uk_martin Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 (edited) Who do you think will be in line for call ups to the national team this year? What do you feel will be their prospects at international level? For me two riders are obvious choices. Bear in mind that there are only 3 British riders who are likely to be exclusively EL in 2015, and out of them Scott Nicholls won't ride for Team GB again. So that leaves Chris Harris as the stand out rider from the EL for a place in the team. That leaves the other all-EL rider (at the moment) - Steve Worrall. He's inexperienced, but he's got the balls to commit to the EL full time, and he'll come good in the long run, so for that reason, I'd pick him. Tai Woffinden, despite not riding in Britain next year will be the other obvious choice for me. There are those who say that he's turned his back on his country, and others who want to say he's not really British anyway and all that...but that's all opinion. My opinion is that he's the best GB have and should be in. Greg Hancock doesn't ride in the USA and no-one complains about him wearing the stars and stripes, so if it's OK for the World Champion, it should be OK for the former World Champion. So that leaves the riders who've chosen to double up/down between the EL and PL. What to do for those? The obvious choice would be to pick from the "oldies" (King, Barker, Stead etc) but where will that get the GB team in the long run? And what will become of the career double-uppers (Barker etc) who could have kicked on if they's have got themselves experience in Sweden and Denmark but instead chose the comforts of home? What happens to them when their 2-year lease on a doubling up slot expires and they are 2 years older? Sadly I only see their fate sliding down hill and that their fate will be in the PL from 2017 onwards, so should Team GB pick riders whose career paths are on the slide? And especially, should team GB pick a rider who has just stated that his heart lies in Edinburgh and who in the past has turned his nose up at riding for GB in a domestic test series? So for me Craig Cook, Ben Barker, Simon Stead Danny King and for other reasons, Lewis Bridger are out of my equation. What to do with Richard Lawson? Not signed for an EL team yet and at 28 years old, is he the future? Should he be in the way of a youngster who is keen to get on with their career? Hard choice but I think his race is run in international terms. My picks for the remaining places will go to young chargers who seem keen to progress. I admit that it will be a steep learning curve, but they have to start at some time, and as Jason Garrity showed at the British Final in 2014, they are no respecters of reputations, so to quote Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in "Full Metal Jacket" - "they may be silly and they may be ignorant but they've got guts and guts is enough". As for their chances iin 2015. They'll not come 4th at Kings Lynn, so will progress to Vojens where they'll be knocked out of the play-offs. HOWEVER, some young riders will learn from the experience and that will bode well for the future. The team I'd chose (in no particular order): 1. Tai Woffinden 2. Chris Harris 3. Steve Worrall 4. Rob Lambert Reserve choices: 5. Ashley Birks 6. Jason Garrity 7. Richie Worrall 8. Kyle Newman Edited December 14, 2014 by uk martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 If Kyle Howarth has a good start to the EL season with Rosco, then he is in with a decent shout imo! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheScotsman Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 Is this a christmas cracker joke? And does a hard charger mean he demands a lot of money? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foamfence Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 Besides Tai and Bomber, I would be looking mainly at the draft, that contains some very fast improving riders who could well have a good future. In recent years, form riders have been picked and they haven't really been up to it, the draft riders wouldn't be up to it either, but if you stuck with them for a few years you would have nothing to lose and a great deal to gain. Another big consideration has to be Robert Lambert, as far as I'm aware his future is yet to be mapped out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uk_martin Posted December 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 Is this a christmas cracker joke? No, it's the start of a discussion on a topic that lots of people will have lots of opinions on. If you have one, please feel free to join in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 No, it's the start of a discussion on a topic that lots of people will have lots of opinions on. If you have one, please feel free to join in. Im guessing he is referring more to the fact that until the season starts we cant really know who to put in. If we get to June/July time and Craig Cook is average 9 in the EL are you really going to leave him out for example? Until we see what riders are doing then we can't really make to many suggestions right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gavan Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 Have i just read Steve Worrall for Team gb? Do we want to try and win things or do well? Tai, Bomber, Cook, Stead, King, Barker, all miles ahead of Worrall Im in the opinion of picking the best team available, and riders like Birks, Worrall, Newman are not good enough to ride for team gb now or in the future. The only rider who could