Bleeds Pirate Blue

I've been coming to the same conclusion. If Poole are determined to sign a 'true no.1' to spearhead the team, I'd have thought the most likely candidates are NKI or AJ, assuming Magic doesn't want to ride in the UK. Wildcard pick would be Tai as his average is low. Playing silly team-building as it's silly season, I wonder how much room the Pirates would have left if they fielded: NKI Kurtz Tai ??? ??? Woryna Shanes Part of me wants to list Milik on his stupidly low average but I am trying to be remotely realistic. I await the flood of "Tai will only ride for Wolves" posts, in the wake of the mockery of Poole fans saying anything of the sort.

So because we only managed 4th last season we should ignore the multiple league titles, cup competitions etc from the proceeding decade!? Personally, I prefer a more balanced and even handed approach. Matt Ford has consistently built title-contending teams and I think it's fair to say he is likely to do so again (assuming he doesn't sell the club!)

Sorry for the delayed reply. Problem is this forum is a hate-filled cess pool these days so I don't care to frequent as much as I should do as a long-term speedway addict. Anyways, where did I say not wanting Holder in the team means you're not a Poole fan? Didn't I in fact say I was one of those who agreed with KK > Noddy at the start of 2017!? I was just stating my POV that Chris Holder, a legend and future Poole Hall of Famer, with nearly a decade of riding for Poole and winning numerous trophies doesn't deserve to have his legacy pi55ed on. Noddy has done more than enough in Poole colours to get cut some slack. He's earned my respect and admiration, and even if he never lines up in Poole colours again I will always remember him for his service to the club. Looking forward to 2018, if the averages and make up of the team can allow him back in 2018 I'd be fine with that. If he isn't in the team, no biggie either. I trust Matt's ability to build a title-contending team.

Very disappointing to see how fickle some of the Poole fans on here are regarding Chris Holder. Noddy rode his heart out for the Pirates for many seasons, helped us to multiple domestic trophies, and was a superb leader for the team. I don't think he's ever been quite the same since his bad crash at Coventry, and no, he was far from a perfect role model in the last season or two, but you can't just write off everything he did for the Pirates. I was not upset to see him move on to a different team in 2017 because I felt KK was the better option on the averages (so so wrong), but Chris Holder is an all-time Poole legend, and should be remembered as so. Fair enough critique him, but some of the slagging off he's getting in this thread is way over the top. And you call yourselves Poole fans. PAH!

5 of the 7 riders are on guaranteed contracts. So only two of the current 1-7 need to "try" to actually earn money when in Pirates colours...

"B: Overperformers : those who have dropped their average by 10% or less" Sorry, but your naming convention is pretty funny. I'm not sure you can call a rider dropping their GSA by 10% an "over performer"

@Gavan As someone obessed by "facts" and accuracy, you are quoting Steve as saying, Shovlar said "Lambert hit someone and should get a 6 month ban" What he said Lambert "tried to punch" a spectator, which was Steve relaying information he was being given by Pirate Baz. "Trying to" is different from actually hitting someone. But sure, keep fudging things to your twisted narrative. Also, I notice you can scroll through the thread to cherry pick comments of others but can blank the fact I'm calling out your agenda of attacking people who don't agree with you and portraying them as enemies of the sport. All this from a man who attends a handful of meetings a year. Have you ever stopped to think that the bile you pour out on here is driving us diehards apart, rather than bringing us together?

Good win for the lads last night, despite the difficult circumstances. By all accounts Kings Lynn had a complete meltdown and cost themselves the meeting and the respect of a lot of speedway fans. Get well soon Dale. Typically Gavan is on here with his usually agenda. Berate Poole, berate Steve and try and suggest anyone who doesn't agree with his point of view is not a true fan of the sport. Being pleased your team won is now a crime because instead you should be mourning the slow death of British Speedway. These feelings are NOT mutually exclusive Gavan! British Speedway is utterly f****d. Anyone can see that. I'm sad about that. I'm also pleased that Poole won away after a poor performance at home on Wednesday night. Does that make me a bad guy now? As for your comments about Steve being, "a disgrace to the sport pure and simple. He wont be happy until its just Poole speedway left and nobody to race against", please provide evidence of this. That is your inferred opinion from Steve celebrating Poole's four points on this thread. You are reading between the lines and adding your own take. Personally I haven't read that from Steve's comments. Whether you agree with his opinions or not, Steve contributes a lot more to the sport than you do by actually attending meetings, home and away with the Pirates. And this isn't me suggesting you're not a fan because you have other priorities in your life, but you are being the very definition of a keyboard warrior right now. If preventing the demise of the sport is so important to you, how about you actually go and pay to attend a meeting!? And take your kids! Introduce some new fans?

