CardinalSin

Well done to the Diamonds on a thoroughly deserved victory. I've got to admit the falling crowds must be a concern to the promotion. Yes you can make all sorts of excuses about poor weather, but the fact is it was the Knockout cup final! Being a Saturday too, I was certainly expecting a better turn out than that. Concerning.

The problem is we have too many riders out of form and have done for a while. We're carrying 3 riders in particular in Nielsen, Poole and Tungate and I'm afraid that's too many. You can excuse Nielsen to a degree because the lad has been battered and bruised in recent weeks and maybe it's taken it's toll on him recently. But what about the other two? Is Poole still suffering with the arm he broke? Or is he simply badly out of form or more to the point, just hasn't got going after his long lay off? And as for Tungate, this lad has baffled me. How can you go from being so so good first half of the season, to really poor the second half? I'd loan him out next season personally.

I agree with that and I think it's terrific! You can't beat a good rivalry and these two certainly seem to have it. If they both remain in the NL, I'll bet both sets of fans will look for these fixtures first when they are released and will look forward to them with relish. To be totally honest, Dudley seem to me to be the sort to strike up a fierce rivalry with just about anybody and everybody and in any league!!

Hopefully nothing serious for Roynon the poor lad has had a career full already!

Well done Mildenhall fantastic effort to win without having a "home" leg in the final! What an incredible season they have had. Last year winning the cup and runners up in the league by one point in the final, and this year winning just about everything! The promotion deserve huge credit and maybe a move up at some stage in the near future?

Thats a pretty typical post from westhamboy66 where Ipswich are concerned. Take whatever he says on an Ipswich thread with a large pinch of salt.

To be fair a lot of us at Foxhall have heard the same "rumour". His name was linked in the local rag and Klindt has also apparently spoken of his desire to ride PL next season. He also smashed the Foxhall track record recently when guesting for Rye House and spoke of his fondness of the track. Hey, it's silly season after all I'm sure lots of names will start being linked here there and everywhere

yes great isn't it I think this scenario is more likely in 2014 rather than next season though. Chris Louis has made no secret of his desire to take Ipswich back up, but he said only two weeks ago that he wants to do that as PL champions and also confirmed his interest in Nielsen and Tressarieu for next year. I would love to see Ipswich back in the top flight and Mildenhall back up to the PL as i would personally get the best of both worlds. I enjoy my trips to Mildy and with the current promotion in charge, i can see Mildenhall being very successful in the PL. NL has been well supported so i'd expect that to continue and some in the PL.

Sorry if it's a daft question, but can you be a promoter of two different clubs in the same league? I say this as Chris Louis is already making plans for Ipswich' assault in the PL next season. Maybe a little awkward if Mildenhall moved up to the PL as well? I have heard mutterings several times now that Chris Louis does indeed want to take Mildenhall back up to the PL, but when he feels Ipswich are ready to return to the EL and the "partnership" between the two will continue.

Yep fair play to Chris Louis for admitting he may well have built the team wrong although to be honest, not many thought he had at the start of the season with the majority again tipping Ipswich for title honours. The injuries to Poole and Risager can't be used as an excuse because others have suffered more than us and still guaranteed a play off place. Lanham quickly replaced one of them anyway which was seen as like for like for either rider at the very least. Which ever way you look at it, that team SHOULD have been good enough for a top 6 place and if that isn't achieved, then they have collectively let the promotion and the fans down regardless of what happens in the cups. On paper, that line up should have been a shoe in for a play off place. From Louis' comments, it looks like the team will be built differently next year. Wouldn't be surprised to see a Barker or similar brought in early or maybe a Klindt or Stead dropping down and doubling up, to lead from the front and then build from there. We've missed a dominant number 1 and Foxhall for what seems like an eternity now and I'd like to see that change. Of course as ever, finance will obviously dictate whether that can be achieved.

And then thrown immediately in to the #1 position, a position his far more experienced collegues have spent most of the season trying to avoid!!

I can see Lanham possibly being a Rocket next season. Odds on he won't be back at Ipswich and Len likes him.

