Cue Ball

True, but just not like Sheffield to go for weekend press coverage when they will be up against football

So.... end of the week and no announcement, do we presume that means Wells has not signed?

Badly. All thing being equal ie no cheating or purposefully dropping points, they would comfortably beat any PL team

Have we got names for the desparate duo? I suppose pepe could be an option.... a decent 2nd / 3rd heat leader.

Odsal boy, do you always have to spout such bobbins?

If you go by averages, surely Wells is the 3rd heat leader behind Hall?

The conversation on twitter between Wells and Haines suggests that the former is not going to be announced as our next signing anytime soon.

Happy New Year to all Sheffield supporters! Here's hoping that the optimists are right and the pessimists (or realists or whatever you would prefer to be called) are wrong

Fair enough, if you've heard that from the promotion then so be it. Isn't Koppe living and working in Leeds? And isn't North a Johnny foreigner as well? how can you say that North and Wilson are better prospect when you haven't seen either Koppe or Albin ride in a competitive meeting for us yet? You may be right, but would personally prefer to give it until April at least before making a decision on whether they are crap or ok or fantastic

It means what makes you say that Machin considered chucking away 20 years of business over 1 meeting? Fact or just guesswork

and the basis of that hypothesis is?

Maybe, just maybe, Hall (if signed) will copy James Grieves owlerton form and suddenly become quite good away from home for no apparent reason. Who would have thought that Grieves would ever a) turn up and win races in Sheffield?!?

Nope, I don't have to be kidding. They all have their individual merits and would benefit a lot of teams in their own way, just that together they were a poor side. You yourself have said that they need 3 or 4 new faces, which means that you would retain 3 or 4 of last year's team... which is more or less what I'm saying - I wouldn't have all of them back by any stretch, but I wouldn't be upset to see a combination of them returning with some new blood.

I don't disagree that some good riders left, but not all down to the promotion. I don't think that there was a rider (except Jakobsen) that I wouldn't have in next year's team, just not all of them together again: Pepe - is what he is, dependable to be `ok` home or away, if he was 3rd in the averages and you knew he'd be at every meeting, you' have him back Skidmore - decent second string with the ability to pull a meeting out of the top drawer every now and then Sanchez - is what he is, dependable second string with the ability to pull a meeting out of the top drawer every now and then Hall - entertainment, rides like a number 1 at home Wells - towards the end of the season was arguably our best rider Haines - don't think I need to comment Schramm - an out and out racer, just needs decent equipment

They've said that they are closing in on signing number 3, so I would guess that we will know a bit more of the jigsaw on Thursday

I see Lewis Bridger is looking for a premier league place.I imagine that he wouldnt go too badly at Sheffield once he'd got the set up

Koppe it is then

Fair enough, I will bow to your superior memory. Still maintain that an out and out number 1 should have an average of over 9. My opinion, end of. An 8 plus average may entitle many riders to ride at number 1, but to my mind doesn't make them an old fashioned no.1.

Are you saying that they don't stand out as being the out and out best in the PL? They score well regardless of track or track conditions week in and week out and don't let you down, if you need to win a race they are the riders that you would want in your team to go out there and do it. I haven't said that Stead is the answer as Friddy seems to suggest, although he is a proven performer at PL level and think he would do the job of the above 4. If there is anybody else available I would possibly prefer them as it would probably mean that we get to retain our Thursday night racing.

To my mind, to be an `out an out` number 1 which apparently we want to sign, you've got to have an average in excess of 9 at least. Its not that long ago that 8.18 would only have got you the 3rd heat leader spot in a team (in what was a much stronger league).

Sheffield are looking to sign a number 1, so surely this can't be right?

So.... 4 new riders and 3 to be retained (including Haines) with negotiations already underway. Its been said that given long track commitments it wouldn't be ideal to have both Hall and Franc in the same team, which would suggest one of them will be staying and given comments about Franc's attendance this year, you would guess that Hall would be the preferred choice. Wells has come out and said that he would like to do another year - so is that the 3?

Genuine question: Bearing in mind the extensive places that Piccolo mentioned that Sheffield speedway is advertised, plus the regular pieces in the Sheffield Star, what do people suggest is done to further promote the sport on what must be a fairly limited budget? Television is ridiculously cost prohibitive and local radio is not much better, so taking those out of the equation, what else can the promotion do? Not sure how people can say that they don't see any sign of promotion activity, and back it up by saying they've only ever seen pieces in the Star, billboard posters and adverts on the Window Centre vans.... what are they if not promotional?

I said the exact same thing the other day. If possible I would think that he will want to double up with Swindon - who ride on a Thursday

Good point, well made. Tonight is off. I suppose that one way or another the group will, in all liklihood be decided by next Thursday, which would negate the need for a re-scheduling of tonights meeting.... bringing an end to our glorious season.