Noelinho

Good to see a couple of others wanting Marcin Nowak back. He was told when we had him for a few weeks end of last season. We want entertainment and he certainly gave it. His English wasn’t great but he just seemed like a great guy to have around. No idea what he’s done this season, but if we had a full season of what he gave us a glimpse of, he’d be a very popular rider.

Yes, and I didn’t bother to go myself! For a few reasons, not all speedway related. Have to hold my rain off ticket for next season now.

I’m glad we’ve finally got some clarity. I’m disappointed, but I understand. Is it the real reason? I don’t know. But honestly, for all the noise, the fact is this: clubs should not be left to decide fixtures. I can’t think of any other professional sport where that happens. This is the root of a lot of issues. Fixtures need to be centrally managed, so clubs have regular fixtures and we avoid some of these bun fights. It would remove one of the regular frustrations people have, which is I think at least part of the issue we’ve had with this competition.

Free tickets were around in 2018, and *maybe* 2019, but not since then. The point wasn’t to make the crowd look bigger, it was to entice people in, in the hope they’d pay to come back. Glasgow we’re not break even pre-COVID. The Facennas openly said they were making six figure losses. They were prepared to take some losses as they see it as giving to the community to some extent, but ultimately they are businessmen and they want the club’s finances to be sustainable in the medium term. I would guess they are still absorbing substantial losses. In terms of crowd, I think the figures people are quoting are inflated in line with energy prices. The stand might be able to fit 400 people, but I have never counted 400 people at a Tigers match. The shed may fit 150 people, but I’ve never counted 150 people there. My best estimates from counting at the last match I was at are around 150 in the stand, 150 under the stand and in the shed, and maybe 150 on the back straight. An extra 300 adults through the doors per match would make about £75k extra ticket office revenue over a 14 match home season, so it’s a big gap.

Vissing was great at #3 in 2019. I'd happily take him back too. He can moan all he likes in the pits... I don't stand there!

He started the season well, had quite a dip that wasn't helped by some really bad luck with bikes and a few visits to the polyfoam (and the crashes didn't help the equipment woes), that weren't his fault, but he came back strong in the British final. He's better than his average still, for me. Probably not a ten pointer, but good value as long as he's in the right frame of mind, which is the risk. I'd choose Basso over Craig if I had to take one, because he's just too exciting, but I'd happily have both back. He's a bit of a moaner but I wouldn't mistake that for lack of desire - more frustration, for me. He always looks more relaxed talking to people after matches. I think he just wants to be left to produce his best on track without any distractions, and I can understand that.

The Monarchs noted this in their website post previewing the fixture first thing on Saturday. They didn’t say why, but they did make it clear he wasn’t going to be racing.

Some clubs get exposure, but only because it comes from boneheads mouthing off, which is often worse than not saying much at all! Len Silver always did a good job when he re-started Rye House in the late 90s. Different times though.

To be honest, the club have been very quiet all year, more so than usual. Not much on the website, social media very sporadic too. No mention of the Plymouth match at all, in fact, on Twitter at least. The did post this on the website: Which is a nicer way of saying "we had to go, but none of us really had our hearts in it". Which I fully understand, and especially for someone like Tom who was focused on Belle Vue's playoff final. The Glasgow promotion do a lot of stuff really well, but external facing comms/PR isn't their strong point. They don't come out with anything bad, it's just there's not a lot said. I think it's a reflection of the owners to some extent - they keep themselves to themselves. I think they'd benefit from having someone to push the club's profile and output a bit more.

How’s the weather looking? Miserable here in Glasgow.

Holder was naive there.

All four!

Very harsh, that.

Anyone else got no sound on Eurosport?

If Glasgow have pulled out, it is disappointing, but I understand it too. We’ve had nothing to watch since pretty much the start of August, who would bother to come out now for one last match on a cold, damp October night? Glasgow’s season has been effectively over for two months. I can’t even remember the last home fixture before the playoff semi final, it’s that long ago. Was it Birmingham, maybe?

The others I understand the reasoning - although I’d ask what you think Craig would do, given I reckon Glasgow would like him back based on his average - but why wouldn’t Hume be back? No one seemed disappointed in him?

That's the 16:20 at Ayr Racecourse, I think.

On Thursday on Eurosport we were staring at someone pondering a pie when the starting tapes went up - and that's a regular occurrence! There was also the time the cameraman stood over the tapes... I do think the combo of Kelvin Tatum and Chris Louis works quite well, but Kelvin's not a natural at filler and it's just really odd they have a good presenter on site, who isn't a speedway novice, and they just don't seem to want to use her for much. When BT showed speedway, and you had Nigel and Kelvin doing the commentary, with good filler from Abi/Charlie/Natalie/Kiri and usually Scott Nicholls, and that was much more natural. BSN definitely manage that better, even if the acoustics arent always fantastic. The weirdest thing about the Eurosport coverage is they provide a subscriber stream with no ads, but half the time they just leave it panning the track, so they may as well just show the ads instead! The production just looks really barebones and under resourced - and maybe it is.

They “failed to ride” at Plymouth because it was rained off? And does anyone actually know anything about the Jubilee Cup, or is everyone just pointing fingers? I don’t see why Glasgow wouldn’t want to win a trophy. I thought the Facennas were desperate to buy anything at all costs? That’s the usual insinuation.

It’s not 47-31! They still haven’t noticed! It’s 50-34! The score’s been wrong since before heat 14

Eurosport have got the intern again tonight. The score’s wrong.

Vaculik missed a whole round and only finished 2 points behind Tai, whilst taking 2 wins and a 2nd. More wins and more finals, although Tai did make more semi finals.

They’ve been at Monmore Green so much I’m convinced Sam’s been given a free season ticket. Nice to see another track on display even if they tie is as close to a done deal as you can imagine.

Why would Danyon not return? Also, said it many times: the Premiership is crap. No one in their right mind would join it as it is now, unless is was with a handful of other teams. Six clubs, one of which is homeless after next year? That's not sustainable. No one at Ashfield is saying "you know what'd be really appealing? Six matches against the Peterborough Panthers." And not just because they have two of our riders!

As I thought. Thanks for the confirmation. It is a silly rule - it would be different if you couldn’t put them in at all, although that would be silly too!