Grachan

Just being typically pessimistic. If you were a Swindon fan you'd understand why! It's very disappointing that Wolves may be without their top two. Even if they cover the points with guest and r/r it spoils it as a spectacle. A major flaw in the play off system really, with injuries being so common in the sport. Hope Lindgren is ok. From what I read it sounds nasty.

The portacabins on the home straight were, I believe, supposed to be just temporary. I also heard that many years were traded off the lease at various times rather than do required work. Such a shame. Even now the stadium land is not built on, although I did recently read about a new complex being built there soon that is connected to the football stadium. I miss Oxford and Reading. If Swindon were to close down too it would be such a shame to have lost all three.

How did Swindon do earlier in the season without Doyle and Morris? Nothing is certain. I've seen enough Swindon disappointments in my time to know that there is no such thing as Swindon just having to turn up. I've already got my 'Swindon were top of the league so are the real champions' posts all worked out in my head. Just in case, like.

That wasn't your original point.

Swindon aren't at full strength. Zach Watsname is out.

Fabulous performance from Swindon, particularly at the end. Good from Poole, too, who really played their part in making it a great match. Felt that Adam Ellis shouldn't have been excluded for his first bend fall as it should have been called back for Andersen's movement at the tapes. Don't get why people are so obsessive about having a go at the commentators. They do just fine, particularly Kelvin who is, after all, a former rider. Then again, people would have been ripping into Dave Lanning (who made just as many mistakes in pre-recorded commentary at Nigel Pearson does live) had he been round today. And he is seen as the consummate speedway commentator. You just can't please some people.

Although the facility has already been granted and I'm sure that it would have been technically fine. I just hope it was Bradley's decision not to ride.

Well done to Belle Vue on what looks like an exciting win. It's funny how matches that look unattractive turn out good like that. People predicting the end of the Robins should note it only needed a Jason Doyle win in the final heat to take the tie. BWD was missed. Hope Swindon can see that now. What I think got us into such great form this year was the spirit in the side. You won't get that with ringer guests. In fact I think we lost that when we lost Zach (or it looked that way anyway).

Obviously I hope Swindon go through from this, but does it really matter any more? If Swindon are going to win anything this year then I want them do do it with their own riders as much as possible.

I agree. In fact, it would be an ideal meeting for him to test his fitness.

On the subject of 'throwing toys out of the pram', which team was guilty of 'throwing their toys out of the pram' and ruined the decent scoring system of league points by saying that their fans didn't link it when they only got 2 points for a home win instead of 3?

Yup. They never went down. Another waste of time with having relegation. Can't remember the exact reason given, but I seem to recall it involved Berwick. If you are going to have promotion and relegation then have it and do it properly, or don't do it at all.

What about Leicester, if they get relegated? Can they then decide to go up?

Why should Lakeside be allowed in the Premiership? Promotion and relegation has been introduced so they should be made to work their way back up.

Whatever points limit they come up with, that will be over it.

Oh well, if he's been rubbish then fair enough. Good idea getting a rubbish guest in at no 6. I wouldn't call Musielak's average baffling, as we knows maths isn't a strong point of the BSPA. Anyway, it's the least they could do after putting Doyle at over 13!

Will miss Zach, but THJ being allowed to guest for BWD just doesn't make sense. Surely there needs to be some sort of grading system for guests.

Wasn't he ever! Shocking. I blame the Poole gate man.

The play offs are rearranged. The original dates given when BT issued their schedule were later than this. I remember this because originally they didn't clash with me being away, but now they do.

Belle Vue may as well say he is withdrawing his services and use a guest or R/R. The season is effectively over anyway if they don't. I remember Swindon took that option a few years back when Renat Gafurov suddenly became unavailable for a playy-off semi at Reading. It wasn't the rider's fault but it was the only chance Swindon had. I think they still lost anyway, and it became the end of their season, but a chance had to be taken.

What have the Belle Vue management said?

You may well be correct, although it's certainly not a clear, written rule that it should be. In fact, the clear written rule says that the result should stand. So, in the end, whether or not the dispensation should be applied comes down to someone's opinion rather than a matter of fact. As I said before, whatever they do decide they need to decide it pretty soon to stop the second leg becoming more of a farce than it already is.

Johansson being able to guest for BWD is crazy! I thought people were taking the Mickey out of the Poole situation until I checked the averages. Having said that, Bradley did get a maximum there earlier in the season. Hmmmm, not really as clear cut as 15.10 though, I'd say. They have specifically stated that results cannot be amended other than for the reasons given. In other words, if the ref makes a cock up on an individual heat result his decision must stand once the meeting result is declared.

The act of removing the points, and amending the score of the match for that reason, would, in itself, be against the rules.

I thought it was a valid enough post from Gus fix. I nearly posted about Freddie Williams myself until I spotted the original post mentioned single time winners.