Robinh88

I read certain posts and think, thank the lord I an Rae is team manager. I dread to think what would happen to the club if some posters on here had a say in team matters.... Cheers

The team were not strong enough, End Off

So, who are we signing for 2014? No one is making up any silly rumours at the moment, which means we must be deep in negotations with all these blokes Razor says wants to don the Bandits Black and Gold. How about 1. Oliver Allen 2. David Bellego 3. Josef Franc 4. Matej Kus 5. Stuart Robson (now that he's on the decline) 6. Liam Carr 7. Paul Starke A team of commited guys right there, if they can gate, race on a grippy but not too grippy track, deal with the inconsistancies of referees, race on slick tracks, attend all matches (not just the first 5), could be the team that packs Shielfield to the rafters. BigEddie may very well see the Bandits lift there first trophy since 1991.

Heard in the latter part of the season this very possibly would be Glasgow's last. Personally I think the promotion put a team out destined to flop, whether Biggart new this pre-season (if he didnt) more fool him. No number one in site no James Grieves two things you associate with Glasgow. Stadium is a complete mess realistically who is going to want to take over Glasgow? Feel sorry for the fans, I will remember them for the entertaining riders they always had and great champions of 2011

Great news for a special cause

Class act is Jason Doyle, a EL No1 next year I reckon Hope he's still PL tho

But as I wrote in a post a few weeks ago. John said in a interview with GRT media (pre season I think) that he had assembled 7 riders who were not just turning up for pocket money. Reading between the lines obviously riders have done this... but it probably happens at all clubs, too some degree more than others. I totally agreed with John on this, yet we carried two riders for most of the campaign Some will argue Aspegren maybe wasn't suited to Shielfield, looking at his Swedish scores and home track in Sweden, while maybe not as banked as Berwick was fast, big and in Hammarby's case very slick. Yet another Swede smashing Bogdanovs, AJ and Lindback on the Thursday then coming to Berwick and managing 2,3,2,0 against the might of Doolan, Lanham and Morten Risager. It was interesting this paticular rider stated how he regretted leaving Berwick, maybe because we tolerated his inconsistancies or new no better. Either way he had the talent to be a much better rider. Totally agree Scott Wethers has done a honourable job for the Bandits, Smith and Bellego definitely go the extra yard wider where other riders wouldn't. While I don't into buy all the Ricky was a No1 malarky. What I liked about Ricky was his professional approach, scoring the points week in week out, no missed meetings, no going Mike Tyson in the pits just coming in and doing a job. Currently I don't think it is so simple for Berwick to just have a good team going on our past years. But I look forward to seeing what happens in the coming weeks.

But my question would be why is this continuously happening?

That is not the case at all... Note the example I used 2008 we did not win a trophy? but it was a enjoyable season because we were competitive. Now I am not going to go through all of the seasons since 2009 but apart from the 4 week period at the end of 2010 we haven't put a winning team together. I don't know if you remember while you were stood in the executive terracing with your bagel when we destroyed a strong Newcastle side. Heat One 5-1 Rempala/Rymel and it didn't stop there, we pummelled them. That was a winning side possibly put together 4 months too late. Would it have balanced the books over a season knocking 55-60 points every week, womn a trophy? I don't know... Either way bar those 4 weeks Berwick Bandits are doing about enough to win home meetings by 4-8 points. Bar Glasgow (a) where we won by 2, we've been been poor on the road, but less points paid out... maybe that has helped us keep in buisness Contrary to your post Scott I have seen some good meetings at Shielfield Park this season. While people say I have nothing positive or constructive to say. Well I've posted I've enjoyed 5 or 6 meetings at Berwick so that is a definite plus. Now had Berwick had a all conquering 7 would those meetings have been as entertaining? who knows? Berwick like Exeter will never have the best racing because the way the track is shaped. Nor do the UK have financial resource or number of personnel to match the tracks of rival Speedway nations.In a ideal world we would shave the corners in a tad, but we have what we have I don't think the racing would be any better in the EL, it simply just is Here's a question for you though and to other posters.... 7 Christian Henry's or 7 Lee Complin's, which team would fair better? If you make the start at Berwick, get on the line you wont get beaten, if you miss the start at Berwick irrespective of how good you are (I beliveve Pawlicki is that good), you will struggle to pass. Me and Emilali often joke about this but next season if Newcastle sign any rider in the world say and Heat One next year Bellego makes a flyer I honestly believe any rider in the world isn't catching Bellego. We all go to Speedway for differing reasons.. you know when you have a team you want to go and watch, you just get that feeling. Just like when your racing against a team your really looking forward too racing and some maybe not so. We are not tracking 7 man teams at the moment, its not that we are signing bad riders but we are expecting good riders to give great performances week in week out while covering for blokes like Barrett and Aspegren (when he is not playing crazy golf). Blokes like Doyle, Cook Morris/Pijper can cover, we did not have those sort of riders in 2013 It will be up to Speedway maestro's Rae and Anderson to formulate Berwick's plan of attack (fills me with confidence). I agree fully with Tourettes plan of attack for 2014. But as I say Scott we all go for differing reasons, each to there own.....

