TheReturn

I agree, that needs to change too, but the joker saw riders 'pretend to have engine problems' just so they can drop points to use the joker. For me that simply makes a mockery of the term 'speedway racing'.

I would still be 100% against it, because I am commenting from my head, not my heart. If Team GB wanted to race a World Cup Final in Manchester, then they have to earn the right, and if they went on to win it, I hope and think it would mean even more because they qualified the right way.

Not sure that needs to matter. I always thought there was friction with some of the Aussie riders (Batch)? I am not sure all the Danes used to get on so well, i.e. Hans and NP, but when they put on their natonal race jackets they come together as one, or at least that is how it seems.

I think last night is proof that it is totally ridiculous to seed hosts to the final. A World Cup final should be the pinnacle of any sport, and teams should earn the right to be there. Last night we saw what happens when a lesser team is seeded to the final, they are totally outclassed, and what happened is the final became a three team final, rather than a four team final.

I don't care how close it helps the scores stay, the joker is a pathetic ruling that penalises the team that is winning. Show me any other sport where a successful team is constantly penalised (i.e. averages, league title team usually needs to break it up. Joker last night, Denmark did not get to use it). Joke rule for a joke sport. Lets get back to basics... four riders racing for points (not riding to drop points to bring in the joker).

Read a quote from Middlo somewhere whuch says the SWC is not the place to blood young riders, or words along those lines.

You are missing the point. A great manager is a master motivator. In his selection and dropping tactics alone, Middlo came up short and failed. Every time the TV panned to the Team GB team in the pits at Kings Lynn and last night, I did not see much motivational talking going on. Rosco is not my cup of tea, but he does seem to do more with the motivational side of mnagement that Middlo. Look at Poole, they win by buying the best riders, and from what I can tell, the promotor chooses the riders, more than Middlo. Yes we are short of talent, and anothe rmanager may not have had the same result, but it is fair to say that the Team Management made some obvious mistakes this week.

Well and truly stuffed? We got beat. narrowly, not stuffed.

But he could have picked a better team at KIngs Lynn, by not selecting the out of form Kennett. We could all see it, and we are nothing more than 'idiot BSF fans', so him being a speedway man should have known it, and picked another rider. I am not saying another selection would have helped us qualify, but it proved whoever picked the team for KIngs Lynn failed. The handling of Cook seems inept too.

And promoted constantly by Pearson.

The joker rule is pathetic, speedway should be about winning races, not allow a team to benefit by deliberately dropping points. Pearson is not doing much to hide his love of the US team tonight. God help us if they do win.

Stop moaning, it adds to the atmosphere.

Any success tonight and at the weekend would be in spite of Middleditch, not because of Middleditch. Awful selections on Monday, and man motivation skills 'seemed' to be lacking. Although I accept I can't see eveyrthing that goes on, hence why I put 'seemed'.

Harsh on Cook, and I feel Team GB management have made huge mistakes, but right now lets all get behind Barker and Bridger and support them.

Do you not think the selection of the latter is why the former is occuring.

What does being a nice guy have to do with anything?

Based off his rider selection and rider motivation skills over the last couple of years, if he could not obtain the right license then I am afraid trhe BSPA should look for other options.

Rather unfair and unnecessary thing to say. Can only blame Middlo for picking an out of form rider. Middlo is at fault tonight, not Eddie.

Rubbish, he is the best we have had for some time. He seems fairly knowledgeable for what I assume is a 'non-speedway fan'.

If I was standing next to Sophie I would be slurring my words too.. Mmmmm

Did Middlo really just say there are 3 or 4 teams in with a chance tonight?

Indeed they can. But not sure those fans that cheer for other nations have a right to be critical of their own national team when they inevitably fail. It's like 'We want you to do better and improve, but we won't be cheering you on until you do, we will cheer the opposition on'.

Nothing wrong with cheering for your favourite riders, but surely you should primarily supporting your nation? I remember the last ever World Final (94 in Vojens for those that forgot) and I had gone across with some friends from Long Eaton, partly because Jan Staechmann had made the final. I of course gave Jan a big cheer when he came out, but at the same time I was waving the Union Jack flag with pride in the vague hope that it might inspire Loram or Louis onto success that day. Strange day, sitting next to us on that grassy bank at Vojens was Andy Smith, then as the meeting went on, armed police came onto the track because of some issue on the far side where the Polish fans were.

Always been the same. You would go to Coventry in the 80s for the old Overseas Finals and the amount of Midlands based fans waving the stars and stripes was embarrassing.

I would hate it either way, be it for Team GB or as in this case, Team Czech. It's like seeding Brazil straight to the final of the World Cup, with all other nations battling it out for that final space. If they have to be seeded then it should be to the race-off. I like the earlier suggestion of three qualifiers, with the second placed teams going to the play off with the seeded hosts.