Brooksy

It's been bright and breezy so far today. No sign of rain - but it's going to be flippin' freezin' on that back straight bank tonight!

Assuming he stays at number 1. It will become a bigger problem if/when Tungate's average exceeds Josh's and we're stuck with R/R.

Not convinced by this team, but will be happy to be proved wrong! As the promotion have said, it's all about team balance. Gamble on either BWD or Jake Allen on a 5.00 average by all means, but including both is a huge punt in my book. Personally I'd much rather have Aspegren and one of BWD or Allen for a better balance. But I'm sure we'll be there when the silverware is handed out, as usual. By the way, does anyone know how many meetings Josh is likely to miss with his EL commitments - I'm not clued-up on who's riding when in the EL this year.

Not on 8.98. I'd rather have Josh on that sort of average.

Can't see how anyone can say Tungate is/was only interested in Elite? He didn't ride Elite last season and doesn't have a place this year yet either!

Two 3-pointers are ok as long as your top 5 are fit and well, but if you're missing your 4th/5th rider and have r/r instead, then a strong 6 is a definite advantage IMO.

You're right Shads, I have only seen him live at the OTA, where he scored 16 on his last visit, but he also knocked in 14 at Berwick, 11 at Newcastle and Peterboro', 9 at Scunny and Edinburgh on his travels last season. So whilst he isn't the big hitting no.1 I'd like (that was Brady), I think he could do a reasonable job and allow us to build a very strong, solid 2 to 6 instead. You can't have everything.

But it's more fun to speculate what the line-up might be, and then adapt your predictions as riders are ruled out. Much more interesting than having your 1 to 7 named in early November - then all you can do is twiddle your thumbs 'til March. Now that would test my patience!

Much as I admire Josh, I'm not sure he's good value on 8.50. From what I saw of Tungate last season, I think he could hold his own at no.1, which would allow us strength in depth, as in: Tungate 7.74 Howarth 6.98 Holder 7.10 Wright 6.89 Starke 5.85 Aspegren 4.82 3 pointer 3.00 ------- 42.38

Yep. It's cold, wet and very windy.....no idea why they plumped for Barney?

Which in turn makes it tougher for the other reserve, who will almost certainly get 5 rides, and most likely 4 of them against the opposition's stronger reserve. So, in my opinion, it's even more crucial that our stronger reserve is better than theirs! But it's all about opinions, isn't it?

2 3-pointers at reserve? No thanks. A high scoring reserve is going to be more important than ever this year if you want to win something.

As pointed out in posts 102 & 103.

As Wrighty is a Somerset asset, him signing for Swindon would imply that either Swindon are not going to run on Fridays, or he is not going to sign for the Rebels. I hope it's the former.

Rebels and Monarchs have managed pretty well so far - by ensuring they have first call on the riders they sign, such as with Wright, Starke, Graczjonek, Cook and Masters.