STEVEHOLS54

Yes it is a bit frustrating when other teams are starting to announce riders (although not all and certainly no Chapman teams). Doesn't Chapman do this regularly though, wanting to make sure the whole team is signed and then announces in Jan time ?? Suppose as far as KL is concerned Robert Lambert is the main priority with building around him. He already said he wanted back (but as per last season, subject to the deal on offer being workable). Arguably Rob does not really need UK now from a financial perspective now he is with the big boys in POL and IF he is living Germany with his GF then won't come cheap to come over here every week as well as ride in POL EXL/SWE and God knows how other many competitions he rides in overseas like SEC/ World U21 Champ (as it will be his last year trying to win it in 2019) plus maybe also SGP qualifiers. But Lambert is like a sponge - he proved in 2018 how he thrived on riding everywhere and only odd meeting end of season did too many rides take a bit of a toll when called upon for 6 rides if they were well behind.

You mean the elusive Chris Holder. The man who according to POL website late last season, alienated himself from the Torun Fans and was not a nice guy to be around according to some. You would think at least he could put things to bed by saying either he is or isnt planning to race in UK in 2019 after various comments about him having sold Holder Towers (STC) - we know he liquidated Chris Holder Racing UK back in June and rumours have been going around on the Forum about him moving to the Tax Haven of Andorra. He could easily post on twitter/FB or Instagram (as he uses all 3) if he will even be in UK in 2019. Not too much to ask I think. At least we would then be wiser on excl him from any team plans.

Yes but we were supposed to sweep the League easily last season with what was on paper and look where we stood in July. Remember Matt faces a juggling act anyway with the points limit.

I think Ford has a real conundrum on his hands. Many want to retain much of the team BUT with Harris being elevated on GSA and having to lose 2.64 points from last seasons team is a difficult one. Does he go for a strength in depth look as mentioned by Blackheart or does he look more at an established number one which means he has to cut further down and also possibly have weak reserves. Depends on your view. One could argue, and has been proven, that strong reserves keep you in the meeting and is it more about trying to win at home and pinch odd points away to try and make play offs ?? We all know that a really good/strong team on paper doesn't always mean it will perform to that level (as evidenced by Poole first half of the season). Also the team that finishes top isn't guaranteed to win the league, again as proved last season ALTHOUGH both KL and Mildenhall were dogged by both injuries and bad luck at important phases of the season end. We will never know re Lakeside as personally think they were hampered by the loss of their big home advantage track at Arena Essex. I personally feel resigned to the that due to a lack of finance and main team sponsor, maybe Ford has already let us down gently in his Echo press release last week where he eluded to both matters, and may well seek out a more strength in depth team which has scope to improve as the season develops. He faces a problem anyway trying to juggle the points if he wants to try and get most of last seasons team kept together.

if their is the slightest chance that this might happen , I would be intrigued as to who the other reserve will be. Must admit that with Morris having decided on Wolves and with Poole having to lose 2.64 from last seasons team, then Matt faces one hell of a juggling act. Really can't see him going with Harris on that inflated 7.78 GSA and factor in having to lose 2.64 team points it would mean changes further down. Covatti for say Worrall saves you only 1.02 meaning another 1.62 to find. If you retain Harris it means you have to get rid of 1/2 riders from Kurtz/Graz/Woryna/Jakobsen/Klindt and reading various qoutes over the weeks I thought most want to retain all of them in possible. You would only get a 1.62 saving if you replaced the lowest av Jakobsen for say Shanes. Can't see that happening. No doubt Matt has it all worked out, if as a couple have rumoured he already knows his team and the first announcement is Wed evening. Hope it is decent team as its worrying how strong Swindon are already looking with Doyle/Bach and & Musz already signed.

Maybe Rosco wants to spread the news out to keep the fans interest on these dark/damp and dreary days.

Any clues on where that's coming from ??

Suppose we are just going to have to play the waiting game :-) Can imagine most Swindon Fans gutted as know I would be if I was one of them. Whoever gets him on that 6.60 bargain GSA are going to be happy bunnies that's for sure. At least Swindon have now announced his release together with Bellego

For all we know he already may have ;-)

Problem is who is out there and available without costing a fortune (that's even if they wanted to come over). Ford already eluded to the lack of finance and as at earlier this week no main team sponsor in place. Factor in the next to nothing TV money and the fact he openly said the big stars would be too expensive. Leaves him little room to move. The other problem is that with the team having to shed 2.64 from 2018 finishing, the higher the number one, it leaves even less to play with further down meaning they could suffer fitting the likes of Wory/Kurtz/Jak/Klindt/Graz etc. I would not be surprised if he goes more for a young, strength in depth team bringing back Jack Holder on the basis nothing is won early doors and if they can keep within the top 4 area then the likes of Holder/Kurtz/Wory/Jakobsen will hopefully show more of their real potential in the second half of the season where it really matters. That's just my thoughts.

