gazzac

At the end of the day the points limit in all three leagues determine who you have in the team, who wants to ride for your team and what type of team you build, Birmingham have done a brilliant job with strength in depth this year, because of injuries on the first day Eastbourne had to change their statagy and if you remember had a few weeks using guests with no new No 1's becoming available . Adam initially rode on a short term deal to get extra rides early in the season and genuinely help the club out of a bit of a hole. Don't for a minute believe it was a financial situation but benefitted both at that time. I think because of the professional way the Dugards run the club, both agreed to extend the deal, suited us having the best rider from the Nl in 2015, and gained Adam the extra rides to keep him on form. Unlike the other riders mentioned who do PL, Adam was/is also involved in the World U21 and was in the world cup squad. Taking all that into account dought he would have wanted to take on a full season in the Pl even though he could obviously compete with the likes of King etc . If anyone else like Cook ,Worrall etc qualify to ride in the NL and want to bring it on, I'd be watching!

Only one or two do it on here, best to ignore it really!

I'm sure Mark rode, but I do remember Billy Janeiro riding, think Barker or Norris may have been out, to be fair to Janeiro he rode his socks off. Seem to remember Adam Shields having an off night at reserve having been on cracking form before. What also cost us was the team who came top in the first playoff went straight to the final awaiting the winner of the semi's, so by the time we faced Wolves don't think we had riden for 2 or 3 weeks, so came in 'cold' .

I was unfortunate to be at the first playoff in the elite league when Eastbourne lost it to Wolves having been the best team all season, it was such a disappointment after a great year. I'm glad we're where we are in the playoffs, as has been said it's Birmingham's to lose and the other's to win. Having said that still think last year's system of the team who came top won the league, then the end of season gold cup was probably the fairest and correct way. Only thing is if we do win it, I suppose it makes up for the hurt 14 year's ago!

I don't think they'll choose Kent, imagine they would see them as the most likely team to beat Eastie if possible as I would imagine they'd rather meet Kent in the final than Eastbourne.

Hope the weather plays ball and it's dry, think we'll be in the top 4 whatever, but a wet day with 2 home matches not played might make it tight!

I see they've made a good move taking Tom Brennen as no 8 meaning he can take any rider replacement rides, without altering his average I assume and giving him more experience. Would think he'd do 3, with Perks doing the other one of Cotthams rides.

Don't often venture onto the elite league section being a long term Eastie fan and so pleased we're in the NL, but surely it's great to have Woffy back in the elite for whatever reason, within the rules as has been said. Poole have manipulated the rules over the years to their benefit far more than this, and at the end of the day it'll be Poole and BV in the playoff final for sure with Woffy in the Wolves team or not so can't see why there's any fuss really!

Ditto.

I bet the Dugards are having a good old laugh at the rubbish on here about BWD, and whether Mrscambelt is a Mr Dugard! There is an insignificance about this compared to keeping a speedway club running in the current climate, and let's be honest and say BWD would have been our No 1 if the rules hadn't changed.Speedway and riders move on has happened before and will happen again. Whatever BWD 'cost' last year was more than repayed in excitement, incresed gates and trophies, we always knew we couldn't 'own' him so can't see he's doing anything wrong now, who's to say we haven't received indirect bonus's through the 'back door ' maybe not paying, or a reduced loan fee for Adam Ellis who I think is a Lakeside asset.

As Tom's first match was a 0 and didn't complete his programmed rides does that have any bearing?

Agree think it was one of the best NL matches I've seen and the atmosphere was good with a tiny bit of controversy. As you say James Shanes is great to watch, love his 'grass track' riding style.

Think it'll be close,but hopefully have enough at the top end/middle order to secure the win, we still don't know what Tom Brennan can do, hopefully goes through the meeting injury free, and will gain in confidence getting a good points tally. 48/42.

Seem to remember Frank Ebdon I think being called 'fast fingered Frank' who got a meeting through quickly,not sure if he still referees? Just had a thought, assume that was to do with his refereeing!

The league match at KL has still to be re arranged with Eastie, does make you wonder if the KO Cup match will go ahead or whether it'll be declared a 0/75 without running it if that's possible? As Eastie have no home fixtures in August, as usual it's going to be a manic September/October to get all the fixtures in, league and KO Cup matches.

Be no need to open a new thread if Birmingham and Kent meet again in the playoffs, I expect this one will still be going!

I can understand why, there's nothing worse than rain offs. All I meant was if it hadn't been for Wednesday, can't believe they'd have called it off this early as all the main forecasts ( BBC, met office etc)don't look bad.

Seems odd all the forecasts I've looked at say a small chance of a shower in the afternoon, looking dry in the evening! Probably more to do with Wednesday's meeting than Fridays I imagine.

I expect all this nonsense will mean he probably wouldn't want to ride for us again in the future anyway. At the end of the day a rider will only ride where he wants to disregarding who's asset he is,I imagine he'd now think twice!

Having seen all these post's, baring nasty crashes which you hope never happen and can't plan around seems simple to me. Tapes up bang on 6.30, any practice or parade laps or announcements done before hand, and all referees instructed to push the match on, make exclusions for time wasting if needs be, bet the teams would quickly get the message. Meeting should be finished by 8.30/9.00, even allowing enough time for a few more practise laps for the youngsters . Basically what AJ has just said,and I can't believe everyone involved can't see it, otherwise gates could drop which is a shame for a team with a chance of winning something this year.

If that was the case, knowing the curfew situation, the referees at Kent matches need to be stronger with getting on with it, 2 minute warnings etc.

Something like I said yesterday!

I would have thought the idea was to have rider's like Brad and Dan Spiller as Lakeside assets but with a gentleman's agreement that if we did eventually want to move up to PL we would have more or less a guarantee of first refusal on the rider (if he wanted to ride for us), even with the option of an EL berth at Lakeside. I'm sure out of choice the Dugards would rather that scenario than a direct transfer?

Believe it's a second half, was something about it on South Today this morning.

If Powell is riding grass track in 2 weeks that'll definitely confirm if his shoulders ok. If not gives us a week to get a replacement, which does appear to be an unaffiliated 3.00. Lot of rides for Harris again, although I imagine if Cottham is still out will go for a guest like Hunter to take the pressure off Luke a bit.