gazzac

Best team won on the night and well done, just a shame Eastbourne didn't turn up with a team, disregarding Stoneman were never going to win it with the 2 reserves and r/r . Only wonder was the lack of faith from some Brummie fans, always knew if Brum started as I suggested they would that it would quickly swing back in your favour.

No I'm not really expecting it and obviously hope the 5/1's against us don't happen, but I wasn't expecting Adam to fall off whilst leading by half a lap in heat one on Sunday giving you a 3 point start! Been going long enough to expect the unexpected, Tom Brennen could gate in heat 2 and beat your super reserves, unlikely but not impossible.

First half dozen heats will be the key for both teams. If Eastbourne can keep it within 4 or so by heat 6 think the strong top end will count later on, if Birmingham bang in a few 5/1's early on, pressure may tell on the Eagles. Whatever, still finely balanced and certainly could go either way. Just want no mechanical gremlins on either side, and no injuries.

And Cockle.

Stoneman scored 10+1 from reserve recently when the IOW played there. As Birmingham have a team that's strong 1to7 that was a pretty good score from any position. Think he'll get more than Coles did so baring mishaps all should be okay for the Eagles.

I watch on the home straight and it's not me! Do think it has a knock on effect though, one or too start which gets the rest going. All ok if there's no nastiness attached.

I think like you he's a terrific rider, do you or anyone know why he gets booed when he rides at Eastie? Did something happen in the past, or is it the Nicki Pedersen pantomime effect, boo him until he rides for you!

That would be a cracking team, would love that combination, but I would think the chances of getting Bickley and Jenkins is probably nil unfortunately. Could look like this? 1.Ellis Perks 8.68 2.Richard Andrews 4.36 3.Georgie Wood 7.53 4.Kelsey Dugard 4.28 5.Jake Knight 8.54 6.Newby to speedway 3.00 7.Tom Brennen 3.00 Total 39.39 If the final averages put Luke Harris or Charley Powell under 3.61 insert in No 6.

We were doing the same but it did appear that Powell went into Smith because Smith slowed having seen Adam Ellis whilst Powell hadn't. As you say it looked bad and dangerous refereeing, surely Ellis was the cause of the stoppage and should have been a 2/3 heat result given?

If you lose either which no way is a forgone conclusion, you will have lost it at home really. With your fantastic reserves should have had a 10 point plus lead, and even with our home track advantage, very hard to come back from 10+ behind. If you restrict us to single figures tonight still have an even chance of winning the playoffs .

Can't think Brennen and Harris will only score 1 point between them, so if the top end do the business again think it'll be a similar score. Will be quite tight at Arlington as well,but if we can restrict it to a 4 point loss again at Perry Barr, think we'll have taken a bigger lead than that to the second leg . Should be 4 cracking meetings in the 2 competitions as it's too close to call home and away. Did I really say that !

We always knew it would be tight over 2 legs, but although Shanes will probably score twice as many as Davey did, even if the Brummie reserves take the reserve races won't score anywhere near the amount they did at home. Lining up nicely for both competitions, reacon both second legs will be a catch up for the home side, hopefully we can have a bigger lead to take to Birmingham for the league than 6,may guess is 49/41. Must say I find James Shanes the most exciting opposing rider to watch,so bodes well for a cracking meeting.

As speedway should be , clean hard racing with a team with top end power against a team with by far the best reserves in the league who will be heat leaders next year. Still far from decided but one feels the top end and middle order with Wood back in will give Eastbourne the nod overall but no way a forgone conclusion!

Was there that night as well and it was horrible. But as its this year's rules still hope we win it even though it seems unjust, will have only taken 14 year's to have it go the other way.It's always worst for the team who come top as it's their's to lose.

Can't think Brennen and Harris will only score 1 point between them, so if the top end do the business again think it'll be a similar score. Will be quite tight at Arlington as well,but if we can restrict it to a 4 point loss again at Perry Barr, think we'll have taken a bigger lead than that to the second leg . Should be 4 cracking meetings in the 2 competitions as it's too close to call home and away.

Thought the same at the Kent match, too much chat not enough info. I like his enthusiasm but just needs to alter the balance slightly . Supposed we were spoilt a bit with Kev Coombes.

I said a month ago that Birmingham should take the home leg first if they were to beat us. Take away our enormous home track advantage , surely the best team in the league should be able to achieve a decent enough lead at home (as we're used to riding a 50p piece must give you some advantage) and class riders should be able to defend a good lead even on our track . If we run it close away, to be honest although I don't like the playoffs we deserve the win overall. Think Birmingham made a mistake not having the first leg of the playoffs Wednesday,the ko cup just gives us practice for the main event.

That's my thoughts of a team for next year wrong already then!

See your point Alex, but if it was the other way round don't think we'd like to give up the second leg at home easily. Ironically think Birmingham would stand a better chance to win it having the home leg first.

Not ideal because it will be a smaller crowd, but if it is called off Saturday think the only alternative is Monday night which at the moment has a fairly good forecast. Can't see Birmingham altering Wednesday to the KO Cup as they've done their part getting matches completed. Considering we're in one of the driest part of the country,can't believe we always seem to take it to the wire . Start the season with the early KO Cup rounds instead of pointless challenges and get to the final by the end of August. This would free up dates for the league playoff semi's in late September, finals early October. Won't happen though to sensible and obvious!

Only if the semi final is completed one assumes!

Can never understand how you can have an end of season do and awards presented before the end of the season, but must be a reason for it somewhere!

I suppose it could be a reserve date if the Cradley match is rained off this Saturday although that looks unlikely at the moment, more likely the 'end of season do' is on Friday and didn't want to race the next day.

Maybe a bit of not wanting to pick an injury with both semi's coming up?

Hopefully Belle Vue will win the playoffs, then who cares really !!!