Team Building...Before it's too late!!

ComeOnYouSpurs · Team Building...Before it's too late!!

With Lewis and Simon still being on their 2008 averages, and Davey's having gone down from his starting figure..... I reckon we'd have something like 8.5 points available to get in a replacement for Floppy, who looks like being out for quite a while.

That figure would go up to something like 9.5 if we could ever get hold of Denis Gizatullin as a replacement for (perhaps) Ricky Kling.

The perfect opportunity to sign a genuine no.1 as far as I'm concerned.

Nicki Pedersen seems unlikely to return to England this year, but I reckon we might be able to tempt Andreas Jonsson to Arlington and how good would this look as an Eagles line up:

1. Andreas Jonsson
2. Lukas Dryml
3. Lewis Bridger
4. Cam Woodward
5. Davey Watt
6. Simon Gustafsson
7. Ricky Kling/Denis Gizatullin

I think that team could put in a real challenge for the Elite League title.

What about the rest of you?

Aussie2 · Re: Team Building...Before it's too late!!

sussexbulldog

We can dream but we are not in the big money stakes. We are already losing money every week.

ComeOnYouSpurs

There's very little point being in The Elite League if we're not going to make every effort to win the thing.

If we're just going to be a "make up the numbers" club then I'd rather drop to The Premier and give it a real go. How can you expect people to turn up at Arlington if our only purpose is to feed the ego's of clubs like Poole and Coventry??!!

I've said it before and I'll say it again.... one way to increase the numbers at Arlington is to provide a team with a realistic chance of winning things..... whatever league that might be in.

sussexbulldog

Agreed entirely just so long as it is Saturday racing Cool

ray

totally agree COUS . winning teams attract support whatever the sport .our present team are great to watch , but now the elite [ notably poole and coventry ], and the bspa i find not only have i no trust or respect , i actually dislike them . seen and enjoyed battles and rivalries over the years , but this has been replaced by something that is actually unpleasant . think some others must feel the same , they have stopped attending . rather like most of the politicians , i want them gone . similiar feeling of distrust and disgust . actually glad we are away on holiday and cannot attend the visit of coventry . now that is not the feeling i want to experience Sad

Sam7 · Re: Team Building...Before it's too late!!

ray

please see comments and post also relating to this on away matches theme --- belle vue v eagles 1/6/09

ComeOnYouSpurs

Following our recent pathetic displays at Lakeside, Ipswich, Coventry, Peterborough and Belle Vue, I have a question for you all....

How many of the team have so far this season justified their place in the line-up?

I'll give you my answer.... it's a sad 2, with 1 "abstention"....

The 2? - Lewis and Simon who have both significantly improved their starting averages.... and who must be pretty fed up that their efforts have largely gone to waste.

The "abstention"? - Floppy, who was probably doing as well as expected when he was unfortunately injured.

As for the rest....

Davey - Certainly not performing as a no.1. Maybe we were expecting too much from him, but his average has plummetted and he let us down badly by riding when not fit against Wolves. Probably a decent 2nd or 3rd heat leader, but a no.1?... not on current form.

Lukas - One or two decent rides but more bad than good, and poor performances on the bigger away tracks where he should have been something of a trump card. Keep your money in your pocket Bob.... there must be better options out there to spend it on.

Ricki - Was expected to be one of the best reserves in the league but has just about maintained his starting average and will be staying at reserve with the new figures. Not good enough.

Cameron - For me the most disappointing of the lot. One terrific ride against Swindon but very little else from a guy who by now should be pushing for genuine heat leader status. I guess we owe him some sort of loyalty but maybe he has got as good as he's ever going to be.... and let's be honest.... that's average at best.

I'm afraid that it's beginning to look like the pre-season predictions of us finishing bottom of the pile are gonna be proved right.... unless we take this opportunity.... while Lewis and Simon remain on last years averages.... to make improvements.

Maybe one of the reasons we are (in Bobs words) "currently the worst supported team in the Elite League" is that we are currently the worst team in the Elite League. It certainly can't be helping.

And before someone screams "Ipswich" at me.... we beat them by 12 at Arlington.... they beat us by 16 at Foxhall. I rest my case!

Sorry if some of you think that some of my assessments are a bit harsh.... but that's the way I see it.

eaglefan

Well said cous, We are a shambles of a team just keep giving points away. Bob said he wants us to get behind the team for the play-offs present form no way. Cant see us getting any points this week.

speedy dan boy

Good post cous,Cam really puzzles me,again he needs to be shown the right direction to go in,looks like he fully doesnt concentrate at times,would have thought Davey being their would have spurred him on but it hasnt happened,and having one of the best rides ive ever seen under his belt that hasnr had the desired effect either.Have to say lady luck has been against us but as others have said the management had to act quickly with our injuries and more important make an instant decistion and follow it through to keep the team rolling on.knowone has taken the bull by the horns and gone in any direction!!!

MrB

I agree COUS but Bob has stated that he'll see out the season and we can't compete with Poole and Coventrys signing. Its a vicious circle though with poor results will come lower crowds. Yes the racing has been good this year but with team now stronger and with us having the oppertunity to change I can't help feeling were going to miss the boat.

