Crump99

It wasn't 15 mins. The timings were: heat 1 eventually at 5.30; 8 heats to 6.30; heat 10 interval 6.50 to 6.55; meeting finish 7.40 Apart from Konopka though, which he thankfully walked away from, and the track/medical staff dealt with quickly, effectively and efficiently, there was thankfully nothing to warrant such lengthy delays. Transpose those accidents to a Sky meeting and only heat 11 would justify the length of the delay.

Not that old chestnut Well worth watching but I can't cope with another 2 1/2 hours of "I'm now talking to" breaking the atmos' so will have to make do with a video. (better remove your like now dp )

That's true, and unless we know the real "why" here, then we'll just have to form our own sectarian opinions: "But, after long discussions involving rival promoter Damien Bates and the British Speedway Promoters’ Association (BSPA), Rathbone has been told his team must appear at Owlerton." Anyway, it'll all be forgotten by 7pm today!

You know full well the difference between a date in the calendar and negotiation with agreement.

That's handy then isn't it because Sheffield are good at short notice. They arranged a fixture at short notice that only they wanted, so arranging a guest that they were always likely to need, even this late in the day, is small change to them

Good job too. A tractor convoy on the A14 would play merry hell with the other Sunday drivers.

That was my initial thought. There are no prizes at this stage but progression and increasing difficulty. That's really a news item for a final so difficult to top that. However, as has been proved all season, Rathbone does his best to try and make it work so nobody can knock him for that. Ironically, if Panthers had done similar, hitting the right targets, in previous years then he, and we, would probably not be here now. "Anything that makes a noise or adds to the atmosphere is fine by me" - I'd just like to add that if you agree with that then you better sit in the cheap seats at the EoES or stand on the grass

I can appreciate why you keep telling yourself that. When in reality your best chances are Bob Hope and No Hope, you need to keep your pecker up

Our last 4 home matches we've won 2 and lost 2 (albeit losing against decent opposition and not a ragbag outfit) so we need to keep everyone on their toes really to avoid any complacency or slip up.

Given the size of the place, even though much reduced these days, it still shouldn't be too difficult, but organisation, cooperation and communication at the EoES aren't strong points these days. There are occasional exceptions of course but when you've been to speedway at the EoE Show, Expo Steam, with the Motorhome Show and the Bible bashers both in town etc, you'll appreciate what a widdle in the ocean a few doggies is. That's not a go at you but a reflection of how far speedway has fallen down the pecking order over the last decade or so.

The day's of a large EoES with plenty of access methods are long gone, as is the abilty for 2 events run side by side always and without problems. England playing on the 9th and no Prem fixtures on Sunday Well someone's come out smelling of roses if that's how it pans out!

Is that right Jeez, that was close!

We can't do anything about injuries but we chose Sunday with it's associated problems, whereas we originally wanted the tie to be settled on the Thurs 24th & Fri 25th. Should have stuck to the 25th if still available, that would potentially have helped with a guest situation, if it is seen as a problem?

Not the only criteria: remember this? "I will never forget that the 2006 Grand Final, arguably the greatest modern day meeting ever, watched live by over 6000 people and by thousands more at home, was followed by a Craven Shield fixture attended by less than 700 people. If that Grand Final won’t pull people in, then what will?!?!" To answer the question: decent opposition, meaningful competition, decent presentation and communications, and more than 3 days between fixtures (the Grand final was Mon 9th & the probably meaningless Craven Shield with B.Vue/Coventry was the 12th).

The 3rd scenarios are one and the same thing.

In its present form I agree, so it's a wait and see really although we know that many decisions will have already been taken anyway. If the EL somehow gets bigger & stronger then you can bet it'll be at the expense of the leagues below. That's why such statements are reasonable based on what we know, it's what we don't know that's the problem.

Fair point about MH who was starting with a handicap, but nothing that couldn't have been done before really? Sundays were obviously a no go but we never had a competetive team until the latter half of 2013 and the club appeared to some extent to disengage from the majority of its fans (especially when they named the 2012 team) - they seriously needed a Rathbone onboard. Frost said crowds picked up when the team started to do well, pretty standard logic really, especially in Paterborough.

Live in hope Rodders, live in hope Having said that, it's not too bad now given better presentation and only turning the roving mic on sparingly for relevant info that can be heard. The PL is like treading water though, you're not going anywhere. The EL is currently continuing pants with the PL being the better league atm, but will it stay that way, who knows? If they ever sort the EL out, in terms of size and quality, before it fully implodes, then it might once again be the place to be, however, under current rules and set up, it pains me to say that Panthers are probably in the best place?

Not unless there's a get out clause in the Poole sponsorship. Readypower Panthers and Readypower Pirates in one league doesn't sound right so we'd require a new team sponsor. Then the scenario is Panthers owner being the headline sponsor of his club's biggest rival. Sounds a dogs dinner. Perhaps Rick and Julie have a buyer for the club who want to make the upward move? That might work.

Seems unlikely unless there's a get out clause in the Poole sponsorship, but with Ford wanting to possibly extend the deal after 2 years then it looks like we're stuck with what we have.

Think that you need to clarify that post, it makes as much sense as "Wir wollen ein Auto mieten", which we all now know is volunteering to go out to get some meat.

The only surprise is are that people are still banging about this, like Peterborough have found a new way of testing the rule book. Most people seem to have made their minds up on this anyway without the full facts that the decision makers had. If it was just clever on Panthers part then it's about time, but it wasn't the first time such a situation will occur within speedway and it'll not be the last. It was only sickness and diarrhoea on Thursday. Doubt that it was an issue by the time Saturday came around so not worth a mention. so just to expand on the thinking behind:

A good businessman does not necessarily make a good speedway promoter. Rick made a lot of bad decisions from the off. His management team being one of the biggest as they couldn't pick a team (despite a serious asset list), couldn't play the game and his club was allowed to somewhat disengage from its fan base with (what appeared to be at least) a them and us mentality. If you compare that to Rathbone who appears to be competent in all of those areas, and in a short space of time, that tells you more about why Rick was lost, hopefully only short term? But with speedway still speeding yearly down the Hahnenkamm, unless it reaches the bottom and starts going uphill again then I doubt that he'll be back at the sharp end. That's a shame because I'd have Rick and Julie back like a shot. Despite the moaning about the bits I didn't like, overall I liked what they put on and used to like going to the EoES. I can't say that I've felt like that for a couple of years and can take it or leave it now. It's the first time for years that I didn't purchase a season ticket. Well that's well off topic - and breathe!

It'd never get to court, they'd never agree to a date.

I thought that Bratters told me that he had the pleasure? Oops, I mean that's not what I recall my unnamed source telling me but you're probably right Tbh I'd be quite proud to have got under Patchett's skin, so fair play to PO