4thbender

Don't quite understand what you're getting at GPR. My point is that, for 2017 at least, what we have effectively is a Southern League and a Northern League in all but name. Simple really. On a more technical point, does anyone have views on the announcement that the BSPA will be working with the Swiss manufacturers of the GTR engine which, allegedly, will drastically reduce riders' maintenance costs? Would any techie on this forum care to explain to the rest of us what impact this may have on the sport or whether it's just pie in the sky?

The North/South divide has been achieved by stealth. Look at the comparative geography of the two leagues and anyone who fails to see that geographic location played more than a small part in determining the makeup of the two leagues is deluding himself. Glad to hear that Workington are definitely running.

And we haven't got the PLRC (or its new equivalent)

It seems that next year we'll be riding in a smaller league (the Championship) consisting of Berwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ipswich, Newcastle, Peterborough, Redcar, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, and possibly Workington. We'll be racing on a 2 x home and 2 x away basis, with automatic promotion for the champions to the higher league (Premiership). Rye House and Somerset have opted for the Premiership in 2017. Crucially, we'll only have 40 points to play with in building a team.

Keep it clean.

From my perch on the fourth bend I noted a distinct drop-off in the normal crowd numbers for the quarter- and semi-finals at Owlerton. What happens next Wednesday remains to be seen, but I sense that for many Sheffield fans the season finished three weeks ago. Had we had Steady, Garrity and Berge, the story might have been different, but turning out on a cold, dark night to watch "borrowed" riders trying to win a league title for a Sheffield team that was acknowledged sixth-best in the league is taking irony to its limits.

If by hook or by crook Sheffield manage to beat Somerset in the final, a major injustice will have taken place to take away the achievement of a team that's lost only four times in the entire season. It will show up the farcical nature of a competition wherein a team finishing sixth can be anointed as "League Champions" having used a litany of 'ringers' in the process. As a tigers fan of 50 years standing, it will give me no pleasure or pride whatsoever to become "champions" in such circumstances. I therefore hope and trust Somerset give us a walloping in both legs. However, I would add that Howarth, Bates, Sissis and Greaves have been outstanding throughout this debacle and deserve the praise of all Sheffield fans. It is a pity their efforts have been diminished by the ridiculous rules of the competition. For me, Howarth has been the discovery of the season and his name should be first on the teamsheet for 2017.

Summer sport? We'll still be settling this at Christmas.

...... and Howarth!

It appears Plymouth are down the swanee. This is obviously dire news for speedway and I wouldn't wish to be seen to profit from another team's demise. However it does mean that Jack Holder will be looking for a new club. He'd be ahead of Todd Kurtz and Kyle Newman on my list.

What? No Kyle Howarth? Big mistake.

Anyone know what sauce goes best on a hat... 'cos now I've got to EAT IT! This result is just breathtaking. The team that beat us by 34 points in the KOC and then held us to a draw at Owlerton in the return leg suddenly shows itself to be vulnerable just when it matters most. Unbelievable. Newcastle fans must be gutted. I guess this means we now meet Glasgow in the semis. Who'd have thought it?

Lambs to the slaughter. SHEFFIELD: Ricky Wells, Robert Branford, Lewis Kerr, Simon Stead R/R, Kyle Howarth, Arthur Sissis, Nathan Greaves.

I have every respect for Steady and his years of service have shown him to be a true professional and he will always be a Tigers speedway legend. However, from a 10+ average a year ago he's down to 8.5. In a year's time the 8.5 will probably become 7.5. He's no spring chicken and he's proving to be prone to injury. His many fans (and I'm one of them) will not want him to end his career struggling to keep up with the "ordinary" riders or getting yet another serious injury. If he were to retire now he would retire as PLRC champion and will always be remembered as such. He has IMO far more to offer the sport as a manager / coach / mentor, and I think that's the path he should follow. The promotion will shortly be making decisions about the team for next year and I would much prefer them to secure the services of a no.1 with an average of 8.5 on the way up rather than one with an 8.5 average on the way down. Sorry to be brutal, but that's the way it is with Steady.

