Post by djw on Mar 23, 2019 16:15:05 GMT 1
Now that we’re almost about to start another season, I thought I’d give my tuppence worth as to our fellow rivals chances as well as our own.
Berwick: The Bandits have made only a few changes from the side that just missed out on the play offs last season with David Howe retiring and Theo Pijper also not returning. Coty Garcia becomes the highest averaged reserve in the league , which he could stay for the season. If Summers can improve his home form and Doolan doesn’t drop his average, they’ll not be far from the playoffs. Can’t see them losing many at home and could be surprise winners of the Northern LC group!
Birmingham: The Brummies have moved back into the PL which will mean at least two visits from them(we usually had a least one rain off a season against them). Team looks like it’s built to win at home and isn’t likely to do much away, as Ostergaard is their only heat leader. Winning at home often enough may be beyond them and unless changed will be our wooden spoonists.
Eastbourne: Another step up team but haven’t been in the second division since 1990! We last encountered them in 1995 in the old PL. Another team built to win at home and with their unique track that’s something they’ll do a lot of. Away might be different with a very long tail but their top 3 like Lakeside last season will make them hard to beat. Tigers have never won there so would love that to change!
Edinburgh: Our rivals from the east have built a solid looking side which not for the first time looks as if it could easily go pear shaped although rarely does for the Monarchs. Will be hard to beat at home assuming their newcomers get used to the track. Away is what cost them last season and they’ll need the inconsistent Heeps and Sedgmen to step in where others failed . If Pickering can get his average up to 8 they’ll not be far away.
Leicester: Third of four teams returning to the middle league but dropping down this time. Familiar figure in TM Dickson which should give our matches some extra edge, along with ex Tigers Worrall and Thomas. Solid side but much will depend on returnees Douglas and Bates. Might sneak into top 4.
Newcastle: Diamonds had to change their side at the last minute with Lunna’s retirement and Palovaara being dropped. If Steve Worrall can find his 2017 form they’ll be hard to beat. Only problem could be both Bjerre and Lambert’s dislike of the Rough Pk track, we know to our cost in the past, that doesn’t always work. They have plenty of experience and if Clegg in particular can master more than a couple of tracks they’ll make the playoffs.
Redcar: It won’t be boring down there again this season but whether their lively looking side will win enough is debatable. Greaves will be hoping he does better than his short spell there last season(and avoid injury), while Wright should give backing to Barker. Can’t see them being near the top so mid table at best.
Scunthorpe: First team to declare but that’ll be the only thing they’ll win this season. Injuries finished them last season and it could happen again. Auty, Nielsen and Garrity all susceptible to falls. They don’t look to strong in any case and the returning Bailey will need to hit form right away to cover List and Kinsley.
Sheffield: Favourites on paper but last season showed that speedway isn’t ridden there! Good top 3 if King is fully recovered from injury whilst Nicol and Andersen showed flashes last season. Kemp was sensational for Ipswich and could be a trump card at reserve although we also thought the same for Shanes last season. Stick on top 4
Somerset: Probably the most successful team outside of Edinburgh in the last few years, in the second league and they’re back after a two year absence. Have bemoaned the 38 pt limit and have went top heavy in response. They’ll hope to get a better season from Harris than Glasgow did but Covatti can be inconsistent and they don’t have the backup from the rest to compensate, unless newcomer Grobauer is sensational. May just make the top 4
Glasgow: A hotel fire alarm may have given us a chance that may not have been there before. Joe Lawlor’s loss may have been Bickley and Tigers gain because we looked very weak at reserve. Now this doesn’t mean we’re all of a sudden going to sweep all before us as Bickley did average less than 2 away and only 0.40 at Ashfield in 2018! His experience last season and a slightly easier league should mean his average will go up. If Paul Starke rediscovers his form and the two Danes improve away we won’t be far off the top. James will also need to be on it at the start and not August like last year.
