Terrace Grumbler

Sadly I have to agree with Diamond Ernie about Phillips. Time for a change. Sadly I have to agree with Diamond Ernie about Phillips. Time for a change.

How many times will we have ridden Redcar this season by the time Sunday has come and gone?

I would prefer not to give publicity to those with the apparent inability or unwillingness to take a joke (who are nationally known figures within the sport through media work) but basically it seems to me - and it's only my view, of course - that a sledgehammer has been taken to crack a nonexistent nut. I'll pm you b

Spot on. Similar thoughts apply to the sense of humour failure apparent from one of the pages of the programme. The Plymouth team is a rag tag and bobtail bunch. Jack Holder looks decent and as ever Neilsen has given 100% but Coles looks interesting if The promotion happened to be considering a change.

I see we weren't the only people to turn up at BP this afternoon. It was hot and sunny - I should have checked the website. From a personal perspective I can't get to Monday meetings so it's now 5 weeks since we've been to a meeting. With the GP, anda holiday, in July I can't see things improving much. People may find other things to do on a Sunday evening...

Thank you - I stand corrected! Confused of Sunderland

Fair comment. What about the Championship team, and the team the season after that?

Yes, but it's not actually there, is it? (If you can sort it, I'd like to see Paul Bentley take on Sean Wilson round Brough. If you can't manage that, Wilson chasing Stonehewer round the centre green at Owlerton is something I'd pay money to see again)

Well I was almost right...anyhow, Hammer or no Hammer, my point remains...it's great fun picking teams but unless you see the NL riders, you just don't know how good they are/might be around BP. I'm sure that if a change is to be made, it will be done at the right time and in the right way. I can honestly say I enjoyed the Gems' Conference meetings more than I did the PL - what would it cost to run a joint team with Workington, with six home league meetings each?

Interesting discussion - but what I had in mind was a different question. How would a Monarchs team led by Carr, Schott and Schlein, with -say- Dalle Andersson and the early noughties Armadale crew in support fare against this year's seven? Or, would you back a Newcastle team with Eriksson, Olsen (J) and Walsh as its heat leaders against this year's team? I'm not carping and wishing for the old days - I just don't know.

"The Hammer" was RuffDiamond's handle for Dan Greenwood, wasn't it?

From a Newcastle perspective it's great to have two Diamonds in the Grand Final of the British Final. Leaving Robert Lambert aside (as he would be exceptional at any time) how well would, say, the Worralls or Lawson have gone 15 years ago? Would Paul Starke have got to a British Final? The lineup tonight looked to me like a decent end of season PL individual meeting from 10 years or so ago. Is this bad? Or doesn't it matter?

Anyone who thinks The Hammer would be a material upgrade is being optimistic. He was as uncompetitive when he was at BP as Kid Kong is now and while I can't claim to be the greatest student of the NL not much seems to have changed. There is no point in making change for change's sake and I'm sure the management is on the case. In George we trust.

Well said tonight, Roy. Matej may be gone, but he isn't forgotten.

That's very thoughtful, Screm. Awful episode, he was trying so hard to make it a success at Newcastle. It's something to reflect on and may be worth a word or two from Roy tomorrow night.

Doesn't it ha stone r/r? ....by which I meant "doesn't it have to be r/r?" (Hic!)

Serious question about TJ - I ve only seen him at Newcastle and Berwick and unless my memory is failing me I don't think I've ever seen him tear the track up; certainly not at Brough. Is it just that he can't get on with the track st Newcastle? I wish him well - certainly he mustn't become a latter-day Claus Kristensen.

I thoroughly enjoyed tonight- two competitive teams, a well-prepared track, a big crowd and and decent weather. I can't ask for much more on a Sunday evening! Seb Alden reminds me of Robert "the mobile chicane" Eriksson. I was very impressed by Liam Carr, and surely we'll see Theo P in a Diamonds race jacket one day.

What excellent news (disregarding BV for a mo) - EWR here we come!

We'll await confirmation of the Newcastle team before deciding whether to go. In my book it' may not be worthwhile driving several hours and then paying to eatch a Diamonds select. I may be getting jaundiced with my advancing years but the programme of junior racing afterwards doesn't have much attraction either. I'm not sure why because I used to love "stars of tomorrow "-style events.

Interesting signing - VP was always overpriced on a 7pt average but we may be getting him at just the right time, when he has seen the PL tracks once or twice and knows the ropes in this country. I certainly hope so! A big shame for Tero though. I was really impressed by him at the end of last season, especially when he saved us from indignity at the Fours final. Hopefully he'll come back stronger and I'd like to think we'll see him in Diamonds Colours again.

Er, Boxall, surely not! Katajisto might help with flattening out the third bend hole, but not much else. Is Pepe still riding speedway?

Decent meeting tonight if not quite at the level of Roy's hyperbole...I'll not forget Christian as long as we have Matej who if anything is even less of a passer than the Boomerang was(n't) Does "scouring Europe" mean An-ton Ro-Sen? I think it maybe time to look elsewhere. Anyone got an inside track on this?

I'm not sure Rosen for anyone would be a good move. I hope we don't have to make a switch but if we did, Andre would get my vote. Will Lawson was one of the most colourless riders I have seen and I wouldn't be in favour of his coming back even if he wanted to (which, from his interview this afternoon, I wouldn't be sure about anyhow. Tero for me all day if he is fit. I'm not sure Rosen for anyone would be a good move. I hope we don't have to make a switch but if we did, Andre would get my vote. Will Lawson was one of the most colourless riders I have seen and I wouldn't be in favour of his coming back even if he wanted to (which, from his interview this afternoon, I wouldn't be sure about anyhow. Tero for me all day if he is fit.