Halifaxtiger

That's quite possible. I would have thought, however, that last years team was more than adequate evidence that sticking to a budget can be as financially disastrous as recklessly overspending. Whatever the promotion might say, the principle reason for the losses incurred last year was the team line up which led to fans turning their back on the team. In my view, this years predicted line up isn't quite as bad but whether it is good enough to tempt the missing hundreds back must be seriously open to question. The fans divine right to have a successful team is as valid as the promotion's divine right to put out whatever they want and expect the fans to continue to attend. Sheffield did that in 2012 and got precisely what they deserved. It seems that you have adopted a view to which several members of the BSPA adhere: accept what you are given without criticism and just be grateful that you have a team to support. Do you not realise that it is for the promotion to attract supporters by the product that they offer ? Doesn't it say something that the posts on here - including those from passionate, absolutely committed fans like Spinny, Tigerowl & Squall - are at best hopeful and at worst savagely critical ? Stead is an excellent signing, Wells too. Haines is a good one - I'd say he was a qualified success last season. The majority of Sheffield fans on here seem to me do not want Hall. Koppe and Albin are gambles and Knight a huge one. I'd be the first to admit that it is easy for me to name names and make suggestions about other riders, but clearly for the 15 points used for Knight, Hall & Koppe you could have had much better choices who would have provided the anticipation and excitement that after last season Sheffield need so badly, and that's my real point here. While spending over what you can afford can be extremely risky for speedway teams, spending on a budget is equally so. At this moment, I think Sheffield have got it wrong. Several fans on here have said they will not go because of the team line up. I would have thought that such remarks were anything but irrelevant. I believe Plymouth had the same view last season, and their top two was far better than Stead & Hall.

Good team Always had a soft spot for the Diamonds and not only do I wish them success in 2013 with that team I think they will get it.

He also spent most of 2011 at no 7. He averaged less than 5 last season in the NL. All you have to do is look at some of the others in reserve berths on the PL and their NL averages - Heeps (9.00) Perry (10.00) Lambert (9.00) Morris (9.00) Worrall (9.00) - is he realistically going to beat these lads at Owlerton, never mind away ? I'd say that the criticism isn't of him personally - I certainly wish him well and hope that I have got it wrong - its of the management decision to put a rider with that sort of NL average in the team. I have said before that what Sheffield needed after the disastrous rider choices last season was a side that looked like it would challenge for the play offs to get some of those who deserted the team in droves in 2012 back. Haines was a decent signing, Stead an excellent one. If the next three had been Gathercole, Nielsen and Lambert (or their like) instead of Hall, Koppe & Knight there would have been nothing but optimism. As it is, the only comments on here are apprehensive, defensive or hopeful - when they aren't people saying they will not go, that is. All three are poor choices, and Sheffield Speedway could pay a heavy price for it.

Always had a soft spot for the Islanders, so its brilliant to see them putting together a team that could really challenge for honours in 2013. Bet my old mate the Baron of Merstone is getting excited

Unlike some of the media reports put out by speedway promoters, I don't think that a single bit of what Stephens says is unreasonable. I shall endeavour to be there for the first meeting of the season - and I predict a lock out.

What you say is undeniably true. The thing is while the hard core will come virtually no matter what, the floaters (for want of a better word) will make their mind up either on the basis of the side named at the start or in the first few weeks. If it looks crap and/or turns out to be that way, they'll disappear with great speed. You then have the problem of getting them back, and even with a top class outfit that's very difficult - ask any Newport fan about that one. I'd maintain that it is absolutely crucial that at the outset the named 7 are impressive and look like they are going to be up there. Its too early to make a definitive comement yet, but based upon what the Tigers have got so far I'd say the last three have to be pretty special to achieve that.

Chuck him out, mate. A few weeks living rough and he might be a bit more respectful. I think the time to make such statements is when the team has been completed, not now. I'd say the jury is very much still out.

Et tue, brute ?

