Fourentee

You snooze, you lose!

As anticipated, Masters signs.

For the record, as many may already have realised, you have a typo in the email address and it should be 'michael' without the second 'a'. But an excellent idea and I'm off to do that email now!

What he said!

Hardly a general opinion, surely? Some informed and constructive criticism, some generally supportive observations...and, admittedly, the occasional usual suspects.

Hardly that. Taking a punt, certainly, and had it come off then I dare say it would have been regarded as a good piece of business. It was an act with some risk attached, of course. But some you win, some you lose.

Without passing comment on the specific names you mention I have, in the past, sent a polite formal personal message to one of the KKS subsidiaries, as it were, requesting a list of aliases in order to update my ignore list. Sadly without productive result. I don't bother greatly about those who have multiple accounts (it's always funny when they quote themselves approvingly) but it does stick in the craw to be accused myself.

Stop dodging the issue. I still await your apology for accusing me of having more than one account.

I'll accept your apology when you care to post it. This is the only account I have ever had and I strongly resent any implication to the contrary.

Nothing like a snappy comeback to save face. And that was nothing like a snappy comeback.

Good to see PK making productive use of his retirement time.

Which particular part of "other fans" were you struggling with there?

Indeed. My apologies. Free the lupine one!

And there, ladies and gentlemen, you have it.

I had that down as a classic diversionary tactic!

For what it's worth, the last time there was a play-off (Wolves and Edinburgh) the same question was raised and CVS said categorically that if Wolves lost they would accept their fate and go down, despite much preferring to run in the top tier. I accept that the relevant team strengths at the time were far wider than they are now (I think Wolves gave their No.8 four rides in the away leg) so Wolves were overwhelming favourites and also appreciate that next year's second-tier champions, if not wanting elevation, might not be, shall we say, overly fired up for the two legs. But it's an answer, of sorts, to your question. And surely the issue would have been raised at the AGM in the first place?

Yeah no challenge for Nic to do it with Wolves, having been a member of the 2009 title side. Better to have a go with someone else.

Yes, it's well known that speedway riders -- high-speed, no-brakes motorcyclists -- are, to a man, members of Generation Snowflake whose every career move is swayed by the utterances of a few fans on social media. Try harder.

Ah yes. The meeting when Wolfie used a track rake to write SAM in giant letters in the snow on the centre green. I've very nearly thawed out.

Doesn't normally bother you...

Was expecting you to say the increased difference merely underlined your point! Missed the chance of a comeback there!

'Should have selected', forsooth! What do you expect, CVS to weld Klindt into black and gold kevlars? Harris to sign under duress? Klindt opted for Poole, a track which should suit his style anyway (and no, I haven't checked his scores there) and there seems to be a fair bit of investment at Rye judging by the team assembled. Riders go where riders go. Putting together a team isn't fantasy speedway. I'm not knocking your selection, just the implied assumption that one picks the names, clicks the fingers and that's that.

Now, you remember that earlier discussion about how much CVS appreciates enthusiasm for (and, in passing, loyalty to) the club? Here you have a prime example that ticks every CVS box going.

Perfectly true. But Klindt is pretty much universally acknowledged as the bargain average of 2017, is a club asset and has been used relatively recently by the club as a guest. He's not exactly an unknown coming out of left field. And given the shape of the Wolves team building thus far, it's a lot easier to see that as the product of a thought process which envisaged the inclusion of Klindt than otherwise. The fact that management have declared a pause in team building would lend support to the theory.

Time and again CVS, when discussing signings, lays stress on how keen the rider has been to join. Committing early and enthusiastically has always been a key tenet with him. I've no knowledge on how it went with Klindt, but suspect that any reluctance on the part of the rider has moved CVS swiftly to Plan B (or beyond!). Personally I would have liked to see him in the Wolves line-up, but riders will go where riders want to go so we deal with it and move on.