STEVEHOLS54

Come on - you can see the poor Holder Jr is ill/sick. No doubt the medical certificates he gave to Peterborough will prove that ;-) Peterborough wont knock it though. They won the Champ 4's without him and just won the KO cup without him. Perhaps there is an omen that he is better not riding at Peterborough in the important meetings ;-)

Whoops - Apologies. Yes I meant Peter Johns. The problem with being a Speedway supporter for 47 years is you slip into old habits. Roger of course was the Wimbledon Speedway rider from many moons ago and maybe his brother I think ?? Yes it was Sealy so apologies again if I misquoted. The main point was though that the split of course had an effect so quickly after the Darcy situation. Notwithstanding having engines that were clearly lacking the speed. Let's hope the guy can move on because if he doesn't then I can see him being out of Torun - maybe Sweden and if they do sign him, Poole. I am sure he will be determined to knuckle down in a dual role of getting his form back and hopefully motivating and giving advice to the young riders. The guy is only 30 not 40/45 and still has much to give to the sport despite what he has already achieved in the last 8/9 years.

Yes I think all Speedway supporters would like to see the (hopefully) new WC back in UK at Swindon for 2018 even though I don't support Swindon. Still want to see him on our tracks and its good for the sport. Also hope the poor bugger can keep clear on injuries for a season as how this guy almost won the WC in 2016 and hopefully will in 2017 is incredible. I suppose being a hard rider always makes it possible you will get into scrapes but man, has he had some serious ones in the last couple of years. Good luck to him as he has done incredibly well to come from the rider he was even into his mid twenties plus to who he is today. As for the team. Well success is great of course but can bring its own problems for the flwg season. IF the BSPA keep at 42 points then Swindon have to shed 4.74 points and for Wolves its even worse at 5.44 - Belle Vue amazingly only 1.98 over. That's a lot to get down for Swindon. Especially if they want to retain Doyle/Morris/Museilak. Also sighted comments about Ellis maybe wanting to stay, but if he has become a Poole asset then something has to give in the Swindon team to shed 4.74 points. There isn't much wiggle room in the bottom 3 with Ellis on 5.56 - BWD on 4.67 and Zach on 3.21. Getting 4.74 points (if it is a 42 point limit as widely being rumoured), then something has to give in the top part of the team. Its going to be interesting but however Roscoe sorts it you cant take away the fact they were brilliant in 2017 and nobody can take that away from the team who won the league and deservedly so considering where they came from at the start and with so many expecting them to be near the bottom rather than the top. They finished top of the league and quite rightly won the play offs to confirm they were the top team. Also partly done at times without Jason Doyel due to injuries. Incredible performance and well done to all at Swindon and their supporters.

Think this is a big season for Chris. He has 99% been given a reprieve with Torun. The well known Polish site have just posted that they see him as a babysitter for young riders coming in at Torun incl Jack Holder who they expect to be in the squad. One would hope that also maybe riding with Jack in UK he will be more settled following the turmoil of what happened to Darcy/his personal relationship due to his break up with Middlo's Daughter and the obvious tuning problems he endured for much of 2017 with his bikes. Something I might add that Zagar had similar issues with Roger John's tuned engines until they found late the problems which allowed Zagar to fly in the last 6/8 weeks of the season. Hopefully Chris's engines for next year will be similarly sorted. I think the guy deserves to be given at least another season with Poole after all he has done for the team for so many seasons. If they include brother Jack then I can see it giving both some stability as they could compliment each other in different ways. Giving Chris a mentor role to young Bro and other young Poole riders (so a similar role to Torun) and also give him stability to help concentrate his mind in banging in more big scores. Its all a big unknown of course but I personally think there is plenty of upside in keeping both Holders. For me a rejuvenated Chris with exciting up and coming young riders such as Kurtz/Holder Jr/Woryna and hopefully also to benefit young Shanes, cant be a bad thing. Its going to be interesting of course as we await with eager anticipation the outcome of the BSPA AGM in NOV and announcements on league make up - team points limits etc. Hopefully Matt Ford will come forth with exciting news on the team shortly afterwards with news on who our number one will be plus some finalisation on if and in what capacity the two Holders will ride.

