rabbit

How so Iris? Honestly - Klindt was class today. The highlight of the riders on track imo and that takes some doing with the calibre of Crumpy and Adams, Anton and Bjarne on display. He really was awesome to watch for one so young. Hehe i'm ging to be in trouble with Steve...does look like we were at different meetings. Agree some of the racing was good, but it just didn't have that testimonial / benefit meeting buzz about it and apart from Tony's interview in front of the grandstand he didn't really appear at all other than for his 2 races and final 4 laps. There were no interviews with riders , snippets about memories riding with tony etc... I don't know, maybe I've been spoilt watching the likes of Shane Parkers testimonial in the last year or so and expected too much.

Why? It's a relationship that works. M&M pick the team, do the negotiations and get them all signed up in the close season. Middlo manages the team that's picked - all the management/team decisions on race night are down to him. Obviously M&M know the sort of riders that would fit in at Poole and no doubt there are conversations had during the course of a season about who's hot and who's not in terms of potential signings. Each club has their own way of doing it, and I think if Middlo wasn't happy he'd not have stuck around for the last 7 years.

Spot on Home Straight. That's exactly how it works.

Very strange meeting to be honest, and you're right Sube - it was a whimper. Decent crowd in spite of the rumbles from many saying they'd stay away, but certainly not a huge crowd - no more than a good EL meeting turnout. Tacey broke down on the M25 so ended up by replaced by Marc Andrews - he will no doubt have enjoyed it, but was a little out of his depth to say the least... Rickardsson pulled out after 2 races citing double vision and that he had been unwell all day. For a rider whose benefit it was, he kept a very low profile for much of it. Positives included a fitter looker KK (although his first heat was a real worry looking very slow); a 'Tony' v Rosco match race...which turned out to be Crumpy in full Tony kevlars, helmet and bike...even changed his riding style to mimic TR - no-one guessed until the helmet came off - brilliant ; and finally Nikolai Klindt. Whilst the Danes have guys like this coming through we have no hope - at 17 he is awesome and riding the track like an expert, winding it on around the outside, cutting back and never settling for a place. Started riding at 5 years old and has worked his way up - it shows. If he was British, I have no hesitation in saying he'd have been in that SWC 5 for us - forget your Lewis Bridgers and the ilk (with no disrespect intended to them), this guy missed the gate every time and passed the likes of Adams and Lindback in some pretty fast race times - the last time I saw someone like this it was Antonio and I think this lad is smoother in his style. A great talent just a shame he's holding off riding in the UK for a couple of years. Basically the whole thing felt kinda flat. A shame but that seems to be Tony's epitaph this season.

Apparently it's Rory Schlein...well that's the latest I've heard. It's more like Australia v Poole now.

Sadly I think the corporate machine that is BSI will have as much say in venues as the FIM.

I did wonder if that's what it was. Fair play to him - they were team-mates at Poole when we won the league so a nice touch.

As I think you're referring to my post I'll debate with you. I don't agree that we need a new manager. Whoever is in charge won't get any more points out of the available talent than Middlo. I don't see why we need to change. What we need are more Brits coming through, and that's an inherent fault of the system, not Middlo. People talk about ex-riders managing, fine, but I tell you, a year down the line we will be having this exact same debate as we have done the previous couple of years. Putting someone else in charge won't make a blind bit of difference - if anything might make it worse - the riders have a great rapport with Neil and he treats them all according to their personalities rather than just 'riders' - some need a kick up the arse, others need coaxing and given confidence. But at the end of the day, if the guys on the track can't put in the performances we won't do Jack and we just do not have the concentration of riders at the top level or just outside it that the other top 3 nations do. I don't see any improvement for at least 3 or 4 years to be honest - the likes of Stead still aren't at the top match winning level and the next generation are still too young or inexpercienced atm. If anything I'd say Middlo should be congratulated for making a silk purse of out a sow's ear when we have finished on the rostrom several times in recent years when realistically we shouldn't have had a chance with the injuries we have had. Just my opinion...

What a miserable piece of life you are. Stick to trying to ingratiate yourself at other clubs - you certainly aren't missed at Poole.. Chris - what did Rickardsson do yesterday to do that?

Actually..Middlo - if you're reading this - quit the Team GB job. You don't need this flak. Stick with managing Poole where you know you're appreciated and let some other sucker catch the crap when they don't get the miracle results either!

Never! Us women are always right!

On current form around Reading I'd say replacing Stead was a good move on paper. Plenty of people before the World Cup were saying how poor Simon was around there and the teams from Thursday were a slightly different proposition to tonight!. And isn't hindsight a wonderful thing? If Stead had ridden tonight and scored zippo, then that would have been wrong and he should have brought in Loobie. He had his chance on Thursday and didn't impress. His time will come - was impressed that Middlo gave him the chance to stake his claim on Thursday. Afraid he didn't take it. As for replacing Middlo, as I've said on another thread, with whom, and which riders out there have we been missing as potential match winners? Sure as hell can't think of any. You can out cut your garment according to the cloth.

And exactly who would they have picked for the team then SCB? Do you know what was going on in the pits? Easy to sit and home and play the manager isn't it?

Another intriguing meeting with a bit of everything. If only the GPs and league matches were like this. Quality moments included Boycey looking straight to camera and saying 'that phone is a waste of time' or similar on Trav's exclusion and poor old sophie's face when Hans had his little hissy fit. Brilliant. Oh and some of the racing was good as well. As for VV - I've vowed not to respond to his weasely whining any more. So I won't.

Ok, so name the new manager and name the 5 riders who you think would have won the SWC tonight or any other night on any other track?

Sod the GPs give me the SWC anytime.

I'd agree Paul - they rode out of their skins. But we just didn't have the gating or the total firepower of a Crump or Andersen tonight. I'm as proud of them as you are, but just seeing it realistically. Sometimes pride isn't quite enough to carry you all the way...

We just have to face facts that we don't have the strength of riders available as the other nations do. No disrespect to the team amd Middlo who busted a gut and got us 3rd but we really don't have any riders that you could bet your house on to win a race or be consistent through an entire meeting. Maybe in a few years time but for now, don't think we can ever do more than aspire to the lower rostrom places. It was a valiant effort anyway.

Top quality entertainment tonight. Who needs soaps or muppety reality TV shows when you get the lot in a speedway meeting.

Thankfully your views are not representative of the majority of male posters, just like those comments you refer to are not representative of the majority of women posters on here. Do you prefer your women to walk 5 steps behind you as well?

It's official then - God is a Team GB fan.

I'd agree Shalefan. Middlo kept faith with Steady for the run-off to I assume, see how he went. He's not taking this event lightly and obviously feels that Loobie might give us more of a chance if it's a gaters track. I don't think Simon should feel too bad - he helped get us where we are. It was widely reported by those who've seen Simon around Smallmead that he wasn't the best performer on that track. The fans demand success - you only have to read posts on here to see that, and Loobie's experience and recent scores on the Reading track indicate he might do better than Steady. Horses for courses sums it up perfectly. We'll see tomorrow night whether it worked or not, I just hope Middlo isn't blasted if we get beaten by a better team on the night.

Same here - poor girl. Won't name her - wouldn't want to put her through the same sort of attention Shazzy etc get.

Try here

It already has been. Louis in for Stead.