That's true............but the problem is is that is in the first few meetings of the season that spectators make their mind up about the team. Any criticism on the pages of this forum will quickly be forgotten about if the Tigers win their first few matches. Lose them because of a bad signing and those spectators won't return even if the line up is changed. A few might, but certainly not all. The point is the risk need not even have been taken (or certainly it could have been significantly reduced). I would certainly be prepared to give the lad a chance now that he has been signed (and I trust everyone will) and I genuinely hope I have got it wrong. That's somewhat irrelevant, though. The point is that based upon what we know Sheffield have signed a rider who is nowhere near as good as another they could have got on the same average. I think your final line is dead right. With half the team not yet named, it is too early to make a true judgement. However, 2012 was a disastrous year for a side used to a fair degree of success and to pull that back what was needed was an attractive team that looks like making the play offs. Based upon what has been named, the last three are going to have to be pretty special to achieve that.

I think you can. Nielsen, Jacobs & Sarjeant all average far higher in the NL and all are younger. Nielsen won the U19 championship at Sheffield last season and rode for the Sheffield/Scunthorpe side in 2011, while Jacobs finished 3rd. Sarjeant is from Sheffield. They would all come in on the same PL average and none are yet fixed up with PL clubs. To me its fairly obvious that any one of them would have been a better option, and a case could be made that the likes of Reade, Hopwood, Halsey, Greenwood, Ritchings & Morley would be preferable.

For what its worth, Glyn, I both appreciate your comments and think its a very decent team. Get the track sorted out and this could be a big year for Leicester Speedway.

Given the statement made by Dave Hoggart recently regarding the financial position for Sheffield last season, you can go 'right up the wall' by putting out a cheap side and finishing at the bottom too. That's not me being wise in hindsight either, as it was predicted by many at the start of the year. One thing Sheffield 2012 taught speedway was that if you do things on the cheap you are as much asking for financial disaster as you are if you start paying silly money. Its very easy for anyone to speculate with other peoples money but there is a balance here. Sheffield got it badly wrong in 2012 and I am yet to be convinced that they have got it right for 2013.

I doubt if many would disagree. But better to take a chance on a young Brit averaging around 8.00 in the NL than one averaging around 5.00. On the basis of what we know (rather than what we might hope or even expect) this leaves Sheffield fearfully exposed at reserve.

Have to agree. According to the BSPA figures for 17/10/12, Knight's average is less than 5 per match in the NL. Nielsen is 3.5 points per match higher, yet he would come in on the same PL 3.00. Knight did show a great deal of promise in 2010 and 2011 but he went backwards big time last year. Hopefully that promise will return, but there are a lot better NL riders that could have been chosen. It all depends on the last three now. Unless at least 2 show some real potential for improvement, the money spent on Stead will be completely wasted.

I hope you're right ..............but doubt that you are. I don't think Koppe has anywhere near the reputation that Heeps did and he couldn't hit 5.00 in his first year. The only thing is he most certainly could kick on in future seasons and that's why any criticism should be muted. I think you are dead right here. Signing Stead is brilliant but as good as he is he probably won't increase his average so the remaining riders need to be in with a shout of that. It will. But if the next three are Sanchez, Franc and Hall they might think again.

If that horse has to be part of the speedway, how about the Stallions ?

I think you are right. I'll be surprised if he signs now. Better a new youngster than Stoneman. With respect to the lad (because on occasion I have seen him show some serious promise) he's been a 3.00 average for some time now. The only Sunday PL sides are Glasgow and Newcastle. I don't rule Jacobs out for riding for them, but its a major journey every week to Tyneside, never mind Scotland.

Good choice My initial thought was the Buffs (my grandfather served in the East Kent Regiment during WW1) but 'Kent Buffs' sounds like a firm of french polishers.

