Steve Irving

I don't do Facebook but apparently there's a questions and answer bit after the team reveal with CL. Can someone who is on the thing, ask Louis about the track changes that is supposedly taking place?

Heeps actually went backwards during his one season away from Foxhall so he might be glad to get back there. Again the above seems a glass half empty look at things than a glass half full. You could also say exactly the same about the other two fancied sides so far, Sheffield and Glasgow. Is there any average improvement in Worrall Summers and Lawson? Not for me there isn't. And Only Bjerre looks to have an average increase at Sheffield but you could also throw the same accusations at him that he's heading in the wrong direction average wise. Howarth you could lump in the same bracket as Newman, and in Bates you have a rider that stagnated this year and has already publicly stated that he didnt want to return there next season! The glass half full version you could argue in Sheffields case at least, that Bjerre's average is due to an injury hit season so plenty of improvement in him, Bates still has youth on his side and will have a point to prove etc etc. Two ways of looking at every side.

That seems like a glass half empty look to me. Is Schlein really a gamble on a shade over 7? I don't think he is personally and there is a far bigger potential upshot in having him than not. If he was on a converted 8-9 then quite possibly, but even if he finds it tougher than he expects I'd still expect him to hold his average at the very least. You could argue that the team doesn't look much if any, weaker than the side that finished strongly last season and finished on over 46 points. If this is the team, then they've done very well getting that below 40.00 IMO.

Its a fabulous looking team and will rightly start as favourites. Green eyed monster syndrome will no doubt be out in full force. IMO Ipswich have gone about building their team the right way this year.

Holder? Is it a false average? He ended the 2015 season on 7.10 and was meant to end this year as an out and out number 1 having now seen all the tracks, and he's finished on 7.16..

Anyone have any clues as to who is in? There's usually a few names that get leaked before the reveal due to a few loose lips!

I think you'll need to fit Sargeant in somewhere. Pretty big clue I thought last week when the Ipswich Witches twitter feed tweeted happy birthday to James Sargeant showing him in all his Witches glory. Could be off the mark of course, but both Ritchie Hawkins and CL also gave clues in their end of season assessment when both stated they were happy with him and would like to work with him again. I'm still not convinced on Schlein either. He will miss the Sunday tracks as well as any fixture clashes with his Premiership club. Would Louis be happy with that? This is a man that knocked his biggest money spinning meetings on the head (bank holidays) because he didn't want to run with riders missing. He had to work hard last winter to organise the fixture list around Danny King's commitments so I'm not sure he'll want the headache of dancing around Schlein's fixture list as well unless his Polish commitments are not a priority?

Tom Bacon signs on. 2.00 average.

http://www.eadt.co.uk/sport/louis_wants_promotion_as_witches_2017_team_set_to_be_announced_next_week_1_4789653 Announced next week.

Spot on. Didn't realise his average was so low. Don't buy in to the thought that his average "is low for a reason" as some will no doubt say. An element of truth in that obviously, but there's riders out there who have averages that scream bargain and he falls in to that category. Wasn't he in the high 6' a season or two ago? That's a point and a half increase if he can get back to that and there's no reason why he shouldn't. He's hardly a rider who has seen his best days and in the Autumn of his career, he still has youth on his side.

Not all that predictable if you read the article. He wanted away but was persuaded to give it another year but this will probably be his last.

I think that's a fair assessment. There have been plenty of accusations thrown his way that he looks a far more committed and better rider in the top flight than he does in the second tier. Personally I'd be a little wary of that signing.

Maybe give CL a tweet and ask him? He seems to reply to every question put to him..

Not particularly impressed with either completed team if I'm honest, Berwick or Scunthorpe. Both look a tad uninspiring.

Why would Lynn buying King help the Coventry cash flow? Okay.

Sorry, I don't believe for a second that King's Lynn brought Danny King's contract, and then not put him in the team. Just what would be the point of that?

Would rather King personally and you won't fit both in.

Scunny start next season with the same septet that finished this one.

How many rides does Schlein normally get in Poland? If he's a regular, then that could be problematic with him missing the Sunday tracks over here along with any fixture clashes with his yet to be named Premiership club. Not so bad if you have strong reserves, but if you build a strong top end and go with two 2 pointers at reserve (Hume and Mountain?), then R/R obviously isn't ideal no matter how much promise they have. Would you risk it?

That was an early tweet either on or just after the final day of the AGM. They've since backtracked on that with further "updates", admitted that it was a hectic few days so not everything relevant was revealed. Chris Louis publicly stated this was the case ages ago, but for some bizarre reason some on here chose not to believe him and said he was wrong!

Thought as much!

As I'll be a regular visitor at Foxhall next year, what's the grub like at the stadium? I'm assuming usual Speedway rules apply, eat either before or after you're there!?

You'll need to find a club willing to buy him first. Good luck with that. What's his beef with Ipswich anyway? Beat me to it Scotsman!

Tungate is a good rider and he's had an excellent year at Somerset. The move has been good for him, would he have had the same year and reached his current average at Foxhall? I very much doubt it. He could be a victim of his own success though, as I'm not sure I'd touch him on his current average. Better value out there for me.

A good egg is Chris Louis, always takes time to reply to supporters questions on twitter. Pity more don't follow suit.