BWitcher

What are they going to say? The blame lied squarely with the riders.. mainly Hancock as subsequent events have told us. Sure, the starting gate failed, but that's hardly a reason to call off a meeting.

It all adds up, the old format, easy race comes along that you win and your confidence and interest levels pick up again. It's similar to the old system when a rider dropped to reserve and suddenly he could beat riders he couldn't get near to before.. Or now, when a rider drops to second string he'll suddenly start beating the heat leaders he was clueless against previously. Momentum, confidence etc should never be underestimated.

Of course, but that would require sensible fixture planning.. so the chances are zero!

Really?? You honestly believe that? He'd have been slaughtered! Let's not forget, it was riding for Wolves at Eastbourne that Tai ploughed through the fence picking up an injury which pretty much cost him at least a medal in the World Championships. The 'ridiculous' drop in his average was compounded by the race format. Another year he'd still have been around the 9 mark. Chris Holder went through similar this year.

Not disputing that, indeed the individual leagues are worth winning.. I know that from experience as my Blue Jays have just clinched the American League East. However, that's just a stepping stone, a nice bonus on the way to the bigger prizes ahead. I was merely highlighting to Ouch that play-offs are the norm in most team sports, whereas he was trying to allude, via his 'mate' that they're not.

The KO Cup Final crowds held up ok.. However the early rounds did not and were attracting crowds way lower than league meetings. Personally I liked it.

VHS worked well for years too.

Perhaps if you would clarify your question it might get a better response. The anti-playoff brigade want the league title to be one title and a totally separate one for the playoffs. In wanting this they believe the league title would carry more credence. On that basis, there aren't any sports who do that. However, those sports who dish out a trophy to the league winners, but it doesn't really mean anything as the winners of the playoffs are what its all about then you have. Rugby Union Rugby League NFL MLB NBA NHL Darts Australian Rules Cricket I'm sure there are more too. You'd find it much easier to compile a list of team sports that DON'T have playoffs.

Wolves fans deserve all they get with the attitude they show at times. I prefer to remember Woffinden over a 6 year period, not just 1 poor year. I hope we get to see him riding for the club again in the future too.

The question shouldn't be whether they have a cup or trophy for finishing top of the league, but what actually matters. Rugby League for instance, there is a trophy for who finishes top.. does anyone remember it? Not really, all that matters is who wins the Grand Final. All the American Sports have division winners, then winners of their respective conference.. but again, the one that is remembered is the big prize.. the Superbowl, the World Series, the NBA Championship etc As for the 'chap at work'... the average sports fan will know full well how playoffs work and that the winners of the playoffs are champions. It's only a select group of old time speedway fans that invent that people get confused.

If you have nothing sensible to post, best not to post at all.. I assume that was an attempt at humour.. if so, not a good one. You would think the way some folk hark on that the play-offs is some revolutionary unique idea limited to speedway... when the reality is quite different... There must be soooo many sports doing it wrong!

Of course.

http://totalswindonsport.com/2015/10/speedway-ermolenko-to-launch-new-engine-at-abbey-farewell/ Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere on the forum.

You can take them seriously. They have brought you up to date with the situation and explained to you areas in which you were clearly confused. Sadly, you're unable to accept that and prefer to go off in a huff. Incidentally, if someone is more educated on a topic than somebody else, it doesn't make them a 'know-it-all'. A 'know-it-all' is generally someone who thinks they know more, but doesn't.. and then is too stubborn to accept when they are wrong. You fall nicely into that category. As for your comments about supermarket trolley racing, off you go then.. why are you posting on a speedway forum if you dislike the sport so much?

Of course it's not hard.

It's staggering how when people argue against the playoffs they more often than not don't realise they're arguing against the old system even more.. The post above is a perfect example

And they clearly prefer the big venues!!!

Of course not.. Basically they wanted to appease their fans without wanting to rock the boat with their brick supplier.

Correct, why would we listen to Starman? All through the thread people have wanted to know from the source.. Now the 'source' (Dakota) has spoken.. and he doesn't know! Poole cheated/manipulated the system, however you want to call it.. as many of us knew from the off. Perhaps it's an addiction? They would have won the semi-final as it was.

Have the attendances been lower at Birmingham than they were at Monmore? Oops.. John beat me to it by about 3 seconds

You and Dakota north both! Condolences on your sad loss,

Nobody is judging him on 3 meetings for a team. Of course you're not interested in getting into a debate.. as you haven't seen him most likely. Anderson has been better than Kurtz this season.. that is indisputable.

Which real world? Name somewhere he is better. He wasn't better in the PL. He wasn't better in the World U-21's. Where is this 'real world'?

Reality is, starman has at long last broke ranks and is saying north is a liar. Who would have thought it?

They won the final by two, it's the semi I was referring too.