Kevin54

Maybe I'm wrong, but................we started the season far better than anyone, possibly a fair proportion of us also, predicted.

I defy any team to carry on in that vein when, in the space of a couple of weeks, they lose 4 key riders with injuries.

Add to that, we have a fifth rider who, in one ride goes like a potential world champion, the next like a conference league novice; unpredictable has to be his middle name.

Get the injured back fit, IF the Russian programs his SatNav correctly and actually makes it to the track and is half as good as he has been made out to be, then we should get back on course.

Yes, recent results have been dire, crowds have been disappointing, although they have been in the region of BDs' readjusted "break-even" level.
However, look at Poole, 40% down, look at the "crowd?" last night at Ipswich, the back straight was deserted!
We are in a recession, people will pick and choose, they will not come out and see a team they saw only 2/3 weeks ago.

I don't know what BD can do to get more people through the gate, on that score he has the same problem as all promoters, apparently only Lakeside are the only club to have upped their figures, but as we all know, figures can be "manipulated".

The main thing now is we get the wounded back to fitness, on that score, does anyone know how Lewis is, he was reported as hurt, leg and double vision?, over the W/E.

ComeOnYouSpurs

I agree with you to some extent about the injuries situation Kevin, but that is unfortunately part of our sport and must be handled and dealt with as and when they occur.

Over the last 2 years we have become the experts at doing sweet f.a. about it!

And I'd be interested to know the identity of your "unpredictable rider"......

I'd say that we have at least 3 who fit your description!!

Eagle1971

Kevin54

I had Cameron in mind when I posted that, COUS, mainly thinking about his manouvere around Adams and Magowan in the Swindon match, followed by some less than impressive rides against "lower" riders.
Unkind I know! Confused

ComeOnYouSpurs

Aussie2

After yesterday's meetings we now have only THREE fit riders. Lukas took a tumble at Belle Vue. Lewis had a bad fall in the Under 21 World Team Cup. From the Argus " Bridger had scored two impressive wins for the young Brits when he was left with nowhere to go in his third heat as a German rival broke down right in fron of him. Lewis said It was a bad crash. I've got a dead right leg and it will be bruised hard. I'll check it when I get home. I had two good wins and felt like I wasn't going to get beaten so it was a bit of bad luck". Schramm is not available for tonight as his Premier League club is riding. I wonder what is happening re replacing injured riders. We must do what other clubs have done. To be honest am dreading Saturday's match against Coventry now that they have "strengthened up". I will be their to support the team, but with the dreadful knowledge that we could lose another home meeting, unless we get good replacements. The trouble is that most of the riders are on the averages from the beginning of the season, which does not help us. We should learn from what Coventry and Poole have done, but I doubt it. Confused

sussexbulldog

parker

Well I'm as optimistic as the next chap but in the last few weeks my enthusiasm has wained. I agree with Mr Bartletts assessment of the team and all those that have posted saying that we are slow to react even to the point of not reacting. You have to wonder whether Bobs heart is really in it considering the money he must be losing, he says he wants to be in the top flight yet we run like an average Premier league side. Since Pedersen left our attendances seemed to gone with him.Trevor Geer nice guy we all agree, hardly has the drive and enthusiasim of say Peter Adams :lol:Rossiter, Cooke, Middleditch and as co promoter must have some influence on the team selection and changes but nothing happens I agree that we seem to be the second act for Coventry,Swindon,Poole and this season Wolverhampton, I dont know how many of you have the Sky Sports package for Speedway alone but if you do you must be disappointed with the recent meetings they have been diabolical hardly a good advert for our sport. Personally I think we would have been better off with one league, the present format is boring what with guest appearance etc you nearly know all the riders by fist names,same faces week in week out. My gut reaction is that sadly this could be our last season

Kopster

Bring back Nicki P would be our best bet

ComeOnYouSpurs

Aussie2

ComeOnYouSpurs

Despite our fabulous win at Poole I don't think we should rest on our laurels or get carried away just yet.

Dont forget that the victory was based largely on a terrific performance by our guest Travis McGowen.

With the best will in the world I don't think that either Floppy or Lukas would have scored the 11+1 that Travis contributed.

I still think that now is the time to act, from a position of comparative strength, and before the new averages for Lewis and Simon come into force.

mmmmethanol

Denis for Floppy seems to be the obvious move. If/but/maybe!

With there being a seemingly chronic shortage of riders available - any other changes would involve 2 riders losing their place.

I think this is highly unlikely, would be unpopular & ruin the "Team" scenario we currently have.

Give me a solid 1-7 anytime.

ComeOnYouSpurs

Agreed to a point mmmmethanol....

But here's our problem as I see it....

I'm still very concerned by the form being shown by Davey, who is nowhere near being a no.1 at present, and Cameron, who apart from his heroics against Swindon is having a pretty poor season.

When the new averages come out it is likely that either Lewis or Simon will become our no.1, and that might be expecting a little bit too much from either of them, leading to a dip in confidence and therefore a negative effect on the team as a whole.

Team Building...Before it's too late!!

Re: Team Building...Before it's too late!!

Re: Team Building...Before it's too late!!