Anyone know if Morris is definitely signing ?? Would have though with him living in Swindon when in UK he would have already put ink on the contract. Having said that I do appreciate he flew home to Aussie with his mates Brady Kurtz & Josh Graz, after the Poole A.Dhabi jolly up, so may not have got around to it yet. Having said that he did get announced by Masarna this morning in SWE so one would have thought he has been active on the Contract front.

Well Batchelor will no doubt seek an area of the UK where the climate is dry as from what I can remember over the years he was always dire on a wet track. Or at the site of a little rain ;-) Would probably rule out Dorset if last season a guide.

It is but that's the new GSA Harris has on the final sheet.

Many want to see Harris back, but the question I pose is that IF you keep him on his new 7.78 GSA and the current team is 2.64 over the 42.50 who do you let go ???.

Just think Sid that Ford may go for a young team option with potential. Especially if finance is tight with no main team sponsor sorted (as per last press release some days ago). I would like to see Lidsey but many think he will go to BV under Lemon's supervision. Stewart is same age with only the one season in UK and Pickering has 2 but improved 2018 against 2017 so seems to have potential and even Matt eluded to him last season when things were going pear shaped. Bottom line anyway and as I keep saying Matt has to re plan to a degree anyway with 2.64 having to be lost from last seasons squad. If we have to accept mainly due to finance and top riders reluctance an 8 point just isn't coming. If we also assume Holder Sr is a no go then to a degree work with what you may have. For me the likes of Holder Jr/Kurtz/Woryna/Jakobsen and even Pickering all offer growth potential. That little lot gives you 30.42 points. Then you can work around the likes of Harris 7.78 - Josh G 6.70 - Klindt 6.61 - Sundstrom at an new attractive 6.04 and maybe Morris 6.60 but that is a long shot. Even then you can't have 2 of the three as only12.08 available unless you factor in Worrall at 5.60 and indeed Shanes at 3.31. An out and out number one - No but do we really think that Jack Holder/Kurtz/Woryna will all bomb this season and surely Jakobsen can improve after his UK initiation season.

Just announced on main SWE Speedway site that Morris has signed for Masarna in SWE. Almost certainly means he won't ride in Champ. Be interesting to see if he does stay at Swind as many Wolves Fans initially thought he was coming there way. Then of course obvious Poole rumours after the Abu Dhabi trip,

Interesting to see Morris was not the second announcement this morning from Swindon. Maybe Rosco just playing mind games with us . IF he was available who would you omit from say Klindt/Josh if Matt even wanted him ??

Can see your point but its the old juggling act and not really much out there in that low GSA range who can see competing. At least James has had some experience of it and has now got more experience via Sheff & Birm last season. If we know some of the teams will have fairly weak reserve pairings it would also help give an idea what he may be up against in some of the races. Until then its all guess work.

Wish I was Stevehols74 Aces51 as I would be 20 years younger - Thanks for the compliment though I only mention it as some of my fellow Poole contributors have been commenting on trying to maintain most/all of the team for 2019, which in my opinion was fortunate in a number of ways to win the play offs. I would not expect lightning to strike in the same place twice over those matches (lets pls not go there on the various incidents and rider eligibility as its all history now). The team also only won 2 matches away against the bottom team Leicester (no longer in Prem) mainly on the back of Klindts efforts as was his favourite track. Anyway the facts remain we have to shed at least 2 riders and maybe even 3 to get the right mix for 2019. Something has to change hence if you read my other contributions you will see why I have eliminated some of the said riders to get withing the 42.50 limit with my ideas of a team. Hence the reason we call this tread Poole 2019 Its already a boring close season so far, so until we get some positive (or negative) news we can continue to play name the team for 2019. Something indeed BV fans also have to play with having to shed 2.84 points from last season which again a thankless task.

I see Todd Kurtz has signed for Somerset in Champ. Only mention it as I am sure Todd & Brady stay at one of Middlo's places when in UK and thought Todd also mechanics sometimes for Brady. Makes sense if its close to their UK abode. Perhaps a positive sign for Brady rejoining Poole (not that I have any doubt on that score anyway). As a footnote - If Matt is on a tight budget he could maybe consider Todd on approx 4.43 as a reserve - would again be cheap if staying in Middlo supplied accom and no expensive travelling costs. Don't see much scope for improvement though as has been over here riding for 9 years and 26 now, Would prefer an improver like Pickering on 4.58 - is 22 tomorrow - improved year on year in his 2 years in UK at Edin - was also mentioned briefly by Matt last season when he was looking to shake things up after the shaky early season. I think he has better scope to improve. Just a thought ;-)

Yes it's easy to forget that those 4 riders were so influential in Swindon winning the League in 2017. Not just winning it but they were well ahead of most/all of the others. Would indeed be a strong 4, irrespective of what the others put together.

