Willowman

Well you know where I stand on this! What do you think of this OT?

I can't believe this is our penultimate home Premiership meeting. What a carp season! "Friday night speedway" ... what speedway?! If we scrape a win tonight, I will be very surprised. Hope the powers to be form two leagues for 2018 and pack them full (and I mean full) of fixtures (early season comp, KO cup, league or possibly x2 home and away with a bigger league) without any double uppers/downers. Dream on Willowman!

Dont' think much to riders airing the dirty washing in public. He didn't complain last year (as far as I know).

Josh is riding.

Its easy to remember; we started properly in 2000, so that makes 17 years of racing. I would guess we were in the CL for about 3 years and old PL since. So a new era begins tonight. Just hope we entertain the KL fans and keep it respectable. KOYR

Likewise I think it is important for the Rebels to show that they are not going to be the pushover everyone suggests. Fingers crossed for a close meeting at least. We've got used to respectful away scores over the last few years. Hopefully we're not going back to the dark old days where Mario Jirout was the only rider to score the majority of our points.

Here now.

That'll be a "k" short of a "Grajczonek" then!

I see Sam Masters is now a Monarch's asset here. Was he ours before the move or had he long since departed? Seems to have got his mature head on since being sacked, thank goodness. Never destined to be a Rebel again though.

You see Naj, all good things come to those who wait. See here and here. Great way to kick off the season, eh?

3 weeks surely? But you may just be correct. Patience Naj, patience.

I notice that the Rebels Press & Practice date has been published here. Have any other clubs done so?

Re: Coventry, TBCs for the away fixtures (fair enough) but x3 home fixtures! What's going on?

By referring to "your squad" it seems like you have targeted your comment at Somerset fans. Without looking back at the thread itself, which I read as it gets updated, I have to say that I think you are really referring to the non-Somerset fans. To be perfectly honest with you, if other Somerset fans are anything like me, I feel that we have lost our "home" and moved into a "house" with us moving up a tier. I don't particularly like this board with all its bickering and in-fighting. It feels like most fans are supportive of their teams and dismissive of the rest than on the board we were in. That's why I'm now more of an observer than a contributor although I wasn't a big poster in any case. Over the years I've seen forum members go from a large crowd of friendly and enthusiastic fans in the CL days to a few die-hards now. Shame really. I'll still be there this coming season though and live in hope that I'm suitably excited.

The wrong one.

"Rohan Tungate 3, D, 2, 3, 3 = 11 Tungate a big off in turn four on lap one after he was leading." in the B final. Not the right outcome but hardly a disaster (as long as he is okay that is). Courtesy of Speedway Updates. What a plonker. Read on a Leicester thread that JS was leading the championship. Lost my link to the Updates site, did a search, clicked on a link. There it was, JS in the lead. Only last year though!!!!!

Just noticed the restriction at the Oak Tree Arena (Somerset) here. Is this due to us now racing in the SGB Premiership and has been likewise at Elite League venues previously or something new?

Well not too bad for the Rebels (see here). Only £1 increase which may have happened irrespective. Here's hoping that the strength of the team is not proportional to the average Premiership admission price.

Well at first glance, that looks like at tasty side you have put together. Nice to see Kyle being snapped up. Rated him highly at Somerset. Good luck for 2017 and see you in the Premiership next year.

So we will know on the 5th then, but no Josh potentially.

Well that's good as you won't be seeing many in British Speedway!

I beg to differ 'T'. It is actually it is a discorectangle or obround, commonly known as a stadium.

Just make us your southern team. That will do for now.

And relax..... Thank you Gary and Debbie for delivering something special in 2016. As a few have said in the final threads, "everyone loves an underdog". Well that is exactly what we were at the start of the season. Well we're not underdogs now, are we? We're only the Premier League and League Cup champions. Forgive my smugness but I've just got home and still buzzing. I am not going to offer Sheffield commiserations because I think they deserve more than that. Congratulations to Sheffield on being worthy opponents in the PL Grand Final and in being runners up. They certainly were no pushover and can exit 2016 with a lot of credit. Also, thank you to Kyle Howarth who was gracious in defeat and did a lap to applaude the Somerset supporters. It was very much appreciated. I quite enjoy the closed season, seeing how teams shape up and what we all think of them. My real fear though is if the PL points limit is slashed which will screw up a great product for a short term gain. If that happens I fear that Speedway will disappear up its own backside. I for one doubt I'll pay £15 for a substandard product. I will pay a bit more for more of the same though. I can start to read the 2017 threads now. Roll on 2017 (hopefully, points limit permitting).

More coverage for the Rebels on BBC Points West.... just. On my way. COYR