Perhaps it may not even happen but interesting forum fodder whilst there is little in the way of real news knocking around. Its a long time until March 2018 so we need something to keep the forum going ;-) There is a lot to say in favour of Andersen. it was definitely unfair to expect so much from him in 2017. If he wasn't having to shoulder the heat leader position for so long in 2017 he would have been a decent 2nd and probably 3rd heat leader. I would prefer to have 2 above him and relieve the pressure so he doesn't need to be the one having expectations put on him for big scores every week. He is a serious rider who yes is good in the pits and a motivator who feels it personally when he or the team have not performed. But I feel his scores will continue up and down as he enters the twilight of his career. Think about it as well. Having to do 4 leagues in the peak season (his choice as he tries to max income in his later years) plus Danish Indv Champ -Speedway SEC qualifiers or SGP qualifiers and other indv meetings. Its only natural that ultimately all this travelling must take its toll. Supporters probably take for granted that these guys turn up each week and only have to ride 16/20 laps. Try doing all this crazy commuting on planes and then in many cases long car journeys - POL (Sun) - SWE (Tue) - DK (Wed) - UK maybe fixed days Wed/Thur ?? or whatever days. Factor in all the other meetings its no wonder riders like him can have the odd bad meeting or bad ride. He isn't a young 20/25 year old any more and although lots of experience it must grind you down ultimately if you also have your wife/Partner & Kinds in say DK. Personally I would love to have him stay with Kurtz and Holder Sr. Noises are being made on the forum that MAYBE he will go to Somerset and still stay with Matt Ford when in UK. Yes it would be a loss to a degree BUT that depends on ultimately what Matt has up his sleeve as a number 1 be that Hancock or any other true heat leader. We will in the meantime keep debating as to who may/may not and who we would like to see in the team (as well as disagree on rider ideas).

Maybe but lets not forget he has won 4 WC and the last one only last year. Getting on he may be but he is still arguably the best gater around which would be more than ample for our 4th grade league (after POL EXL/SWE/POL Nice 1). I am sure he could carve out a half decent average against plenty of our inept riders and ageing stars. Think the guy would also be good in the pits for young up and coming riders. Also riders like Janowski have a lot of praise for him saying he was his role model having been the biggest influence on his career. The likes of Kurtz/Holder Jr/Woryna/Shanes and maybe even Ellis could do a lot worse than have the likes of Chris Holder and Hancock riding and being an influence in the pits giving guidance.

Well all this latest news on Hancock is indeed interesting. I wonder if something is bubbling up in respect of him racing in UK?? I say that as recently I made comment about the fact that why near the end of UK season was he in UK at one of Glasgow's meetings (seemed a long ay to come for a WC for a Champ meeting) unless he was offered a good deal to come for the meeting". I now read on Gregs own twitter page today that he is advertising the Glasgow end of season dinner & dance on 28/10 for which he is a special guest attending. The suspicious side of me says - could this and the other visit be maybe a bit of a smoke screen for him signing some mega UK deal with Poole. Lets be honest the guy is an icon with many (Even my local garage has a big poster up of him racing in his office). I am sure he could secure some pretty hefty sponsorship deals and at 47 (48 in June) he knows that the chances of him winning another GP with so much young talent arriving in the GP will get less as he gets towards 50. He isn't even 100% guaranteed a Wildcard for 2018, but I am sure he will having been WC 4 times. If he could be secured on a sensible av then indeed a good signing. Especially if they could also squeeze in BK/CH

