Edinburgh versus Glasgow - 17-08-07

[admin]

So, speedway's equivalent of the "auld firm" clash this Friday and the Heathen Tigers visit the less-than-stately home of the aristocratic Monarchs. The streets of Edinburgh and Glasgow will be busy with the thousands who don't care an iota and who probably don't even know it's happening, but a healthy number of the terminally addicted should still be present in the Lothian Arena to see the drama unfold.
Can Katajisto, or any of the Monarchs for that matter, lower the colours of the so-called Messiah? Hasn't our colleague paulco threatened some bizarre ritual if Katajisto defeats the Messiah?
What's the state of play with young Stancl after his tumble last Friday? Last I heard were suspicions of a broken ankle, which I certainly hope weren't accurate, since I'm fond of the fellow. And will "desperate Deek" be back to once again give the Glaswegian hordes plenty to moan and groan about?
Let's hope he is, since if young McGregor isn't referee, they've got to have something to complain about, haven't they?
I think it's too close to call, personally.

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admin said:

What's the state of play with young Stancl after his tumble last Friday? Last I heard were suspicions of a broken ankle, which I certainly hope weren't accurate, since I'm fond of the fellow. And will "desperate Deek" be back to once again give the Glaswegian hordes plenty to moan and groan about?

Thankfully it doesn't appear that George has broken anything. Nasty crash though Derek said he hoped to be back for the Glasgow meetings so that will please the Glasgow faithfull ;D

admin said:

Let's hope he is, since if young McGregor isn't referee, they've got to have something to complain about, haven't they?

They will complain as it's a female referee for both matches

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midnightlady said:

They will complain as it's a female referee for both matches

You're kidding nobody it's McGregor in a skirt .
Seriously it will be good to have a neutral referee for a change as these matches are far to important to have a referee officiating while wearing a Monarchs jacket and bobble hat .
As for the racing - it will be a tight , tense affair as usual . Emotions will run high and much beer will be drunk , but we're all pals really ;D
Good luck Merlin , Midnight Lady , Rico , King Jamie , Egard , Henry , Davy H ( BLOODY HELL there's loads of them in here ) and the rest of the blue and gold faithful . May the best team win and we all enjoy ourselves .

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Well no George Stancl nor Daniele Tessari so if Glasgow fail to win this match on Friday they will never hear the end of it.

However sometimes when Monarchs have their backs against the wall they come out fighting and could provide a shock.

So Paulco this is your easiest chance ever to take the points at the Dale ;D

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Dont you just love all this reverse psychology . Dekker is at it on Easy -Tiger as well .
All this us poor Monarchs have no chance crap wont wash . This will be the usual intense derby match - i have no illusions on that score . You might not have George and Danielle ( or you might ) , but we still HAVE Lee Dicken

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There's no reverse psychology being employed here at all, Paulco. Just an honest appraisal of the relative team strengths.

Glasgow have gone through the season without any serious injuries. Parker, Watson and Leverington, the top three, have, to my recollection, not missed a match between them. Take one of the big two out of the Glasgow team and use a CL guest for one of the others and then assess your own chances, even at home.

When you go for a big top two then you struggle when you have to use R/R for one of them because, frankly, there is inadequate cover. Add in a reserve with a three point average as a guest to cover for one of your own reserves who, when fully fit, is capable of around 6+ in home matches then put at the other reserve spot a 16 year old who is as yet still struggling to master 500cc bikes let alone the track and you'll see why Edinburgh are so ill prepared for this match.

Derek Sneddon is just back from a horrific crash at Sheffield with the scars to prove it and the toll on man and machinery over the last week just add to the problems. Meanwhile Glasgow have been without a meeting for, what is it?, three weeks or so and should therefore all be fit as a fiddle having had plenty of time to sort out any equipment problems etc.

Frankly it doesn't matter who we are facing this weekend (bar one or two Armadale no hopers) we wouldn't be going into any match on Friday as favourites.

Kai Laukkanen's appalling gating is a real worry too and with R/R for Stancl giving an extra ride to him, Sneddon, Wethers and Tully you can't really seriously think that that can compensate for the missing Stancl.

On the other hand it's true that it's not the first time Glasgow have come to Armadale with Edinburgh looking like underdogs only to go away empty handed. Even with the dire Dicken they should win this time but with the two fat old men at reserve you never know. Leverington would not rate Armadale as his favourite track and Ksiezak has difficulties too coping with the tight bends.

