Popular Post spin king Posted January 27, 2013 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 Most teams have their teams settle and ready and raring to go for the start of the 2013 season. Thought I would go through the teams give a few thoughts on who I fancy as favourites, and the key riders for the team. So lets start with, Berwick Gone with a very solid looking side, with Ricky Ashworth leading the side this season, the other two heatleaders are Crazy Kozza Smith and Robin Aspegren. Thoughts on those three, I hope that curse does not hit Ricky of the ex Sheffield rider 2nd season away from Sheffield like it did with Andre Compton and Ben Wilson. Kozza is coming back from a season out and I think may struggle a bit with the role of 2nd heatleader. Of the the three I think that Aspegren could be the one that could go on to better things, and I think that he may push Ricky for the top slot. The 2nd strings are where I think that Berwick are particularly strong Matt Wethers seems to score decent points everywhere and Bellego is a talent and will go on to better things if he can sort out his engines. The reserves were a surprise as I thought Berwick would have gone with Micky Dyer, but they have gone with the very injury prone Alex Edberg and the Dane Nicki Barrett. Both probably capable of putting something on their average, but can young Edberg stay injury free. Berwicks chances next season, I would say at best just outside the play offs, at worse mid table. I thin they will be an entertaining team though. Key Rider; Kozza Smith Edinburgh Well if we thought that the early worries that they were not going to run would effect The Moonarks were not going to put out a competitive team for 2013 have been put to bed. They have leading the team the rider that I feel will be top dog in the Premier League in Craig Cook and to back him up they have the young Aussie Sam Masters. Its not very often you see a young Aussie move from the South up North. And completing the Theo Pijper. I think that both Cook and Master will improve on their starting averages Pijper make go backwards just a bit. The second strings they have the 16 year old Max Fricke who looks as though he might just be a bit special and the dependable captain Derek Sneddon. I think that there will be alot of pressure on young Fricke's shoulders, pity they could not have found him a mystery Grandparent, and got him on a 3 point average, but he does look the real deal. The reserve paring has a very continental feel about it with Joszef Tabaka and Marcel Helfer. I was very impressed with Helfer at Sheffield last season looked very good. But if any of these two don perform then you can guarantee they will be shown the door. Edinburgh's chances, at best a play off place, at worse just outside the play offs. Key Rider; Max Fricke Glasgow New Promoter in at Sunny Ashfield a guy called Alan Biggun. who lives and works in Denmark, but any thoughts that Glasgow would come and bring in large contingent of Danish riders were quickly dispelled. The team this coming season will be lead by Big Joe Screen who is and I think will still be one of the best riders in the Premier League. They have also brought back the ever popular James Grieves and to top of the heatleader trio there is James Wright. It must be a long time since Glasgow had an all British heatleader trio, but it is a very experienced one. A lot will depend on whether or not Wrighty can get back to the form of two or three seasons ago. The second strings are the leggy Henning Bager and one of the new Aussies Harley Horwood or Joey Ringwood, I think that they could struggle with the second strings. The reserves are again one of the young Aussies Horwood or Ringwood alongside the young Brit Joe Jacobs. I actually rate young Joe saw in the British Under 19's and he looked like a very tidy rider, and I think that he could surprise a few people. Glasgow's chances at best mid table, at worse bottom three. Edit for accuracy; The new Promoter is called Alan Biggart, only rumoured to having a biggun. Key Rider; James Wright. Ipswich New number 1 at Ipswich alongside some other new faces which was for me a surprise. The team has a new leader and number 1 in Mr Hello Ben Barker (watch his interviews on SKY and he is always saying hello to someone), then there is Leigh Lanham and the third heatleader is Morten Risager. I think Barker will once again one of the top dogs in the Premier League, Lanham will be solid, but Risager won't stay at that position for very long. The second strings are Rohan Tungate and Jari Makinen, which is a bit like good cop bad cop, I cannot see Makinen doing much and will be surprised if he keeps his place, Tungate I think should finish up in a heatleader role sooner rather than later.. The reserves are Cameron Heeps and Adam Ellis, not seen Ellis before but reading reports he sounds as though he could be the real deal, and Heeps could and should improve as the season progresses. Ipswich's