I would be very cautious of having Klindt in the team after his nasty injury in 2017. I wasn't over impressed with his av bearing in mind he spent most of it at reserve until moving out 23rd June to main spot and he then got injured shortly after. He only achieved 6.36 GSA from reserve despite all those extra rides and riding against what should have been inferior riders. Riding injured in a couple of meetings in main body of the team then dragged it back further as he could hardly ride a bike by then. I was a bit concerned at some of his scores also in POL/Swe leading up to his injury. Without knowing what toll his injury has taken and having lost nearly 4 months of 2017 will he hit the ground running in 2018 or will he take a couple of months to bed in PLUS chances are he would not come back as a reserve. In that case I would seriously question his scoring capabilities in the main team with the added handicap of feeling his way back. I don't think Poole can afford that luxury after what happened in 2017. I reckon he may be loaned out and only if he is going to be at reserve would I even consider him. No chance if its Woryna and Shanes. If in the unlikely event they chose 45 points as the limit (I wish but I doubt) then they could accommodate Chris Holder plus have a heavy hitter to replace Andersen who can be good - very good, but has also a habit of letting you down at important times. Having said that he is not a number 1 and too much was put on him when many were not performing or injuries. For sure Chris Holder - Kurtz - Andersen and a good number one would be in dreamland with the possibility of Woryna improving if he carries over his impressive Polish form into UK for 2018. The joy of the forum is it allows us to dream and exchange views even if some may think its delusional. If it is 42 points then more difficult unless he goes with the team I mentioned earlier to incl CH/BK/HA as a top 3 in the hope Woryna/Holder Jr will improve as I expect both Ellis and Shanes if signed as the 2 UK riders to be steady rather than big improvements. I am still not convinced on Ellis. Been around a good few years now and although only 22 in March will be starting his 7th year in British Speedway in 2018 having started at 16. He hasn't in my opinion pushed on that much and would not surprise me if he stays in the 5.50/6.50 GSA range. Would hope to be proved wrong but he hasn't pulled up any trees when riding abroad and hasn't broken through into the leagues in POL or SWE. Anyway we can continue to rumour and exchange views ;-)

interesting comment Skidder about Matt assisting Chris with his appeal. Also notice that Chris has been fairly quiet on both his twitter and racing website recently. Maybe Matt with his wiser head has suggested Chris keep out of the limelight while the appeal went through and also maybe in the knowledge that he will be in the side for 2018. After all that went on this year I think no comment is better than some of what was said on social media. Indeed I agree with you that he wont announce any number 1 until after AGM. Doing a quick calculation. IF they make it a 42 point limit. BKurtz/Shanes/Woryna/Holder Snr & Jnr/Ellis comes to 34.22 leaves 7.78. Han Anderson sits on 7.75 so team scrapes in by 0.03. IF they went for another number one then it would seem to put in doubt Holder Sr ?? as they would need a rider with a lower av to accommodate around that number 1 slot ?? We all know the first 3 named are near enough definite, but until the points limit is known plus what plans Matt has for the number one slot then we continue to play the Forum guessing game, which suppose at least it keeps the topic going and ticking along ;-)

Does anyone know when the Poles have their AGM to set the rules on meetings & Countries for 2018 ?? I read this morning that the Polish transfer window is only open for the first 2 weeks of November. (Now that is what you call professional). Would be good for all of us to know when the Poles will announce if the rules on how many Countries riders riding in the POL EXL can ride in will be the same as imposed this year. At least it will help narrow the field further on which riders will/wont be available to probably ride in UK. I.E NKI would only be allowed to do POL/SWE (for which he is already signed) plus his own Country DK as he is a Dane.

The Holder Bros certainly dividing opinion amongst contributors on BSF. I would prefer to have both for reasons aired previously. However we will all have to await Matt Ford to share his words of wisdom with us, and for me it will also depend if they go for a gifted number 1 or whether they go down the strength in depth route using say HA/BK and Chris H. We can debate it all day long and for sure opinion is divided. The points limit on teams will obviously have an impact with the current census of opinion being it will be 42, which for sure limits the possibilities with also needing 2 UK riders included if that remains the rules. In the meantime all we can do to keep the forum going is to air opinions in the hope we guess correctly what the team will be :-) Let's hope the wait isn't too long but suppose with the Poles and Swedes sorting their teams by latest end Nov (if not earlier for most of them) and with hopefully the POL rules on how many leagues a rider can ride in will also be known well before our SGP go sunning their bums in Tenerife for the AGM come mid November. Sorry meant BSPA not SGP :-(