Nice one Mildy

Crumbs didn't realise things were this difficult for Plymouth. Worrying times indeed as it seems a few others are struggling too.

There could be another reason for the choice. It's common knowledge now that Lanham was reluctant to rejoin the Witches and took some persuading by Chris Louis before putting pen to paper. That much we can safely say is true. Based more on speculation, there were also whispers that Lanham was guaranteed the season and wouldn't be replaced by either Risager or Poole when they were fit to return. Whether that part is true or not who knows. But if so, it would have been incredibly difficult for Chris Louis to go back on his word a few months later.

That's a good point. It's all very well saying a change should have been made sooner, but Poole wasn't quite ready a couple of weeks ago. Can you replace a rider with a not yet fit rider and then get a facility for him until he returns?? Saturday was probably the straw that broke the camel's back as far as making a change is concerned. Just missing out on an away victory with Doolan only contributing two points was possibly the nail in his coffin. Yes Lanham also didn't put the points on the board, but at least he had the excuse of two blown engines on the back of an excellent meeting at Sheffield. With Poole now ready, it was only a choice between Doolan and Tungate so Doolan had to go. To be honest I'm a little surprised at how many are seemingly against the move. Doolan has let the side down badly at times this season with scores that are just not acceptable. More than Aljack wanted him gone on here while plenty of others from other clubs were quick to stick the knife in. But now Louis has acted it's suddenly a "bizzarre" decision? Not for me it isn't. As for Lanham, his average has now dropped to a level that I don't think its now worth replacing him. Who would you get in on his current average? Same for Risager, he's about to drop to reserve but who is out there available to come in and do a better job on his current average?

Yes.

Depends on whether they are thinking short term or long term. Chris Louis has constantly banged on about rebuilding the club with new young assets as the reason for dropping down to the PL, so here is another ideal opportunity to put another brick in the wall so to speak. I know the club struggled with cash flow earlier in the season which resulted in them doing business for Danny King with Birmingham, and I have no idea on what finances are involved in bringing in a brand new rider. If money is still tight, then it will be Poole as i'm assuming the loan fee to Peterborough has already been paid for this season.

So is bringing in Poole. It was a nasty break he had and who knows how long it will take to A, get match fit and B to ride in to any sort of form. By the time that happens the play offs could be dead and buried. Either option carries a risk, but the way Doolan has been performing (or not performing!), then it's definitely a risk worth taking in either case.

I would be all for that actually and get another young asset on board. That is after all, what Chris Louis say's he wants to do. Rasmus Jensen is a bright talent. Have a feeling it must be Taylor though but i agree, bit risky as we can't afford too many more slip ups if we're going to get a top 6 place and he may take time to get up to speed. But then again, so would Jensen or another new rider probably.

Indeed, what a stunning performance from Stefan Nielsen!!

I know what catch is referring to and he's not alone in his thinking. But I don't think there's a huge difference between the two riders at the moment in terms of current point scoring ability. I like Risager, and I still think he's capable of being similar to Lanham at this level, a solid 7-8 point man. Whichever rider misses out, won't be sitting idle for long. There will be a very handy rider available for some club to strengthen up. I'd bet there are a number of promotions watching the situation closely.

I, make out nothing of the sort, i think you have me mixed up with someone else. I see you haven't even attempted to challenge my reply on Ipswich' lack of British riders this season. Speaks volumes.

You see, this sort of post really winds me up. Which British rider who is sitting without a club, should Ipswich have signed and in place of which current Ipswich rider? Thank god our promotion don't include British riders just for the sake of including a British rider. We had 3 Brits last year, and won naff all, until we won the Fours with two Aussies, two Danes and a Frenchman. Its a business, and the idea is to put together the best possible 1-7 you can to give yourself the best possible chance of success and to attract as many fans through the gate as possible. Chris Louis has already lamented the fact that this year's side didn't include a British rider, but it just so happened with the numbers game, the best team available to him just didn't include a Brit. So be it. He has though, included a handful of promising young Brits as part of the promotional team at Mildenhall that maybe, will prove good enough to eventually be included in future Ipswich teams.

Danny King sold to Birmingham to "balance the books".