Bagpuss

A bit shambolic really. It was a tough task even without two injuries and you can put Tarasenko down to one of those nights but there are others who need to pull their fingers out quickly. Not expecting much on Monday night but we need to see some fight and heart.

What's the explanation for Tungate's absence?

Basso doubtful too now it would seem after a crash in Denmark last night

Not really sure why they've started dishing out guests for second strings, that's what R/R is for I'd have thought.

I suspect there will be at least one change there before long.

Precisely mate.

I'd suggest that Riss does have room for improvement seeing as he was unwell last year and probably rode when he shouldn't have done. That said not sure I'd have replaced Klindt with him.

I won't have a meltdown I promise but you must agree its bonkers? For a sport which presumably wants to be taken seriously anyway.

Nicholls guesting at the Foxhole (again!) so it's realistically Brennan or Z Cook if not R/R. You are right he hasn't started well but I would always rather have all seven riders available.

Sounds like there will be no Iversen, reportedly concussed from a crash at the Danish Championships tonight.

I think you and I could be heat leaders in that team

They probably should but the reality across most sports is that not all competitors will start the season in full swing, that's just human nature especially if returning from injury.

I'm not for a minute saying we should do it but would he fit for MPT and use the remaining points up?

Blimey. Fair enough if there are things behind the scenes they are unhappy with but is four matches really enough for riders to get going fully? Not for me.

People go on about Brums strength but that scorecard is littered with riders who could and should be doing better.

And the early call has again saved the expense of flying umpteen riders over from Poland.

Ridiculous loophole which I can't believe they haven't closed.

Absolutely. I always imagine the winter being fun and games with clubs and riders having chats left right and centre, and both clubs and riders withdrawing various verbal agreements when other options come into play. I expect they all know how the system works and it's just a game that has to be played with everyone getting a spot when everything has settled down.

At the moment it looks a bit like a clear top three with the other four battling for 4th.....injuries not withstanding it might be difficult for those 'bottom four' of which we are one to take many points off the three heavyweights but we shall see. Seeing g as four of those first five meetings are against BV & Sheffield (and the other match away from home) judging them after five might mean things are a bit skewed, as they might be had we predominantly faced Oxford, Brum and Leicester but in the other direction. I think Rob Lyon will be less tolerant of poor form this year but at the same time I cant see changes being made too early either. Interesting that he has said recently that Ben Cook and Chris Harris were two that got away a bit over the winter, you wonder how different things might look had they been signed....I reckon we'd be more highly fancied.

*tac subs shouldn't be allowed at home klaxon*

Indeed he did, got it momentarily stuck under his footrest at the end of one of his races and looked in a bit of pain hobbling back into the pits. Although he did win heat 12 after that.

Quite agree, we may not have done but we would have been far more prepared and dialled in.

I predicted 49-41 home win on the Pride Of The East podcast so I'm sticking with that, we traditionally go well at the NSS but BV are a fine side and should win the meeting fairly comfortably.