chances; at best a Play Off position at worse just outside the play Offs. Key Rider; Rohan Tungate Leicester. Very tasty looking team especially the top 4 put together from the Leicester Promotion, after they were thwarted on their application to join the big boys ni the Elite League. They have leading the team Kauko Neiminen and alongside him in the heatleader roles Lasse Bjerre and Kevin Doolan. I think Nieminen is a solid number 1, but I think he will be challenge for that role by Lasse Bjerre But I do think that Doolan's best days are behind him and I can see him slipping down the order. The second strings sees Adam Roynon and returning the ever popular and ex track record holder at Leicester Jan Gravensen. Adam Roynon is an obvious talent and you have to fancy him moving up the Leicester riding order, but you have the worry with Adam is he going to break a bone, me personally I would make him drink loads of milk and get plenty calcium in those bones. Gravensen is one of those very inconsistent riders winning a race and stone cold last the next. The Leicester reserves are possibly where they are at the weakest with Lewis Blackbird and Simon Nielsen, I think that they lack experience and proven ability. Leicester's chances, at best a play off place, at worse just outside the play offs/ mid table. Key Rider; Adam Roynon. Newcastle A solid looking Diamonds side, with a few new faces along with a large proportion of riders back from the team that did well last season. This season they will be lead by Stuart Robson, and his heatleader partners will be Andrew Tully and Ludvig Lindgren. Robbo is a good solid heatleader but I think that his days as top class Premier League rider are over. Its a big season for Tully as he attempts to prove that he can do it for another club other than Edinburgh not too sure whether he can make the transition, and Lindgren has never real shown his true potential on a consistent basis. The Diamonds strength should be with the second strings, where they.have Christian Henry and one part of Team Gemini Richie Worrall. Henry is the solid second string that everyone should hav in a team but he is very injury proneand that could be a problem. The other second string Richie Worrall is the one that could be the Diamonds trump card and if progresses at the rate he has been could take over the number 1 role. The reserves are the other half of Team Gemini Steve Worrall and all though thee other role has not been filled it is rumoured that Jason King could be coming back to the club. Steve Worrall should prove a handy reserve, but I do wonder about the merits of bringing back King which could be a gamble. Newcastle's chances, at best a Play Off place, at worse just outside the Play Offs/ Mid Table Key Riders; Richie Worrall/ Christian Henry Plymouth Another club with new Promoters and it must be a big relief to the Devils supporters that they have the new Promotion. And after finishing bottom of the league last season there is only one way and that is up for the Devils. New Promotion and a new number 1 and leader in Ty Proctor and they have alongside him Mark Lemon and Ricky Kling. I think that Proctor will be a good number 1, but I think that the other two Kling and Lemon could be a bit hit and miss. The second strings there is Cory Gathercole and Chris Schramm. Gathercole is a rider that disappoints me a bit never really reached his true potential, but maybe with the worries of been in the heatleader role the pressure might be off him. I cannot mention the name Chris Schramm without smiling, possibly the most popular rider at Sheffield last season. He is a rider that will give you everything and never stops trying but I think hhe will struggle trying fulfil a second string role. The reserves are Todd Kurtz and Ben Reade, Kurtz is another one who has not fulfil his true potential and I thought he would have done better, but spell at reserve could prove beneficial to him. To be honest I don't know much about Ben Reade, but I am guessing that he my struggle a bit. Plymouth's chances; at best mid table, at worse mid table (guess I am saying they will finish mid table) Key Rider; Cory Gathercole Redcar Looks like the Bears Promotion have gone continuity this coming season with the team that they have put together for the loud and proud Bears fans. They have gone with the same top three as from last season, with Ully Ostergaard leading the team and alongside him they have Aaron Summers and Matej Kus. Ostergaard's days as a top line number 1 is over I think but he is still a decent heatleader. Kus is a very frustrating rider who is very inconsistent and really owes the Bears a good season. The one that think will be the main man for Redcar this coming season is Summers, he has made steady improvements over the seasons and I see him as top dog. The second strings are Hugh Skidmore and Carl Wilkinson, Siddy is another rider who can be very inconsistent, seems to go through spells where