Super Blue

Anyway, back to speedway. This meeting could go anyway I'm sad to say, injuries to both sides not giving a fair reflection of the encounter it could or should have been. Personally I believe the Witches absentees will damage us more than the Panthers ones will and could give them a much better chance of upsetting our home record. Watching 2 depleted sides for £18 is not ideal in anyone's book, especially for a local Derby, I just hope it's entertaining and worth it!

The more I think about this meeting being televised the more I've come to the conclusion that it's not going to be much of a spectacle for the viewers. The only way it's gonna be even remotely close is with every one of the Witches riders riding to 100% of their capability and got superhuman gating gloves on. Although we've made a good start to the season the above paragraph hasn't really happened yet, it's been our reserves mostly contributing to the victories. I hope we can at least keep the meeting interesting.

On principal I didn't even go to the home televised meeting against Wolves because if Swindon can do deals on entry why can't all the other Premiership teams? I know they wouldn't get double the attendance but at maybe a tenner I would have gone, as it was I enjoyed it from my sofa. The new season with good results so far has seen an increase in attendances at Foxhall but that was certainly not apparent on TV against Wolves. (Due to short sightedness of promotion) As Mikebv said its a flipping (not necessarily the word I would really like to use) long round trip from Ipswich , full price and for me would involve time off work on a Monday, by the time I got home I wouldn't be good for much the next day. Much as I would like to visit the NS Stadium sadly it's not gonna happen on a Monday night. Nuff said.

I seriously doubt I'd be able to get the time off, are Belle Vue offering any deals as it's a televised meeting?

Mr Angry, that takes me back!

Is that all the real Witches fans who don't have to work for a living?

Interesting riding order of Richard Danny Bomber David KP Cam Jake Obviously hoping for a good start from Richard and Danny. If fully fit Jake and Cam will hopefully hold their own. KP with reserves maybe OK with Belle Vue track being more like the Polish ones that he's used to. I am however rather concerned over the Bomber/David pairing . One can't gate for toffees and the other has mostly been pretty awful this season. I just hope I'm wrong but to me this partnership has 5-1's against written all over it. Maybe we could get something from the meeting but I doubt it. Come on guys prove me wrong !!

Heeps and Allen - good news Lawson No1 - Hmmmm Suppose it depends on how the rest of the top end line up is tweaked. Lawson has been doing pretty well trapping and winning from inside gates. Be interesting to see how this pans out. Changing the subject, King's Lynn have stated that Cook is replacing Riss, will they then be dumping Proctor when Riss is fit or will he be available? Actually I don't even know why I'm asking this, I'm sure we wont be strengthening up by replacing the underperforming riders!

Hopefully won't be too long but I'm no medical expert, suppose its relevant to extent of damage.

Scunny have mentioned shoulder ligaments injury but that's about it as far as I can tell. More than we've been told!

Ultimately all teams have underperforming riders and ones that exceed expectations. Given our record for waiting far too long to replace the bad ones can anyone realistically believe we'll see changes anytime soon because I certainly can't?

Question as to why no deal has been offered is who made that decision, Buster or Chris Louis? Whoever it was I feel is rather short sighted with the potential of getting more people in than usual for the cameras and for future meetings. I just think they've missed an opportunity here that just maybe could cost them in the future, but it is only my opinion of course.

Maybe he's saving his best bikes and performance to showcase himself on TV. As far as crowd is concerned I really do hope it holds up for them, I've said on other threads season ticket holders will be there as it would be a waste not to go. For me it would be my 3rd live speedway meeting in 5 days and I don't get paid till Friday so I'm saving the £18.

Hopefully Kevin will be taking his own lollipops given how many of the massif may not be there tonight!

Must admit I've been pretty impressed with what I've seen so far as well. So far generally we've been able to reasonably cover the odd one or two having an off night, if they all click at the same we we be a very difficult team to beat especially at home. Just a shame that when the TV cameras are there on Monday night they won't be seeing the Massif in full voice. I believe there will be at least 7 or 8 of just us missing. I hope the TV money covers the lack of funds coming in from a reduced crowd! If they had done something similar to Swindon (buy one get one free entry) or a reduced price (maybe a tenner) they would have a much bigger attendance to impress the box watchers. As it is a Golden ticket for one lucky person to win £500 is not incentive enough for me to attend. I'll save my £18 and be watching from my sofa.

I'm going tonight but I'll be on my sofa Monday Baldy. And Chris hasn't responded to my tweet so I'm going with everyone else that nothing is going to be offered to incentivise us for Monday!

Alas 1 chance of £500 wouldn't be enough incentive to tempt me to go . I buy the draw tickets every week and win Jack sh*t so I've got no chance of this. Fair play to whoever does go and wins it.

Season ticket holders will be there Monday but as I don't have one my options are watch it for the BT Sport I pay for or go if its cheaper. If they do nothing I reckon it will be one of the lowest crowds of the season!

Anyway, back to this meeting. An official top flight meeting or not I will be there unless unforseen circumstances arise. The enforced guests for Poole definitely makes them stronger especially around Foxhall as the missing riders are 1 in form but never really shown it at Ipswich before and a gating tart who either wins or does nothing. On the subject of supporters not attending because of changes etc I'm more interested to know what the promotion are going to do to encourage a decent crowd for the televised meeting on Monday. Apparently Swindon did an offer of a BOGOF entry for theirs and if the Witches don't do something similar or maybe a tenner I'm very tempted to save £18 and watch it on the box.

Crowds always better on bank hols especially when a local derby and also well boosted by family and friends of all the junior meeting riders . On the topic of this thread though Bomber is currently quite a worry for the Witches cos if your no1 is only scoring a single point at home you're always going to struggle to win any meetings convincingly ! It seems that different Witches seem to be coming to the party to save the day each week . Ah well , 3pt's is the main thing .

Taking a look through the Witches scorers last night Bomber, maybe one too many meetings too quickly after his injury, should be scoring at least double figures as no1 on his own track. David, struggling at the moment and needs to buck his ideas up if he wants a full quota of rides every week. Probably not too long before he ends up at reserve. Danny, definitely got issues this season, just doesn't seem to have any speed or gating to pick up enough points at the moment. Needs to work his problems out ASAP. Krystian, certainly a tryer who doesn't give up, puts himself about and I'm sure will come good in time. Richard, well he is who he is and seems to rely a lot on gating and doesn't do a lot of passing unfortunately. Cam, after a blistering start to the season seemed a bit subdued last night, everyone can have an off night, keep up the good work lad. Jake, what a star of the show and a phenomenal ride to take the maximum off Mr Doyle, maybe just one too many rides though, must have been knackered. Disappointing to allow Swindon to pick up a point on the night having controlled most of the meeting. Swindons strong top end gained them the point that probably secures them top spot in the Supporter's Cup group, I'm sure they will certainly be there or thereabouts in the league come the end of the season.

It has actually stopped raining now, will keep you updated if things change and its in doubt.

Without wanting to (and I really don't) to bring up the weather I hope the forecasters are correct that it's going to brighten up a bit later ! It's pretty damn horrible at the moment with plenty of rain falling, it's not massively heavy but it's steady. Hopefully not too much damage is done to the track and we get a meeting on tonight.

Doesn't matter what people think of Buster, he's taken over clubs to keep the top league going, it is what it is and we'll just have to wait and see how it all pans out over the season. Anyway, it was a good enjoyable meeting with some passing ( unusual at Foxhall of late), certainly a very decent crowd and it's always satisfying to comfortably beat the old enemy, long may it continue !