Holder not a No 1 presently but poss to become one again if getting his attitude/problems and engine tuning sorted so on that score would incl him at 7.16 as too good an av not to have him with potential upside. Maybe he will sort it all out as for sure if Torun have agreed to keep him for 2018 (as seems likely from POL website) then he for sure cant afford another miserable season or he will be out. Therefore one can but hope he gets things sorted and he rides more consistently to the level most of us he is capable of. Piotr Pawliki would be good and he showed 4 years ago as a youngster he can ride Poole as evidenced with a max. But what av would he get having not ridden since 2014 ??. A little off the boil in GP this year but lets not forget he won 1 GP this year and is only 23 end of Nov. Easy to forget he is still fairly new to GP scene in only his 2nd season. Not many 22 year olds have achieved what he has. Lindback - Nooooooo. Too inconsistent and unreliable. Killer - Not sure which direction his career is heading. Another Dane who seems to be going South as far as form goes having really set things alight 3/4 years ago. Drabik - Yes please - Any day of the week I would have what is arguably the best young rider in the World. The guy is only 20 in Feb 2018 - World U21 Champ and would have been 2 of those had he not had multiple leg breaks in Sweden in 2016. he excites me potentially as much as a certain D.Ward did. Only Zmarzlik raises the pulse similar. Dudek is good - very good but is Sweden his scores seemed up and down and I wonder how commited he would be. No I think he will so POL/SWE/DK (due to georghical closeness) and also of course in SGP. UK would be way down his list of priorities and I think his form could suffer if he takes on more commuting if he canned say DK. I think suitable number ones with the POL rules (if they stay the same) seem to be be limited also with the SGP being a top priority for those who end up in it. Vaculik maybe if he doesn't qualify (7 points behind Zagar in 8th) or get a Wild Card. But if he doesn't like flying as one poster commented then indeed a big problem. Seems a lot of riders banking on Wild Cards for SGP but with only 4 then they all can fit in. You would think Holder (as first year out of top 8 and a prev World Champ in 2012). Also Nicky Pedersen as a multiple Champ and first real year out and puts bums on seats if only to have people see him fall out with other riders, plus Hancock as multiple Champ plus got injured which maybe why not in top 8. These 3 one would think may get in but others such as Milik/Vaculik/NKI/Piotr Pawliki/Killer/Lindback and others mall be fighting for just one available space. It would imo only be in these circumstance that I could see any of those riding in UK. Another not insignificant point. Chris Holder is sponsored by Monster Energy just as Hancock is. They are arguably their 2 biggest Speedway assets besides Dudek and Woffinden. With their sponsorship into the SGP in a big way can you see the powers that be allowing 2 past SGP World champs not being allowed to ride in the SGP this year as Wild Cards??? Both deserve at least one season as Wild Cards as they have both in the past been so consistently in the top 8 of the SGP.

If it does become an issue and a ban is on its way, then I do hope the SCB don't drag their feet on it and sort it pronto. Last thing we all want in the sport after some of the farces of 2017 is a club whether it be Poole or any other club signing the rider only to later find out he might have a lengthy ban. But knowing the SCB they will (if they take any action at all that is) drag there heels and we will all find out too late in the day. Hope not as there were enough fun and games this year with some of the antics that went on from Riders/promoters and the SCB. But I suppose if he gets/has the requisite medical certificates saying he cant ride then does it not make it difficult for the SCB to take action anyway, even if the circumstances may be deemed somewhat suspicious. Will be interesting but being both a Poole and Holder Jr fan (I mean I view him as a good long term prospect with his head straight) it would concern me if a ban is in the offering as no doubt it would concern Matt Ford. Of course that's IF he is thinking of resigning him for 2018. That is already been the subject of debate on this Forum from both the yes he will and no he wont camps even before this situation.

Reason I posted it here is that IF he doesn't produce required certificates then after all the fuss made after he went to Poland rather than represent Peterborough in the 4's (despite his club having agreed it) then potentially how heavily MAY the SCB come down on him which MAY have an effect on his starting with Poole IF they were to sign him. If its 10 days or so not the end of the World but also with the circumstances as they may view it i.e coinciding with him already being over there, the Aussie GP next week and his brother riding in it etc. The SCB MAYBE could take a very dim view as it doesn't look too clever does it. Be interesting if we hear any more on it over the coming weeks. I would hope not I he is going to ride again for Poole but it doesn't look too clever.

Just saw on Peterborough topic that he is already in Aussie and has a virus/illness and has been given a pain killing injection ?? Read into that what you will but I do hope he gets his medical certificate as after all the crap thrown on Peterborough in fines etc after letting him go to Poland to help secure his POL EXL career for 2018 this does not sound so clever. Incredible timing that he is thousands of miles away in Aussie with Chris riding in next weekends GP. Do we really all believe he was going to come back to ride in the final (if they even got through) and now suddenly is ill. Going to be interesting to see if any fall out from this as some of the Peterborough Forum guys seem less than impressed with what is going down on this one. Mind you the ridiculously long UK season when all sensible speedway Countries shut up shop weeks ago doesn't help.

