DaveWayne

Maybe it's just me, but I really don't get what all the fuss is about. At the point the decision was made, in order to win the title Leicester would have had to defeat either Ipswich or Belle Vue in the semis, then either Sheffield or the other of Ipswich and Belle Vue in the final. Now they have to beat Ipswich in the semis, then Sheffield or Belle Vue in the final. What is so different ? The reasons for the decision have been explained and all the teams agreed, so why is it a farce, a fix, or anything else ? Oh, please keep missing a letter out and referring to it as the pay offs, because that is so hilarious !!

Unless he doesn't fit next season due to averages, I think you have zero chance of prising Picko out of Sheffield !!

But Belle Vue wouldn't have had a choice between Sheffield and Ipswich. They were 3rd and Ipswich 4th, so Belle Vue were either against Leicester or Sheffield.

Yes they could have done what you said, but the teams agreed to do what they have done so why just blame Phil Morris or the SCB ? I'm pretty sure they would have discussed all options and come to a conscensus that this was the favourable one, not just said "this is what we are doing, do you agree ?". Yes I hope I get the sports entertainment I deserve, after all that is why I spend my money, to be entertained !!

Each to their own, but I really don't get the outrage you have about this, and why you consider them to be rigged ? At the end of the day you still have to beat 2 of the 3 other teams to win the title, and it's not as if a team that shouldn't be in there has been included. It's also not the first time this has happened. In 2021 there were similar issues with delayed matches and the playoffs were announced on the basis that either Wolverhampton or Peterborough were going to finish top and both had said they would choose each other. Despite this, and the fact the top 4 were settled, Sheffield still had to ride their 'dead rubber' match against Kings Lynn on the Sunday before the playoffs were due to start that week, just 4 days before their scheduled semi final 1st leg. In answer to your other question, I think it is quite clear that in the modern era, just like many other sports, it is sports entertainment.

Totally agreed, and I don't think anyone is disputing that losing your 1 and 5 is a massive blow to any team. However, it's interesting that you have named Pickering in that list as he has only really come into form in the last month or so and is on an average of about 7. It's almost as if people are forgetting that Sheffield have also ridden half the season without their number 5 who was injured only a month after Doyle.

I don't think there is a single person that disputes the 2 riders in question are irreplaceable, but that is the chance your management took when building a team so reliant on those 2 riders. Sheffield took a gamble with a strong 1-5 meaning they have run all season with 2 rising stars at reserve so had we lost 2 of our heat leaders we would also have struggled. The last minute loss of Emil has ruined the end of the season, and we do sympathise, but it was always a risk to put all your eggs in 2 baskets. We are fully aware that you couldn't find a 'like for like' replacement for Doyle, but surely there are riders out there that could have come in and picked up 7-8 points a match, rather than expecting Ellis, King, and Thompson to cover week after week. They are 2nd string riders for a reason and can't do it week in week out for 4 months. Had someone come in back in June when Doyle announced his season was over they would have been fully integrated into the squad and dialled into the UK tracks now when it matters.

So Holder, Woffinden, Musielak, Vissing and Gilkes last season wasn't comparable then ? Not only missing the top 2, but also the injury replacement for one of the top 2 !!

To be fair to King, he was in the following heat so was probably already preparing when the crash happened. It was also at the furthest point on the track from the pits so he would have taken a long time to get there and back. Ellis hadn't raced at that point, and wasn't due out till heat 4, so he was the logical 'buddy' to send out to Thompson.

Lindgren ? Thanks for the final sentence. Glad you realise it isn't our fault as some seem to be blaming us !! And just stepping back a bit, you mentioned signing Chris Holder as a positive yet when we announced him most on here said he was a has been who was poor on most UK tracks.

We didn't sign Lambert. He was a guest. Who have you got lined up to guest in the play offs ?

So different to last year then when Sheffield lost first Holder, then his replacement Woffinden before the KO Cup Final, followed by losing Musielak for the play offs ? Injuries are part of speedway. Yes Ipswich have been unlucky this season, but the fact still remains that Doyle announced his season was over in June. We all know you couldn't find an equal replacement, but surely bringing in a slightly lesser rider amd integrating him into the team would have been better than bumbling along for most of the season with guests and R/R ?

Well maybe you needed to not finish 3rd then. Once Ipswich fell apart the only way to get them was to finish top and your team threw that away by having the worst away record in the top 4. Your only options for the semis were Leicester or Sheffield. No matter how many lawyers you got involved, Ipswich were not a possible opponent.

Any evidence at all to support that last sentence ? Or just more of your twisted hatred of everything Sheffield ?

Isn't that what they have done ? 😉

Sheffield have ridden away at Kings Lynn since BH Monday, and have the KO cup final matches next week, so not exactly back to back.

So when Leicester have beaten Kings Lynn twice this coming week and officially finished top of the table, will it still be a scam or will it then be acceptable even though the semis are exactly the same ? How will there be 4 back to back Belle Vue/Sheffield meetings ?

In all honesty I wouldn't be surprised. I think most have seen Leicester as favourites for the title for a while as they have hit form at the right time. Sheffield don't generally ride Leicester very well so would need a big performance at home to win on aggregate. A lot could depend on who Sheffield pull in to guest. Having said all that, there is the small matter of the semi final first. I don't think Belle Vue will capitulate as easily as on Monday.

Oh yeah, I forgot, it's Sheffield therefore they must be deliberately cheating. 😴

He isn't 😉

First and second yet to be decided, but on current form it is highly likely that Leicester will finish top. Next week was planned as a blank week for build up and organisation of the semi finals. If they had waited till next Friday to announce the dates and fixtures everyone on here would be moaning about short notice for arranging travel plans. If all 4 teams are in agreement then what is the issue ?

What makes you think Ipswich would have been riding a week later if it was against Sheffield ? The first semi is 1st v 4th and Ipswich finished 4th. The only variable was whether they were against Leicester or Ipswich.

Yes, which was the match I was expecting it to be as the British Speedway twitter account had published the revised screenings nearly 2 months earlier. It wasn't me that had a problem with it. 😉

Agreed it makes no difference to Belle Vue whether fans travel or not from a financial point of view, but surely it makes sense not to pee off your fan base by allowing them to travel on false pretences ? In all honesty, a win was always going to be a tough ask with your full 7 riders, so knowing you were a man short may have seen some of your fans choose to stay at home. Imagine how disappointed they were to turn up and discover the line up change that could have been announced by your own club 4-5 hours earlier.

But probably not as early as Belle Vue did. Football teams don't leave it to the home team to announce both sides, they put their own team sheets on social media. Personally, I didn't care who was riding for you, but I'm sure some of your own fans would have liked to have known before setting off as it was obviously going to have an impact on your chances, so they may have decided to stay home and save the petrol and admission money.