tigerowl

I would prefer Thierry Hilaire to Wells. At least he put the effort in.

Good.

Perhaps if he had put more effort in after missing the gate he might have earned a bit more.

Scunthorpe won the league last year with a starting line up that included Howe, Aarnio and Armstrong. There is plenty of scope for change if needs be,

One of the problems last season was that we didn't have a number one. That problem has been solved. If the team turns out to be Stead, Wells, Hall, Albin, Koppe, Haines and Knight, so be it. But Stead is a massive improvement on Franc, Albin (if he comes) is exciting and could turn into a crowd favourite, Koppe is an unknown quantity and Knight can be replaced if he doesn't cut it in the first month. I would have preferred to see us go for Lambert and Stefan Nielsen at reserve but the number one is the main issue for me and that has been sorted.

I was a critic of the team building last year and may be again this season as well. You can spend your money where you want Friddy75 but, for me, the thought of going to watch another team because they are better just doesn't come into it. Would I have gone to watch Belle Vue because they had Collins and Morton rather than the Tigers - of course not. It would be like going to watch Sheffield United when they were in the Premier League - perish the thought. I would predict that Mr. Machin might well have lost money last year and he has pushed the boat out to give the fans what they want in a proper number one who will be in the top five riders in the league and fantastic to watch. I would prefer a new third heat leader but I suppose the budget has got to be set and balanced.

Changed my avatar for you Squall, just to make your task a little bit easier.

It's much less of a risk with a number seven and Jake is worth the risk. If it doesn't work out, it is a position that can be changed easier than all the others.

Bit uncalled for - Tigerpig indeed.

Scunny won the title last year despite taking a risk with Tom Armstrong that didn't work out. There are loads of options for tinkering with the bottom end of the side but a successful team needs a solid base. Steady is a fantastic start but please let's not spoil it by bringing Richard Hall back.

Let's give the lad a chance. At least it's a young Brit who wants to ride for us and he deserves to be given a few meetings to show what he can do. If it doesn't work out then there are other riders with a three point average who can be slotted in if needs be. Jake came from Norfolk most weeks last year to ride in a few second half races and I'm sure that he went home without a ride now and again if the main meeting dragged on. That sort of commitment deserves some reward.

I think we are looking at: Another season of mediocrity with Wells and Hall in the side.

I would like to see riders like Josh Grajzonek, Dakota North, Taylor Poole, Stefan Nielsen, Jordan Frampton...

I don't want to see Hall or Wells back at Sheffield. Hall is a liability away from home and Wells is the most uncharismatic rider I think I have ever seen. He makes Phil White look like Kelly Moran. The way he performed at Wolves compared to the effort he seemed to put in at Sheffield a couple of days later made me think he just wasn't all that bothered about riding for us. It was obvious where his priorities were.

Good signings by the Islanders. Must try and catch them when they are up north next season.

Great news. Well done to Neil and David for making this happen. Last year was bloody awful on the track and like a morgue on the terraces but this signing has restored my faith and I'm sure the crowds will be up in March. This feels like it did when Sean Wilson signed and heralded a great era for the club. Good luck to Steady too for the season with the Tigers and the Stars. Welcome home. Can we have Stefan Nielsen next please?

I'm not sure what Stefan Nielsen and Squalls love child would look like to be honest. I think Stefan's red hair is fantastic and suits him nicely but can you imagine an infant who looked like Squall with red hair? I'd be looking for the 666 sign.

You are certainly right about the team: Shane Parker (legend and fantastic racer) replaced by Josef Franc Ricky Ashworth (loyal servant and cracking heat leader) replaced by Richard Hall Josh Auty (complete entertainment) replaced by Ricky Wells Simon Lambert (crowd hero) replaced by Klaus Jakobsen Ashley Birks (local lad and great prospect) replaced by Joe Haines Five negative team moves (although I cannot fault Joe in the end) and more money to get into the stadium. It was always going to turn out the way it did. Anyway, on a lighter note, I would love to see Steady back as number one, but not at the expense of Thursday race nights. Other suggestions for our heat leader roles - Seb Alden would be a good shout as would Josh Grajzonek. Would also love to see riders like Ty Proctor, Adam Skornicki, Jordan Frampton, Sam Masters, Lasse Bjerre or Kozza Smith.

Rain is a major problem in speedway and fans have to accept that. In other sports it is a big issue too - cricket and tennis to name a couple. My own opinion is that we are at the thin end of the wedge if promotions can call off meetings if it might rain. Look what happened at Glasgow the other season when Sheffield were there and it was called off early, only for riders and fans to turn up and find the track raceable. I respect your view, but my own is that I was rather go to a meeting, find the weather is too bad and come home having accepted being beaten by the elements, rather than be at home watching TV when the racing has been called off due to an inaccurate weather forecast.

The weather forecasters are not accurate. The one way to ensure people do not travel is to call meetings off because it might rain. People get out of the habit of coming and find something else to do. I've been going since 1974 and if it is hammering it down, or you get to the track and its clear that racing could not go on, then I've accepted it and gone back the following week. What I can't accept is a meeting called off because the forecast is bad. Have a look back at the thread for the unstaged British Semi Final. This was called off due to prospective bad weather and it didn't rain. People were angry about it not being staged. THAT is a good way of ensuring they don't come back the following week.

The promotion could not control the weather, but to call off fixtures 'because the forecast was bad' makes it less and less likely for people to travel when the weather looks even slightly dodgy. I cannot think of one person, apart from the ones in the promotion, that thought the team was any good. The atmosphere in the Panorama Room for the pre season introduction of riders was one of complete apathy and the performances on the track did nothing to lift the gloom. From March onwards it was clear that the team was awful but the introduction of Chris Schramm to replace Klaus Jakobsen was the only change. The club should never be under threat. It was thriving and doing well until the management took their eye off the ball and made some awful decisions. However, we have been here before and the right signings can bring a renewal of enthusiasm. An earlier poster asked why anyone would not want Ricky Wells back. My own opinion is that he seemed more interested in riding for Wolves than he was for Sheffield and to hear of him beating Darcy Ward one day and then seeing him trailing behind opposition second strings at Owlerton a few days later put me off him, he just didn't seem to care that much and I wasn't entertained by his riding at all. Just my opinion, and I totally respect differing views.

Steady would provide the spark if we could tempt him home.

Never mind retaining three riders from last season. Let's have a clear out. The only rider I wanted back from this season is Joe as he fully deserves his chance but I don't want any of the others back, particularly Ricky Wells. Sad that Simon Lambert will not be back in 2013 but there is a great chance to revitalise the side again. Shawn Moran did it in 1980 when the club was on its backside, Sean Wilson did it in more recent times and we need that spark again.

Great stuff. Really chuffed with the news. I've had a crap day today and this has cheered me up no end.

I think Koppe was mentioned a season or two ago and his starting average was brought up then. Something tells me that he was a three pointer for some reason but I may be wrong. I think Sheffield have more of a history in bringing over Aussies rather than Scandinavians since our experiments with the likes of Thomas Ravn, I'm not sure about the points limit and all that but I would love to see a team looking a bit like: Steady Joe Haines Jordan Frampton (if he can be tempted back) Michael Palm Toft Sam Masters Micky Dyer Lewis Blackbird