WELL i was there last night and have to agree with what most people have said,but the one person who i think has got off lightly is Davey Watt.for me he is the one that should lead from the front,gee up the boys,get them going .In General if hes going well the team goes well,so to see him not really bothering or really putting in 110% effort does annoy me and even more so when he has a fag in the pits and talks to his mates not watching the racing annoys me even more!!! Davey has the ability and no how but its clear to see sometimes hes just not that bothered.
As an irregular and (originally) a novice visitor to Eastbourne speedway over the past few years, I have been lucky enough to see home victories on every visit up until Wolves last Saturday. Even that evening wasn't bad however, in that class told and there's no disgrace in that.
I have always looked upon the speedway as a pleasant and relaxing change from the teeth grinding frustrations and emotional outbursts of football fandom.
Last night though something changed and very early on my calm smiling exterior, changed to the fixed grimace, before finally settling on the teeth gritting scowl. I just about stopped short of singing 'What a load of rubbish' and starting a petition to sack the manager.
WTF was that? I am not old enough to have seen Fred Karno's army live but I got a real sense of that old time slapstick last night at Arlington.
I would be grateful therefore for a few clarifications from those sages out there in the ether to my questions below:
i) The same for both sides question. How is that on our own track, the opposition are flying round, whilst we are doing a fairly good impression of Bambi on ice from the first heat to the last? Surely rumours of an all night Eagles party on Thursday/Korean 'businessmen' with suitcases of cash seen hanging around Ladbrokes Friday lunchtime, are just that?
ii) The 'number one' position/Lewis Bridger question. My first few visits to Arlington saw Nicki P as our number one, and therefore my impression of that role is of the steady and consistent accumulation of 3 point victories with your team mates picking up the pieces behind. Has this changed? Lewis Bridger may be a future world champion for all I know but whenever I see him the only consistent thing about him is his inconsistency, so why is he our number one?
iii) The technical question. Why, when during a re-run last night the Poole rider crashed, was the race awarded to Poole? I'm aware their other rider was leading at the time but is there a rule against re-re runs (which might have seen an Eagles victory) or was it just a time factor thing?
we have different opinions on many things , and the same on others . i took your comment as a slight , but i also asked you a question , which you have answered , thank you .
as for ray's-friend and lack of moral fibre , virtually all the posts are saying this with variations . he is not fit for purpose and should never have been contiued in that vital position . why are you raising that particular point ? if you agree , like most , or not ,what point are you trying to raise ?. this problem of having no leadership or astute knowledge , which are both necessary to be a team manager has indeed directly and indirectly lead to many no longer attending . the posts on this match certainly state what the posters think and feel .
Second week in a row I'm posting the same... Woefull gating, NO team riding when we are in front, NO team management in switching reserves round, Ricky Kling not getting a point at home against the weekest bottom 3 in the league Where's Alan Sugar when you need him?
Is this the worst Eastbourne team for years or are certain riders now trying to adjust thier averages for a team spot elsewhere next year? you decide!
I've heard there were people leaving after heat 8 and frankly I don't blame them, Eastbourne teams of the past were all about showing fight and determination. It appears this group have little left. A now can't see us taking any points (Ippo at home apart maybe) from our remaining fixtures and its looking like we could now fulfill all those 'expert' predictions and finish bottom! At least I'd get to see our final fixture that way as I can't make the Ippo date. _________________ Check out my Pic's site. Click on WWW below...
MrB you speak for so many of us , i certainly have never seen eagles like that , cannot call them a team . but then the management have much of this responsibility . guess i should change the record and find a more pleasant air , be upbeat , maybe not even care--- it's only a sport and a small piece of my life . easier said than done .
