Hamish McRaker

So is Max Fricke a Loss Leader?

I have a (unsubstantiated, it's true) theory that Polish clubs have developed a phobia as regards the Kings Lynn track, to the extent that they get cold feet very easily and enforce "star riders" to quit KL (this seems to apply even if the rider has incurred an injury elsewhere). Hence the way that KL team has been built this year, although I can forsee Jan Kvech being similarly prohibited this season at some point, particularly if he incurs an injury whether at KL or somewhere else. That is perhaps what happened to Museilak last season, and of course his Polish bosses would have gagged him from telling the truth!

You can admire and respect the capability of a person or an organisation, but liking them/it is often not guaranteed. Margaret Thatcher was an example ( for me).

And Mr Tolley can say what he likes, providing it's within the Law of the country and within SCB rules. Does what he's said add some spice to things? Yes! Could it fall flat and leave him looking foolish? Yes! But he takes that chance and, as you'd say, that's none of anyone else's business😁

Quite liked the swipe at Ipswich by Mr Tolley in the recent PR, about doing things by the book. I think Ipswich announced Brennan just after the AGM began, so they could claim the decision on the points limit was officially in place at the time. But I suspect that their actions (and maybe those of the other clubs who ensured the 40 limit was enforced) may have riled Birmingham to the extent that Mr Tolley may now push the financial boat out to construct a team that will either soar, or crash and burn. In either case, they would disrupt the rest of the cosy cartel

My guess as to the identity of the mystery "comeback" rider at no.6 is the 1970's one-match wonder, the flaxen-haired Dane by the name of Red Herring.

I wonder if Perks is still doing speedway? The only rider I can think of, who could fit that description and have a suitable average is Lasse Bjerre. But he might have retired by now and maybe too much of a maverick for Mr Dickson's liking. There's also his elder brother but he'd probably have too high an average.

and not forgetting they will need to find a date for their home leg of the Jubilee Trophy

If last year is anything to judge by, two tins of Quality Street will be better

Craig Cook? Looks like he has his deals done, so he is either already signed up, or no longer available. Seems highly unlikely Dickson will have a non Uk-based no.6 with the points he has to work within, even less likely a former Leicester rider who can fit that, unless Kev Doolan's making a shock comeback

So in that case you'd have to add the likes of Walasek, Nicholls, Hancock, K. Bjerre (he might be a bit too young)?

Delivering the Premiership! So is he going to get a job with DPD to help fill his diary whilst he's over here?

Is that really all it is!? How is that going to play out if Cairns Jr goes and joins Belle Vue or whoever. Greg Hancock making a racing comeback for Leicester?

Becker has only been there for one season! What does he give, to warrant being "well in" with the management? It must be something worth having! Whereas King has been at Ipswich since I was a wee lad, which is a very long time. Douglas - how ambitious is he, or has he reached his plateau? Is he up to the challenge of quite possibly being a No 1 at BHX even if for only half a season, or has he settled for midrange safety? Fricke - does being club captain cut much ice these days? Leicester must know by now that he'll possibly get them to the playoffs but unlikely, without someone else in the team who can go and win lots of races on wet tracks, to win them the title. So it looks like being "same again", and will supporters stick with it?

Yes, such a lot can and does happen with male youths between 15 and 20 years, including of course ongoing physical development which it's not possible to control. Michael Lee was something of a rarity being so tall but world-class at such an early age. How many tall riders have there been, at that level in the past 50 years? Of course, young Cairns may hopefully develop to be the perfect weight and shape to become a world class rider...but that's just the physical part!

Aussies seem to be happier and perform better when there's at least one other Aussie in the team. Ipswich (probably) have Doyle, so if this applies to Rew maybe he needs at least two.

Would you say that during their previous attempt at running in the "top league", Leicester was supported by the others, or shafted by them?

Sounds very Cornish. Arrrgh me hearties, there be a good tale or two to be told of smuggling and other deeds that must be kept secret until the time old Bomber's palm be crossed with enough silver, arrrgh.

Thorssel, Masters, Douglas, Z.Cook, S.Worrall, Morris,.....team manager Adams.....Wolves in Brum clothing??

If it is to be a change of strategy, the best outcome would be to bring in someone initially on an assessed average of 8, who is capable of pushing that up to the extent that he is a realistic challenger to Max Fricke as the no 1. It would be a risk, because it could end up like Piotr Pawlicki, or like Magic Janowski who didn't get going until the second half of the season (but who now has a very handy average!!). But I think that if Leicester are serious about joining the top table in the Premiership (by that I mean capable of winning two playoff ties), a table that Oxford will surely be joining next year, risks of this sort will have to be taken.

I'm sorry to be so nihilistic but I am struggling to forsee Birmingham being able to recruit a suitable team to compete in the 2025 league, especially if the limit is 40. And as long as Kings Lynn continue to be in the league, and clubs such Oxford and Leicester seek and recruit riders with averages above 8 (as has been strongly rumoured), Birmingham will just be in the same situation as they found themselves in earlier this year, when they had to fill the two primary rider positions with inferior duds. The impending loss of Brennan to Ipswich, if the 40 limit is ratified, will just deliver the final blow. Lowering the limit to 39 might just enable Birmingham to assemble a team in time for the start of the season, but I'm afraid it wouldn't be very pretty

Have both of them and rotate, or select on match by match basis for the first half of the season, then choose one for a permanent place

So, accepting that Max Fricke will have to stay and Dan Thompson won't be back, is this an option? 1. Fricke, 2. Howarth 3. Lawson (captain) 4. Becker 5. Madsen 6. Sedgmen 7. Hagon

An enigma. From what I've seen (off-track persona), doesn't really give clues as to what makes him tick, a really difficult person to read. He'd make a great poker player perhaps. Can Stewart Dickson crack the code and even if he does, is there really all that much he can work on?