Ben91

Looks a very competitive field, tried to identify the six weakest riders in that line-up and it's near enough impossible to do so. If I had to stick my head on the block I'd say Dugard, Ruddick, Kingston, Kinsley, Verge and one other will miss out.

In 2014 a lot of those riders shouldn't have been anywhere near the EL, now most of the ones that are still in the EL as reserves are at a standard where they can compete at least. Good to see that we are still enforcing two draft riders in each team but they are able to move into the main body of their EL side. The future needs to see this continue and a proper draft for both reserves put in place in the Premier League.

Boxall's had plenty of chances, it doesn't have to be him though. It's a sport, winning has to come first, that's a very average Somerset side by their recent standards, better sides will come and we won't be in it still come heat 15. Branford would have outscored Karger today, he's as good as if not better than BWD and on an average about 1.5 cheaper. If Karger doesn't hit his five average he has to come back on it next year, there's no benefit to us in keeping him to come back in 2017 on a low average because that won't happen anymore. Nothing against Karger personally but if he's not good enough a change has to be made sooner rather than later and another change has to be made further up the order for the good of the team's results. Adam Ellis is available to ride PL too and on a lower average than Karger as well.

Not much point running the semi then

We've relied on Kennett and Robson again. Kennett can't go through the card every week and Robbo put in the kind of score he is more likely to put in most weeks than the maximum he got against Plymouth, luckily the Robbo/Kennett partnership pulled it off in heat 15. Another poor return from Karger. Get Branford in and replace one of the second strings with a heatleader then we might stand a chance.

Only way to do it would be pay for both meetings on arrival and then open an 'exit' turnstile after the first match, people who only want to watch the PL match can leave and get the difference refunded.

So Hopwood will just be reinstated. Lesson to be learnt here is to not make announcements before deals are finalised if Nielsen being lined up before Plymouth's rescue is indeed the case.

Wikipedia is wrong then.

Assume we've been granted it because Branford was a Raider last season, therefore has made his debut for us. Kent should be winning this one regardless.

Morris hasn't got a PL team this year so he has been able to do NL, he's in the Cradley team on double his 2015 PL average of 4.53.

No reason Boxall can't ride NL, he's not got a PL spot. What would Hurry's average be out of interest? Been so long since he last rode and that was in the EL I assume he'd be given an assessed average for NL racing.

Will be very odd seeing Luke Bowen as an away rider at Rye House. He should go through the card. Slightly odd that Kent have gone for Mark Baseby over Luke Chessell who rode for the Raiders last year and was in good form for Cradley in the week. Until Ayres gets a new average it will be slim pickings for the Kings should they need guests who will adequately match his scoring though. Shanes will need to be better than his previous showings at Rye, however the track changes could play into his hands and he should have the beating of any of the Raiders' bottom four. Can only see an away win if the Kent riders carry on from where they left off against Eastbourne.

One meeting doesn't cause burn out, however Tai has made the announcement in plenty of time and the reasoning behind it being that he wants to commit fully to being World Champion again is fine by me. Every time he rides in a GP he is representing Britain, he's not turning his back on his nation. Plenty of Aussies haven't raced in their national championships over the years, their fans haven't cried over it though, they accept the reasoning these riders have for not participating. Not riding in the EL and riding in Poland is a no brainer, he has to go where the money is, a Speedway rider's career is short and can be ended at any moment. Give the guy a break, he's made a decision for what he believes is a reason that can help him continue as the best rider in the world and do so as a British rider, it's sad that he won't be in the British final as a fan but when all's said and done I'd rather him be World Champion in 2016 than turn up to an individual meeting he'd probably walk anyway.

Let's find another reason to moan about Tai.

The fact that it's open to these interpretations says that it isn't clear enough. "Tactical rides are NOT allowed in the League Cup." Is concise and clear, no loopholes, point made.

Surely the best solution would be for the rules to be written clearly in the first place if we're going down that route?

Upcoming talent Hopwood who made his third tier debut in about 2006...

Compton will struggle to keep that average imo.

Boxall, not Boxhall, will save you plenty of ink in your programme across the season

Has to be Boxall. The changes leave the Eagles stronger than they were going into their first meeting tbh.

Nah, kick him out for an Aussie journeyman when he gets his British passport.

Hope the lad does well and keeps his spot. Thrown in at the deep end but sounds like he has a lot of potential.

Doesn't matter who guests in a challenge match, not allowed in a competitive meeting though.

Maybe he's caught nits.

Can't remember the last time anyone signed an assessed Dane on a five average either, some of the seven point assessed Danes don't even hit a five in their first season.