I thought I'd answer my own question, so have trawled through the results pages on the Poole Speedway website and tried to keep tab of how many times over the past 3 seasons that the Poole no.7 [weakest rider] was only given three rides... I do expect I have slightly miscounted somewhere clicking each match sheet over 14 different pages, but regardless, here are the results I collated! 2022 Poole started the year with Drew Kemp and Nathan Ablitt at reserve. As the season progressed Kemp moved into the main team and both Ben and Zach Cook spent time partnering Ablitt at reserve. Ablitt had three rides in 32 matches that year, which was 84% of meetings. Interestingly, only 29 times were down to reserve changes. There were three instances of him being a 'NS' [non-starter?] 2023 Kyle Newman and Adam Roynon started the year as the reserve pairing, but over the course of the year Joe Thompson was brought in. He spent time at reserve with both Anders Rowe and Kyle Newman. The Poole no.7 only had 15 matches with three rides (41% of meetings) this season.  *There was a extended period where Poole were using R/R at second string, which meant there were actually six matches this season in which the Poole no.7 rode five or six times in a meeting.  **Additionally, Poole had a tendency to make 3 reserve changes of no. 6 and no.7 during a meeting, favouring the no.6, this season. ***This season was the only one in which Poole used a tac-sub to replace their no.7, which happened once.  2024 The season started with Sam Hagon and Max Perry at reserve, but this soon changed with the addition of Vinnie Foord. Hagon's form also saw him move into the main team with Tobias Thompson riding at reserve alongside the Poole no.7. Further to this, injuries prevented Foord from riding at times, leaving Ben Trigger, Jacob Hook and Paul Starke to deputise.  The Poole no.7 had just three rides on 15 occasions (45% of potential meetings). SUMMARY Over the last 3 seasons, the Poole no.7 has been given only three rides in 62 meetings, which was 57% of the time. Over half of those instances were Nathan Ablitt in 2022. Over the last two seasons the Poole no.7 has been given just three rides in 43% of matches.  CONCLUSION I was clearly wrong re: Middlo not being ruthless enough! He (and the substitute away managers!) have been happy to make a reserve switch when needed!

Can 2pt riders really pick and choose where they want to ride.They really should be happy to get steam place and just get on with it.IMO

I have often felt Middlo didn't take out our [Poole's] weaker no.7 when he should have! For me, this is one of his weaknesses as a manager, not being ruthless enough! The flipside being that he is an excellent man-manager and motivator, so I make the assumption he prefers a team-talk and slap on the arse on the way to the track!! Would love to see some data here - what percentage of meetings in the last few years has Middlo made a reserve change and given the Poole no.7 just three rides...

Nick Morris will come into teams thoughts mid season when his ban ends.

At what point did I say what Poole did was wrong? I was pointing out their attitude could potentially stop a 2.00 reserve from wanting to join them, feeling they could get more rides elsewhere. I've certainly read criticism from fans when Max Perry wasn't getting his 4th ride, despite them winning by many points. It's not really possible to judge if fans would moan if they didn't make these changes as Poole rarely lose & in this case would any fans moan if Poole only got a 20 point away win in the KOC final?

Its the jealousy thing, happens every year