unrealistic

Dearest Scott I'm not suggesting we go all out to win a league title, as per I think you are getting a little bit carried away with oneself. 5 or 6 years ago takes us back to 2008 where as far as I can remember we won diddly squat. That being said it was a exciting season we finished 5 I think (maybe 6th) in the end. We dropped a point maybe two at home all season... two draws versus Kings Lynn and Edinburgh - no disgrace. Now no we didn't win anything from a trophy perspective but we were competitive in away matches maybe we should have won more away from Shielfield that year, but we certainly held our own at home. That team was never going to win the league but it was entertaining and still did very well. I got a facebook message from a fellow Bandits fan earlier this week (not emilali) who greeted my Hello with a "thank god, that's over" I will spare his identity but he is a real person. His opinion is one I value, we need to change something, the current strategy has not proved fruitful on-track. Too conclude if Mr J Anderson stated he and his management team were going to go balls out for the title, we probably wouldn't run the following season. That being said Scott, knowing the market and a bit of wheeling and dealing and we can be up there without winning league titles or going bust. Off track we've done great things and been taken to the next level. On-track for me sadly we are no further forward, we put too much emphasis on the entertainer, as Tourettes states we need gaters, in essence for 2014

maybe so....

4's is a nice bonus but for me it doesn't carry anywhere near the same meaning as a League Title a culmination of 25 meetings possibly with play offs, thats the big prize, none of this turn up and pull it out the bag. Those 4 blokes had a lot of ability anyway but the other 3 in the team didn't cut it hence our 2012 placing.. It's a 7 man Sport same with the Pairs but I'm sure Scott you revelled in the victory and were there with the guys encouraging them with every turn of the wheel. If we had George English as TM we'd be Top 4-5 every season. We've got who we have, lets hope for a better 2014

Tourettes Our problem has been we have been tracking 4 riders in 7 man team not utilising our full scoring power (since Mr Anderson and Co took over), then again its less points to pay out. We know how to track a good team, we tracked one at the back end of 2010. But I do agree with you I don't think a big name is a problem but they need to ride like 9-10 point riders. Revert back to 2011 even IF Charlie had loved the Berwick hospatality the team I don't think would have faired hugely better, why? Because we had two horrendous reserves with Stichauer struggling and Complin who was only really scoring well at home that season. Compare it too Glasgow who had Screen who would have averaged 9 something but as well as a solid middle order, they had Morris, Rajkowski and Theo Pijper interchanging in the reserve posistions. Hate using Newcastle as a role model, but George English selects his team to a tee. No one rider has too ride above himself every meeting, why? because all 6 other riders usually contribute. Berwick for 2013 were screwed from the start with the reserve choices that were made. I guess that's Speedway but had we had Mickey Dyer in there it would have been intresting to see what happened. Then again we had no figurehead and Aspegren's scores in Sweden mid season said it all about his commitment to Berwick Speedway. The stadium is great, that's not me being sarcastic either, it would be nice to get the feel good factor back with a winning side its been almost 5-6 years now. We don't need World beaters or big hitters like Doyle or Cook, although it would help in the big races. 7 commited blokes who want to be here and attend all the matches on the correct starting averages and we should do well.

Always had a lot of admiration for Grieves.. Gutted when he crashed out vs the Rebels in 2009, he was flying True Pro, he will be missed, glad he wont be there when Berwick are in town next season...

no then?

will bech be there

Neimenen/Bjerre Bellego Harrison Wethers Smith Starke Lee Smart, scored 13-14 points here a few years ago Is Richard Sweetman back in the UK for 2014?

Brenton Barnfield could we get him in?

CMIYC Barker hasn't been a Number One this year, not sure why machinery, injuries leaving Plymouth maybe the the World Cup. He's not been as dominant. That being said I would take Ben Barker right now as a No1 for Berwick, best visitor in all respects at Berwick this season. Kauko Neimenen, not as a No1 but good Sqaud rider

I don't believe Hansen would hit a 9 point average in his first season. I think being signed as a No1 brings extra pressure its the hardest Number to be at. He's not been around the British league he's done bit parts hear and there. A good heatleader is realistic as for a No1? well in my eyes Stead, Cook, Doyle and possibly Lawson are the 4 No1's for me in the league. Hansen in my opinion would be about 7.5-8.

We need a Number 1, which isn't Hansen or Jamrog

Straw in the mouth... comes to mind

Agreed shame Bech isn't racing such a talent...

Hope the weather clears up aside from it being a good cause, the line up is really attractive too