Glennylion

I am sure that there has to be a mix of what everyone is saying including Lions12. Over the 3 years I have watched a handful of riders try the outsde line and it often has worked. I have seen Hall this year, can remember Bach doing the same at the end of last year where he reeled in Graverson (i think) for 2 laps and made his move. Clearly the track isn't right but I often feel that not enough of them try an alternative line. It may work it may not. I had Graverson down as having a pass on the first bend of lap 2 in heat 8. Not a DH basher by any stretch but was staggered by DH's comments in the programme. Not really a fan of publicly telling the riders that they are looking to replace them, amazed by his rant at the internet comments and having had the support that most would love, has one low attendance and rather than take a step back and look at the number of reasons, decides to warn everyone with the 'sustainability'. David, as it is a Saturday night I go every fortnight. It was a cold, wet night but more importantly it was a dead rubber. With MY spare cash I made a choice and went last night instead as I thought it was likely to be more meaningful and thought I would enjoy it more. If you are unhappy with my choice with MY cash then please feel free and to let me know and i will have my employer transfer my earnings directly to you as it seems to be that you think i should or I will have to stop going. I don't do ultimatums or the emotional blackmail of sustainability. Please let me know. Back to the speedway. I thought Doolan looked excellent last night. Best I have seen him and my reservations about him have been swept aside. Neilson looked a different rider after his spill. Blackbird was unlucky in 12 after riding a terrific 1st/2nd bend to get out in front. Only nemo riding below average and some with some bad luck means that this week I am unsure who he will look to axe.

52-25 with 2 left. Been looking forward to going tomorrow but me and mine will be giving this a miss now. Takes some doing to be as inept as this. Glyn did say that they had built a team this year to be more competitive away from home. Yeah right.

Lions by 8. Howe to score well, but Bjerre and Blackbird to see Lions home.

Magic effect of the Dave Darcy interview, uniting the fans. A masterstroke by DH.

Lewis looked very much improved and as I said earlier in the thread, could be the difference especially if someone funds a machine. If it makes that much of a difference couldn't the club buy it and 'rent' it to him? The Roynon issue needs looking at. If he is out for at least 2 weeks and possibly a while longer then that weak link can't be covered in the 2 cup competitions. I am still a tad concerned at Doolan especially at 5.

Not sure you can gauge everything on last night. After 2 heats I thought that the changes had made things worse as the reserves didn't seem to handle it too well and i think that confidence suffered a fair bit. First time out in freezing conditions, blowing cobwebs away etc... time will tell. I feared the worse at half way but under the circumstances was pleased with the team. My main reservation this year was Blackbird but also thought if he got his act together (points wise), we will have a reserve on a false average as his points were so poor last year. After a good start at Scunny, he added points yesterday and looked good(especially after heat 2 where points were tossed away). If he carries on like this, he could be the difference to a decent season or top season for the Lions. Bjerre looks a class act to me and but from engine failure when in front would have had a very productive evening. Graverson scored well, Nemo was Nemo, Neilson scored well (although his slowness in turn 3 held Doolan up and enabled Hall to come round the outside). Doolan I don't think should be at 5. Without Roynon and for first home match of the season and gremlins etc....decent performance. Stead look quality and Wells to an extent. Hall did for me what Hall does at BP. Interesting on a night where programmes went up to £3, that Sheffield advised that they were included in their admission costs.

I know nothing of track design and what makes a good track but was surprised when I saw the videos Volty put up and wonder just what change that will actual make. Lets wait and see though.

I agree. LB on a 3 point average rode at 1.87?. He always seemed close but the points just didn't come. Hopefully a winter of development, more experience and a bit of fine tuning will produce the points. First couple of months will be big for Lewis.

Noted. Must try harder.

I take it, the riders are in the process of purchasing the club off of DH then seeing as they are employees and were/are providing advice that was/is being adhered to.

I may be wrong, but didn't Glyn merely state that the changes were to be made after the training day and he would be back on 18th? I popped down saturday and the weather was lovely, they were working on bend one and doing somethign to the outside of bend 4. Perhaps it was decided to start when the weather was so nice. Perhaps, email or Skype or the phone meant that they all were in touch last week and discussed it. Does anyone really believe that Glyn having still been in the country when the changes were first suggested had no say and that he didn't provide any input or drawings? If Glyn never approved or designed the changes at that point, then his return would mean that he then looks at it, gives his opinion and then the materials etc...are organised for this coming weekend. Voluntary labour will be available more likely at the weekends and at no point have I seen a post saying back 18th, for work to commence 23rd. Let's wait until it is finished or the facts are known.....not too much to ask or unreasonable is it?

Can understand both sides of the coin here but for me i don't really care that it is to be one sided. If we were riding a challenge against another prem side then I wouldn't go. Not a great fan on non competitve fixtures in any sport especially against teams that you will see several times. However I will be there for this. This is different. When Leicester City play Hinckley etc...in a pre season, do you hear cries of mis match? We'll get beat, so what? In the grand scheme of things does it matter? It'll blow some cobwebs away and it'll serve it's purpose as far as i can see, whilst at the same time giving us a chance to see how SN, KK go. Does the fixture need to be anything other...really? Having witnessed world class riders at the MK testimonal last year, Cov v Leicester i'll do for me.

