Terrace Grumbler

If Ipswich and Sheffield go into the Premiership, the Championship looks dead on its feet. A parade of the same has beens beating the same never-will-be's. If this is what it is coming to, it's time for a good long think. Even Ranting Roy can't polish a turd.

The voice of sanity.

Some interesting thoughts: Crowdfunding- can work but we would have to know what the target would be. Also, on what basis would any funds be paid over? Petition to reduce rent - good luck with that one... George 's statement - ten out of ten for honesty but I can't see it doing much for season ticket sales Strength of next year's team - it'll be enough if there is one at all. Who cares who wins the Championship? It's an ever-shrinking non-competition. I've got my fingers crossed.

Yes, the work on the stand has affected things, I am sure. But for crying out loud, look at the product. The present motley crew have managed to break the spell that speedway has had over me since 1969, and that has taken some doing. @Dantodan will identify the seasons I'm referring to, but even when we had Rune Knudsen, Scott Smith and Steffen Mell, and sometimes only Dickie seemed able to take it to the opposition, they were our team and they tried (ok, Mick Powell probably didn't). I can't say the same for the present incumbents.

It was actually a decent meeting but the Lambert stuff leaves a bitter taste. I wonder if we've seen the last of him.

Let's agree to disagree. I'm pleased we won and in retrospect it would've been good to have been there, but hey ... that was how I felt at the time. Onwards and upwards.

Ok, I think I understand now. We won't be bothering with this evening's meeting - I'll find something else to do.

Thanks for that - simultaneously informative and tactful. It's people like you who make going to BP each week even more of a pleasure.

Can't we take Robert out of the team and temporarily replace him with Matej?

Depending on the type of team George chooses to build next season, and also I suppose on the league structure, if we keep the reserves (I now think they're worth persevering with, second halfers or not - I just wish we'd had them since April) then assuming Lambert is away I would keep only Ludde out of the current top 5, and I wouldn't bring back Lerr or Rose, either. Let's have some fresh blood in the team.

Yes, but supporting youngsters need not equal having wobbling reserves. Sorry, but my view remains that second halfers are being passed off as professional speedway riders in the interests of enconomy.

Fair points as ever - but I don't agree!

Dandelion wrote: "i think we focus too much on bringing on youth riders to help team GB and don't focus enough on making entertaining league racing so that clubs can survive and make profits... Just my opinion of course" Mine as well, Danders me old pal. But I think you'll find that bringing on British talent is a cloak for cutting costs...

Where did I say he should be fined? I can't remember that!

I don't want to fine Shelby! Perish the thought!!

Now now, chaps. Leave the grumbling to me!

That wasn't my point: I'm all for team spirit, but the thing is that Lindgren was only in a position to do what he did because Peterborough's number four was more than half a lap behind, because he is simply uncompetitive at this level. Heat 14 yesterday was not a race in any sensible use of the term: it was two Newcastle riders touring round a head of a knackered Simon Lambert (no fault of his) and a rider who was, quite simply, completely out of his depth.

Please look again at my original post. What I am saying- or was trying to say - is that those who are in charge of this sport are allowing a situation in which a rider (Holder) can do whatever he likes at the expense of the public and as a consequence we see non-contests like those involving Shelby Rutherford. For the avoidance of any doubt I do not want to see him banned - if he had ridden as Peterborough's no. 7 that would have been normal (although frankly he and some others in the Championship are simply not competitive). The bigger issue surely though is that the sport is at the same time being diluted too much as a product (horrible term but I can't think of s better one) and eating itself through the doubling up/down rules. My plea is how it can be put right - forget the personalities, I don't much care about Holder and I wish Shelby Rutherford well in finding a team spot in the NL.

You're easily pleased, aren't you? This is supposed to be a competitive sport. Heat 14 summed up a lot of what was wrong with the meeting yesterday Shelby Rutherford should not be riding at championship level because, frankly, he is not up to it (do you seriously think that people should be asked to pay money to watch riders of his level of achievement?) and the fact that Lindgren had time to slow almost to a stop to allow Hopwood to win shows what a farce that heat, and most of the meeting, was. It was like something you would expect to see in a testimonial meeting. If you think different, then fine, but this really is a case of the emperor's new clothes. In my eyes, yesterday was a shabby excuse for a speedway meeting. Much, if not all, of the plane may be laid at the door of the Peterborough promotion, but it is symptomatic of the way this season has gone. If you think that I am wrong, perrhaps you would explain to me the reasons why.

Chris Harris' pass in heat 15 - breathtaking Alfie Bowtell's outside move on Andersen - heartwarming The rest - dreck, the worst examples being Robson and Lindgren cruising around in heat 9 and Lindgren pulling up in heat 14 to allow Hopwood to win...this was 13 heats of speedway riding. Ban Holder for taking the mickey, ban Rutherford for being hopelessly substandard but please do something to make this sport worth watching again.

Ranting Roy is giving us another Trade Descriptions Act job. You can't polish a turd.

Well let's see who turns up.

Not long ago I would have been interested in this but tbh it just doesn't seem to matter much. Riders seem to ride where and when they like; that's fine though because I ( and those I bring with me) may turn up when I fancy, as well.

Great stuff from George and Roy in the programme tonight. I hope the SCB read it.