You're attacking the poster, and then taking a dig at Poole in this post. Classic troll Gavin, as usual. I'd say you post perhaps one sensible, non-trolling post in about ten. If you were more accepting of other's points of view, didn't assert your version of events as FACT, weren't so insistent at having the last word and obsessed by all things Starman and Shovvy, you'd probably be a decent contributor to this forum. Shame.

Very disappointing on both regards. Thanks for all the service Kyle. You're a Poole legend in the eyes of myself, and many others. I look forward to seeing you in the skull and crossbones again soon. This is nothing against Paul Starke mind, who has always been a pleasure to watch in Poole colours. As for closing down the Poole forum, well, that's simply laughable behaviour.

@Gavan Fair enough - thanks for the reasoned response, although as Nietzsche said, "There are no facts, only interpretations"

@Gavan What you classify as a "fact" is different to me then. What we have here opinions here from two long-suffering speedway fans (and other adding their two-pennies worth). Just so you know, it is okay to disagree about your perceptions of a rider's talent/ability with other fans of the sport. You don't have to take over a forum thread and bludgeon us all with the same info time and time again. Repeating something, or saying it even louder, doesn't further legitimise your position. Your evidence re: Josh Grajczonek neglected to mention he was a former Poole rider, so has plenty of home track experience for example. Or how, in my opinion, Freddie has been only so so at Poole in the past. For a rider of his calibre I'd have expected more from him on the numerous times I've seen him at Wimborne Road. As for Bates vs Klindt at the NSS, I haven't studied their scores there, but knowing Klindt (gater) and the track (amazing!) a trier like Bates would be the preferred option, but offers much more volatility in his scoring. So its youth, upside and inconsistency vs the more reliable, steady old-hand....

@Gavan You live in a very black and white world.

The first album never gets the respect it deserved... And, if I was to ever suggest a peacemaker between you two, perhaps Fred Durst can get the job done!!

Deliberate quote of Limp Bizkit!?

Fair enough. For what it's worth I am also of the opinion that Shanes' currently looks a little stiff on the bike around Poole. To my eyes he is adopting a grasstrack/longtrack style and riding a smooth and consistent line through the bends, which means he lacks the flexibility to react and changes lines to incidents in front of him etc... I've been going to speedway (and grasstack) for 27 years now, and many fans of the sport are equally long servants and supporters, so it's not unreasonable that we comment on a rider's style on a bike. I also think Shanes' echoes Steve Schofield's style somewhat, it's just last week it seemed more noticeable to me (and Steve!) that Shanes was a little rigid on the bike. I'm a huge fan of Shanes', and certainly want to see him given every opportunity to succeed as a Pirate. Sacking him as part of any team change would be a short-sighted change and not one I'd approve of. Any critique given is done so with his best interests at heart. As you state, we've never sat on a bike and turn a wheel in anger, but we've seen enough races and riders to pass comment... Funnily enough, you comes across as willing to bash Darcy, and certain Poole fans whenever you can. People in glass houses and all that!

Do you not think Steve is allowed to express his opinion? And also think he isn't allowed to express said views?

Highly disappointing display from the Pirates yesterday. It's been a reoccurring trend this year that we are getting slaughtered out of the start, and with the track being pretty slick most weeks, we're getting punished for it. It also seemed like the late afternoon downpour really caught the Poole riders off-guard, albeit no real excuse as all the riders were facing the same conditions. As the wet layer went, and the dust clouds returned, they started to get it together, but it was too late. KK continues to be a major let-down, especially considering some of his performances at Wimborne Road lasts season when he passed Chris Holder from behind several times. He really should be averaging 9+ with ease in this league. Difficulty is replacing him, especially as all the others are hard to drop, so it almost HAS to be a like-for-like swap, and who is there!!?? Shanes is the obvious candidate to go with him if we strengthen at the bottom instead, but that would be pretty ruthless IMO. Everyone knew at the start of the year it would be a tough learning curve for Shanes and I think it would be a short-sighted move to drop him. I'd rather play a role in developing a talented youngster like Shanes than bringing in a less No.1 and keeping Kerr personally.

