rabbit

It's funny - the last couple of years Middlo has been slammed for not picking the youngsters. Now he's put faith in a couple of them, that's wrong and he should have picked an older rider. Just goes to prove you can't please all of the people all of the time. This thread just looks like another VV attempt to put RR's name forward as national team manager.

Has it been confirmed that Chris actually wanted to take part? Just playing devil's advocate here...

Tony will be devastated SCB.

Thanks Rico and Rob. Poor Lukas - thought he'd done enough.

So...for us hard of thinking, can someone post the full list of qualifiers post-run-offs please?

Either Craig is clairvoyant or he made an astute choice. Poor Adam - I really thought he was going to do well in the SWC.

Don't know about the other stadiums, but Poole weren't even asked if they wanted to stage any of the rounds this time around.

Aussies look good damnit - surprised not to see Adam Shields in there though. He's been flying since he came back from injury. Personally think we're heading straight for the run-off.

Nice one Anton! As for wild cards into the final couldn't agree more. Bites the big one as far as I'm concerned.

And also on the Poole site. Had a text earlier from MikeG who's out there to say that there's no Eddie Kennett (should please his doubters) and that Ben Wilson was injured in practice. Apparently Eddie's passport got taken out with his dad in his van... No more news than that atm so don't know if Ben is OK to ride.

There are currently only 3 more teams in the PL than the EL. Can't see that it makes much difference in either league - in fact I'd say with the PT Trophy, some teams see each other just as much as the EL clubs do. The down side of the PL is that you might only get to see a great team once in the League if you're in different regions. Swings and roundabouts.

Sorry to hear this. Best wishes for a speedy recovery Steve. Those poor nurses...

Wasn't there so can't comment but I'd agree he was a little wild in the past (not intentionally just trying too hard), but this year it's like watching a totally different rider. He's smooth, determined and looking a class act.

So when did he last do that Kev?

Great post and couldn't agree more. I might be biased as a Poole fan but this guy for me is what speedway is all about.

If you mean Anton it's his excitability that makes him so refreshing. He's the only mad sod who talks about a hard meeting being 'fun' whilst us fans have bitten our nails down to the quick.

Well Anton is still only 21 - guess he has a few more years to convince people if they're still not sure. Speaking as someone who gets to watch him week in, week out, he is improving so much and smoothing out the rough edges. I'd say compared to a lot of riders he's doing pretty damn well so far.

I can. And I have. And I'm not saying he 'should' be overlooked as if it's some sort of snub to the PL, I'm saying 'will be overlooked' simply because he is not proving himself as being worthy of a team place in terms of the opposition he can and is beating. Seriously until he rides full time in the EL for a period of time. mixing with and beating the level of riders he would be up against in an international competition (as Havvy and Stoney have done in their careers) then he will not get considered. We'll see what his intentions at are the end of this season. If he stays PL again I'll rest my case - his EL performances last year were nowhere close to SWC standard. But here he is another year down the line when the likes of the Lindbacks, Lindgrens etc who are younger than him are already riding on the world stage. That to me says ambition in my personal definition of the word. Others may not agree but it's just my opinion. It's a pointless argument anyway, no-one other than the expected top 5, maybe 6 will get a look in for a team place through the tournament at all.

Totally agree with you about Tony - he might as not be there in the races now. Not the way I'd wish to remember him. Think the fact he is already racing the Porsche series or whatever says more about it - his heart isn't in it and his commitment is now in that discipline.

Fair enough if I took it the wrong way. But Greg can do hard when he wants to...seem to remember him being very harsh on Havvy in one SWC race and almost sticking him in the fence on the line. But hey, you have to be ruthless now and then.

And a third rider too but I can't remember who it was now. No-one had mentioned it before now on here so perhaps I thought it was just me thinking it. Was definitely on the limit of 'hard riding' and I'm sure if certain other riders had done it, that it would have been talked about. PPerhaps the camera angles made it look worse, I don't know The other thing I noticed was Greg talking about what I thought was a great race with Bjarne and then him complaining post-race that Bjarne rode a little hard. What concerned me was his 'what goes around comes around' comment, especially as Poole are at Smallmead on Monday. Just hoping he doesn't have any daft ideas of payback for something that imo was just a good race by both of them. Oh, and why do they always interview the same riders. Leigh Adams at least 3 times tonight...and they always say the same thing every time!

Blimey - going to have to save that post for posterity. Well done to Hans - what a way to rub BSIs nose in it. We sit and wait for them to admit they made a mistake...yeah right. Could grow old in the meantime Great showing by Bjarne and Anton, and far better from Scott and Lee (was well pleased for Rico especially after the flak he's had to take).

I was specifically referring to the youngsters - Havvy has been there and done it and has the pedigree. He could still do a damn good job in the EL as a 3rd heatleader (see his recent guest performances for Coventry and Poole) but for his own reasons chose to go PL - and by his own admission has said that his inclusion in the squad may well be more of an advisory role. Middlo needs the young riders to move up and be taking on and beating the best in order to consider them for the squads. I've nowt against Ricky at all, but really can't see how people can seriously claim he should have a place when he's not riding at the top level in this country. He rode for us doubling up last year and to be honest, was well off the pace on many occasions. After making the most of his maximum doubling up years he hasn't bitten the bullet as say Ollie Allen has done and come up. It hasn't been easy for Ollie either I'm sure but he's reaping the benefits now whilst the likes of Neath and Ashworth remain PL. Each to their own but whether you like the EL or not, if you want to be an international standard rider, you have to show you can mix it with your overseas peers in the higher leagues.

Loobie has to be considered for Reading I'd think. However, although my heart says we'll get to the final, my head says this year we won't. Think the Aussies are looking a bit tasty now that Todd is back and firing on all cylinders and Shieldsy is riding like a thing possessed after his injury. Add them to Crump, Adams etc with Sully thrown in and Face must think it's Christmas come early. And damn, it pains me to say that.

Ricky made the decision for Middlo when he decided to drop back to the PL this year and not come up to the EL full-time. Middlo has always said he'll pick the lads who show ambition - afraid Ricky has shown he'd rather earn easy money in the PL than mix it in the top league like Allen and Bridger to name but two - so why should he get a look in when they haven't. He had his chance to do that this year... Harsh but true I'm afraid. As long as he stays down in the PL he won't get a look in - especially when other English lads are taking the chance to further their careers. And no... I'd not have picked Kennett on current form either but would have gone for Olly Allen. But like Rob says, it's not like they're going to get a ride tbh.