breakthrough is Lambert 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch958 Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 why doesn't Nichols ride for Great Britain? (I won't use the stupid Team GB name) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 (edited) why doesn't Nichols ride for Great Britain? (I won't use the stupid Team GB name) I totally agree - it is b0llux!!! :mad: Edited December 14, 2014 by The White Knight 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 Who do you think will be in line for call ups to the national team this year? What do you feel will be their prospects at international level? For me two riders are obvious choices. Bear in mind that there are only 3 British riders who are likely to be exclusively EL in 2015, and out of them Scott Nicholls won't ride for Team GB again. So that leaves Chris Harris as the stand out rider from the EL for a place in the team. That leaves the other all-EL rider (at the moment) - Steve Worrall. He's inexperienced, but he's got the balls to commit to the EL full time, and he'll come good in the long run, so for that reason, I'd pick him. Tai Woffinden, despite not riding in Britain next year will be the other obvious choice for me. There are those who say that he's turned his back on his country, and others who want to say he's not really British anyway and all that...but that's all opinion. My opinion is that he's the best GB have and should be in. Greg Hancock doesn't ride in the USA and no-one complains about him wearing the stars and stripes, so if it's OK for the World Champion, it should be OK for the former World Champion. So that leaves the riders who've chosen to double up/down between the EL and PL. What to do for those? The obvious choice would be to pick from the "oldies" (King, Barker, Stead etc) but where will that get the GB team in the long run? And what will become of the career double-uppers (Barker etc) who could have kicked on if they's have got themselves experience in Sweden and Denmark but instead chose the comforts of home? What happens to them when their 2-year lease on a doubling up slot expires and they are 2 years older? Sadly I only see their fate sliding down hill and that their fate will be in the PL from 2017 onwards, so should Team GB pick riders whose career paths are on the slide? And especially, should team GB pick a rider who has just stated that his heart lies in Edinburgh and who in the past has turned his nose up at riding for GB in a domestic test series? So for me Craig Cook, Ben Barker, Simon Stead Danny King and for other reasons, Lewis Bridger are out of my equation. What to do with Richard Lawson? Not signed for an EL team yet and at 28 years old, is he the future? Should he be in the way of a youngster who is keen to get on with their career? Hard choice but I think his race is run in international terms. My picks for the remaining places will go to young chargers who seem keen to progress. I admit that it will be a steep learning curve, but they have to start at some time, and as Jason Garrity showed at the British Final in 2014, they are no respecters of reputations, so to quote Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in "Full Metal Jacket" - "they may be silly and they may be ignorant but they've got guts and guts is enough". As for their chances iin 2015. They'll not come 4th at Kings Lynn, so will progress to Vojens where they'll be knocked out of the play-offs. HOWEVER, some young riders will learn from the experience and that will bode well for the future. The team I'd chose (in no particular order): 1. Tai Woffinden 2. Chris Harris 3. Steve Worrall 4. Rob Lambert Reserve choices: 5. Ashley Birks 6. Jason Garrity 7. Richie Worrall 8. Kyle Newman We had this same argument last year about picking young riders and Rosco wrongly didn't even include them in the squad of 10 to give the guys some experience, even from the pits as to what riding in the World cup is all about. Don't hold your breath for a radical overhaul. I totally agree - is b0llux!!! :mad: What would you call it then ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Blobby Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 Who do you think will be in line for call ups to the national team this year? What do you feel will be their prospects at international level? For me two riders are obvious choices. Bear in mind that there are only 3 British riders who are likely to be exclusively EL in 2015, and out of them Scott Nicholls won't ride for Team GB again. So that leaves Chris Harris as the stand out rider from the EL for a place in the team. That leaves the other all-EL rider (at the moment) - Steve Worrall. He's inexperienced, but he's got the balls to commit to the EL full time, and he'll come good in the long run, so for that reason, I'd pick him. Tai Woffinden, despite not riding in Britain next year will be the other obvious choice for me. There are those who say that he's turned his back on his country, and others who want to say he's not really British anyway and all that...but that's all opinion. My opinion is that he's the best GB have and should be in. Greg Hancock doesn't ride in the USA and no-one complains about him wearing the stars and stripes, so if it's OK for the World Champion, it should be OK for the former World Champion. So that leaves the riders who've chosen to double up/down between the EL and PL. What to do for those? The obvious choice would be to pick from the "oldies" (King, Barker, Stead etc) but where will that get the GB team in the long run? And