Just read that Jack Holder didnt ride for Peterborough last night because he was ill according to Glasgow match report. With Peterborough having now qualified for the final of the Champ KO Cup with 2 legs against Ipswich on Sunday and 2nd leg 26th I wonder if he will be recovered. I only question because of course big bruv Chris is riding in the SGP in Melbourne next Saturday 28th. Last year Jack was a reserve. I wonder if he will turn up to give moral support to his bro. If he isn't in this Country for the final then I wonder how that will play out. I could be way off the mark of course but seeing the comment on Glasgow's match report from last night makes me thing "Hmmm I wonder"

So you tease us with your opening comment and then leave us hanging with "Said to much already" ???" Come on Steve if you already put the teaser line out you know full well us Poole Forum followers are going to want some more info. Are you in the know then on what might/will be happening ??

Maybe you can point us in the direction of the right tree then ?? ;-)

I don't disagree with you. BUT - Matt Ford is one of the few who has tried to put ideas forward for the good of the sport and not just his own club. Its not his fault that he took over Poole and turned them into the most successful side of the last 10/15 years. it took a lot of hard work finding good sponsors and getting together good squads which in turn led to multiple league wins. Of course not all clubs have been run as well or as professionally as Poole and some cannot afford the asset base and star riders Poole have had. That is down to his progressive attitude and whilst yeas it was for the betterment of his club why should Speedway be any different to say football. Many sports have the richer clubs and not so rich. Clubs that have different levels of success based on what they can afford and what they cant. Unfortunately Speedway will never have a level playing field but that should not stop good racing. That should also not stop progressive and forward thinking promoters like him having input into how they feel the sport should be run.

Reading the kings Lynn Forum I am hearing the AGM is on about 18th Nov and in Tenerife ....... How true that is I don't know but nothing would surprise me. Maybe they expect some Sunshine to inspire them as we sure need inspiring after the mess of this season. I don't mean either Swindon/Wolverhampton or Belle Vue who were the few shining lights.

Being a promoter/owner of course he is in the BSPA. But I also heard he doesn't normally attend but his co promoter (also an SCB member) attends. Matt has not seen eye to eye with a number of the BSPA members for some time is what I heard. He is a visionary who has always wanted to push the sport forward. Because he runs one of the more financially sound clubs with success and with in the past good sponsors a lot of his views on the way forward have been voted down by the numerous have not's. I think he decided not to attend the meetings as a lot is already decided prior to the AGM and I assume a lot of the progressive elements he supports have not been supported by those who have differing opinions in not being financially viable enough to support overseas top stars or to go for squad systems - higher points limits etc. I assume he gave up a long time ago in banging his head against a wall so he lets his co promoter attend but no doubt has a hot line to any contentious last minute wheeling & dealing any of the have not's may want to throw in to try and dumb down the British league further :-(

Indeed. Probably too late now but he maybe needs to understand not every rider in the team is a World Champ like he is about to become. The word team is exactly that. In teams, one of his talent is expected to also assist other team riders in a thing called "Team Riding". Something he with his arrogant approach doesn't need to do of course as he will always be in demand (especially as World Champ) but its not all about getting to the front only and not bothering to look where your team mate might be and maybe helping him. In The GP of course but no in our watered down 4th tier league (I say that as it comes imo after POL EL/SWE/POL Nice 1). He has been criticised by many for being an Individualist when riding for his team. That saddens me as he was a late developer in respect of finding glory and being best in the World, and I would have hoped that his many years in UK would have taught him it is a team event not an Individual Tournament. Still for all that I would rather have the guy in my team than not :-) He has done incredibly well to go from the calibre of rider he was at Poole even up to his mid twenties to what he has become now.

