't! We have little to play with on top of the team already assembled, perhaps 0.2-0.3 so little room for movement on the team. We'd have 8ish available to replace both, or it's like for like and at this stage I don't see much better out there. That aside I'd be hugely and I mean hugely shocked if Bowden binned Gino for all sorts of reasons, IF anyone goes sadly I think it will be Holder which would in my opinion by the wrong move.

Just as a point of reference there is a new 'unofficial' site for Plymouth Speedway up and running here... http://www.plymouth-devils.co/ I think you'll agree it's far better than the 'official' one and offers far more user friendly surfing.

It means technical fault.