Cliffeboy

Number four Kyle Newman

Jason Doyle is the first confirmed Rebel. Alex Davies is 2nd Sensation Josh Grajczonek.........didn`t see that one coming.

Agree, can`t think what you would rather be doing then finding out who the Rebels will be this term. Have a nice Christmas mate, I`m already looking forward to crossing swords with you again.

I will be posting the team as it is announced tonight, should be good.

Good luck to Sam, pleased he is fixed up for next season.The Rebels management made a difficult decision over him last term, Gary May called it "one of the hardest he has ever had to make". Unfortunately Sam took it quite badly and a few dollies were thrown out of the pram. He did show some good form towards the end of the season guesting for various teams which bodes well for the Monarchs. Glad that Edinburgh are on board , good luck to them and Sam.

Massive backwards step for Eddie surely to return to Rye if he wants to push on in his career. Bad season for him in 2012, don`t make him a bad rider all of a sudden.

That is the reason I would like him to stay as I believe he does have talent to become more consistent and up his average. Not sure if he will get up into the sevens but certainly six and halfish. What he and we don`t want is for him to stand still which is what happened to Cory, but as I said can`t see that. I laughed at your "can`t remember" quip, join the club mate, on a lot of my posts I will say things like, " I think", "not sure if", "if memory serves me", finishing with hitting the spellcheck.............sometimes furget that though.

Sorry mate imo he is nothing like Simon at all. Alex has many fine away performances under his belt,including a 15 point max up at leicester for young Australia, 8+1 in the play off final the other week. He can be a very tough customer if he gates, and has formed a very good partnership with the skipper.I think he will be a key rider next term. As for Simon, he had two good seasons at home, not sure if that qualifies as "awesome".

Is there any reason for this sort of thing at the end of the season. By all means put forward ideas for people you would like to see next year, but why, the slagging off of certain individuals who at the end of the day were part of a very successful team. James had some very good matches for us and some very bad ones,his main problem was his away form which dipped alarmingly at the end of the season. A quick look at the averages will tell you that he recorded only 10 less first places at home than Jason, for one extra match, and also was our top second string rider finishing with an average just under seven. A return which would have maybe put him in the heat leader category in other teams..I was critical of him myself during the season but mainly because of his constant gating offences which were costing us points.My spies tell me that he is very much a confidence rider, so when things are not going so well he gets quite down.He has stated that he loves it at Somerset, which speaks volumes for his character,, a bit different to another rider who was recently released by the club. If there is no place for James next year I have the feeling the decision will be taken by him in the proper fashion and I wish him all the best wherever he goes.

Don`t agree with you on this one Barney.I think the secret to a good campaign is solid home form and then pick up what you can away.I think all of our guys this year have all been pretty consistent at our place, hence the unbeaten run.I think wholesale changes would be a mistake. New people will have to be bought in due to the averages as we are well over.You always will be gambling on lower ranked riders improving, that`s why I would go with Tom and a three pointer, remember Tom himself was about that at the start of this season. It`s time for Alex and Kyle to move up into the main body of the team,and they will be under most pressure to succeed.I would certainly keep Kyle,Tom and Alex. I think from the remaining guys, Doyley is a no brainer,if he wants to double up again ( please), and JBM,who I think would be top draw in a full season. Sam has probably talked himself out of a place, and Claus who started like a house on fire, lost a bit of form at the end, but he did have two bad bang ups.One thing you can be sure of is that we will have a competitive team again, watch this space.

Have a great night to everyone who is going to the Presentation do down at the OTA this evening. I should imagine it will be a quite lively affair.I wonder who will be Rider of the Year errrrrr,I think "One Horse Race" is the answer.It will be interesting to see who picks up the other awards.I won`t comment on who I think should get the other awards as I don`t see enough matches these days unfortunately,good luck to all riders though, any award that is provided by the fans is always special.

Good team if it happens.

Somerset have a habit of securing riders nobody ever thought of e.g. Zorro,Jorgensen Parker,Jonno,Mcgowan, Sedgeman,Masters , Vissing and JBM to name but a few. All have been good signings,I wouldn`t put it past the management to come up with another little gem.

What an absolute belter of a final meeting,well done to both teams for serving up a match that will be talked about for years to come.It`s also nice to see two of the newer teams in the Prem contesting the final.Somerset have been a great team to follow this year and have been around the top of the table all season despite injuries to all the riders at some stage, great effort all round.I find it a bit odd that people start second guessing decisions made at the match by a management that have got it so right all year. The big talking point has been the Sam Masters thing,I think he will look back in years to come and think maybe he could have conducted himself in a better more adult and professional way.I stuck up for him big time last season over his twitter misdemeanor,citing his youthfulness and maybe getting a bit in front of himself having just won the PLRC.Judging from his most recent comments on Twitter I may have got him pegged wrong......a pity.Somebody needs to take that "boy" in hand and explain to him about "not burning your bridges"He has not had the best of seasons at Somerset this year,but he was always a favourite of the crowd. I believe Gary May when he said it was one of the hardest decisions he had to make releasing Sam,but no one rider is bigger than the club,and the management was proved right judging by the success of the team.I stated in an earlier post that I would love to have Sam back next year, maybe that might not happen now, a shame for both club and him.. I wish him good luck in Argentina where he will get more experience, and also with whoever he rides for next season. ps I cannot believe there is someone on here who does not know who Statman is...........

With Tom now injured I think that now means EVERY rider in the Rebels starting seven has been injured and out at some time this season,just shows again what a great effort it has been to get where we are, regardless of the final outcome, well done everyone.

If Sam has agreed to guest for Scunny then I have to say I`m disappointed in him. I know we released him and he has to earn a living, but it sort of feels like he`s biting the hand that`s been feeding him. I`m sure it would not have been the end of the world for him if he had said no. if he now has a good couple of meetings and the Rebels lose, I feel there may a touch of bitterness towards him for taking the booking. It`s probably me being a bit old fashioned, but I suppose that`s the way speedway works. Hope the weather holds and the Rebels pull it off.

Also provided Sam would WANT to ride against Somerset. I thinking that if Jason goes full time Elite next year a top three of Masters,Vissing and Monberg would be quite tasty. The only reason Sam was released was the three into two don`t go problem as explained by the Rebels management at the time. This coupled with his other meeting s meant we would be a rider short. You have to say the management called that one right.If memory serves me right I think Sam has been rider of the year in the two seasons he has been at Somerset. The club supported him over the Twitter incident last year and bought him back this year aswell, so I don`t think it is quite a "master stroke" yet.

Ok then, so he will be riding for Poole..............

One of them would be when Dak t- boned Vissing in front of a nationwide audience, and Claus was excluded.

Big factor is Doyle is very good around Foxhall, the guest will have big boots to fill.

What a body blow for Somerset and Swindon losing Doyley now. The Fish normally goes quite well at our place, I just hope he does this time.The rest of the Rebels will have to "do it for the Skipper" who has been outstanding all season, get well soon mate and hope to see you skippering us again in 2013.

Well done the Rebels excellent all round performance, now lets finish the job. Good luck to Jason on the PLRC,easily the most consistent performer in the Prem this season , and probably the top double upper aswell as I think the Swindon faithful would testify.

Have to agree on that one.

I would think the riders would like to earn some money.

15 points for Sam Masters,another good show,well done.