Coventry V Swindon 2/5

[Gresham78]

Well done to Rosco's Roobins - another solid team performance tonight with Rohan excelling at reserve. Also very pleased to see Stefan not giving up and being rewarded with a paid 3 in the second reserves race. And Charlie Wright produced another 'never say die' storming ride in heat 10 to hold off Bomber. Don't know if this is the Doyle affect but the team really seem to be pulling together as one which is great to see.

 

The Bees do look out of sorts but I think they've got under performing riders at the moment. Danny King is a much better rider than his current performances suggest and I think if went back into the middle order his scores would pick up. And whilst I admire and respect Jason Garrity's ambition to move out of the Fast Track Draft and improve his skills his decision seems to have unbalanced the Coventry team. As others have said if he could return to reserve and King slot into the middle order and a genuine third heat leader is brought in I think the Bees would be punching their weight again. I thought Kasprzak took too long to get going tonight and I think it had a negative impact on the team.

 

Sad to think this will be one of my last visits to Brandon - I've enjoyed watching speedway there as the facilities and view of the track are very good.

[Shale Searcher]

If Jason Garrity doesn't perform, he will end up back at reserve, if he doesn't, surely his decision was the correct one? (As it stands now)

If the moving out of reserve changes had of been known when Garrity made his decision to not be a draft reserve, his decision might, just might have been different......

[Woz01]

Horton's take on tonight (bees website)

 

Coventry promoter Mick Horton said: It was a disappointing performance to say the least but fair play to Swindon, who in my opinion are not a team who are going to make the play-offs.

 

We just didnt perform. I think the reserves did their jobs, but as for the rest of the team I dont know what the answer is, but its not good enough.

 

The crowd turn-out again was great, and they deserve more. Riders of the calibre we need are not available, theyve got commitments in other leagues and the Grand Prix, so weve got to decide whether we need to have a fresh outlook on this.

 

We wont give up, well keep on fighting, but its just really, really frustrating at the moment for everyone.

"Fresh outlook" suggests he's actually thinking about more than one change after tonight's performance.

Isn't he? Who is he answer then? I'd say Bjerre is a top 20 rider in the World, there only a handful of the World top 20 riding in the EL this season (Puk, Doyle, Holder, KK, Zagar) and if you look at last season Polish league averages the only EL rider ahead of him is Puk (by 0.2 of a point) so Bjerre is about as good as it gets.

 

We're not getting Greg, Woffy, Nicki or Emil so we have to be realistic. Who do you actually think if better than Bjerre? I actually think if Bjerre does sign it makes us a long stronger. We suddenly have a rider at 3 who can score 7-9 a meeting it also mean King drops to 4 where he can score 8 a meeting (its what he averaged at #4 in 2015).

 

If we do get Bjerre we should have the best top 3 in the EL, probably even the best top 4. Ok we fail at reserve but we've got to make the best of a bad situation now, we can't do anything about the reserve berths but we can try and sign Bjerre.

If Bjerre wants to do it and is available its a no brainer surely? Edited May 3, 2016 by woz01

[Shale Searcher]

Interesting you say that as I'm wondering how you can compare the two? One a stadium that can hold over 12,000 spread out all around the track and the other where everyone is squashed in together on the home straight. I'm thinking 500 at Wolverhampton would look a big crowd but I'm obviously wrong so how did you work it out?

 

I have often thought that?

 

400 crammed into the home straight v 1000 spread out over an area that holds 12,000+ Very misleading.....

[Woz01]

Plus the fans hiding in the bar!

[naffer]

I

"Fresh outlook" suggests he's actually thinking about more than one change after tonight's performance.

If Bjerre wants to do it and is available its a no brainer surely?

 

 

We do no brainers in team building.

[Sidney the robin]

A good all around team performance by the Robins,great to see Steff chip in with a few and Rohan with his gating shoes on doing his job at reserve.Maybe this Swindon side will surprise,i thought it was a certainty there would have to be a change beat Lakeside on Thursday and things are looking bright.

Edited May 3, 2016 by Sidney the robin

[EnglishRoundabout]

I have often thought that?

400 crammed into the home straight v 1000 spread out over an area that holds 12,000+ Very misleading.....

Brandon may have held 12000 fans 30 years ago, but not a chance now. 5000 tops. Health and safety and all that jazz.