There is some logic in the Shanes possible signing if Matt is tight on budget. He will only just turn 22 as 2019 season starts - so still young - he is on a low GSA but I would not expect a large increase as with say a Woryna/Jakobsen in that position - he is local so no expensive flights or accommodation as he also stores his bikes I believe at home - is normally well prepared as he works in tandem with preparing his grassrtack/longtrack equip. I am sure he would not cost as much as a foreign youngster who anyway would be on a 4 or 5 min and that's without all the expense involved with no guarantees anyway. If Matt is having to trim 2.64 from last seasons team anyway then you could do worse although would love to know what other teams reserve plans are. Would also not surprise me to see him also ride in Champ for either Birmingham who he rode for in NL and who look certain to come up as not mentioned in latest BSPA National league news after their AGM or maybe even Eastbourne who are also moving to Champ so not too far to travel. Having said that his Grass/Longtrack weekend commitments on the Continent may determine which Champ team he goes to.

Just saw your post re Swind 2nd signing tomorrow. Of course Rosco could kill off any rumour tomorrow if his local Swindon living Aussie was announced. If it's such an easy decision he should have agreed if living locally ;-)

interesting idea's. Fairly young team with the old men being Klindt at 30 end Dec and Josh G at 29 end Feb. The rest being 20 to 23. Thing is that whichever way you view it Matt has to lose 2.64 points from last seasons team to get within the limit. But one thing I would question is IF Nick Morris was available at 6.60 would you have him over say Josh or Nicolai ???. I don't know why I keep on about Morris but perhaps its the fact he finished 2017 on 8.87 so proved he has been there and done it. One off season with rumours he might want to move on, and the all the hype of the A.Dhabi trip draws me to him with a potential to get a 2 point upswing in a settled (hopefully) team amongst other young Aussies on a track he has tended to ride well. I wish Swindon would either announce him or not to put me out of my misery on it. Josh still worries me as he was so bad for so long but did get it partly together end of season. BUT he will be trying big time to prove himself in POL again after a bad first season where he has now moved team. Will he be going back and forth there constantly like last season at the expense giving up his Champ season which for me partly hurt his form. Practicing all the time in POL is not like racing in UK. Klindt did brilliant at times last season and arguably was the reason we won our only 2 matches away at Leic which think was his favourite UK track. He could be getting better later (like a Doyle situation) but still have a small element of doubt as he could be off at times and was VERY up and down in the Champ despite Work winning the treble. Still think he is best at reserve but may struggle to get in there if our reserves are weakish. Knowing the strength of other teams reserve pairings would certainly help as we know from last season they can make or break your season. For so long Wory/Jakob was the leagues best reserve pairing. I don't envy the task Matt has to get within the limit and IF Chris Holder has decided to give UK the heave ho (which none of us know for sure) then its one less asset at his disposal to use. Personally still not over convinced you would get much more out of Shanes than his GSA.

Was thinking similar. Is an asset and think wanted to stay at Poole. Similar to Harris situation but maybe a more consistent high end scorer and on lower than Harris GSA by 0.22. My fear is whether we will ever win a League Champ with Hans in the team and we all know he is riding out his twilight years with as many clubs as poss so up to 4 per week. I know he is conditioned to it but has too many up and down rides as travelling takes it toll during peak season. Not even incl all the SEC/SGP and DK Championship qualifiers to boot. Wouldn't discount him and PERHAPS that slightly lower GSA may have a bearing. Would dearly love to know if one or both Holders will play any part, Nobody on the forum seem's to know what Chris's situ is or even if he intends to ride UK anyway in 2019. Also what about Jack who is also an asset and no Somerset in the equation this year. As usual more questions than answers. Still in favour of my idea of 2 young Aussies I named the other as reserves Pickering/Stewart and moving up with Jakobsen/Woyna/Kurtz/Jack Holder and Chris Holder (even if Chris was re-evaluated at 8 he would scrape in by o.o8 of a point into the 42.50 limit. Its a young and exciting sounding squad with scope to improve even if not initially a league winning team. Who wins it anyway frmo March to July ?? or even Sept for that matter. Top 4 is where you need to be. Other permutations are of course available ;-)