Fourentee

See!

I suspect the faithful will divide on party lines on that one.

Possibly in a minority of one on this, but I thought it a very good meeting. Yes, it was a shadow Wolves and pretty much a non-Heathen Cradley. But if I were an Oxford fan it would be a point of pride, as it clearly was for those who were there, to turn out and back the jacket. That brings me to Birmingham. With the most recent wounds and with three of this year's side plus, in Ludvig Lindgren, a rider with long-standing Brum connections, it was clearly a lot more than a filler for the riders and for the fans. The commitment of both was there for all to see. And on the final corner of the final lap of the final race, a Cradley rider eased a Wolves man into the fence. I wasn't a speedway watcher in the old Monmore/Dudley Wood derby years, but the gentleman standing next to me snorted: "Just like the old days." So, for me at least, a worthwhile exercise and good to chew the fat with Lucifer Sam once more.

Correct. We don't always get it right, though. Mind you, the same can apply to the writer... In passing, many years ago I subbed a newspaper column in which the writer discussed sub-editors and described them, to the best of my memory, as "people who write headlines bearing no relation to the story (see above)" which rather put me in a cleft stick.

Speaking up for the subs here, one might mention writers who are asked to produce so many hundred words and submit twice as many.

As a long-time fan, riding for Workington should be the summit of anyone's ambitions! But, seriously, I know what you mean. Wells (and he's only 23 and still developing) is unfortunate; not the first rider to lose his job as collateral in numbers game team changes and certainly not the last.

Tremendous character, Jacko, and a great guy. I've often wondered if the GP TV producers are contractually obliged to include a shot of him in their coverage.

Must confess that was my reaction, too. However, I know the quality of racing at Beaumont Park is said to have picked up; perhaps Lions fans would give us their take on that.

Fair enough.

OK, thanks for an honest reply. You describe it as "fair?!"; is there a problem for you there?

As I understood it, reversing the clubs' order of selection for the second round was expected to produce one A and one B listed rider at each track. Wolves (to whom you obviously refer) were anticipating Max Clegg as their second selection but Leicester presumably saw something in him to justify an early pick. Good for them in backing their assessment and I hope this promising young talent both enjoys his time there and is successful. That left Joe Jacobs available and Wolves adjusted accordingly. Would you have a link to this rule, please?

Exactly. Who knows, this might encourage the lost art of the team manager.

Indeed. A club with a reserve (two for preference!) who can score freely away from home should find itself well-placed under the new format. Going to be an interesting season.

Pawlicki I would expect to be better the longer the season goes on. Proctor, to my mind, is a key factor. Wolves suffered last season because rolling averages didn't catch up with his form and limited their scope for a replacement. This year they get the other side of that particular coin, as he carries an average below the level of ability he displayed last year. I think it's imperative that he makes a decent start. As one of the sport's more introspective types, he tends IMHO to over-ride if he feels things aren't going well and that can start a negative spiral.

I see what you did there!

As I understand it (insofar as anyone understands anything this season!), mdmc82 is correct and thus Jacobs would be the only Wolves rider where the management will have to keep an eye on the fixtures elsewhere, the others affected being club assets. But I stand to be corrected.

Appreciate the work put in, I really do, but the prospects of point A above surely appear substantially reduced by the likelihood of point B below.

Steady guys, stay low, don't be tempted...

Good that they've kept that reminder of the old days...

Hyde Road, Hackney, Ellesmere Port, Reading (didn't attend many meetings there, but the ones I saw were good ones), Milton Keynes. And a special favourite, Park Road at Barrow. Sunsets over the sea before climbing back on the little motorbike and puttering back to Workington. Lovely.

Interesting ideas, Dave. You might want to float them on the boardgamegeek thread below, where the MCS team are happy to answer any queries. http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/960836/mcs-team-rules-clarification

Pretty fair assessment, IMHO, though Wolves are clearly looking to the long term with this one.

Maybe because the MJJ post didn't get much of a bite?

Fascinating signing; loads of talent. Could be an eight-plus pointer if he settles, or a five if not. You can see why other promotions fought shy of him on a seven-point assessment. It was always going to need a club with sufficient confidence to take a punt; what surprises me is that it's Wolves who have done it. What you might call their previous speculative signings, the Stichauers and Burmeisters, have tended to be on a lower average from the off and riding at reserve. It's rare to see them pin this much faith on someone further up the team. I'll be intrigued to see how this plays out.

Well, if you haven't talked about the Wolves one he won't be Polish!