Sorry Wolfie Yes you are right. The current POL rule will only allow his own league as 3rd choice. Indeed his mind is made up probably. Bet the KL fans will not be happy bunnies but as I have said before riders such as NKI and the HA's of this World are starting to reach twilight of their careers. Can you blame them for maximising income. I read on Polish site that NKI's contract for 2018 is worth in the region of GBP 250/265,000 for 2018 just in Poland alone. Maybe more if they make the playoffs/Gold medal. Add the second highest paying league Swedenon top (providing they do pay him say monthly) plus his own league makes the decision a no brainer. The Aussies and Poles can do Pol Exl /SWE/UK I believe. Its the POL Nice 1 where they can do more as experienced with globetrotting Hans Anderson (4 leagues). But I am sure certain promoters are not too unhappy as some don't want the superstars in our league anyway due to cost. Personally I want to see the top riders but suppose we have to accept we are at best joint third and probably more like 4th best of the leagues taking Pol EXL/Swe/Pol Nice 1 probably ahead of us. At least we don't drop to 5th as the Danes cant afford seven man teams ;-) If people like you and me PB can see that then why cant the so called BSPA experts see it ????? We end up with people starting to get bored with it. No one wants to go when its cold and wet and when all the rest of Europe shut up shop a while ago (mainly). Add to that all the injuries and teams fielding plenty of guests and RR due to injuries etc it doesn't look great. I know the Poles have a lot more money than UK but they still only have a regular season of 14 matches plus max 4 for playoffs. They seem to have plenty of individual and teams tournaments in pairs/fours/ind championships. The Poles only really need to add the Swedish league as evidenced now by so much of their top talent. The odd ones add in DK as on a Wed night it is so easy now to go from Swe Tuesday and drive to DK Wed without having to also base equip there. Even though the Danes may not be the highest payers for the Poles that do go there its not a bad geographical run - Pol Sun - recover Monday - Swe Tue and then drive to DK for Wed. Gives plenty of time to recover for Sundays main league again without constant flights to fly in all over UK for less Money - plus more equip being based here. I will never understand how Hans And has done it for so long (4 leagues) but then again POL Nice 1 doesn't pay the megabucks as does POL EXL I suppose. Plus Hans now needs to maximise what earning potential he does have as he wont be around one assumes in 10 years so indeed the Speedway riders career is not a long one. Unless you are Superman Greg Hancock that is ;-) To me if its 42 points the Holders make sense (as they reside locally to Poole during the season) its just whether Matt Ford wants someone with more potential scoring power to replace HA if he can find such a rider with the points left available. The options are falling away although Vaculik and Milik could be possibilities as they are not Poles but its a case of IF they would give up their home leagues which are small fry. But would they find UK too much to squeeze if with their other Continental commitments being possibly SGP/SEC plus all the individual comp and various qualifiers around Europe. A lot of me says no they won't want the hassle of UK. Unless of course Matt Ford offers a killer deal financially where they can't afford to say no but I doubt it. But with Matt Ford anything may be possible with the right sponsor backing ;-)

Incredible isn't it that the Swedes will probably have their teams complete as will the Poles no doubt before the BSPA have their annual meeting when is it ??. I hear around 18th Nov in Tenerife ??? All this talk of lots of the top riders maybe coming to UK. No chance imo. For example Rospiggana have signed their seven with R.Lambert being the latest after his 2017 team said they didn't want him for next year. Don't see much evidence of these Swedish financial problems that have been mentioned but no doubt there are some. You can see though these guys don't mess around. They get on and sort it out while the likes of the BSPA will be sunning their ar**s in Tenerife trying to sort out how our 4th class league (after Pol EXL/Nice 1/Swe) drives forward). Also the likes of NKI already sorted his new POL team (Torun) and Swe team which means if the rules as per this year, what will he choose DK (as per this year) or UK. He wont be able to choose both assuming the Poles keep same rules in place for POL EXL riders. I for one will not be surprised if both Holders are in the team for 2018. Also from cost perspective will be cheaper than some of the other top riders taking into a/c heavy travel expenses etc. Plus the normal will/wont these other top riders turn up if they give other POL individual meetings priority as well as GP/SEC. I expect maybe more of the same as this year with a lack of top/top riders except MAYBE the likes of Doyle and a few others at best and even he may depend on if we go to fixed race nights. That's on top of the last month plus of the season of teams full of guests and RR due to injuries etc. Only UK could produce such crazy situations due to no squad system.

Neither would I be over concerned if it was topped up with Shanes - Ellis & Woryna (already signed for 2018). Or even throw Milik into the mix on his low GSA. So many poss combinations but again it will come back to Teams points limit plus who wants to come to UK. If as reported by a number of sources/contributors Sweden is in the brown smelly stuff, (well some of them as it wont be all) then maybe some of these guys will consider UK as a second option to Poland. Will require some deep pocket spending though. Lets hope the signings match our hopes and expectations in this game of name next years team ;-)