Steve Irving

What does the “GSA” stand for on the 2024 statistics page then? No they’re not rolling averages that are used for team building/positions, but they’re an accurate statistic over performance for this particular season. They show averages for League meetings this season with bonus points, and a Green Sheet average for League meetings this season. Well no it really can’t can it? It’s an accurate average on a full season’s performances in league meetings. Those stats don’t lie. I personally find these useful and a more accurate guide to a rider’s progression or regression from their previous season’s “average”. I do agree though that as these averages are not used for official purposes, they may as well include all meetings although with some riders riding play off meetings and some aren’t, it will skew them slightly for comparison purposes. As will some riders not riding every league meeting through injury but there’s nothing you can really do about that.

Agree.

If that 1-7 is in the play offs, they’re winning it. Even taking account of their record at your place.

They would have had to reduce the points limit, which would have forced three clubs in particular to drop one of their big guns.

Have Ipswich played their hand a tad early here? All the others now know who Ipswich’ team is, so if they think it looks too strong they could club together and reduce the limit to 39, and Brennan suddenly doesn’t fit. Yes they would all have been working towards the same 40 limit and it may hinder their plan also, but they might think it’s worth it. They’ll probably know they’ll be relying on injuries again to give them any chance, they look well clear of everyone else.

You HAD to ffs you’re over the limit!! Actually I think your club is bang out of order. You have two number 1’s in your team, you should be more considerate to those lower down the food chain and released one of them. Very unsporting from the club who are the pillars of the Speedway community.

Agree. He always seems to be highly criticised on here for his tactical errors.

Oh there is, 100%. Every club, Belle Vue included, build the best teams they can within the budget they have, without a seconds thought for anyone else.

Don’t think Ipswich would build 3 points below the limit.. I believe they tried!! Ultimately riders will go where they want to go. Rew isn’t at Belle Vue. Unless his sudden availability has tempted them to now swap him for Zach Cook. It’ll Be Jason Doyle surely. Leave the new man in the team until last.

You talking about @RoundTheBoards here? The same bloke that claimed Rew was 100% in the side, it was Danny King that was leaving, and seemed to have access to Ipswich’ accounts to know exactly what Chris Louis pays his riders? LOL. Best way!

Another two wannabe “in the knows” who clearly don’t know their arse from their elbows 🙄

And Sheffield had four riders over 5.00 away from home, and a fifth rider (Howarth) dead on 5.00. And yet Sheffield won four away league meetings, Ipswich six. Amazing really. Lies damn lies and statistics spring to mind.

Leaving? He’s already left. October 31st to be exact when his contract expired and he became a free agent.

But that would be a huge wasted opportunity wouldn’t it? Ipswich’ biggest rivals for the title will again be Belle Vue and Sheffield. Out of the three of them, Ipswich was the only one who could actually strengthen from this year, the other two have to weaken. Going with the same team again would also mean they’ve taken zero advantage from getting Dan Thompson on a 25% reduction. If Ipswich go the same team again, yes in theory they should be even further ahead of the others than they were this year due to them being the same, and the other two being weaker. But why would you not push that advantage even further when it is possible to do so to move a country mile ahead and remove any doubt of success (injuries permitting)? I bet every fan of Sheffield and Belle Vue would snap your hand off right now for Ipswich to remain the same rather than strengthen up with Brennan for either Rew or Ellis.

So it’s the same team as last year, but Howarth for Lawson?

He was more vocal than the other two, but Tai definitely voiced his concerns at the difficulty they were having.

Really? I’m absolutely certain I heard Tai AND the Holders voice their concerns with the track at times last season on TV!

And it kept on happening, why? Sayfutdinov is as brave as a lion we all know that, he was trying a line that nobody else would touch because that’s what he does. But it cost him big time. What will he do next time he’s there? No matter how brave you are, it’s got to make you think twice. Is he gonna scrape the fence or kerb crawl? Nobody would blame him if it’s the latter and it’s the fans who’ll be denied watching one of the world’s best racers in full flow! Sorting the track has to be number 1 priority this winter.

You’d think Chris Holder would be even more wary than his brother considering he’s in the Autumn of his career and the injuries he’s had. The track is going to be an issue for home and away riders alike, it’s awful. If riders are going to be wary of it and therefore not give it 100%, the racing will suffer and the fans will suffer. Sort it out! It can’t be that difficult to remedy surely?

The only American thing I mentioned was WWE, you’re not calling that a “sport” surely? If you’re talking actual sports, the only people that like them are Americans. I can’t agree with you I’m sorry. I’ll never ever get on board with a sport that restricts certain clubs due to a previous season’s good performance, whilst giving preferential treatment to a club that had a poor year. That’s a complete and utter nonsense and the fact a few people liked your post, really sums up this “sport” and the people that follow it to a T. Maybe in football, let Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leicester play with 12 men instead of 11? That should insure a more competitive game against Man City. Or how about in Darts, when world number 1 Luke Humphries faces world number 75 Robert Owen, make Luke play with two darts instead of three. When Ronnie plays anyone else, make him use the butt end of his cue!

My reply was rude. Apologies.

No, please don’t because you’re talking b0llocks. No club should be given a helping hand. We already have a points limit to try and keep the leagues competitive, carry on trying to manufacture performance/results and you start veering towards WWE nonsense. Performance this season should have absolutely no bearing on preparation for next season, a totally different season where everyone has the opportunity to do better. I’ve already stated I have some sympathy with Birmingham on this occasion because of the uncertainty over their future and seemingly being a step behind everyone else on team building. I don’t have a problem with Birmingham being protected slightly on rider control as a one off and I’ve already said as such. What I don’t like is restricting certain clubs who had a successful year and helping those that didn’t by bringing in this ridiculous favouritism on rising star control.

Hopefully Musielak rides here, if he does I hope he goes to Birmingham instead of Oxford. Oxford already have Janowski in the ranks, Birmingham are far more desperate for top end reinforcements. Obviously the money has to be acceptable to the rider, that goes without saying. If money is tight which seems likely, then that’s going to be an ongoing issue for them.

LOL give over with this vomit inducing “we like to help others” cr@p. You’re not “releasing” Ben Cook to help others you fool, you’re releasing him because you’d rather keep the others. “The strong teams help the weak teams” LOL you’ve just pinched Zach Cook off Birmingham who had pencilled him in to their side, in exactly the same way Ipswich have with Brennan! Purely for your own clubs gain because you have to shed points. Stop pretending your club is holier than thou and you make sacrifices for the benefit of others and British Speedway. Your club does things out of self interest, every bit as much as everyone else. Unless you’re Connor Mountain of course. A young British rider trying to make a living here. Then you get tossed on to the scrap heap in a purely tactical move.

You’ll never see Vaculik over here again. Let’s just say his two ventures over here, wasn’t a good experience..