Leicester Lions 2025

[FishersGate]

Rumour has it Cook is signing for Berwick,  makes the Cook to Leicester rumour even more convincing with Stewart managing both sides

[TTT]

57 minutes ago, FishersGate said:

Rumour has it Cook is signing for Berwick,  makes the Cook to Leicester rumour even more convincing with Stewart managing both sides

Makes sense and it ticks Stewart's continuity box again.

Fricke, Howarth, Douglas, Becker, Masters, C. Cook & Hagon is the only 1-7 that makes sense now.

Birmingham miss out on more riders.

[GiveusaB]

23 hours ago, TTT said:

Looking like the 1 change from 2024 (Howarth for Lawson) unless Cookie is heading to Oxford.

Thats not going to strengthen Leicester... Lawson is way better !

[IainB]

Listening to the podcast the other week they seemed to suggest that Phil Morris had sorted the Polish Thursday situation and that it wasn't going to be an issue... this, of course, remains to be seen. 

[Teromaafan]

26 minutes ago, IainB said:

Listening to the podcast the other week they seemed to suggest that Phil Morris had sorted the Polish Thursday situation and that it wasn't going to be an issue... this, of course, remains to be seen. 

‘Polish Thursday’ has been sorted then, well done Mr Morris. Next job is to sort British speedway generally, i.e. ‘polish turd’.

[IainB]

2 hours ago, Teromaafan said:

‘Polish Thursday’ has been sorted then, well done Mr Morris. Next job is to sort British speedway generally, i.e. ‘polish turd’.

Polish a turd day?

[szkocjasid]

11 hours ago, GiveusaB said:

That's not going to strengthen Leicester... Lawson is way better !

It wasn't done to strengthen Leicester, but to get under the points limit. Everyone knows Leicester will be weaker next year.

[W9 Lion]

12 hours ago, GiveusaB said:

Thats not going to strengthen Leicester... Lawson is way better !

As the club had to shift the best part of two points of last years finishing average it was always going to be the case.

[MP78]

Likely losing Lawson is a big blow for Leicester...  For me, I'd be trying to keep him over Becker and look to get Vuolas in at reserve 

[GiveusaB]

44 minutes ago, MP78 said:

Likely losing Lawson is a big blow for Leicester...  For me, I'd be trying to keep him over Becker and look to get Vuolas in at reserve 

I agree about Lawson over Becker....all day long!

[szkocjasid]

14 hours ago, IainB said:

Listening to the podcast the other week they seemed to suggest that Phil Morris had sorted the Polish Thursday situation and that it wasn't going to be an issue... this, of course, remains to be seen. 

Probably means allowing guests when riders are racing in Poland with no bans?

[TTT]

Stewart hinting at more of the same in the Lawson PR.

[IainB]

Lawson to Lynn... what a terrible terrible decision! It's looking like it'll be a roller coaster season for the Lions, there'll be some big wins and big losses without the consistency of Lawson home and away. 

Edited 2 hours ago by IainB

[Arch Stanton]

11 minutes ago, TTT said:

Stewart hinting at more of the same in the Lawson PR.

It’s just Howarth for Lawson. I think..

[TTT]

3 minutes ago, Arch Stanton said:

It’s just Howarth for Lawson. I think..

That's what I've got pencilled in.

I think Leicester may struggle next season, Howarth for Lawson is a big downgrade imo.

Richard stepped up and coverd for riders who were underperforming last season on a fair share of occasions which is why Stewart elected Richard for a lot of Heat 15's.

Leicester need the real Luke Becker to turn up in 2025.

[Arch Stanton]

11 minutes ago, TTT said:

That's what I've got pencilled in.

I think Leicester may struggle next season, Howarth for Lawson is a big downgrade imo.

Richard stepped up and coverd for riders who were underperforming last season on a fair share of occasions which is why Stewart elected Richard for a lot of Heat 15's.

Leicester need the real Luke Becker to turn up in 2025.

Doesn’t threaten a play off place all things being equal but they’re not afraid of making changes up there. Think they’ll be tinkering pretty quickly. 

[TTT]

Judging by the PR, I'm reading it as Stewart wanted Lawson to stay and perhaps Douglas would've been the one to make way (Birmingham) as it would've fell in line with the earlier rumours.

Then as soon as Lawson wanted to go to King's Lynn, It was a no brainer to offer Douglas a return in 2025.

[1 valve]

On 11/13/2024 at 8:54 PM, TTT said:

Makes sense and it ticks Stewart's continuity box again.

Fricke, Howarth, Douglas, Becker, Masters, C. Cook & Hagon is the only 1-7 that makes sense now.

Birmingham miss out on more riders.

This is not a bad line-up considering the need to loose a couple of points on average. 
Fricke can be expected to more than repeat last years scoring as can Masters. Meanwhile Douglas & Becker can improve on their scores. Howarth may feel he has a point prove and (as he has stated) with a more settled personal life can be reasonably expected to bring focus on improving his incoming average.  
Cook can be expected to run hot & cold, and all being well Hagon will show improvement after a winter of continued racing in Aus.  
In summary, putting injuries aside, Ipswich are odds on favorites for the league/play offs title, but this balanced Lions side will cause most of the other teams a few problems and a play off berth will be more than possible.