Fourentee

Fair play, that did make me laugh. Good one!

Indeed. Would be happy with a point.

Excellent piece; thanks for posting.

Thoughts and prayers...

FWIW I watched the TV coverage back yesterday, having attended in person on Monday. Not a great match either way, but I suggest the Stars' unfortunate illness and injury woes made a large contribution there. Certainly the good races (and there were some) seemed far more exciting trackside than on screen; could that impression be a result of Kelvin's more laidback style of commentary?

I’m fine, thanks. Not on here as frequently as before, but still drop in from time to time. Good to see you’re still about.

Steve once told me that 50 per cent of his output was genuine and 50 per cent wind-up and that no-one knew which was which. Including, on occasion, him…

FWIW I watched on Amazon Firestick, which was fine.

Yes. I thought both did well in awful circumstances (particularly Tatum, given his long friendship and professional association with Nigel) , but having two former riders merely duplicates each other's expertise. Think the dynamic is better with an out and out commentator plus an expert analyst. As to finding the right speedway-versed commentator, not easy. Anyone brought in would have to be comfortable with their own style. There's no point attempting to replicate Nigel; you'd just end up with a pallid version of the real thing. David Rowe or Dave Goddard would do well, IMHO.

CVS said at his club's pre-season talk-in that Wolves were featuring in the first televised match. Didn't mention opponents or venue, if I recall correctly.

Good analysis, IMHO. Would be happy with any kind of a home win. Looking forward to the match.

Yes, I take the points. But I also wonder if having what looks a strong pairing for the opening race is designed to ease any heat two pressure on what is a relatively inexperienced reserve pairing. As you say, we should find out soon enough!

Nothing at all, for me!

FWIW I'm happy as it is; I like the Morris/Douglas engine room and putting Worrall at five is like a vote of confidence in him, which should help at a new club. I think the change of track will do him good; it's no reflection on Belle Vue but sometimes a long relationship can go stale and it may suit both parties to split.

CVS mentioned that there are to be no more drawn matches, at the behest of TV (apologies if this is already in the public domain; it was new to me). Drawn match to be settled by a heat 16 with the 4-3-2-0 scoring (or they could be there all night!). Wolves voted against but lost the day; Peter Adams looked particularly miffed (as the architect of the previous system) but said he bowed to a democratic majority.

I believe state top four suffices.

Congratulations to Peterborough, a side which has comfortably exceeded most people's expectations (mine included) over the course of the season. Honestly thought Belle Vue would turn them over during the course of the two legs; the rally from 10 down at the NSS appeared pivotal at the time and probably gave them the confidence to push on tonight. Commiserations to Belle Vue, who must be heartily sick of these near-misses.

Congratulations to Peterborough on their victory. Panthers v (in all probability) Aces has the potential to be a really good final for the neutral, given that both sides go well on each others' circuits. Disappointing for Wolves but, hey, that's sport and we go again.

Surely you can use the outcome of previous matches to take a form line going forward? Otherwise Peterborough would, presumably, have picked Sheffield!

I would never applaud the loss of a track, but I do hope this move does not rebound on Rob Grant. Decisions made in the grip of strong emotion are frequently not wise ones. But, good news for the sport in general and the Diamonds fans in particular. Fingers crossed.

By that logic you'd be overwhelming favourites against Belle Vue in the final, then? No, thought not...

And had the home leg first each time, I believe.

No point. Different track prep only unsettles the home side. Look at all the consternation over the surface for P'boro v Sheffield.

Think the Alwalton leg might be fairly tight, actually, but only if Wolves can carry some sort of lead into the match. They only lost there by eight in the second league encounter and that was after dropping a last-heat 5-1. Their problem, ironically, may well be in trying to establish any kind of advantage from the home leg. Harris at No.2 worked like a dream in the second Monmore match and you can bet your last penny that he'll be in the same slot on Monday (I'm assuming Ostergaard still tops the averages?). If Peterborough don't have many to make up, leg two could be a long old night for Wolves. But if they could somehow dig out an unlikely 10-point home win and keep it tight away early on, then we could have an interesting tie on our hands. But, overall, you'd have to make Peterborough favourites -- not overwhelmingly, but certainly 60-40% or thereabouts.

I don't blame them!