Big Al

Long Eye - I'm referring to the matches Kauko rode in following his knee injury up until his unfortunate spill on Sunday. Even after his knee brace was fitted, he's been severely limited and especially so on tighter cornered tracks (like BP!) where he's clearly unable to put any significant weight or pressure on his left leg, so he tries to do an Alex Edberg impersonation (a fit version of Alex, I should say!) but gets in a pickle and loses too much control of the bike. I have nothing but respect for Kauko for trying, but I question the decision-making. Leicester pinned their remaining hopes of getting into the playoffs (already thin - despite the "talking-up" by the promotion) on Kauko and Edberg being able to overcome their injuries, return and score well. That just didn't happen, and as far as the rest of this season's concerned, and making changes, the words horse, stable door, shut and bolted come to mind. Trying to find replacements is doubtful, unless we're looking ahead to 2014, but we don't know if there will be a Premier League next year! Where guests can be effective, is when a team develops its own "regular" guest because he pretty much becomes part of the team. But it's too late now to do that, i suppose, so looks like we are left to keep on muddling through. As someone else has said on here, it's just been a series of poor decisions this season. If i can finish on a positive, though, Kev Doolan has been brilliant - he gives it a go no matter what the track's like, rides just about every day somewhere (or so it seems) and keeps everybody's spirits up. Good on yer, Aussie!

Ha ha! Like it! However, I was actually referring to Nemo's capability since his knee injury, up to his accident on Sunday. It's been pretty obvious he's severely limited, even with the knee brace - clearly can't take much if any weight/pressure on his left leg - not too bad on larger tracks but not at places like Beaumont Park where he's had to try a different riding style - one which he is obviously finding difficult. Full marks to the guy for trying, and for the club in standing by him, but there is a limit to how much of a drop in contribution can be worth trying to carry on, isn't there?

I'm a bit puzzled about what goes on, when it comes to riders who are unfit being included in teams. Who decides, and how? I think that Edberg on Saturday was a fiasco, from all accounts. Surely, somebody ought to have known he was unfit - not just unfit but to the extent that he seemingly couldn't complete a lap - not just once but three times. Similarly with Nieminen, it has been clear for some weeks (even after having his brace fitted) that he's only capable of contributing a handful of points per match, so why have Leicester persisted in naming him in the team. I know all about the pitfalls of R/R and guests, but it has all seemed rather amateurish, and taking those 2 matches against Rye, Leicester could and perhaps should have had 5 points from them (and maybe 6), but actually achieved 1. It was interesting to see how Rye handled OIly Allen's situation: he gave it a go on Saturday, but both club and rider obviously came to the conclusion that he wasn't yet capable enpough, and promptly replaced him with Grajczonek at Leicester - whom i wouldn't be surprised was on standby in case Allen wasn't up to it. Look at the outcome. Contrast this with Leicester's approach with Nieminen. Would anyone from Leicester Speedway care to respond to this question, please?