Steve Irving

You're talking utter nonsense! Of course it matters what team you run if you sign Barker or Fisher! Are you serious? Are you trying to say you simply can't have a successful side with Barker at number 1? Don't judge every other promoter by your own promoters pathetic attempts at building a competitve side. The fact you finished bottom and second bottom the last two years ISN'T because you had Ben Barker at number 1!! It's because your promoter got the remaining 6 horribly wrong. By your logic, Ipswich will now struggle next season because they have Barker at number 1. I tell you what, i bet they don't!

Barker will be a massive miss! The problem for Plymouth last year was A, signing Fisher as well making them way too top heavy, and then B building poorly further down the side. Barker is a guaranteed points machine in this league and the fact he's also very entertaining is a massive bonus. Plymouth's loss is definitely Ipswich' gain. But at least Plymouth are still in there fighting which is fantastic news.

I have to agree it looks poor. Why does he build his teams so far under the limit EVERY year? Yes there is some talent there with improvement in them, but the hard fact is they're gonna have to improve considerably just to be on a par with others who build to the limit and improve very little.

Yes. Easiest way is to divide the EL average by 0.6. Kennett's 6.25 EL average converts to 10.42, pretty hefty! Chris' team above comes to 36.43 leaving 6.07 for the final rider give or take any slight movement in the final GSA's. Put a fully fit Taylor Poole in there on 5.99 and the team's a good un.

Again this is a good point. I'm not quite sure why Dudley felt the need to make a public statement about this? This is only going to cause more bad blood between the two which is just not needed. If you're unhappy and want to make a complaint fine, but I'm not sure making a public statement is necessarry. It could very well lead to a very uneasy atmosphere next time Chris Louis takes his Mildenhall side to Monmore.

Well the s**** well and truly about to hit the fan now isn't it! Depending on what league Dudley contest next year, I think Chris will need to don his tin hat whenever he takes either Mildenhall or Ipswich there!! Whilst I agree with the intentions of your post, I have to correct you on Blackbird as he was fit enough to take his place last night. But I agree all the ifs buts and maybes are tiresome. Nobody will know how the outcome would have been if BOTH were at full strength and had ridden a home leg each. Other clubs have also suffered misfortune which may or may not have cost them getting through in the cup or improving league placings. The only undeniable fact, is Mildenhall are 2012 champions and some of the Dudley fans should have the good grace to accept that and offer their congratulations like 21st and one or two others have. Dudley I'm sure will come back fighting next year so just bide your time and look forward to possibly gaining some revenge next season.

I think Leigh Lanham will be in personally.

Louis could always still sign up Tressarieu and Nielsen....For Mildenhall in the PL next year

I'm pretty sure Stefan Nielsen will be riding elsewhere.

You do though have to ask why Ipswich seem so reluctant to recruit that top line rider at number 1. Is the finance that bad at Foxhall these days? For years they struggled at Elite league level with not having any real top end strength, but you'd have thought the drop to the PL may have ended that scenario, but it's just carried on in the PL too. Strange really.

It makes not a jot of difference how many times it's happened and neither does the change in line ups, it's still ridiculous. Chelsea will enter next seasons champions league with a totally different line up to the one that just lifted the trophy. But Chelsea as a CLUB, the champions league holders, will defend their trophy next season. Ipswich speedway club, as current PL4'S winners, should be at Peterborough to defend their trophy. A complete farce.

So the current Holders don't get the opportunity to defend their trophy? Only in speedway!!

To be fair Lanham's last stint with Ipswich was in the Elite league where he's never been more than a 5 point man. Add to the fact he openly admitted hating the track and it was never really going to be a success. If he did feel pressure of riding for his hometown track too, then immediately installing him as captain and giving him extra responsibility wasn't really a shrewd move either. Didn't he actually pick up an injury very early on before being replaced?

Sod all Silver can do either. As in practically every case, whoever offer him the deal will get his signature and after hearing our promoter say Ipswich offered ridiculous money for Tungate, my money would be on them!

Neath, Lanham or Doolan leading your team at number 1? Doolan all day long for me. Don't think you'll find too many preferring the others.

I wonder if they'll get away with this being so so late in the day, if true, because there are plenty of replacements waiting for team spots and available. And also the fact that a good number of those without jobs are British?

Every man and his dog were saying Poole were too top heavy with such a low points limit in 2009. Having one of Barker or Fisher is bad enough on their high averages, having both is just bloody stupid! Does the promoter there have any real idea of how to put a side together?

Its been proven time and time again that top heavy teams just do not work. This Plymouth side is as top heavy as you're ever going to get. Reminds me a little of Poole in 2009 who went top heavy. Steve Shovlar and his fellow Poole supporters tried to convince everyone that Holder and Pedersen would score 25+ between them every meeting. They finished joint bottom.

Not from what I've read he hasn't. His point is more to do with a quite horrible comment from a poster that unbelievably was liked by a couple of other idiots, (which thankfully has now been removed), and the rather distasteful comments and celebration of a couples likely financial ruin. Yes they were foolish, yes they have obviously been very badly advised by people who have let them down, and yes they should have done their homework before taking on the property. I personally find it all a bit sad and the comments on this thread disappointing. I've been away from this forum for a few years for one reason or another, but I always remembered it as a fun place to be where light hearted banter was as bad as it got. I'm dismayed by the nastiness, bitterness, and vitriolic comments that seem to have infested the BSF and it's sad to see a once great forum go down the toilet. It surprises me little that most of the posters I remember from a few years ago, are no longer seen on here.

Who did Mildenhall buy Blackbird's contract from?

Yes this winter seems to have gone on forever. After all these years i still get excited like a kid at Christmas when a new season approaches.

Still think its harsh on a rider(s) has been told he has a place(s), invest in equipment and prepare for the new season only to be told sorry, actually we're giving your place to someone else now. Not on!

With Lanham for Boxall, i'd put Plymouth around mid table but still not enough for top 6 and a play off berth. I definitely think there are at least 6 better sides around.

I'd hate to see a rider like Lanham out of a job, but to be honest it was his club that has gone to the wall so it would be very harsh on Boxall to lose a place he was told was his.

As a Redcar supporter, i and others were convinced Tungate would be a Bear this year and i'm still gutted that a deal couldn't be done. I'm happy with our team this year but missing out of Tungate still rankles with me. Trust me, this lad will be nothing but a success this year he's got everything in his locker.