Last edited by ray on Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:17 am; edited 1 time in total
MrB , you are so right , how so many of us felt . SPD was right about davey , i noticed him casually smoking , the apathy is so contagious . never seen eagles like that before , cannot call them a team . real no hopers . they fared better at swindon than these last two home matches . if we had real management it could have been so different , at one stage earlier in the season things were looking good .many are concerned about next season , others no longer care . have to wait and see what happens . what promoter would want to take on that poisoned chalice . the defeatism spread, the previous two seasons were disappointing , but this so so dispiriting , but the riders and the fans were hopeful at first , remember the excitement of p & p day .what a nightmare . a ship without a rudder is bound to founder
What happened to Lewis's bike, he was supposed to get the engine tuned by Peter Johns. Before he had the crash he was riding like a novice, before anybody says anything I know he is really not a number one. Davy did not look fit, though I know he managed a good many points against Belle Vue. Ricky Kling seems to have gone backwards, it is about time he was read the riot act, or as some have suggested replaced.The two people who certainly did justice to the team were Daniel Nermark and Simon Gustafsson. It does not seem to phase Simon being at number two, he is certainly a world class rider in the making. I was so disappointed in the team, they were not gating and the Eagles spirit that we use to have has gone. What has gone wrong, it is not only down to the management, but also the team, some of them just seem to be going through the motions. Perhaps it would have been best if BD had kept quiet about retiring, it seems to have put a damper on the team. If they ride like this against Lakieside, Coventry and Swindon, then we will certainly be wooden spoonists. One other thing, friendship aside, those that do not attend should not criticize, those of us that do can. _________________ Supporting the Eagles through the good times as well as the bad
What happened to Lewis's bike, he was supposed to get the engine tuned by Peter Johns. Before he had the crash he was riding like a novice, before anybody says anything I know he is really not a number one. Davy did not look fit, though I know he managed a good many points against Belle Vue. Ricky Kling seems to have gone backwards, it is about time he was read the riot act, or as some have suggested replaced.The two people who certainly did justice to the team were Daniel Nermark and Simon Gustafsson. It does not seem to phase Simon being at number two, he is certainly a world class rider in the making. I was so disappointed in the team, they were not gating and the Eagles spirit that we use to have has gone. What has gone wrong, it is not only down to the management, but also the team, some of them just seem to be going through the motions. Perhaps it would have been best if BD had kept quiet about retiring, it seems to have put a damper on the team. If they ride like this against Lakieside, Coventry and Swindon, then we will certainly be wooden spoonists. One other thing, friendship aside, those that do not attend should not criticize, those of us that do can.
I think a lot is down to Management, very few press releases are positive, most contain the fact that theres little interest in taking over the promoters roll and it wouldnt suprise me if as posted by someone else that Riders were looking to ensure that their average was benificial in securing a team ride some where else next season particularly as it seems likely we will close.As for Ricky Kling hes had a poor couple of meetings much as I thought Nermark rode as well as anyone Friday I think that the heat2 with him and Kling allowing Andy Silver through in what was a slow time started the rot that night. added to that Trevor sent Kling out as a replacement for Lewis in heat 13. Interesting last comment Aussie2 I would just add that if we hope to see speedway at Arlington next season we should be seen supporting it by attending if possible however frustrating it has been this season. _________________ A Founder Member of the Home Straight Lukas Dryml Appreciation Society!
glad to read aussie2 has now seen fit to crticise the management , or lack of it . to announce he was retiring and there is nobody in the wings is incredibly self centred without realising the further damage that has been caused throughout the club . the riders , the fans have had faith and hope snatched from them .agree with parker , aussie2 and all those who have never seen such apathy at arlington .comments on putting kling in heat 13 show we still don't have a team-manager .it is as if he too realises his sell by date is long overdue .Mr GRIMSDALE still has to endure frank spenser.as for next season, well at least it willnot be the same as this year , if indeed it happens .again find dugard mentality shows nothing for the people who have attended and supported for years , and spending their hard earned money doing so . the riders also know they are out of work in a few weeks . whether we do manage to compete next season , as all it is my fervent wish , the management will be gone anyway . if they showed contrition for what they have caused and admitted their faults one might respect them for that at least.
