HadrianDog

Saw Ritchie was riding for Plymouth at Berwick. Is he also at Brough tonight? If so Kyle and Ritchie together would put my bum on the slightly bumpy new concrete of Brough. Wishes to Ben Barker for a speedy and FULL recovery.

Totally agree that some get in for 'fresh air' but many more are 'earning' an entry by doing the hands on dirty jobs which allow the sport to continue on Tyneside. Sheaters, flaggers, graders, even marshals are there are a valid reason, not to mention the poor sods who scrape the adverts clean between heats. The whingers who complain about a 'clique' controlling the club would I suppose vent their anger on another sport following our demise. SHAME ON YOU.

Not going to happen short of a testy. but god, would I pay to see that. Applause resounded the stadium when he visited a couple of years back just to be interviewed by Dalby{where is he by the way} Nicki is true speedway box office.

Not the fault of our management at all. The only thing they did wrong was not postponing the fixture. I bet the Sheffield bosses only saw an easy three points and s.d the entertainment value for the crowd. Two of our riders were forced to ride for their EL teams and two were forced to ride back home in Sweden.

I guess that come Sunday night the thin veneer of a victory over Plymouth will be 'papering over the cracks' in our team. If that allows them some breathing space to re-group, fully recover from injuries sustained and regain some match form then this team may stay together long enough to put at least some pride back in the Diamonds. If that then translates to feet on the terraces, then belief will return. At least one promoter was on the terraces last week not liking all of the current team, so a change may be in the offing though.

Cynically accurate.

Although I called the situation 'laughable' earlier today, our three guests' bigger track knowledge may prove invaluable at Owlerton. Cant see Lewi Kerr being exactly outstanding against Bjerre, but should take the others hopefully. A vintage Doolan showing would also be welcome and if Wilkinson can bring his early Brit. final form then he will be potent. Likely too that Mr Hall may have a point to prove to the Sheffield faithful. Would like to see another Ipswich, but a point would be more likely.

One word- Laughable!

Don't doubt it for a minute. A very useful guest for the Diamonds twice up to now and I guess will be high on our preferred list. In fact I could see him as a 2016 Diamond if he wants it.

They were, for the most part but Henry would have made the diff. methinks.

Unlike a few on here, I am trying to provide only constructive criticism. Would I like to go back to the days of Kenni/Rene? Sure of course I would, but without a magic wand it aint gonna happen in 2015. Maybe the passes were few and far between, but I like a meeting where the result is not a foregone conclusion after heat five. Are we truly competitive against a strong team? Prob. not. Do we need to strengthen up? Yes. Can we afford it. {in both a monetary/team morale} way? Questionable. One thing is certain- far too much of the grandstand was empty of spectators tonight and without revenue this downward spiral is likely to continue.

Def. seeing your point and it may well be that I drop a few meetings this season unless some sort of upturn in fortunes arrive. But tonight I believe it was 15 quid well spent.

Don't know what these lights and transponders can do for the sport other than remove another piece of tradition. If they can improve the start then so be it, but I and I suspect many others would hate to see the loss of tapes.

I know we lost, but it was still cracking entertainment. I did think more fans would have come to watch the mighty Somerset with the return of Richie though. Suppose the armchair critics will be on their band wagon soon bemoaning a home defeat, but with Anton and Christian back fit I think the weak link will only be Neilsen. Maybe harsh on the lad, but maybe we should take advantage of his current average before it drops any lower and make a change. For instance where is Tero Aarnio these days?

That was closer than I expected. Nico Covatti can guest for us any time imo.

A first is always a first. If he can do what he did for us last time, power to the boy.

A question for Dantodan here. Is Covatti going to be the first Argentinian/Italian? to ride for the Diamonds?

Wonder if Rose is getting much sleep now he has a new baby in the house. Does anyone know the extent of the boomerang's injury.

Noticeable that Henry seems to have only the one bike {shoestring budget?} Is he our balance the books rider who comes cheap to make the numbers fit? If so, he is unlikely to be dropped. As to luring Richie away from a potentially multi cup/medal winning Somerset team- that is cloud cuckoo land time. Unless of course you are privy to secret knowledge known to only the inner sanctum of Diamonds management?

It would seem that Rosen's injury is more long term than first thought {according to terrace rumours} If this is the case could we take someone on a months contract as cover with a view to an extension if he proved successful. The mention earlier of getting Henry to reserve somehow also sounds appealing. As to rider availability, that is the big question. Surely an EL rider out there fancies learning a technical track for a few weeks or more if he clicked. I stress that I think it would be most unfair on Rosen if he was dropped again. Dropping Nielsen to bring in a six /seven pointer seems a good shout imo. You mean Lambert surely? We would have 'rocked' to be sure with him and King.

Irrespective of to-nights score line, lets please not jump on the team re-shuffle band wagon. Yes the June averages do allow us some lee-way esp. if we drop an injured Rosen, but do we really want last years' scenario yet again.

Well, we are out of the cup- no shocks there. 'Watching' online, it would seem to have been 'a bad day at the office' for some of our lads. How long before Stevie gets the no1 position back I wonder? Looking forward to reading the comments of those on the terraces when they get back home.

That's Super Stevie Worrall, if you want your rant to be totally accurate. As to the rest- maybe the extra shale added did add to tonight's fun just a little.

Thorsell would tempt me for sure. But for his broken wrist, he would have ridden for us in the year Rosen initially joined us. But have you forgotten last years' debacle? If a re-shuffle is in the air lets just hope all the i's have been dotted and the t's truly crossed lest the BPSA bite our asses yet again. Looked good enough to me. Not our fault if the away riders failed to do there homework for a known technical track.