Terrace Grumbler

Bach and Newman, yes. Not sure at all about the others, in particular the sudden enthusiasm for Cameron Heeps, a kind description of whom would be unremarkable. I don't know how prevalent loan fed are now but financially surely it makes sense to try to use our own assets

Thank you, Mr. Park - I'd be inclined to have him back unless there is an obviously better alternative out there who is available and willing to come.

As regards fixtures...against the background of wanting to get my paws on 2017 season tickets as soon as possible, do I'm trying not to be negative ...would it be possible to avoid, say, three matches against Workington in the first few weeks of the season? This year's fixture list started off very repetitively! Given the narrowing of the gap between the top leagues, a challenge match against one of the "top" teams would be good (but I assume it would be too pricey - ?) I'm still thinking about building a team to a 40 point limit - what's Danny's CMA?

Humph.

Sadly gone, but we shan't forget him. RIP.

Yes, I m sure the SS will give Glasgow decent coverage- and it will be well deserved. Moving off topic, does anyone read the John Chaplin articles that seem to take up most of the off-season editions? I stopped years ago because it seemed to be the same few stories re-heated over and over again. I like the concept of getting into speedway history but the jolly japes of the great Haringay team of 1937* don't fascinate me really. *or perhaps it was when there were 135,000 in Wembley every week for league meetings and Diddy David Hamilton did commentary sitting on an elephant (or was it a cheetah?). You know, the night in '38 when Lionel Van Praag scored a max for New Cross and an attempt was made to resolve the question of Czechoslovakia by means of a match race between Max Grosskreutz and Bluey Wilkinson?

Getting back to talking about the boys,if we may... Assuming the promoters' conference doesn't get so radical that tracks have to close (One Big League, anyone?) I'm looking forward to getting next year's season tickets in my pocket and then waiting for the announcements on the team. Hopefully the Club show will open one day before Christmas, an all. In George we trust!

Me too, but only Ludvig? Me too, but only Ludvig? Well, it depends on the points limit I suppose. If you're old enough to remember Robert "the mobile chicane"* Eriksson, he couldn't pass for toffee but held down a 9 pt average and gave real confidence we could win heat 1, home or away. I like to think the Magic Man could do that for us and hope he is here next year. Other than that, assuming RL is on his way, and allowing for whatever the points limit is, I'd like to think we could keep everyone except the no. 7 and bring in a rider to make up the unused part of the points limit. Kyle Newman or David Bellego, day. That would involve not retaining Lewis Rose- I know that is not a popular view on here but on 3 seasons he has only rarely looked like establishing hiring he body of the team and I would give the BCB a go. I've nothing at all against Danny P. and his effort is always 100%, but let's try someone else.

I hope Ludde stays. Er...that's about it, really.

Dandelion, I can't agree with some of that... - Matej is our asset, every successful team has an electric gater, and for one I would very much like to see him back next year; - I don't know what more you expected from the BCB. His attitude reminds me of Kyle Newman and I can't give higher praise than that; - The Rene Bach we see now isn't the rider he was before his crash. It was good to see him guest the other week but I don't see a lot of improvement on the cards; - Lewis Rose would probably benefit from a fresh start at another track; - I don't think any of your alternatives at #6 would increase their average markedly - at any rate, I've seen nothing that makes me think they would. Anyhow, we need to see the format and points limit. I reckon George knows and has tipped the wink to @Tsunami, which may account for why he's been looking so pleased with himself lately!

I love team building... But when are we likely to know whether it'll be 6 or7 man teams, and the points limit? Also I assume that doubling up riders will want to continue to do that, if they're not riding in Poland. Just a Name out of left(ish) field - I was very impressed with David Bellego round BP this season, great attitude and speed.

HT, it's probably time to let this go, but with regard to 3, yes, I do think the rules are misplaced (and it surely doesn't matter how old they are!) but as I said in an earlier post, Sheffield took advantage of them as any team would. I tip my hat to Kyle Howarth who was excellent all night and gave an example in determination that others could perhaps take on board. If I can persuade herself to come along, I guess we'll see on Sunday if any lessons have been learned!

You're going to have to do better than this, HT... 1. Of course she would want to go back if Newcastle had won, because the pernicious effect of the rule book would not have prevailed: these issues are only in focus due to the result. 2. I no more thought that this would be a stroll in the park than (I dare say) you may go along to the PLRC thinking that a Sheffield rider is likely to win, thanks to home advantage and track preparation; however, as I have said, this has nothing to do with Sheffield in particular (including who is and who might or might not be on the injured list). 3. I'm not going to personalise this - if you want to think that I'm a bad loser and the rules of the sport will create a golden future, that's fine by me - but forgive me if I don't tell my girl that this was just a normal match and result and that trying to qualify for the playoffs may be pointless because once you have an all star team of track specialists will turn up and knock you out.