what will become of the career double-uppers (Barker etc) who could have kicked on if they's have got themselves experience in Sweden and Denmark but instead chose the comforts of home? What happens to them when their 2-year lease on a doubling up slot expires and they are 2 years older? Sadly I only see their fate sliding down hill and that their fate will be in the PL from 2017 onwards, so should Team GB pick riders whose career paths are on the slide? And especially, should team GB pick a rider who has just stated that his heart lies in Edinburgh and who in the past has turned his nose up at riding for GB in a domestic test series? So for me Craig Cook, Ben Barker, Simon Stead Danny King and for other reasons, Lewis Bridger are out of my equation. What to do with Richard Lawson? Not signed for an EL team yet and at 28 years old, is he the future? Should he be in the way of a youngster who is keen to get on with their career? Hard choice but I think his race is run in international terms. My picks for the remaining places will go to young chargers who seem keen to progress. I admit that it will be a steep learning curve, but they have to start at some time, and as Jason Garrity showed at the British Final in 2014, they are no respecters of reputations, so to quote Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in "Full Metal Jacket" - "they may be silly and they may be ignorant but they've got guts and guts is enough". As for their chances iin 2015. They'll not come 4th at Kings Lynn, so will progress to Vojens where they'll be knocked out of the play-offs. HOWEVER, some young riders will learn from the experience and that will bode well for the future. The team I'd chose (in no particular order): 1. Tai Woffinden 2. Chris Harris 3. Steve Worrall 4. Rob Lambert Reserve choices: 5. Ashley Birks 6. Jason Garrity 7. Richie Worrall 8. Kyle Newman you have lost the plot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weatherwatcher Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 As riders go at this moment in time we just have not got a team of riders for our national squad that are capable of going and beating any of the worlds top teams. All we have done over the years is pussy foot around and we have never bothered to help our young riders progess. The majority of our yound lads have been stuck in either, the PL or NL and never given a chance to better themselves. We have serveral young riders now that have done well this year as FTR and some of them should have been given a full team place. It seems that the promoters have not got the guts to let these youngsters move up and prove themselves. No they want to keep them in the FTR for another year, and let overseas riders who some of our young lads where beating this year. What has British speedway got against young British riders. So the anwer is we have let it all slide and we are now dragging the bottom of the barrel because we have neglegted over the past 15 years or so to look after our own riders interests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A ORLOV Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 One of things we need is some International meetings for the youngsters, we have plenty of young Australian riders here in the season set up an under 21 and under 25 set of matches spread throughout the country. If poss get the youngsters over from Denmark, Sweden and Poland and visit those countries as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Midland Red Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 What would you call it then ! Great Britain We don't ride against Team P, Team D, Team S, do we? Never liked this silly silly name 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 We had this same argument last year about picking young riders and Rosco wrongly didn't even include them in the squad of 10 to give the guys some experience, even from the pits as to what riding in the World cup is all about. Don't hold your breath for a radical overhaul. What would you call it then ! Great (bloody) Britain. It's not rocket science. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pugwash Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 What would you call it then ! Team England? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch958 Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 Team England? no not 'team' anything - its a pathetic attempt at being modern which has become old really quickly and is yet another nail in the credibility coffin 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wiseguy Posted December 14, 2014 Report Share Posted December 14, 2014 I would love to see the return of the test match, have some great memories of the late 80s early 90s tests against the USA at swindon Doubt the calender would allow for such fixtures these days, i do like the idea of blooding some of the younger talents in such tests though And it will always be England to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woz01 Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 We made the final last year so why change anything. Just pick the 4 riders in the best form, the u21s is where they should blood the youngsters. Perhaps arrange other meetings for the up and coming riders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KEITH M Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 What would you call it then ! Team who will never win this thing as we are not good enough GB 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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