theblueboy

Funny that, Buster moaned about all the money he lost. A similar mantra from Rosco I am led to believe. They (promoters) still haven’t worked it out why fans continue to leave in their droves and their balance sheet figures don’t add up at the end of the year, and yet, they still continue to moan. One day, the light bulb will appear and it will be far, far too late...

Finally, a level playing field for everyone at Poole? Who would have thought that...

To be fair, based on last seasons meetings, most of the Poole fans had left by heat 10 or 11, so if Groundwell was made available it would ease congestion following the meeting.

Put my binoculars to good use at The Abbey when young Tunners rode in July. Really makes people look closer than they really are...

KK: Wimbourne Road. I love it. A selection of KK’s heats from the 2016-17. That should give you something to smile about after picking your jaw up off the floor from spending 80 sheets... Surely, at that price, the whine would be free?

I agree that KK’s performances contributed to the Pirates problems last season, however, you did have the strongest reserve by an absolute mile and should have done much better than you did. You were the bookies favourites had a strong start, yet limped in to the play offs because other teams changes were made a fraction too late. Woryna is a good signing and I fully expect him to put at least two points on his current average and a revitalised Holder could see you challenge once again but it’s all ifs, buts and maybe’s. I’d be happy for Swindon to make the play offs. For me, it’s how we carry Davey and when can he be replaced. The top 5 are solid and as you rightly point out, no big improvers, although more to come from Ellis and Alpen. I would say Poole, on paper, have the bigger improvers and more potential but Swindon look more solid. Luckily, speedway is not ridden on paper, although it’s a much smoother surface than Wimbourne Road.

Have you finished wiping that egg off your face from last season, Steve?

Is he sat at home watching heat 13 from the second leg of the Grand Final on a constant loop?

Would that be similar to the pressure of being 1 point down on aggregate in the Grand Final with 3 races to go and executing a sublime pass on the final lap to put you in the box seat? Is that the sort of pressure you are talking about?

Let’s hope it’s Hans. Clearly 2nd choice behind Holder and he has decided to sort his own affairs out rather than wait to see what teams are left and who may or may not want him. I hope that hasn’t left the Pirates in too much of a quandary...

Cutting the ribbon at the new Poole cafe?

Mmm....Blunsdon in mid-March makes the Arctic seem like a beach holiday!

You know yourself that Bet365, as do some other brands, bet on speedway matches. How would you sell this particular aspect to the ‘closed shop’ that masquerades itself as a professional sport in the 21st century? What are the potential benefits to the club and BSPA?

What Sid means is that there is a BAGS contract in place, which is worth a tidy sum to the stadium owners. That is to say, the dogs are shown in bookmakers shops every afternoon. Belle Vue are a track that also have a BAGS contract. The providers of this service were/are SIS.

After the debacle of last season, where Poole threw in the towel every time the word Robin was mentioned, to make these local derbies more meaningful and closer the Robins have purchased matching unicycles kitted out in club colours. Still think they’ll be quicker...

http://www.swindonrobins.co/news.php?extend.1576 So, Miedzinski was offered personal terms in November but chose not to accept them as he was tapped up elsewhere. Swindon say no communication from Miedzinski from the beginning of December. So, it’s clear that Swindon had not named their side at this point as AM was still being considered. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/speedway/speedway-who-s-who-in-the-panthers-squad-for-2012-1-3290264/amp Then, according to the BBC website Peterborough announced their line up in the last week of November 2011 but were looking to use Troy in the first week of December? http://www.peterboroughpanthers.co/news.php?extend.1470 I am hoping you lads on the South Coast aren’t policeman with this sort of detective work.

Changes are part and parcel of any sport, so I am not quite sure what your point is. Poole have been the team that have been the most ruthless over the years in that department. Some riders are replaced because of injury, some from poor performance and some because they may be the sacrificial lamb. Swindon have had to sacrifice the World Champion for next season to build their team. I don’t believe any Swindon fan thought for one moment that JD would not be back. It’s natural that there may be riders that may not be the level where people think but it’s probable that the team has been built this way because Rosco has a plan B, just like last season. Historically, Swindon have been a little too loyal to riders but last season they got the right rider at the right time, which is an excellent understanding of the rules and the long game. The idea is to get in the play offs. It’s a game and you use the rules to suit you, something you and your fellow fans at the FPA are well aware of. Whether you get to them with the original 7 or with changes is irrelevant.

That's irrelevant. If Poole, cannot agree, for whatever reason, with Chris Holder to be in your team for 2018 that's Poole's problem, nobody else's. The problem is, you'll only be able to loan him out on a 7 pointers loan fee and not a number 1. That's a double whammy in my book...

Well, unfortunately, Matt himself has set the bar on this one extremely low. In football we had the Bosman ruling. In speedway, its the Miedzinski. The fact Holder is in his plans for 2018 is neither here nor there. if they cant agree terms he is a free agent and the rule of Miedzinski should be enforced.

He may well do but I am disappointed that he hasn’t risen above the level where he was 4-5 years ago. I looked on the Workington thread some time during the season and he didn’t seem to ingratiate himself with the locals for whatever reason. He rode in a couple of matches towards the end of the season for Swindon and he tried, however, not enough to make me think he would improve past Wajtknecht who did nothing but improve until his untimely injury.

I can’t have 1..2..3 Sargeant in the team. He had one good meeting the night of the monsoon at The Abbey when the ref thought he was officiating at a swimming gala, however, every time I have seen him since, either live or on the television I have been disappointed with him.

According to the final stats of 2015 Krcmar had an average of 2.50. Would that be reassessed? Surely better than Ayers or Clegg? http://www.swindonrobins.co/statistics15.php

I think the article in the Echo can be summarised as follows:- Ford tried to get AE on the cheap, however, Swindon came in with a proper bid and won. Let’s hope Poundland come in as stadium sponsors, otherwise, there could be more deals turning out like this one for the ‘fallen giants’ of speedway...

KK is one of the best riders at The Abbey...and also one of the worst. Not many duffed Sir Leigh but KK did on a regular basis and in full flight was as good a rider as I have seen here but in recent times he looks more like a Conference League rider. Still, on whatever average he is must be somewhere in the 7's (not looked) he wouldn't be a bad shout, or a great shout for that matter, given the continued watering down of the league. A tough choice, if one existed, between him and Troy as both prone to not putting the whole 9 yards in. I guess, we are looking at Grondal and Neilsen as possible reserves, although Davey has also been mentioned. Just depends on what magic Rosco has in his wand..

Except Bellego now has a winners medal... Looking at those signings for the Poundstretcher Poole Pirates (PPP), its unlikely that you could afford a set of tyres for either of those much vaunted riders. Vaculik, a GP rider of some standing, had a look at what you were offering and decided that he might get a few more sheckels at Leicester, at team that has propped the league up for the last couple of seasons. That's a tad embarrassing for a 'big club' such as yourselves. This time last year when certain riders were announced e.g. Klindt the Poole fans were all excited as they believed they signed last seasons best 'ringer', which didn't work out so well if I remember correctly. I think that the major issue will be the mental scarring from all those home defeats at the Four Point Arena. Its everyone's favourite away track now and those Poles will really have to be on the gas early, if its not to be another barren season. I hope not. The Premier League needs a strong PPP side...