Halifaxtiger

He has a full time job outside speedway. The point about Wells is that there is every reason to believe that he will improve (something that cannot be said of Hall or Sanchez) and I don't think its beyond the realms of possibility that he would be up there with Stead. Lose him and fail to get an adequate replacement - ie a rider with potential - and a poor side just gets worse.

Saw him ride for Rye House at SBA and he was pretty good. Finished stone last first time out, then was beaten by Gathercole in a close race, beat Fisher twice and then was harshly excluded in heat 15. I think Plymouth have got a good signing on that average. Its pretty open this year. My four for the play offs are Somerset, Berwick, Leicester & Newcastle but Scunthorpe, Edinburgh, Workington, & Ipswich aren't far behind. If Plymouth get two reasonable points scorers in the last two vacancies they'll be in with a shout too. Rye House will surprise a few - they are better than some are suggesting. The only three that I suspect will be outside of the main pack are Redcar, Glasgow & Sheffield.

I'd say its coming to an objective and fair judgement on the facts and evidence (as examples, see Spinny's excellent posts on this thread). Being negative is highlighting the bad points and ignoring the good ones, being positive is highlighting the good ones and ignoring the bad ones - in other words, being prejudiced either for or against for one reason or another. While I have no time for those who have axes to grind, I have little more for those who try to make out that something is more impressive than it actually is. Fair opinions are always the best; while they are also the most persuasive, they are often the hardest to take.

Makes as much sense as the rest. Some people need to learn that being realistic is not being negative and suggesting that if you think you can do better have a go yourself is in fact no argument at all.

Bit pessimistic, Mike. You're better than that.

Not for the first time you have put it in a nutshell. Not biased, not slanted, not positive, not negative, just a completely realistic and honest opinion based upon the facts and evidence we have. I think you are dead right and that the gamble is high stakes: the very existence of Sheffield Speedway.

With friends like these............ The Baron of Merstone and the Beast of Saffron Walden talking about street cred is a bit like Les Dawson talking about piano playing. I daresay you reprobates (including Phil K and BP) will see me next season, but not if I see you first. I am not certain why but I am looking forward to my trips to East Anglia and the 'World's biggest retirement home' in 2013 already .

Where has he said that ? He's said that after last season they almost pulled the plug, that Sheffield are one of the few clubs that rely on income from speedway only and that there has been no restraint on costs. He hasn't said fans should be grateful, accept what they are given or anything of that kind. It appears to me he is saying how things are and having a pop at the rest of the PL rather than the fans. Sadly, I think this hits the nail squarely on the head.

You will have to get yourself down there. If Tsunami can do it, I am sure you can

It seems to me that everyone knows that Adam Ellis is fantastic but their can't be more than a few hundred who have actually seen him. You can make judgement now on what you know now. Besides which, April might be too late. If they aren't up to scratch then fans will walk away (or not come at all) and it will take a great deal to get them back. I am well aware of the financial situation and I don't believe Hoggy is blackmailing anyone in his press release, just telling things as they are. But what Sheffield Speedway needed for 2013 was an attractive side with some potential and the ability to push for a play off place simply to get the fans back in. The way I see it, that team is not even guaranteed to win most of their home matches and I think in the first few meetings the promotion will see just what the fans think of it.

Agreed It'll depend a bit on how the Yank and Reade settle in (Ben definitely deserves a shot) but it looks very well balanced indeed.

It seems to me they won't pay to watch a winning team either, because by no stretch of the imagination can last seasons team be described as losers. In addition, I'd say the Comets had a decent (if not very good) track and top class presentation. I am hoping that a lot of people stayed away because they didn't like Denham, or the new promotion stoke up a new lease of life because there wasn't much wrong with speedway at Derwent Park last season.

I'd check your facts before you post. In 2007 Sheffield finished 4th in the league and got into the final because there was a play off. In 2011 they finished 2nd.

On a 3.00, you won't get much better. He had a fantastic season last year and I'd say he was Mildenhall's most consistent performer. Very best of luck to him.

SCB's point about riding a speedway bike is dead right but I agree with your opinion of the team. Allen won't hit his average and the two points left over should hve been used, but Garrity, Lykke, Nelson & Bunyan can improve and Lambert should stay the same at worst. The one who impressed me in 2012 was Mellgren. I thought he was little more than a second string but at the back end of last sesaon he was beating the best. I think its better than some are making out.

Very good side, but not enough people went and I suspect that the cost of that team was one of the reasons why Denham quit. I am not sure how you work out that Howarth & Aarnio are reserves when no other rider in the league in those positions has an average lower than theirs and most are lower than Campton. In any case, what their average is now is completely irrelevant as its what it is at the end of the season that counts. Adam Ellis is at reserve for Isle of Wight at the moment; barring injury, there's no way he will be come October. For what its worth, I think the line up is a young one packed with potential. Lawson can still improve and Bach can get back to the big hitter he was with Newcastle. Morris, Howarth & Campton wil all go up and I don't understad the criticism of Aarnio as he is a very reliable second string. To me, the only gamble is Harrison and given his connections with Workington he's still a good signing.

Red and black is correct and they did stage a series of open meetings after they were expelled from the league. An industrial estate now stands on the Park Road site.

The reality of the situation is that a poor team was responsible for the disastrous drop in gates last season, but that seems to have been repeated. I'd say there is a doubt whether that team is good enough to win at home on the scale needed.

I might just be being confused here, but wasn't he riding for Scunny aged 15 ? In truth, its somewhat irrelevant to the point at hand. Finding a rider doesn't mean he will become an asset.

Agreed. Doyle perhaps aside, every rider in the team could improve his average and I don't think you could get a better rider on a 3.00 than Nielsen.

Unfortunately, its not just a question of finding them but also getting them to sign for the club. Tai Woffinden is an obvious example. No-one had heard of him until he went to ride for Scunthorpe, but he's not a Scunthorpe asset and never has been. Isle of Wight found Adam Ellis but he's not their asset either.

I was at Cradley when Wimbledon won there in the league in 1984. First home league defeat for 6 years.

Went to the opening meeting in 1985 at Park Road when the lights blew and the match was abandoned. Never forget it.

I don't go to Sheffield a lot but I like going there. Usually get some decent speedway and the presence of Spinny,Sunglasses Dave, Tigerite, Squall & SKJ is a major bonus. I'll still be going, but its not the likes of me that the club needs to attract.