Grachan

Swindon quite obviously weren't trying to get away with anything. They plainly got the average wrong. Why? Because, as with each 'new era' that they have every year, the guidelines weren't clearly laid out. When Swindon signed Andersen I don't recall there being any complaints on here until someone (probably SCB) pointed out that he should be a 7.00 because of the level the sport has now been sadly dragged into. In fact, my guess is that nobody on the BSPA would have noticed either if it hadn't been pointed out to them on here. So most of the people now here mouthing off about Swindon trying to pull some sort of fast one probably wouldn't even have noticed if SCB hadn't pointed it out.

Rosco just tweeted that when it rains it pours. Something else gone wrong I wonder?

Probably spent most of that on their ridiculous TV advert.

The shock is that the sport has gone Premier League.

All I know is that 10 years ago we had strong teams, relatively big crowds and the sport seemed to be thriving. The low limits came in. The crowds reduced with each new points limits and the atmosphere at the tracks became almost non-existent. A once great product because very lack lustre. I guess I'd have kept things as they were 10 years ago - whatever that was.

Our plan is to be totally crap for the first 3 months and then, with a team average of about 35, bring in some 7 point foreigners to replace our Premier League reserves.

It's been like this for about 10 years now - ever since they brought in the 39.95 points limit. Every year they drag teams further down to the lowest common denominator and as a result we've had a decade of sharp decline. Still, good news for those who thik the sport should be run at PL level so that the promoters know the names of everyone in the crowd.

I guess so. Could turn out to be a better signing anyway.

Still no mention of this on the website or in the Adver so maybe not official yet.

I mentioned that a while ago. It was pointed out to me that the maximun doubling up maximum of 2 riders per side would prevent it.

Why? Because of a few gossiping old ladies on Twitter? He is in the team on the website, and he's been announced as signed. Why would they need to put out a statement just because you want one? If any issues genuinely arise, that's the time to put out a statement. Personally, if Swindon are now told they can't sign him I reckon they should tell everyone to stuff their crappy new-look Premier League. Nobody's going to turn up to watch these third rate teams anyway.

This is a very big point, particularly should Doyle, for example, get injured and Swindon need a replacement. If the average is dropping to 42.00, then riders will presumably also be on their current average. However, how will it affect riders who are not in the league?

So are we taliking actual averages rather than team building averages? 'Cause Lindgren ain't adding 2 to his team building average. If that is the case, Ellis could improve quite a bit too.

I'd say that in terms of big average riders, Freddie Lindgren is better value. Klindt could prove a disappontment. It wouldn't be the first time. Not many in the top flight will improve their averages. Riders have either been over assessed or riding on PL averages against better riders than last year.

But you can still, presumably, replace a rider with a lower average rider. Klindt won't get an 8 average anyway.

Seems about right. If you look through the averages there aren't many who will improve on their averages - and those that might have (unsuprisingly) been snapped up by Poole. Top flight riders have had their averages increased by a multiple of 1.4. PL riders will have tougher riders to ride against. The team limit is 50. There won't be many riders increasing their averages this year. Rather than looking at who can improve on their average you have to look at who can improve as a rider - and we have 6 of those. It doesn't look awe inspiring, but I think it is a good enough side for PL. After all, our 4th rider was number one in the PL last year. More team riding from Jason wouldn't go amiss though, and could make a difference. He seems ok at team riding, but seems to get bored after a lap or so and blast off into the distance. Your second paragraph says a lot. Without Doyle we'd probably be looking at Nick Morris as number one.

Without a doubt. The last thing British speedway needs is to force the best riders out of the league - although it doesn't seem to realise it. It's funny though. A lot of people have previously criticised Grand Prix riderssuch as Tai Woffinden for not riding in the UK, when it was pretty clear all along that they weren't wanted here anyway and probably knew that. Swindon may not be league champions this year, but we will be blessed to have the World's best rider from 2016 in our side.

Quite right too. It's good to see compassion coming from the BSPA after the way they cruelly over-averaged Nick Morris.

Don't spoil it! Can't we just enjoy the illusion that we have a ringer for at least one day?

If people are complaining that Andersen's assessed average is too low, that has to be a good sign! Looking at the 2016 under-21, he scored 9 points from 3 rounds. As comparison, Ellis scored 17. Zach Wajtknect and Nathan Greaves both scored 1.

I think too much is eing made of whether or not they know the tracks. The important issue is how good they are. That remains to be seen! Apparently, according to the Adver, Andersen was "on the radar" of several clubs and is highly rated by Hans Nielsen, so that has to be a good sign. It's a strange looking side, but hopefully it will do ok. We have 6 riders who are, apparently, improving (although I'd never heard of 3 of them until recently) which could prove a winning formula. Let's hope so. We at least need to win at home to keep the enthusiasm going with the remaining supporters.

His name is Andersen. He's Danish. So he must be quite good, right?

So. You said it was EL and it isn't. EL standard teams are gone forever. It's Premier League. That's where the averages are from.

You don't seriously think this is still the EL? It's a two tier Premier League now.

A Doyle/Holder spearhead would have got the crowds in at least. Speedway is in a sorry state now. Rubbish sides, tracks in financial ruin, Coventry looking in trouble too now. Such a shame how this sport has been dragged down since cost cutting became it's main objective.