Your interpretation of my post is misplaced. You are suggesting that I was implying Belle Vue were inferior, which is not true. Firstly I was talking about the Kings Lynn v Belle Vue match, and drew comparisons to their performance on a track that saw similar comments made about it (slick, dusty, poor spectacle for fans). Belle Vue were the better team at Wimborne Road on that particular night. It so happened that the track was as slick as I've personally seen it in a long time, and the Aces were much faster from the gate all meeting long, and punished the Pirates for it, albeit they lost due to Bjerre's engine failure when leading Heat 15. "Most tracks are very slick these days" - sure, and most curry's are "hot", but that doesn't make a Korma the same spiciness and a Phall does it? When the Aces came to visit, the track was especially slick, and Belle Vue handled the conditions much better than Poole did on the night. Funnily enough Poole don't lose often at home, hence the success of recent seasons, so while you may choose to see my words as an "excuse", it's me rationalising a below par performance from a team the perennially challenges for league titles.

Sounds like the second time this year Belle Vue have taken advantage of team seen as title-contenders on their travels by out-gating the home side on a very slick and dusty track. I'd suggest the lesson to be learned here is simple - Belle Vue are a side that can ride ultra-slick tracks very well. If you allow your home track to be prepped in such a way when the Aces visit, you're asking for trouble.

Was just throwing some names into the hat for discussion. This is a forum after all, and giving KK the boot seems the topic-du-jour right now!

If we're looking for non-Poles as a replacement for the disappointing KK, what about Michael Jepsen Jensen or Mikkel Michelsen? Tomas H Jonasson is still an asset... and of course Lindback, although I'm not sure Tonio is one to rely on after last year's debacle. I'd say the best options would be Vaculik, one of the Pawlicki's, or Dudek though. Well, Magic of course, but he doesn't fit. Not sure what Hampel and Sayfutdinov's averages are either...

Very disappointing performance from the Pirates. Firstly, the track was incredibly slick, and somewhat dusty, producing poor racing all night. Whilst I'm aware riders prefer the slicker and therefore 'safer' tracks these days, this was too far in that direction for my taste. There were multiple races when faster riders were unable to pass slower ones in front of them, despite trying multiple lines, and as far as a viewing spectacle goes, last night's product was terrible. Gate 1 provided the heat winner of 6 of the last 8 races I believe. As for the Poole team; KK continues to look slow. I'd say he was better than a week ago, but in all honesty it was hard to tell as it was gate-and-go last night, so even if he was on faster bikes you wouldn't have been able to tell, as you couldn't pass. Holder was underwhelming, but I'm willing to give him a pass for the time being. He needs to improve though. Kerr was trying, but failed to make an impact. The sooner Kyle is back, the better. Kurtz was my rider of the night. He challenged all meeting, and tried both inside and outside lines. He was one of the few riders that made a pass on the night, albeit on the first lap. He's riding the Chris Holder line and its working well. Hansii was solid. Not as good as last week, but probably because he wasn't sharp enough from the gate. Klindt did what was expected from a "super reserve". He scores double figures as long as he is at reserve, and despite his "gating tart" reputation, he was clearly making an effort (albeit futile) when chasing, hence his fall. Shanes rode better than he scored. He continues to look stylish (reminds me of Steve Schofield) and like Kurtz, he was willing to explore multiple lines when chasing. Again, this proved to be a fruitless task on the slick track, other than his last to second in heat two. His gating has been pretty good too, all things considered. Onwards and upwards I guess. Second year in a row when we've been caught out against Belle Vue by our own track prep. It's the same for everyone, but home riders have an expectation....

Poole to win by 16-18. Bet365 have it as Poole -12, SkyBet are Poole -10

People are clear Shov isn't the Poole Management right? And that he can express views on his desires for the sport that do not reflect Poole's best interests? Why does Poole's recent success with Aussies (and Poles) mean that Steve can't push a British riders first agenda? Everything is so black and white!