Now Then

Undoing Rob Lyons work on team ethos possibly? No wonder speedway doesn't get any proper national media coverage, No harm at all to me Rob, but you seem a guy with his head screwed on, I've know doubt this will come back and bite Tai on the bum, things like that do. Regards to all, Alan.

Yes But none of us on here, talking fans BTW, 'Represent' GB, then wear an opponents shirt just 2 days later, we were lead to believe that those riders that just missed out were gutted, distraught call it what you will. If Australia just missed out would any Australian wear a GB shirt? Remember Paul Ince when playing for West Ham Utd, went and had a picture taken with a Manchester United shirt on because that's who he wanted to play for. West Ham fans if I remember wern't pleased, neither were the West Ham management, I wonder what one of the many media publicists would have said to Tai, if you play the media game re sponsorship etc, you play the media game and have to be aware that things get seen and reported. Regards to all, Alan.

Few years ago....Germanys Marvyn Cox anyone..... Also I believe Andeas Jonsson could've ridden for Poland, so their team could have a Swede,and a Norewgian in it! Regards to all, Alan.

Ageed again Tai could have been 'empoyed' by an Australian rider, but it doesn't look good and maybe should have been told this, Riders are getting media savvy regarding mentioning sponshorship during interviews, so they should be getting advice in other areas too, if in the future if Tai has a mare of a WTC meeting against Australia, fans will as some have said 'jump to conclusions', Like said, Rob Lyon is keen on team building, from a media point of view it looked odd as it was only 2 days previously where Tai was 'Representing' team GB. Was Rob Lyon aware? Was there any other team GB rider helping another team? Yes I assume Ashley Holloway was helping Emil Sayfutinov, but Ashley didn't represent team GB 2 days previously. After seeing the original Sky broadcast, my immediate thought was that it didn't look good. Regards to all, Alan.

Agreed there, but the difference is Leighs mechanics are 'employed' by him, Tai had just represented GB in the play off, Rob Lyon we are told is trying to build 'team spirit', Tai is only young and part of the future, from my point of view it looked odd to see a guy who has just represented team GB, just 2 days later in an other teams shirt. Yes I know Tai was brought up in Australia so is bound to have an affinty with the country, but he had the choice as I understand of representing GB or Australia. He chose GB. Using football as an example, we have to, as whether we like it or not it is the most popular and most televised sport, imagine if England were in the world cup, and get knocked out in the quarter finals, David Beckham is then seen with an Italian shirt on sat in the stands, because they got through in another quarter final and he plays for an Italian club. What would the press say, let alone the FA. Regards to all, Alan.

Would have been interesting if the Poles had been in front when the meeting was 'paused'? Regards to all. Alan.

Yes Chris R is right. the 'away goals' rule is to encourage attacking play especially away from home, at least where the away goals rule comes into play, both teams would have scored the same number of goals,where in speedway, you are supposed to lose races to gain an advantage. Sad really that now fans are on the terraces, shouting for riders to finish second, or let him thro'. Regards to all, Alan.

Exactly, I have said before no other TV sport changes it's scoring system half way through the match, imagine going to a football match, your team has scored 3 goals, the other team 2, but they win because, when they were 3 down, their first goal was allowed to count as 2!! Crazy, if you're losing you're losing. Regards to all, Alan.

Hi Dave, Yes I know what you mean, when things go for you, you get the decisions, Nicki this year, things ain't tho'. Perhaps a few of the 'senior' riders in the GP's have to accept that the young guns are taking their places. Regard to all Alan.

Trouble is how many time have we all seen this, two riders side by side, guy on outside falls, you know guy on inside is going to get excluded if they are close and especially if there is contact. Happened a few times on TV matches this season alone. Regards to all, Alan.

Problem for Nicki too is he doesn't seem to bend his right leg at the knee, so doesn't move his body weight as well on the bike, this also if you look tends to see him 'skate' across the corners especially if he goes in fast. You can see as well other riders know this and turn back under him when he does this. Last year too his bikes were moving forward on tracks where other riders were spinning up, this year the opposite appears to be happening. Regards to all Alan.

Perhaps Poole hadn't got a copy of the anthem? Cheers to all Alan.