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That's quite a big drop off last season sir! The stats show he is most certainly on the decline and it started last season.

BV will cover it better. Despite the quality of the top 5 we have much better reserves this time. Better than Swindon and Sheffield imo.

I'll probably take some flak for this but I think Ipswich over achieved last season. I'll admit I had them down to finish well out of the play offs. I think we all did. Take nothing away from them, but that performance in the final was how I was expecting the entire season to pan out. Think they just ran out of steam.

And they will build well around it I'm sure. My concern would be big heats. So let's say 13 for example, Tungate and MPT Vs Batchelor and Doyle. It's a heat advantage to Swindon 9 times from 10 and those races, in the last quarter of the meeting, where both Ipswich and Peterborough will fall away. Will always be in meetings but when it really matters and when it comes to handing out trophy's, I think both will miss out. End of the day the league needs restructuring so all teams have an out and out number 1.

He'd be a 2nd I'd think so it's a no brainer.

Ipswich and Peterborough will have very similar patterns. No out and out number 1 but solid throughout with good reserves. I think the teams with a genuine top 3 will fair better. BV, Swindon and Sheffield

Very similar to last season. Strong and steady but will fall away in the big races and against someone like Swindon, who come strong after heat 11, that team would really struggle. Under the circumstances though, that's the best way for Ipswich to go.

There will be circumstances which impact people's view and riding at different positions in the team will have an impact. Don't dispute it. My argument is clear, however the average has been achieved, no matter where they were racing etc, there has been a steady increase and certainly in Jacobs case, he was really starting to move before that crash. Even if one of them had dropped to reserve ( I'm speculating) then naturally their average would have gone up, but the bottom line is still the same. I think there are 2 arguments coming out here, it's whether or not they have actually improved as a rider (which I agree is open to debate) or whether their averages have increased. In really black and white and terms an increased average would suggest they have got better but I totally accept there are mitigating circumstances in that debate.

Theoretical, yes. I haven't looked at his average over the last few years but I'd imagine the numbers will back it up.

Your right. The stats don't lie. And whether you'd like to believe it or not, they have improved. The margin of improvement is not the debate. I'm finding it difficult to understand why certain people are having such a challenge with this. It really is very simple stuff. Foundation level.

I'd also argue that Thorsell was on the crest of a wave before that injury. If people are going to start bringing in external circumstances and variables then so will I. Jacob would be an out and out number now if it wasn't for that crash. We can all play the game!

Averages are pivotal in speedway. It's how we measure improvement. It's how we measure decline. It's how we construct 7 man teams. Plenty of riders have got worse as the league has weakened. Plenty have got better. It's a very black and white argument. If someone's average has increased, they have got better. All the noise around it matters not a bit when it comes to team building etc. The paperwork says they have increased their averages and frankly that is the bottom line.

I'm not arguing with you subjectively, because it's immaterial. Their averages have increased. The circumstances around why, what way the wind was blowing or what we had for our breakfast this morning. I'm not arsed. Their averages have gone up. End of debate.

Says who? You? I'm pretty sure that's just a matter of opinion. You can't argue with statistics like Steve has posted. They are not subjective. Whatever the circumstances, however small the margin, they have increased there averages. That is simple mathematics and not something one could argue against.

I think Czhekova takes the crown for number 1 as it stands. I think the NSS is 2nd. Agree totally, if you shifted the place to Poland I think the racing would be even better than we see over here on it, and that is down purely to the quality of rider Would absolutely kill for a GP at the NSS

Certainly not a poor signing. Always worth a punt on those numbers.

Think easily is an overstatement. He'd be in and around that figure.

It's an odd commitment to make Steve if you were unsure of the average. I mean that's the type of situation that causes exactly the situation you are currently in. I'd have been seeking some very clear clarification before committing to the American

Yes but BV have built to the points limit. That is the most critical difference and you are missing it. Anyway, it's irrelevant. Wolves haven't deliberately built this way. It's not about youth. They took a chance on getting a number 1 and built around it in case. Now they haven't got one. Backfired. It happens.

Absolutely dreadful team. I'm pretty sure though Phil that it's more than guesswork on your part. Probably not a million miles away from the finished team

Pedersen won't be doing a full season. He will be gone by may. Kenneth Bjerre is going to be a man in demand.

Wolves could have used those extra 2 points on Andersen and Scott. I can guarantee Hans would up that current average of his at Monmore. Easily. I'd argue Scott would as well. Thorsell Andersen Schlein Nicholls Masters Morris That's 6 riders they could have picked to build a decent 1 to 5 then gone with lower averaged reserve and still fit in Becker or Nicol.

Quite possibly.

More so given they would be 2nd strings.

With the greatest of respect to him, Klindt is never a number 1. He's a decent second string/3rd heatleader. I'm pretty sure Ipswich will be solid across the 1 to 7 but like last season, they will struggle at the top end and in the big races.