[mdmc82]

A good all around team performance by the Robins,great to see Steff chip in with a few and Rohan with his gating shoes on doing his job at reserve.Maybe this Swindon side will surprise,i thought it was a certainty there would have to be a change beat Lakeside on Thursday and things are looking bright.

I think they were made to look better because this Coventry team were so poor. I don't think they will pick up many away points this season with the make up of the team, esp once Tungate returns to the top 5. (Should get 4 more points though on their next visit to Brandon)

[Sidney the robin]

I think they were made to look better because this Coventry team were so poor. I don't think they will pick up many away points this season with the make up of the team, esp once Tungate returns to the top 5. (Should get 4 more points though on their next visit to Brandon)

I do think a change is needed to achieve a top four finish,who though? plus would the whole structure of the team need to be changed to accommodate somebody.! Edited May 3, 2016 by Sidney the robin

[Woz01]

Brandon may have held 12000 fans 30 years ago, but not a chance now. 5000 tops. Health and safety and all that jazz.

I'm sure I've read they expect close 10,000 at the big Stock Car meeting at the end of the season. The Grandstand has 2,000 seats on its own.

[Trees]

How we need those 2 nights racing only to get riders to race here arghhhh, why have the promoters waited!

[arnieg]

Fundamental problem is the reserves. Bates and Sarjeant currently have the lowest combined GSA of any EL EDR pairing.

 

As we have seen over the last two and a bit seasons the teams with strong EDR pairings are the ones that do well.

 

Bates and Sarjeant both look to be improving, and it is no reflection on their efforts, but basically they are both number 7s and no amount of restructuring will change that.

 

Theoretically they could sign someone like Bachelor or Cook and that would give them a powerful top three that might just carry the long tail, but riders of that calibre are unlikely to materialise. The Polish version of Kenny Bjerre is probably the best hope.

 

As for last night, it was more a case of Cov being poor rather than Swindon being impressive. Stand out performance that deserves a mention was Charles Wright who recovered from two iffy opening rides (including a fall) to register a win and a paid win over Chris Harris.

[Game On]

Plus the fans hiding in the bar!

And the management

[CB252]

How we need those 2 nights racing only to get riders to race here arghhhh, why have the promoters waited!

That will help. What two nights do you suggest?

 

I suggest Friday and Saturday as these are the only two nights that people will attend Brandon in numbers.

 

A switch to a midweek night would close Coventry down within weeks. Whatever they tell you, the people that can't be bothered to go still won't bother attending even if the top stars are there.

 

All that happens is that those of us that do go come hell or high water will be stuck with a crap race night!

Edited May 3, 2016 by CB252

[Game On]

[quote name="CB252" post="2774594" timestamp="

 

All that happens is that those of us that do go come hell or high water will be stuck with a crap race night!

 

Much better than watching a crap team.

[CB252]

Much better than watching a crap team.

But you wouldn't have a team at all as it would go to the wall in weeks.

 

Think how offended the Coventry OAPs would be at having to leave their homes on a Thursday night and having to pay £20 to get in to facilitate the appearance of a GP star who may or may not turn up.

[Game On]

 

I agree his form has been pretty poor over the last few seasons as I recall. Unfortunately it's going to take more than one change too so we can get in a proven rider that will make a difference. If it's going to cost too much then obviously were not going to get it but I believe thats what it's going to need. The last three years it seems we've been scraping the bottom of the bargain basement in the pound shop trying to pull a rabbit out of the the hat. This is a million to one chance. King and Wornya have to go and Garrity has to replace Sarjeant. I don't know if its's possible but if it is thats my opinion.

Garrity can't replace sarg.

[MattK]

I do think a change is needed to achieve a top four finish,who though? plus would the whole structure of the team need to be changed to accommodate somebody.!

Bachelor for Tungate?

[Trees]

That will help. What two nights do you suggest?

I suggest Friday and Saturday as these are the only two nights that people will attend Brandon in numbers.

A switch to a midweek night would close Coventry down within weeks. Whatever they tell you, the people that can't be bothered to go still won't bother attending even if the top stars are there.

All that happens is that those of us that do go come hell or high water will be stuck with a crap race night!

Mondays for SKY and Thursdays ...... Lynn used to race on Saturdays, we changed to Wednesdays and are still going strong although Weds\Thurs for a few years. Kids still come, they can stick one late night a week, parents worry too much!