I'm sure Lambert will be on his way. I'm just pleased we've had the opportunity to watch him this season. For next year I assume Matej and Lud are nailed on certs being our assets, - and I'm happy with that if so.

Well, I was going to go to bed until I read some of the views on here. Is it only Mr. (I assume- sorry if not!) Clennell and I who can see appears to be happening? Look Mummy, the Emperor 's got no clothes! Ask yourself this. Would Sky have been willing to televise that meeting and explain to those outside the Masonic fraternity that most of the Sheffield team had been replaced by ringers? As for it being sour grapes...nah, it's not.

Spinny, I'm certainly not having a go at Sheffield supporters - your promotion played the rules and I imagine they would have been criticised if they hadn't. I don't have anything more to add to my earlier post: I feel that I've watched a series of walkovers this season and have had a chance to see some competitive speedway in the last month of the season denied by a system that frankly reeks. I'm also tired of being told that a meeting is great (tonight, the PLRC, for example) when even a moron in a hurry can see that they were anything but. Self-delusion iwill be the death of this sport

Okay, I'll play the curmudgeon( of no one else will come out and say some things that need to be said about tonight's meeting, I will do it. When Sheffield last visited Brough Park they stank the place out. Their team tonight bore no relation to that one and was not in any sense the Sheffield team. If you ever wonder why this sport is on its knees, look no further than nights like tonight. For Roy to say that this was like one of the great nights of Speedway in the past beggars belief - this was an artificial meeting which produced an artificial result. Right now my daughter is telling me that she doesn't want to come back because in Speedway, cheating is okay ( we are both season ticket holder is, as are my son and stepson). Perhaps some of the members of the "the riders are all heroes and can do no wrong" and "there is no alternative to guests" brigades would help me with convincing her to come with me next week. Go on, I'm listening.

it will be interesting to see how Robson goes next week with Rye. He was awful in ht 13 just now.

Just a thought from the terraces: couldn't George have booked Ricky Wells as our guest? Sheffield select looking good at the moment.

Yes, but the turd polishers at the speedway star will hang on his every word and I imagine that on Thursday we will be told what an exciting meeting it was. It is as if we are told that it was a 'cracking meeting' enough times, people will believe that it was. A little honest self analysis by those who run the sport would not go amiss. I know that this has all been said many, many times before but it is on days like these when what should be a showpiece event is again exposed as sadly lacking in quality that we have to wonder exactly where all this is going. Tomorrow night I shall leave my season ticket in my wallet and, for I think the first time ever, choose not to go to Brough Park. I have only felt like this once before, after a farcical so called test match a few years ago which despite the fact that it was an embarrassment was repeatedly described as an amazing meeting: like all of us I have been to loads of meetings that were disappointing and/or just crap, and we all accept that the sport can be like that sometimes but the complacency that we sometimes see is cancerous and will kill the whole thing stone dead if certain people aren't careful.

Kennet was supposed to ride for Rye House, he didn't for whatever reason and Rye House didn't bother to send anyone else. From memory they have form for this: does anyone else remember when the pairs was held at Workington and they didn't send one?

I am not making any particular point about Simon Stead who has been a great servant to the sport (insert appropriate cliche) but in a high quality field it could tip the balance. As I recall Stead was poor at Brough Park this season and looked anything but a number one let alone the best rider in the league. The comment above about the national stadium is bang on.

The semi final was an excellent race. The final was as well, on the face of it, but Stead has a huge home track advantage. He is by no stretch of anyone's imagination the best rider in the pl and this sort of skewed result does the sport no favours at all. In addition I thought his speech/interview was utterly graceless and gave no credit whatsoever to Masters or anyone else. I have not previously had any sympathy with the 'speedway is dying on its feet' brigade but I think I am now beginning to see that they have a point. To hear Mr. Harkess say that that was an entertaining meeting is about as clear a case of the Emperor's new clothes as anyone could wish to see. It was poor entertainment and, having been to every plrc since 2000, I will give serious thought whether to go again. That's it, rant over.

Yes, but possibly accurate - and he did turn up. It's meetings like this that make me doubt if some of the people who take money out of this sport actually care about much but that.

I wonder if SW was saving himself for Belle Vue today - the most disappointing PLRC Performance in Diamonds colours I can recall since Pepe Franc was passed by the track reserve.