Grachan

I guess we'll know whether or not it is over-priced by how many people turn up. At the end of the day, that will be the most telling factor.

I guess Swindon did it with Jan Andersson, although he went to Reading once he achieved top quality. There was also Jimmy Nilsen (and Per Jonsson at Reading) although both were seen as hot prospect s beforehand - even though the DofE didn't quite agree!

Of course he isn't. It's obviously one of DC's customary Poole ribbings, not a belittling of Lee.

I think it was pretty well known from the very start that Ward and Holder would become World class. Both were being talked about before they even came to the UK. Janowski not so much so. He was promising at Swindon, but Zengota was probably seen as being better. He came on a lot when at Poole, although his developement is probably more down to the Polish league than here.

I think Craig has clearly been taken out because of the health aspect, and having Bewley there might be of more benefit in the long term anyway. In terms of strenth alone, I agree that Lambert at reserve might have been a good option, but Craig was already out of action this week and this seems a sensible enough decision under the circumstances.

I agree he should be spoken to, although he never said he was sacked by text, he said it was "confirmed" by text - so a bit inconclusive. Why was nobody up in arms when Robert Lambert was dropped from the team originally? Regarding the decision, though, Cook had already pulled out of a match this Thursday due to this, while Lambert was rocking and rolling at Rye House. It's obvious that the manager would have second thoughts in that situstion. With respect to texting, though, it's not a good way of telling someone. I agree.

Why? He's just pulled out of this week's fixtures with exhaustion. Clearly a risk, and there is a ready made replacement in Lambert,

Pretty clear from that. Britain has priority on a Thursday but not on a Wednesday.

I'm not sure it's about greed, as riders are just trying to earn a living. Other than that, though, I couldn't agree more.

I don't think it is unreasonable for all countries to expect priority be given on the days allotted to them. Obviously this is affecting lower-tier clubs too, but there has to be give and take in all countries. If this is managed sensibly on all sides, then there shouldn't be any issue. All I pointed out was that Poland do not have priority on all days of the week apart from two. I was correcting something that was factually incorrect. Nobody is treating anybody with contempt. The speedway world is a lot bigger now. It is natural for Poland to expect their allotted day. Were a British club to want to use a rider on a Monday and a second division Polish side insisted that the rider ride there instead, then that would be a similar situation and the British club would then feel rightly aggrieved if the rider rode in Poland. I really wish that the Second Division clubs who want to use international standard riders would move up into the top tier so that we can have a strong top league as the basis for British speedway. Clubs staying down are holding us back in my opinion. Let's make a good, solid First Division again and I'm sure the sport would improve.

Poland don't have priority on every other day of the week. As far as I understand it, Poland have priority on Sunday, Britain on Monday, Sweden on Tuesday, Denmark on Wednesday, Britain on Thursday (?). Friday and Saturday, I'm not so sure about, although Grand Prix would presumably have those days. If managed properly (which it wasn't), I don't see why there is a problem here. In fact, Britain may actually have greater priority than any country - although Poland get the better deal by having Sundays. If Poland have Sundays as their day, then of course they are going to want priority on that day.

I think that, because of the low points limits over the past few years, the key to success has often been that of making a clever change mid-season when averages come into effect. Either replacing a rider whose average has gone up with a rider of better ability but on a lower average, or if the team average drops, bringing someone in to make up the numbers. Because of this, there has become a bit of an obsession among fans with making changes, as it is seen as the key to success. You see it everywhere now - one bad result, or one bad meeting from a rider, and people are immediately calling for changes.

I agree, Sidney. I think keeping the side together as much as possible can work wonders for team spirit and also crowd association. Sometimes changes can be made, but I think keeping them to a minimum and only where really necessary is the best way. I think you are right that the team will be build around those 3 next year.

Perhaps Poole have reached a point like Swindon did a few years back. With Darcy, Magic and now Chris fallen by the wayside, the basic core of their successful team has gone. It's not unlike Swindon without Rico and Leigh Adams. The team needs to start again. Getting random riders in on lowish averages is all well and good, but a team ethic needs to be in place too. Maybe this year will be something of a fallow year, but I think they need to keep a basic core of a side going. Brady and Josh could be that, and I think it was a mistake to get rid of Hans, as an old-hand was probably required to steady the ship. Shanes could have been a part of that, too. Poole will come good, as long as they don't panic and make too many changes just for the sake of it.

I'm not really sure what point you are trying to make with this. Obviously, all teams are put together with averages and a points limit in mind. You can look at every team in the league and possibly say that the bottom average rider would not have been in the side had the points limit been higher. I think all teams are looking at who can be fitted in by the time they get round to the final signing, but it doesn't necessarily make that rider any less valid once the season gets going, and they are naturally looking at the best option available on whatever average can be fitted in.

That's not how it is, though, so your little witticism falls short.

I did. Sorry about that.

Same old "our league is better than your league" crap from Second Division supporters, I see. As long as that mentality continues, the sport has little chance.

What would make sense is for Rye House to drop down, Ipswich and Sheffield to move up, and the top flight switch from Wednesdays to Thursdays.

The indication here is that it is something to do with the Australian Government rather than the British one. http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/16248978.Middleditch_frustration_at_Holder__39_s_ongoing_absence/

If he has applied for a visa as a father of a UK child (something some people have been alluding to) then they will have taken his passport as part of the application, and these family applications can take as long as 6 months sometimes.

Poland and Czech Republic are both part of Schengen so no passport needed to cross from one to the other.

Didn't they try something similar to that a few years back? A match in 3 parts, with a point up for grabs each time. I don't think it got past the trial stage though. So the final result would be 2-1, 3-0 or whatever. Not sure what happened if one section was a draw though. Maybe they had a run-off.

I see from the Speedway GB website that the reserve can be used at any time. In which casse, this is definitely the best choice for now. Had the reserve not been able to be used at will, it might be a bit of a tougher choice between Cook and Lambert.

The reason you get two or three races in an hour isn't because of the concrete track. It's because it is run in the same way as horse racing.