he can beat the best and score loads of points and then has a spell where he struggles, but he rides the Redcar track very well and could come good with a change of track. Wilkinson is a better rider than his starting average and should provide decent back up to the hreatleaders. The reserves are Micky Dyer and Max Dilger. I make no secret that really do rate Dyer and I think that he is an excellent signing and I think that he will do really well. Dilger had a good season for the Bears last season, but you have to question how many meetings he misses due to continental commitments. Redcar's chances; Best Mid Table, Worse bottom 4. Key Rider; Matej Kus Rye House Will someone please buy Len Silver a calculator, once again he has put together a team that is well under the points limit, yes there are riders in that team with the potential to put some points on their starting average but the team could have been made so much better. The Rockets have a leader in Oliver Allen, and his heatleader partners are Anders Mellegren and Tyson Nelson. Oliver Allen comes in on a very high average and at best you can expect him to maintain that average. Mellegren could put something on his starting average been very impressed with him on Rye's visits to Sheffield and last seasons PLRC. Nelson missed last season and rode the most of the season before at reserve yet is expected to take up a heatleader role. The second strings are the Two Jason's Garrity and Bunyan. Garrity is an obvious talent but really should be starting at reserve to build up the lads confidence. Bunyan I am afraid is at his level. The reserves are Kasper Lykke and Simon Lambert, Had the pleasure of watching Lykke at Sheffield last season and he was very exciting and looks like he could develop. Rambo I think will struggle a bit, not really a Rye type rider and like Hawkins last season I think he may struggle Rye's chances, at best bottom six table, at worse bottom three. ; Key rider; Tyson Nelson Scunthorpe; Last year Play Off winners, and the side that they put together they seemed to have put together yet another impressive team, but have since been rocked by the retirement of Gary Irving, which could unbalance the team. Leading the team this season will be Josh Auty, and alongside him will be David Howe and Tom Jorgensen. I think the big problem for Scunthorpe is the Josh leading the team he has to ride number 1 and you never ever going to get the best out of Josh riding in the first heat. David Howe is still a quality Premier League rider and I see him improving on his starting average, and I see not reason why Jorgensen cannot conitue to progress. The second strings are Ash Birks and Michael Palm Toft, I really do rate Ash, in fact I was more upset about him leaving Sheffield than Josh Auty and I think he could be challenging for a heatleader role. Palm Toft is a solid second string and very exciting to watch and I see him improving. At reserve there is Ryan Douglas, and now a rider of up to 4.30. Seen snippets of Douglas on you tube and he looks like a decent signing, but the problem will be who they now fetch in at this late on in the day. There are not that may riders that fit that criteria. Scunthorpe's chances at best play offs,,at worse just outside the play offs Key Rider; The new unnamed rider Sheffield My team so I will try not to appear to biased, we have gone with 3 riders from last seasons team, three assessed riders and a top class number 1. Leading the team will be Simon Stead and the other heatleaders will be Richard Hall and Ricky Wells. I think that Steady will just about manage his starting average or something around that figure. Richard Hall will be Richard Hall do well at home and have the odd good away meeting. Ricky Wells is the one that I am expecting to make a decent improvement now that he seems to have the Sheffield track worked out. The second strings are Joe Haines and either Facu Albin or Damien Koppe. Joe had a rehabilitation type season last season, and I cannot see why he cannot make some improvement this coming season. The other second string role is where we might struggle as both riders abilities are unknown. The reserve will be either Koppe or Albin alongside Jake Knight. I think we might see Jake Knight struggle but hopefully the other reserve will do better. Sheffield's chance; best bottom 5, worse bottom three. Key Rider; Ricky Wells Somerset The team that they all have to beat and for me the best assembled team for next season, quality running the whole way through it. Leading the team once again is Jason Doyle, and the other heatleaders are Nick Morris and Josh Grajczonek. Doyle is and will be one of the top riders in the Premier League and you have to say that Morris could well be capable of matching him as well, and a fit Grajczonek. will make an excellent third heatleader. The second strings are Alex Davies and Kyle Newman, Davies had a really good season last season and looks as though he has to