Glyn, It is appreciated that you can add a bit to the debate and take the guessing and speculation out of the equation whilst also providing an interesting insight to the line up and thought process. The subsequent moaning is utterly staggering.

Hurricanes, I know. He wasn't good for Ipswich but then improved massively for Redcar. Hope that what ever he was missing at Ipswich, he found at Redcar and will come to us in good shape This thing with Peterboro. What will be different next season? If they objected to it this year as they didn't want to lose any elite fans in Leicestershire, will they just do the same next year? Never bend over to those issuing ultimatums

Thought Fisher was coming???? Over the moon with Roynon. Fantastic signing and was impressive last year. Nemo, Bjerre, Neilson and Graverson look like a good solid team. Lets hope Lewis develops and gets the rewards his efforts demand and lets hope Doolan has found his confidence.

Not sure. If track is racier then I am unsure about Karlsson. Just seemed to lack the edge last season for me and he is a gater. Take that away and he may be worse. Never been impressed with Doolan. Fisher, Kerr for Blackbird and AN Other for Bjerre. Looking at the 7 pointers that fit, Roynon was very very good at BP. They were talking full time Elite when injuries cleared up though.

Bjerre is a big miss for me, especially if the track does produce better racing. We need a reserve who contributes more than Blackbird. To have been given his chance and 15 matches later be averaging 1.87 isn't enough. He didn't seem out of his depth and was always there or there abouts but just didn't score the points. I thought he had turned the corner against Workington but it just never happened. May be that he will come on for that but I think it is a huge gamble given his contribution in the half season he was here. What i saw of Kerr, I would give him a go before Blackbird. 1. Fisher 2. Nemo 3. Graverson 4. Neilson 5. Kerr 6. Poole 7. Masters That leaves a heat leader and a back up for 13.55. Eklof was decent at home in particular, whether the new track would change that. I would have him and North or Poole and Masters who have both looked decent at BP

Lionking, By my calculations that gives you 40.63.(maybe wrong though) I think good enough would be Nemo and Bjerre, especially if the track changes suit more racing than currently/previously. I also think that Graverson may get a go at 7. Previously I had seen comments that crowd favourites would be retained. Presumed and hoped that was Nemo but can only think of Graverson or Bjerre. I like Neilson and if we are premier still then would hope he has a place. Fisher looks a shoe in though in either Elite or Premier, probably why Nemo has gone (if he has )

Not bad Honey. Can't see Blackbird with us next season. Doesn't look off the pace but averaging 1.87 in 15 matches and 60 rides without showing any real progress points wise is disappointing. Flip side is that if he does find pace and decent points early then he will still be on a falsely low average for a good while whilst we rise to the table top. Kerr showed up well last week. In PL Fisher will clearly be Number 1. I saw mentioned (i think)that 3 had already signed for next year and the management had said about retaining the crowds favourites. With the EL/PL in the air, I would have thought that the ones that could commit for either would be Nemo, Bjerre, Eklof, Graverson and Karlsson. If there are 3 crowd favourites then Nemo, Grav and Bjerre could be in the mix for both more so than I think Eklof and Karlsson.

If we only pick up a point at Somerset (fairly unlikely i know) then by my calculations we would still need to turn over Somerset by 17 points on aggregate which would mean between a 19 and 23 point home win needed (if league is decided race points like normal table). This leaves me thinking we need more than a point at Somerset or i may have that all wrong! Newcastle have 5 pts, Somerset 4 and Leicester 3. Surely if we nick a point, we would go into Saturday, Somerset 6, Leicester 4 and so a 3 point home win would be needed on Saturday...ONLY. Or indeed I may have got that wrong! 2 Very remote chances.

More tactical issues. It seems to happen week in week out managment mistakes are made. A couple of weeks ago against Rye, Blackbird was allowed to complete his 4 rides as he wouldn't learn or improve by sitting on his toolbox. What has changed from them to now that means both Blackbird or Makinen should be replaced? no tactical in 7? Makinen at number 5?

Nobody came out of last night well other than the odd individual (particularly Roynon and Lawson). I don't know enough about the track to make comment but was surprised at the repeated dirt withdrawal. I can't think many casual or first time supporters would rush back, irrespective of racing quality.

Roynon and Lawson, far too good for MK and KN. Different kettle of fish to our 2 top dogs at the minute but the meeting in general was a real mess throughout and a real poor advert for a night at the speedway. Meeting wrapped up at 9.53 with no big spills and the ambulance never came on to the track.

I'm 4 miles from track and we haven't had a drop. BBQ and in garden all day. Heard big thunder 3 ish, so depending where the others are, it may have missed it completely. As Gemini says though, it drains nicely if there has been