gazzac

I agree, a very big ask to win overall, but everthing went Leicester's way last time at Arlington, including Pickering being a fantastic guest, and Richards heat 15 error. I for one am looking forward to it, still not sure when we play the away leg as we have a fixture on Leicester's reserved home date, hope we get the first leg really, will guarentee 15 hard fought heats, rather than perhaps a result one way or another earlier on.

Think I'll book my holiday now, sounds lovely!

Like a lot of people no doubt, I'm struggling with a reply to this. Can only wish Tom and his family well again, especially now knowing the full extent of his injuries.

Just to make it clear, I'm not advocating changes, I really hope they can all raise their game and apart from the enforced change I'd be only too pleased to end the season with this team. I agree with what has been said before, think now the main aim is to regain fortress Arlington, keep the fans coming in, hopefully Leicester and Glasgow are the best out there, and they could be, then the close losses at home won't seem so bad, just can't afford another one really.

Unless there's something in the pipeline already, I think with 2 home matches and the KO Cup at Birmingham to come in the next 10 days, probably Wood Morley and Bowtell are all on last chances. Hopefully Bowtell can kick in at reserve where he should have started the season, and Wood can regain last years NL form, especially at home. If they don't not sure what changes they can make. A Spiller or 2 maybe?

Hope he doesn't try to come back too quickly, get those young bones healed properly. Hopefully him, Edwards, and eventually Ablitt will be the basis of another great Eastie era, although not quite the same great era of speedway in general as it was in the Dugard, Norris etc time.

I hope you're right, should be so much less pressure, probably riding at 4, than being second heat leader to the lowest average no1 in the league. Although wanting a quick turnaround of fortune, I'm sure John Cook would have put that in his mind, especially knowing him from Lakeside days.

So that's a negative about being thought of being positive then.

Hadn't thought of that, but would be the 'easiest' solution in the hope he'd regain some form. Put him at 3 with Kerr, takes a little pressure off him to start with, and would give Bowtell a go at reserve, less pressure on him as well and should score more points.

What a positive person you are! We should all take a leaf out of your book and not always try to look for all the negatives, hard as that normally seems with speedway.

Spot on unfortunately.

sorry getting my weekends and matches mixed up, I'll go and lie down now!

Probably won't do either, definately not the home one as he's in Poland!

I wasn't sure, reckon if he's in the main body of the team by then, probably do r/r, certainly at home as Alfie will be at reserve, especially if Tom's above Ben in the averages, would mean all apart from the top 2 would be able to take his rides, even if he's 5th, would still mean Ben and the reserves would, so not too detrimental for the meeting at home, maybe a guest away would be better.

Exactly what I thought yesterday, assume the next average changes are 31st May/1st June? Should be no pressure on him really, be great to see him at this level, assume Tom will be at Glasgow on Friday, or will he be on his way to Poland, and we'll have to have another 2 point reserve, Jason or a n other.

To a degree, but Eastbourne have gone into this season with proper promotion through the community, local business , schools, decent website and have embraced social media,and they run Saturday nights or Sunday. Gates are far better than the tail end of when we were in the Elite league. Perhaps if other club owners/promoters studied their plan, and implemented similar schemes perhaps the doom and gloom would not be so prevalent. Suppose if a promoter doesn't promote, the club is doomed to failure. Like him or loath him, Poole's sucess over the last 20 odd years has largely been down to Matt Ford's promoting.

Well done for the post, owning up to a mistake is never easy, I'm glad it wasn't my memory going. When Adam was at Eastie, the negative posts over money weren't generally from Eastie fans, mostly from other teams fans and those who thought(right or wrong) and still think the NL should be limited costs only. Although Eastie was never an option this season being a Saturday club, if he had have been on the team sheet at the start, we'd have been pleased to have had him back.

2/1 on, bit more likely to be on than not looking at the local forecast , certainly doesn't look like an early decision, and if it does dry up for the evening the track should be good.

This is a man in the 'know', always liked his posts when Adam rode for Eastie a few seasons ago.

I remember both and a few more before in the Elite, and the playoff final in 2002 still hurts. It wasn't a complaint, I'm just one of those supporters who just hate seeing them lose, hopefully be another few years before I see another. One thing I've learnt is not to post the same evening if we lose again. Be back for the Glasgow match having calmed down!

I'd put Tom at 3, riding with Lewis will be good, and I think he'll come on in leaps and bounds every month, Ben also seems to have settled at 2. Hopefully help with Alfie's confidence as well.

It did come as a shock, but as you say 45/44 is far more exciting than 60/30, just hope next time it goes the other way , I didn't realise until the posts on here what a bad loser I am, I'll try harder if it happens again . Think Sunday is good for the crowd, but Saturday night is so much better for the track, normally even better racing.

You're right really, having thought on it overnight, although my comments I think are correct, a bit harsh on our riders especially Richard Lawson as it all happened at speed in under a minute, can't imagine what that must be like. Also in any league we've been in, rarely lose at home, so when we do we are a tough crowd. It just shows with a top heavy team if the top 2 don't fire, even with the reserves scoring so well we will be beaten. I always thought to get to the playoffs we'd have to be unbeaten at home, so straight away going to make it difficult, I just hope Leicester really are the title favourites, otherwise we'll be in trouble at home again. Assuming we qualify past Birmingham in the KO Cup, we've Leicester in the second round of the KO Cup, so if this weekend is anything to go by could be difficult to progress in that unless the heat leaders improve, knowing our luck expect we'll draw Leicester in the semi final of the Shield!

Lawson still must have known a second place would do it for us and should have ridden accordingly before the hit.Worse still, what on earth was Kennett doing in heat 15, hadn't been near a race win all day, and when he missed the gate would be obvious he would come 4th putting more pressure on Lawson. Would have rather seen Kerr in heat 15, or even Georgie Wood, who had found some speed to go with his usual fight over his last 2 rides

At Eastie I love to be near the start line taking in all the noise and atmosphere, but can understand some preferring a face full of beef, to a face full of dust at the moment!