Just how dominant will Parker and Watson be? Parker rarely goes through the card at Edinburgh and Watson looks distinctly average when he fails to make a fast start.

If I were a Glasgow fan (perish the thought!) I would be rating this as a banker away win but I suppose memories of past disappointments will come back to haunt the Tiggerati.

By the way there's a chance that I might have to miss all this weekend's festivities due to personal problems but, if that turns out to be the case, then I hope at least both matches are exciting.

Speak to you soon my friend. I still hope to be there, win or lose.

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paulco said:

Dont you just love all this reverse psychology .

God you make me laugh. Covering yourself in case you might lose, perish the though eh ;D

It's plain simple facts like Merlin said.

Cya Friday

[admin]

midnightlady said:

Cya Friday

The false beard, moustache and glasses disguise doesn't fool you then? I suppose the number of visits to the bar gives the game away? That and constant references to the Messiah?

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Had to laugh at a post on easy tiger by one of my more humourous compatriots - Red Stripe . It's in response to all this " we've got no chance " guff coming out of the East . It reads -

There is no doubt . We are going into this meeting as massive underdogs on Friday . Edinburgh have a HUGE home track advantage , have made some key changes to their side and the Tigers will , as usual , have to suffer the " Cauldren of hate " atmosphere through in the dump ..... ( well a few boozed up punters on the back straight at least ) Damage limitation will be the order of the day , i fear . I'll be happy if we keep the score respectable to give us a least a fighting chance of the bonus on Sunday , though to be honest i don't really fancy our chances in that one either .
If the Tigers win on Friday it will be undoubtably one of the greatest achievements , not only in our history , but also that of any team in modern day sport .

So you see ( this is me speaking now ) that is what we're up against on Friday . Fortress Armadale and their formidable team will be an examination of our talents like we have never faced before . Those brave seven riders and the many travelling foot soldiers who will brave that bastion of doom on Friday evening will have to show immense bravery and courage and maybe , just maybe , we can run them close .

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Yep - a typical Red Stripe post on Easy, Tiger! if memory serves me correctly.

As usual full of sarcasm and the 'Glasgow' form of banter but also as usual a bit short on reasoned argument.

If all of you at Glasgow are so sure that it will be a close meeting with the outcome so uncertain maybe someone could answer the points I made above and tell me why you appear to be so apprehensive about a match which has everything going for you.

Eh?

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Simple - The messiah will score thirteen or fourteen . Wato didn't look too comfy on the track at the Scottish open - so we're maybe looking at ten or so . At the PT meeting earlier in the season Wee Davie , Trent , Robert and Lee were crap . So if we can get 15 between them on Friday we will be doing well . I saw Michael Coles ride at Armadale for Berwick this season - oh dear - so a big fat zero there then . So on Armadale form you're looking at about 40 points tops . Maybe we can improve a little and run you close - you're at home remember .

[Deleted]

Well our reserve pairing is Kalle Katajisto and James Cockle for both meetings so it will be interesting to see which pair of reserves scores the better.

I still think you are being pessimistic but it all depends on the night. You have to remember that when assessing scorers for the Tigers they will not be meeting George Stancl nor a powerhouse reserve so it should improve their chances to score better than you think.

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merlin said:

Well our reserve pairing is Kalle Katajisto and James Cockle for both meetings so it will be interesting to see which pair of reserves scores the better.

I still think you are being pessimistic but it all depends on the night. You have to remember that when assessing scorers for the Tigers they will not be meeting George Stancl nor a powerhouse reserve so it should improve their chances to score better than you think.

You've booked James Cockle Ian will love that ;D
The reserve battle will be key on friday . I never thought i'd see Cockle in a Monarchs bib though Friday should be fun .

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Wish me and my brave team luck guys as we venture east shortly ;D
C'MON THE STRIPES .

[admin]

paulco said:

Wish me and my brave team luck guys as we venture east shortly ;D
C'MON THE STRIPES .

With the Messiah in your side, surely you don't need something as mundane as luck?
Anyway, good luck to paulco and his Heathen Tigers tonight. And good luck to the Monarchs as well - may the best heathens win and here's hoping it's a super meeting.
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