Halifaxtiger

Judging by the comments below from the Plymouth thread, yes. The big rumour is that Lemon is returning which I hope to god isn't true! Lemon is quite frankly a disgraceful signing that will see many fans think twice about attending Lemons a terrible signing Lemons a terrible signing Strangely enough that's what we're all saying too! Watching him on a couple of occasions at Glasgow last year , it certainly looked like he was ready for retirement nice to see everyone is being polite about lemon,but lets face it no-one wanted him back and not many wanted him last season either I have to say that last year Mark tended to blame everything as a reason for his poor form.

Big D ?

I was there that night and Starke lost control and hit Birks, something that happens hundreds of times throughout the season. It was Starke's fault, but the way Lemon blamed him was absolutely unnecessary (I believe he later apologised). From comments made by both Newcastle and Plymouth (I have heard the comments made above at both tracks and on many occasions) I certainly wouldn't want him in my team.

You're right, the team and the racing are paramount. But having a good stadium and top fans help to make Sheffield (at least potentially) one of the biggest clubs not just in the PL but in Britain (they have, after all, been a target for the EL for years). Added to the fresh start new owners will give, they are reasons to be optimistic about Sheffield's future. I'd maintain that this a case of being patient. It maybe the case that negotiations for taking over the club are ongoing and nothing can be disclosed as yet. What is certain is that it benefits no-one to keep the fans in the dark if it is possible to make public precisely what is happening. As soon as details can be released I am sure they will be.

That's not true. For a start, Sheffield have never picked up the 'dross that's left'. Even over the last couple of seasons, the teams have been deliberately built that way, for right or wrong. Secondly, its just not the case that there's only 'dross' left. Finally, there is a takeover at Owlerton. If it is taking a little longer than others, that's understandable. I don't think you should lose sight that Sheffield have a top stadium and fans. New owners will be a fresh start with every chance that the team and track will return to past glories. There's every reason for optimism, and that shouldn't be dampened just yet by the fact that there haven't been announcements.

I think it is a case of patience here. As I have said earlier, I don't think there is any cause for concern just yet. Riders have been signed and I'd say that Stead and Roynon are a very good start. Compton and Albin are mentioned on the website and I doubt if there are many who wouldn't want them back either. To me, its a case of so far, so good.

I agree with Spinny. There's a long way to go and a lot of riders to sign yet. For me, Compton in team and Albin and Koppe at reserve is fine, because there is an awful lot of potential in there plus the last two riders would be around the 7 point mark.

Cat 4: Commonwealth and USA (to a maximum of 4 each season) Riders new to British Speedway Cat 5: Riders who have ridden in the National Development League as an Amateur Wouldn't he come under Cat 4 because he hasn't ridden in the NDL ? That would mean a 5.00, and would do even if he was eligible to ride in the NDL. In addition, only Commonwealth riders who have patriality or a British passport can ride in the NDL so that rules out most of them from qualifying under Cat 5. I do agree, though, that decisions of this nature seem to me be made without any regard of the qualifying criteria whatsoever.

I don't many riders, but those who I do know agree. They think the one at Hoddesdon is better than an air fence.

Well said, mate. I don't think that anyone should forget that Owlerton is a superb stadium and, with a track man like Graham Trollope (who is one of the best in the game), can have a track to match. Indeed, the combination is one of the(if not the) finest in the country. Sheffield also have some of the best fans in speedway - in particular Tigerite, Sunglasses Dave and the other maniacs that travel round watching them everywhere regardless of league position. While I respect what Neil Machin has done for the club, new owners will almost inevitably give cause for enthusiasm and a fresh start. That should be embraced. Get a decent team out on track (the one named by Odsal Boy would do), let Graham do his stuff, get Hoggy on the mic and I see no reason why Sheffield can't return to the place where they have spent much of their time in the PL - at the top.

Because I knew that you - or someone else- would ask where the money was coming from to advertise. In the case of IOW, it simply must be found. I'd be the first to admit that its very easy to spend others money (although I would point out that I was a shareholder at Mildenhall and put my money where my mouth was then) but the simple fact is more than any other club in British Speedway Isle of Wight need to advertise, and they don't. I came down to the Island in April 2008 and Dave Pavitt showed me the gate take. There were about 200 paying spectators, but he assured me that from July-August it would be around 900. No other team's attendances vary to that degree because of holiday makers. You will know better than me, but I think this is all about the £20k or so needed for the air fence. If there was no need for one or if the money is obtained, there would be no doubt about Isle Of Wight taking their place in the NL.

I don't think you are being serious but it was the signing of Richard Hall that killed stone dead last season the initial enthusiasm stoked up by the signing of Simon Stead. Sheffield need new faces or signs of potential from old ones. Albin, Koppe, Compton, Stead & Roynon all fall under those categories; Hall doesn't. I think that's right, the important point being that you'd have a big top 4 with a lot of potential in the bottom 3. That is exactly what Sheffield (and probably every other team)needs.

I was waiting for that one. For most tracks, advertising is an expensive waste of money unless it refers to a special, one off event. For that reason, it should come way down the list of priorities. In Isle of Wight's case (and due to its dependence on visitors), its as much of a priority as preparing the track or having an ambulance.