This was a typical end-of-season Sheffield performance. Some teams end the season with a bang and others with a roar, but Sheffield seasons in recent years have always fizzled out with a phut-phut-phut. What's the point of struggling all season to get into the play-offs and the later stages of cup competitions when we simply can't compete with the best. Last night was a disgrace and I'm predicting next week will be even worse: Newcastle will beat us at Owlerton and then give us another 60+ point humiliation at their place. Roll on Thursday nights in front of the telly.

Brady Kurtz has turned his back on PL to concentrate on EL with Poole.

Dark winter months lie ahead and it's a good time to start some early speculation about what 2017 might bring to Owlerton. For my money, Sheffield have under-performed this season and radical change might be necessary to shake things up. For what it's worth, here are my thoughts: Simon Stead: past his peak and whatever average he finishes on this season, he won't be able to maintain next season. Time to move him on to pastures new and say a hearty "thank you and well done." Jason Garrity: The only rider in the current team who can fill Stead's shoes and step up to no.1. He may have blotted his copy book with his antics in the pits, but he's a total crowd-pleaser on the track and, whatever the current state of his relationship with the management, they must kiss and make up and get him back for next season. Kyle Howarth: The outstanding surprise of the season, particularly his away performances. Must be back next year. Dimiti Bergé: Another surprise package. His early form at home paired with Steady demonstrated what he's capable of, but I think there's a lot more to come from him in the future. Sign him now. Josh Bates: His team performances have gone backwards this year and, in my opinion, he would benefit from a move. Family ties to the management are not in his best interests or those of the team. Time to move on, if only temporarily. Arthur Sissis: Generally disappointing since his comeback, but has started to hit a bit of form in his last few outings (since he learned how to move outside into the dirt). If his form continues through the playoffs I'd give him another chance at reserve next year. Nathan Greaves: Clearly out of his depth and needs another year or two in the National League before stepping up. Who to bring in: David Bellego has prospered since leaving Owlerton. I thought it was a big mistake to let him go last year and would plead for him to come back. Him and his mate (and fellow-frenchie) Bergé in the same team would hit it off a treat. Also a return to British speedway for Ty Proctor is overdue and the way he was treated two years ago means we owe him one. So my 2017 team would be: Garrity Bellego Howarth Proctor Bergé Sissis A.N.Other from National League Don't know how that would stack up points-wise, but I'm sure someone will inform us.

Can anyone explain why we started the season so well but are finishing it so badly? In the first third of the season it looked as though the Tigers were set for a top three finish, but now it looks as if we'll finish sixth (AGAIN!) and draw Peterborough in the play-offs (AGAIN!) and get wiped out in the first round (AGAIN!)

Notable that Arthur only started scoring points when he took to the outside of the track. Will he have the nerve to maintain this new-found skill?

JPB reaches 16 on 2nd September. 6 days later Sheffield have a tricky away clash at Ipswich, followed by a home encounter with Somerset. If I were Nathan Greaves I'd be looking over my shoulder in 3 weeks time.

Richard Hall is perhaps past his best and approaching his sell-by date, but that doesn't mean he's got nothing to offer. The ease with which British speedway disposes of its former talent is frightening. Has anyone ever considered that the shortage of up-and-coming riders and the haste to push the older guys through the exit door might be related in some way?

Don't know why so many people have a downer on Richard Hall. He's had a tough couple of years and a spell in the NL might help restore his confidence. People should be reminded of what he's capable of. Watch here from 2½ minutes in: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqogJAPDL8c

Watching Josh Bates from my perch on the fourth bend, it seemed just a matter of time before he came a cropper and - sure enough - it happened in heat 8. What is it with Bates and turn 4?

I've said it before and I'll say it again: "Thursday nights are for speedway, not Eastenders". The promoters' conference should go for a league policy of facing each team twice at home and twice away, with a single cup competition and do away with play-offs altogether. This would guarantee every team a 27 match season at least.

Brilliant news - so pleased for all the fans.