What you have to realise is that taking that viewpoint into account you could fully justify re-signing the whole of last years team. I can imagine what sort of response that would receive on here and on the terraces. I don't think teams make changes for changes sake (other than those that are forced to by the points limit) - I think they do so to freshen up the side and offer their fans some kind of promise of success. Retaining riders who show a deal of promise or are likely to increase their averages is obviously a good thing and, in Sheffield's case, Haines certainly fits that bill and I think Wells would do too. That's reflected in the views of most Sheffield fans here. After that you have a choice - retain a rider like Hall, who is going absolutely nowhere and hasn't significantly changed his average for years (the problem with last years side is that it was packed with riders like that) or go for someone like Grajczonek who has and shows that he could go further. There's no doubt in my mind who is more likely to stimulate interest and bring a few of the missing fans back, and that's what Sheffield Speedway needs. That's fair point. Unless Koppe shows some serious promise for the future signing him on a 5.00 is a major gamble and leaving Haines at reserve would give Sheffield better balance. Nielsen for me, though. I like Sarjeant, but there are some issues around him that would definitely make me think twice about signing him.

I have to say there is one reason for missing Bowden. Whenever I went down to SBA or saw some of my mates from down there, there was always some unbelievable story (mostly negative but often hilarious) about him. Having a steady, reliable and scandal free promotion at Plymouth won't be the same.

Clearly, you are not going to get your dream team because half of them have already signed for other clubs. I also think you are wrong about Stead, because he's an excellent signing. He might not hit the average he has but he won't be far away, he is a new face and he's a local boy. To me, signing him is better than getting Ashworth back. I can very much see Tigerowl's point about Wells but I think there is clear potential for him to step up big time. For that reason, I'd have him in the team. The problem with Hall is that he simply won't go anywhere. He's had the same average for years and its odds on it won't change next season. Having a rider around for season after season who is going nowhere is a turn off for fans. I doubt very much that the promotion will have the side you have listed -if they do, they will have learned nothing from last season. While I fully respect the financial stability of Sheffield Speedway, if you go too far towards saving money on riders it can backfire big time. To my mind,(and fully accepting it is not my money at risk) its more of a gamble to spend less and trust that your supporters will accept an inferior product than to spend a bit more and trust that gates will increase.

A young hitter like Grajczonek coupled with the return of Stead will create the interest that Sheffield Speedway needs. While it is creating a decent side looking for a play off place, its also about freshening the side and stoking up attention. I'd go for Nielsen, too. He's not at Ipswich, Rye House or Scunthorpe (which is where I thought he would go), Sheffield must be the closest to his home of the sides left and he can certainly ride the place. Wells, Skiddy and Haines (I can see Gathercole staying at Plymouth) all did OK last year. The only (and slight) difficulty I have is with Koppe. He might be a decent youngster but 5.00 is a big chunk out of the team building when you could have an equivalent Brit for two points less. Having him and a 3.00 pointer at reserve could leave the Tigers a bit exposed at the bottom end. Whatever the case, there's no doubt that this is a major improvement on last season and I suspect the crowds will reflect that.

I saw him at Brough at the back end of last season and was hugely impressed - he stepped up big time. With the possible exception of Richie Worrall, he would have been the first one I would have wanted back. Not having one last season didn't do a lot of harm, did it ? Its a myth that you need an all conquering number one for success - its all about balance.

I'll be amazed if he goes anywhere else. It suits both the Tigers and Steady himself too much.

I think that given the exceptional nature of the NL there is a case for wage control. Having said that, I fail to appreciate how it might be policed. I don't think he's a liar but he might have put 2 and 2 together and made 5. A rider comes and asks to be released from his team then a club approaches that team about a transfer looks highly suspicious to me, too. However, it isn't certain that that rider has been tapped up and, in Greenwood's case, that is not the case. I accept all that you are saying here and I suspect everyone else does (at least to a degree) but you have to go about it in the right manner. At the end of the day, you can't force a rider to ride for a club when he wants to go elsewhere (or it would be foolish to do so) so I suspect he'd move anyway. Its a pity you haven't condemned tapping up when its quite clear that that should not happen and that those found guilty of it should be heavily fined. That's unfair. All he has pointed out is that Oliver Greenwood was not tapped up by Coventry. I'd have done the same.