So it seems from today's report that Ricky Kling was not well. He did not tell anybody, and it was Simon who told TG at the end of the meeting. So their is some excuse for Ricky getting nil points. Seen that Simon scored a 15 point maximum yesterday, what a rider he is turning out to be. _________________ Supporting the Eagles through the good times as well as the bad
thanks for info on ricky . so what riders would we really miss if they have to find new clubs next season ? well certainly simon , lukas [ when he is fit] , ditto davey [ but he is not a captain like some who we have had ] , and ricky , cam has been a big disappointment [ but really like him as a man , impressed with newmark , ---- but lewis i think i have had more disappointment over him than all the others added together .ok he may come back to haunt us one day , but i will deal with that if and when it happens . others in the past i still have enormous liking and respect for , all the eagles during those halycon years , martin , deano , david , ando , danno especially , and later mark loram and nicky , joe too .but still very special as a rider and a person --- adam . glad the truth is known about those circumstances no way was he ever one of the bad guys . think cook put up with " you-know-who " amazingly when those who could not are considered and how briefly they stayed . realising such now they could hardly be blamed .
So Kling had a mystery illness that no-one knew anything about until after his pathetic performance was over.
Watching his abysmal attempt at riding certainly made me feel sick!
IF it's true it's another example of a rider letting the club down by riding when not fit to do so.
Chris Schramm would have been available to ride on Friday and 3 or 4 points from him could have made the difference between losing and winning.
I'm not going to forgive Kling for his shocking performance and still believe that he should be replaced immediately.
And as for ray saying that Lewis has been the major disappointment this year... check some facts ray...
There are only 2 riders from our 7 who have improved and ridden anything like we would have hoped at the beginning of the year. Lewis and Simon.
Because of the poor efforts of others Lewis was forced to ride at no.1 far to early in his career and not suprisingly has struggled in that position.
Should we be lucky enough to find ourselves with a team for next year I would strongly suggest that if at all possible it be built around Lewis and Simon.
COUS lewis was promised that if he stayed this year , at a vastly improved deal , he could go out on loan next . BD coulld not countenance the loss of him and kennett . so all in all it is more likely he goes out on loan [ or even sold as kennett and adam were which BD preferred to loan deals originally] . but as we know the future is uncertain .lewis reminds me of briggo in his early years , and he didn't do too bad .it is not the riding skills that are of concern , and certainly he will get even better , it is his lack of professionalism in his machinery , concentration , application and temprement which hopefully will improve . he could be a world beater , and is at times , but when watching that 19 year old russian and tai woffinden these aspects tend to show up . agree the overall situation and lack of leadership at eastbourne has been unsettling and upsetting --- this as we have learnt is a major factor in how most of us feel , even those who only stand and watch .his team are stressing with him the importance [ and financial benefit ] of riding in poland , which i fully understand and appreciate .we have seen every rider's head drop at times this year , also davey and lukas are far from fit .as posted with his average lewis had to be switched to number one , the selection of the other top four was a serious mistake , especially in heat 13 . lose that one , as happened all too often , and the match could be lost .
with proper management and leadership everyone would have ridden more consistantly , have been a team in the real sense ,the soldiers didn't really lose the war , the generals did .
one other point in other teams selections is that their strongest three riders are ridden at numbers 1 , 4 and 5 . this cover heats 13 and 14 best , in 15 the best two are selected . heat 12 have a lesser rider at 3 . we have davey there , which seems a bit of a waste against that set-up .lack of team management there it would seem . for this and any one of our riders not being fully fit , adjustments of which of our riders are ridind at 2, 3 ,4 and 5 should be considered fully before the first heat . positions can be switched upto then . .
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Where's Alan Sugar when you need him? 
What has gone wrong, it is not only down to the management, but also the team, some of them just seem to be going through the motions. Perhaps it would have been best if BD had kept quiet about retiring, it seems to have put a damper on the team. If they ride like this against Lakieside, Coventry and Swindon, then we will certainly be wooden spoonists. 
