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Then I can't understand why he didn't take his 3rd ride? If he was injured they could use a reserve. So must've been fit. So risking losing the league title because you're not willing to borrow a bike! Obviously I don't know what's going on behind the scenes, but I wouldn't want someone at my club with that attitude.

Birmingham are lucky Pawlicki isn't there, but with decent guests expect Ipswich to win this one.

Actually I've come to the conclusion that Schroeck's tactics were even worse than first thought, I get grief from Oxford fans on FB, but he keeps showing me how clueless he is. The updates made it look like the tac sub was in heat 11, so I had thought why not wait one race & replace a reserve in heat 12? Now I've seen the official scorecard, the tac sub was actually in heat 5, as Harris has taken the r/r outing in heat 1, that means after ONE ride each, both getting second places, Schroeck had decided not to give Wright or Riss an extra ride & instead give the reserves 8 rides between them. He's totally clueless, it's not even like Riss & Wright had poor first rides. Plus at that stage the reserves had taken 3 rides between them & not beaten an opponent. I understand that for Janowski to replace a reserve they'd have to wait to heat 12, but I still think that is the best tactic. If you're only 4 points down after 11 heats, then you're still in with a chance even if you miss the tac sub opportunity. Either that or give Wright the tac sub outing earlier on? But certainly use the tac sub instead of a reserve imo

I can understand the Prem clubs not wanting a lose a team, but there's no reason the Champ clubs wouldn't want an extra side.

I think it's a shame, no one lent him a bike. Years ago I wouldn't see riders not completing their rides because they didn't have a bike working.

I don't understand that logic, I don't decide wether or not to "give funds" based on weather the sport is dying or not, I base it on wether I think it's value for money or wether I'll be entertained. I would never avoid going to a match I thought would be good just because I think the sport is struggling in the UK.

A couple of odd team manager tactics, Rowe has 4 rides in the first 8 heats, but doesn't race again, despite having secured a 5-1 in his last outing. Can't understand why Kerr didn't replace Lambert in heat 12 rather than Rowe. For Oxford using the tac sub in the r/r spot meant Wright didn't get an extra ride, despite a decent 8+1 score. Normally the tac sub would be used to replace a reserve race. For the fans who attended, did you agree with Riss in heat 13 or should it have been Wright, or nothing between them & either could have been chosen?

There was a group of Sheffield fans shouting "you're getting sacked in the morning" at Mickie Simpson after his engine failure in heat 6, don't know if it was just banter etc but felt out of place in a development league match to me!

On my way South for this match tonight, should be a good one.

They didn't win last Wednesday.

Personally I think there are enough riders for 7 teams, as long as the top riders are shared out. The likes of Sheffield won't like it, but then having 3 top riders, when Birmingham & Lynn were struggling to find one, doesn't do any good for the league.

There's no doubt Flint has been a very disappointing RS for Birmingham this year. But he's still the third best in the league & when Dan T & Rowe are no longer "riding stars" next year, he'll be the highest averaged (in both leagues) RS available. Why wouldn't you want him back? Just because he's been disappointing / not got to grips with his home track, doesn't mean there's anyone better out there. Look at Leicester dropping Joe T for Hagon looked a sensible move, but now look to have ended up with possibly the weakest RS in the league.

I cannot disagree with any of your points, but I will say, they don't fit in with the Spires team changes. For example you say "Vale has shown promise this year but is not ready for this level at present" I would've said the exact same thing about Killeen racing for the Spires, he's shown promise, but not ready for the Premiership yet. When he signed it was during the Cheetahs lull in matches, so wasn't based on a sudden burst of good form (his average had even dropped) after he got signed, he's done even better than expected in both leagues. So using that logic, I think - why not try the same with Vale? If Schroeck is willing to risk the play-offs for the Spires (for youth development), should he not be also willing to risk top spot for the Cheetahs (for youth development) not that there would've been much panic racing Glasgow? Obviously there can be no complaints about Coles, he did a fine job. That was never my point (that Coles wasn't a good guest).

Well I can't know that, unless it's publicised & Schroeck is hardly likely to say "our 3rd choice Connor Coles is guesting today" wouldn't do much for Connor's confidence. So all I can do is question whether they could've gone with one of their NDL squad?

Yeah, I don't get where the Trigger negativity is coming from, I'd rate him above Hodder, Coles, James, Garrad, McGurk, Atkins, Leibmann, Pijper & Perry of the riders who have been in Championship 1-7s this year.

Given that Schroeck seems to really push young riders, even to the extent of weakening the team, why haven't Oxford used one of their NDL riders at 7 tonight? I don't see Scott or Vale as any weaker than Coles at Cowley!

If Birmingham are riding next year, I'd get in Alun Rossiter to run the club / team. He won't want to manage a team picked by someone else, which is fine, if he can't make a team competitive & hopefully avoid losing lots of money, then Birmingham has no hope.

Could finish 2nd & meet Leicester?

That changed it a few years back, I think Wolves & Peterborough, who were 1st & 2nd agreed to meet each other in the play-offs, due to the dates available (from memory). This led to the final league clash between these two teams, to decide who finished 1st or 2nd, being completely pointless as they had already picked each other.

Yep, a team can finish 6th out of 8, lose on the play-offs quarter finals and still win the league. Very unlikely, but ridiculous that it's a possibility.

After defending Pawlicki this season & expecting him to come good, that was just terrible. He should be ashamed of himself, really letting the Birmingham fans down. Shame they can't from him & are stuck with him for the rest of the season.

Technically Speedway is one sport where it should have very little effect on the team, as clubs can use guests. Obviously it's worse in Witches case as their top 2 are so good, now 3 of the top 4 are missing it's even worse. Easier for clubs to cover in the Championship as you don't get days when every club bar one is racing.

Now Janowski has come good, will be a great guest for a play-offs team as his average will be quite low.

Why did Schroeck give Killeen a r/r outing, meaning Riss couldn't get one, then replace Killeen in his last ride with Boughen who had just run 2 last places?

The problem with that, is the rider out in track first usually has an advantage.