Kester

Give him the crossword from the Beano, should keep him quiet for a couple of hours.

It doesn't involve Poole but in 2007 Birmingham were trounced away at Rye House (I can't remember which competition it was in, or be bothered to look). In the return leg Rye, who were operating r/r, lost Woffinden and Tommy Allen in the first couple of heats and had to complete the rest of the meeting with 4 riders and lost the meeting and the tie heavily. Obviously, the odds are monumentally heavily against it but it's not impossible.

Good thinking, maybe also put in a few tricky chicanes, that'll catch them out. Also, don't turn on the lights and get our guys to practise blindfolded all week. Then cover the Brummies side of the pits in lucky heather and get some sort of witch to cast a spell over the Poole side, nothing too serious you understand, just so that Poole riders feel like they really need the loo every time they come to the tapes. Then get Paul McKenna to do some really good hypnotherapy-type stuff on the Brummies riders so they feel great. Finally, air-drop some 2009 calenders on Wimbourne Road so they think they're bottom of the league and have no chance anyway. This ties not over yet.

Yeah, he's been lying awake over this one for years. Winning the world title twice will seem insignificant compared to scaling the heights of the EL.

No, it was the right decision. But if you don't show up, whether you're home or away, you're going to get buried.

A shame that the 2 semi-finals saw some decent racing but this has been a complete non-event.

If it was boxing it'd have been stopped by now.

Including you?

Terrible, I've been predicting our downfall all year. As I said earlier on this thread (I think), the fact that we finished top shows what a poor league it's been this season.

Interestingly, if you look at Birmingham's fixtures this year we've faced all the other play-off teams twice. Haven't done similar for other clubs but it would suggest we haven't managed first place by avoiding the decent teams. Agree with your last bit though.

I agree entirely, though it's not whether he wants to, he's unable to. He's completely unable to debate on any level.

That wasn't too bad either.

No, it was brilliant.

You crept in with the same team you had all season did you? 2010 not ring bells? Bees crept in too but were the strongest team come play-off time.

What's that got to do with anything? It's all about how teams are riding now that counts.

We'll need to be within half a dozen to have any chance at all.

Undoubtedly Laurel.

Absolutely agree. Isn't it amazing how every now and then we see where the tentacles of those in power extend to, and how poor that the mods of the BSF kow-tow every time.

I didn't mention being a fan. The fact is you spent the whole of last Winter saying that the team that finished top are the true champions. As I say, it's a good job I remember your rubbish as you clearly don't.

Is this the same Birmingham you've been saying aren't good enough to win the title all season. You really should keep a track of the junk you post as you spend most of your time contradicting yourself. Anyway based on your criteria, which you proclaimed endlessly on here last year, Brum are already champions and this play off final malarkey is just a silly time-waster that we should all ignore. So well done Brummies 2013 champions!!!!!!!

Is anybody that good? Brummies have carried Bomber all season and had Barker and Auty out-of-sorts for large parts of it. Wolves started like a train, suffered with injuries and sub-standard replacements, and have limped to the seasons end. Poole started terribly, 56 re-declarations later they made the play-offs but don't look bullet-proof. Swindon had the best team on paper but Kennett was poor, had iffy reserves and been hurt by absences of key-riders. It's a season that's had some interest due to the close nature of the league table but the fact that Brum, who started with an unfancied team and have carried their number 1, topped the table speaks volumes. It's not about who's been the best this season, but who has generally been least poor. FWIW I suspect Poole will beat us relatively comfortably over the two legs. We have a chance but it'll need everyone on top form on Monday.

And how many clubs can afford that? British speedway has gone way beyond the point that simply raising the points limit will lead to superstar teams and massive crowds. By the same token simply lowering the limit may make teams more affordable in the short term but won't in itself bring any more punters through the door.

Poole far better on the night. Swindon surrendered the initiative early on, looked to maybe have a foothold but then lost it in heat 12. Thereafter the writing really was on the wall. I've got my gloat meter (official unit of measure the 'Shov') out to capture the possible record levels soon to be found on this thread.

Where's Tony Steele when you need him?

Better than Bjerre though, who would have spent lap 3 looking at his engine before pulling onto the centre green.