League placings: Sheffield, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, Berwick, Somerset, Eastbourne, Redcar, Scunthorpe, Birmingham
Berwick: The Bandits have made only a few changes from the side that just missed out on the play offs last season with David Howe retiring and Theo Pijper also not returning. Coty Garcia becomes the highest averaged reserve in the league , which he could stay for the season. If Summers can improve his home form and Doolan doesn’t drop his average, they’ll not be far from the playoffs. Can’t see them losing many at home and could be surprise winners of the Northern LC group!
Birmingham: The Brummies have moved back into the PL which will mean at least two visits from them(we usually had a least one rain off a season against them). Team looks like it’s built to win at home and isn’t likely to do much away, as Ostergaard is their only heat leader. Winning at home often enough may be beyond them and unless changed will be our wooden spoonists.
Eastbourne: Another step up team but haven’t been in the second division since 1990! We last encountered them in 1995 in the old PL. Another team built to win at home and with their unique track that’s something they’ll do a lot of. Away might be different with a very long tail but their top 3 like Lakeside last season will make them hard to beat. Tigers have never won there so would love that to change!
Edinburgh: Our rivals from the east have built a solid looking side which not for the first time looks as if it could easily go pear shaped although rarely does for the Monarchs. Will be hard to beat at home assuming their newcomers get used to the track. Away is what cost them last season and they’ll need the inconsistent Heeps and Sedgmen to step in where others failed . If Pickering can get his average up to 8 they’ll not be far away.
Leicester: Third of four teams returning to the middle league but dropping down this time. Familiar figure in TM Dickson which should give our matches some extra edge, along with ex Tigers Worrall and Thomas. Solid side but much will depend on returnees Douglas and Bates. Might sneak into top 4.
Newcastle: Diamonds had to change their side at the last minute with Lunna’s retirement and Palovaara being dropped. If Steve Worrall can find his 2017 form they’ll be hard to beat. Only problem could be both Bjerre and Lambert’s dislike of the Rough Pk track, we know to our cost in the past, that doesn’t always work. They have plenty of experience and if Clegg in particular can master more than a couple of tracks they’ll make the playoffs.
Redcar: It won’t be boring down there again this season but whether their lively looking side will win enough is debatable. Greaves will be hoping he does better than his short spell there last season(and avoid injury), while Wright should give backing to Barker. Can’t see them being near the top so mid table at best.
Scunthorpe: First team to declare but that’ll be the only thing they’ll win this season. Injuries finished them last season and it could happen again. Auty, Nielsen and Garrity all susceptible to falls. They don’t look to strong in any case and the returning Bailey will need to hit form right away to cover List and Kinsley.
Sheffield: Favourites on paper but last season showed that speedway isn’t ridden there! Good top 3 if King is fully recovered from injury whilst Nicol and Andersen showed flashes last season. Kemp was sensational for Ipswich and could be a trump card at reserve although we also thought the same for Shanes last season. Stick on top 4
Somerset: Probably the most successful team outside of Edinburgh in the last few years, in the second league and they’re back after a two year absence. Have bemoaned the 38 pt limit and have went top heavy in response. They’ll hope to get a better season from Harris than Glasgow did but Covatti can be inconsistent and they don’t have the backup from the rest to compensate, unless newcomer Grobauer is sensational. May just make the top 4
Glasgow: A hotel fire alarm may have given us a chance that may not have been there before. Joe Lawlor’s loss may have been Bickley and Tigers gain because we looked very weak at reserve. Now this doesn’t mean we’re all of a sudden going to sweep all before us as Bickley did average less than 2 away and only 0.40 at Ashfield in 2018! His experience last season and a slightly easier league should mean his average will go up. If Paul Starke rediscovers his form and the two Danes improve away we won’t be far off the top. James will also need to be on it at the start and not August like last year.
League placings: Sheffield, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, Berwick, Somerset, Eastbourne, Redcar, Scunthorpe, Birmingham