Every single person going to the IOW goes on the ferries. When I went over, no posters at all on either Wightlink or Red Funnel. Then there's the IOW tourist magazine that's distributed free on the ferries and elsewhere and tells visitors about everything there is to do and see. No adverts there either (if memory serves me correctly there was a one line mention under sports). No posters or leaflets in caravan sites (at least there wasn't on the one at Whitecliff Bay where my brother has his caravan) so I presume there were none in hotels or Bed & Breakfasts either. The sort of advertising I am suggesting is in the places where people who know nothing about the Island will be looking - and that's not in press releases.

To be fair, I got it from him. Its still probably the most profound, sensible and intelligent argument that I have ever heard about speedway and I have repeated it many times.

Read the Plymouth thread. I think he's been dropped by the Devils because of the angry reaction of their fans. From what I have heard and seen, Sheffield don't want or need him. Its an impressive one which is just what the Tigers need after two starting line ups for the past two seasons that have been anything but. Fair point about Koppe I'd said it should be Greenwood but I think you're right to have them both. Two Sheffield assets on low averages and with a lot of potential - it begs the question why you wouldn't do it.

IOW speedway has never been able to sustain itself on local gates. Its always relied on holiday makers which is why they ran twice a week during the summer in PL days. Personally, I'd say trying to persuade the locals (who should be aware of its existence) is a waste of time when compared with trying to attract visitors (who might not). A friend of mine and his wife are passionate IOW fans and I know he is doing all he can to help. He told me, however - and to my utter disbelief - that IOW speedway did no advertising in 2012. That's one reason why the gates in that season at least were so poor. Advertising is grossly overrated as a method of increasing attendances. But when you are reliant upon people who do not live locally, I'd say its a must. I told you that, you bugger !! I happen to agree about air fences - or at least think you have a point - but they are mandatory. Any talk of how effective or preferable they are is irrelevant to IOW's survival.

You have to admit its not quite as entertaining without him I have to wonder whether Lemon being dropped is at least partly due to the totally adverse reaction on here and elsewhere. If it is, surely Messrs Taylor & Stephens deserve a bit of credit for taking heed of it ?

I disagree, the point being that the reason for tactical changes being introduced - keeping meetings alive - still exists. Some meetings would be dead rubbers in terms of the result after six heats if were not for tactical changes. Do we want dead rubbers or do we want meetings that at least potentially remain exciting ? The best example I can give is Sheffield v Glasgow, 2012. Heat 4 Sheffield 19 Glasgow 5, game over. Tactical ride heat 5, 20-13, game on.Heat 8 33-18, game over. Heat 10 tactical ride 37-29 game on. Glasgow (albeit aided by some Sheffield mechanical problems and an unbelievable team management decision) went on to win. For a neutral like me this was a terrific meeting. Had there been no tacticals, it would have been nowhere near as good.

That comment about changing teams certainly wasn't aimed at you, Martin. I know only too well just how loyal and passionate you are about the Tigers, you have more than proved it over the last couple of seasons and I wouldn't question it for a second. The thing is ruling out a potential rider because of a one off incident, however dirty. I'd agree that Gathercole hasn't always been that good at Sheffield but in my visits last season he was definitely one of (if not the) most impressive away riders. Sheffield's team wasn't good, but beating Stead in heat 15 at Owlerton most certainly is. Its about building an attractive, winning team at Sheffield and I really think that that means getting the best you can and excluding someone for his actions in one race is very wrong indeed. The other thing in this(Pinny has beat me to it) is neither Wilson nor Compton were/are saints - I have certainly seen Wilson take a couple of riders off at Sheffield and elsewhere. No-one objected to them, did they ?

In my way of thinking, if someone will do a good job for my team - Gathercole scored paid 13 from 5 starts for Plymouth last season including a last heat decider heat 15 win over Stead and if memory serves me correctly Vissing is pretty good at Owlerton too - a one off incident years ago would certainly not make me object to signing him. By doing so, here you rule out two (or perhaps more) riders who could do you a very good job and who at least potentially will come to your place for someone else and stuff you. I find it astonishing that a fan would even think about deserting their team and go and support their nearest rivals instead over the signing of one rider and one move he made several seasons ago.

In truth, you are anything but alone in that opinion. The point is though is that in terms of the scores of a meeting the old TS rule had more impact. The other thing is the cost, because most riders to my knowledge (and I stand to be corrected here) do TR rides for the same pay (they don't get paid for 6 points). If your reserve is on £40 a point and your No 1 on £90, putting your No 1 in as a TS could cost £270 every time he does it. Over a season, that's tens of thousands of pounds across the sport.

Spinny's right. I can't see Stead signing unless there is something pretty concrete in there. Newport did it and then folded, but that's exceptional. Gathercole wouldn't be bad. Hasn't always ridden well there, but his last two meetings for Plymouth have been pretty good.

What you say is true but I think Katajisto got a few more than just one big away score. According to an earlier post, he's coming in on a 4.9 average. If he goes back to his Edinburgh average (by staying away from the hard stuff, it seems) he'll put 2 points on that. I think he's a good signing and that seems to be backed by those from Edinburgh.

I think he has patriality. Certainly Todd rode in the NL for Newport the other year after Aussies had been barred from that league.