ability to make improvements. Newman is a rider that I think is capable of much more and I see him making rapid improvements. The Somerset reserves are Tom Perry and Stefan Nielsen, saw Tom Perry at the Under 19 British Final and he looked very fast and was unlucky not to win it. Nielsen of course won that meeting and he is a very exciting rider who will entertain the Somerset crowd, and I think that Scunthorpe will rue the day they did not include him in their team. Somerset's chance; Play Off certainties. ; Key Rider Kyle Newman Workington Another new Promotion who have put together a very decent looking team with loads of potential to make the play off. Leading the team once again is Richie Lawson, and alongside him he has Rene Bach and Rusty Harrison. Richie is a solid number and should do well, but I think that Rene Bach will push him for that number 1 slot. Be interesting to see how Rusty Harrison fares after yet another retirement last season, I think he could struggle. At second strings they have Kyle Howarth and Tero Aarnio, Howarth will be one to watch next season and I would not be surprise to see him take a heatleader role by the end of the season. Aarnio is a better rider than his average suggests. The reserves are Mason Campton and Ashley Morris, surprised to see Glasgow allowing Campton to leave and I can see him doing better this coming season, Morris mat struggle a little bit at first but he could get better as the season progresses. Workington's chances; best Play Offs, worse just outside the Play Offs. Key Rider; Kyle Howarth My Predictions for the Play Offs Somerset Workington Leicester Scunthorpe Edinburgh Newcastle Feel free to pass comments I am sure there will be more than one or two that disagree. 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest WTF1 Posted January 27, 2013 Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 Interesting assessment of the teams Spinny with the same 6 sides in the play off's as last year but who knows anything could happen with injuries throughout the season , Good luck to your side Sheffield although the friends i stand with at Scunny who support Sheffield home and away are not very impressed with the side assembled again , might even convert them lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenga Posted January 27, 2013 Report Share Posted January 27, 2013 nice wee post you put together there . hope your predictions are not too far away(from the Workington side of things.. good effort. good to see you dont waste your time totally in front of the puter/lol. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC Rides Again Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 A very thoughtful preview, Spinny. Hard to disagree with your thinking for most teams. A few comments: Will that the same six teams will qualify for the play-offs? Of those who didn't make the cut last year I can't believe that Ipswich will mis out two years in a row. Scunthorpe have as good a top-five as anyone, but the loss of Gary Irving leaves too many queston marks in he reserve spots. Either the Scorpions or Newcastle will miss out o the top-six in 2013. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoneylegend Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Nice one a good preview Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted January 28, 2013 Report Share Posted January 28, 2013 Very FAIR assessment of the Premier League Spin King. Spot on I reckon. Well Done for an EXCELLENT Post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylorj Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 Great post Spinny, have to agree with most of what you have said, I feel Leicester will be strong contenders this season . Brilliant Post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolt Posted January 29, 2013 Report Share Posted January 29, 2013 I have to agree with others, a very interesting and fair assessment Spinny. Good post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat sharp Posted February 19, 2013 Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 God, you don't half rattle on Spinny! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spin king Posted February 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2013 God, you don't half rattle on Spinny! I am impressed you read it all the way through Pat. Shame you nort a Berwick fan would not have to wade through the rest of it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat sharp Posted February 20, 2013 Report Share Posted February 20, 2013 I needed a strong drink half way through it fella! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stratton Posted February 24, 2013 Report Share Posted February 24, 2013 Great post a good read! Scunny and Edinburgh for me against the rest Kus,Mellgren,Dyer,Fricke,DIlger,BIrks,Bellego are riders who can all improve. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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