spin king

I think biggest thing is we go back to basics, and remember what it was that gave us the success all those years ago. And that is make Sheffield Fortress Owlerton, for too many seasons now we have had teams that have come to Sheffield and turned us over, we need riders that are going to ride the track consistently well, and with that we need a team that has a fair share of entertaining racers. With that in mind the first two names on the team sheet are absolutely bang on the button. Nobody in the Premier League rides Sheffield better than Steady, and he is a local lad who understands the fans in fact in the words of my Redcar friends "He is one of our own," Adam Roynon is another who can beat anyone around Sheffield, and when he is fit I believe that he will do that and wil entertain the fans while he is at it. Richard Hall is another name that possibly fits the bill, but the thing with Richard is that is not consistent enough, and end of the day he had his chance to pick up on what the problems were with him and all the promises that he has given have never been fulfilled. Would welcome back Andre now I think, he is a little inconsistent, but still can beat anyone around Sheffield and as a second string/ reserve I think he could do us a good job. Add to that Facu Albin entertaining and a crowd pleaser but I think the club would re-assurances that his bikes were up to scratch. I also think that Damo Koppe probably deserves another go, he really had started to get it together around Sheffield before he was injured, and I was impressed with his dogged determination to ge things right. As for the other two riders there are still riders out there who could do a very good job for us, I suppose Lasse Bjerre is the one rider that springs to mind when thinking about a rider that rides the track well and is entertaining, but there are others and I think we could have a competitive team going into the season.

Been there, done it and bought the T shirt.

No mention of Neil Machin signing riders, the man signing the riders is Dave Hoggart. At a guess he will be staying on as either Co- Promoter or Team Manager.

There is no doubt that the Damien Koppe just before he got injured, was a totally different one to the one at the start of the season. I suppose a lot will be down to the rider budget for the new owners, so could be that we need to possibly use one or two of our own assets. Maybe we need to use Koppe, Albin and Compton to offset us putting together a quality and entertaining top 4.

The amazing thing is that either way that team comes in well under the limit.. Including Bjerre its 42.11 Niemenen its 41.99.

We could go with the following; Simon Stead Andre Compton Dakota North Adam Roynon Ollie Greenwood Facu Albin Then one other from the following; Leigh Lanham Lasse Bjerre Andrew Tully Ashley Birks Kauko Niemenen Ncolai Klindt Ulrich Ostergaard Mark Lemon Still plenty of riders to go for, and to give us a competitive team...

For me two quality signings Stead is 9.33 Roynon is 7.81 Still plenty of good riders out there for us to go at, and still feeling positive, I make no secret of the fact that I am a big fan of both riders.

Funny I thought he was very disappointing against a weak Sheffield side last season.

maybe but I doubt it. I appreciate those words,, maybe its a blind spot on my part but I just don't want either of those riders riding for my team. But like I say it would not stop supporting the team and I would not be sway to going to another track to support another team.

I don't think I would go as far as going to another track and supporting another team. A speedway team comprises of 7 riders and 6 would get my support not so sure I could guarantee the same for either Vissing or Gathercole. Both incidents talked about were blatant dirty riding, and totally out of order, and to be honest I frankly would not welcome either at Sheffield. Yes Gathercole had a good meeting at Sheffield last season, but that was the exception rather than the norm, and that was against not one of the better Sheffield teams. Vissing is in my opinion a nutcase, I think since the Paul Cooper incident he has been to Sheffield 3 times, twice he has finished up in the ambulance and had a stay in the Northern General Hospital, the man is accident waiting to happen

I also know what Gathercole said to Birko after the race. Lets just say not for repeating on this forum. . Too be honest forgot about that one, and we have it on DVD. Vissing actually looked too where Cooper was before taking him out.

Have to agree with you to a certain extent would find it very hard to support him, I too remember that move on Birko and it was totally unnecessary, I suppose you could put it down to inexperience and youthfulness, but I don't think I have ever seen a more clear cut case of taking out a rider as that night.

Seems to be how his career has panned out in this country in the past.

I am sure that this Somerset will be there or thereabouts when the honours are been handed out. But I don't think that it is as good as the side they had last season. There is no doubt that the top 3 has quality. And with Brady Kurtz on the average that he has come in on is an excellent signing. I am sure that I read somewhere that he is been tipped to be the next big thing to come out of Aussie. For me the question marks are with the other three, can Charles Wright cope with second string berth and the same goes for Todd Kurtz both have never really got past the been a good reserve position in a team, and I am not totally convinced that Paul Starke will good enough, I personally thought that they would have gone for Ollie Greenwood. But the one thing that Somerset have never been afraid to do is to change things around and they can be very ruthless, think back to 2012 Masters getting the chop and then last season Stefan Nielsen. Unlike last season where I had them out and out favourites I think that this team could do well but there is are no guarantees for me.

I think that we have to remain positive. If there was not a good chance of a buyer been found why would Simon Stead signed to ride for the club?

Add to that Roynon, North,Gathercole, Ostergaard, Birka and Proctor. Plus riders who might be interested. Wolbert and, Fisher. And that is jusrt off the top of my head without looking anywhere else.

And we have already signed one. Still quite few riders out there that could be possible signings that still don't have clubs. Lets not forget that there is one less team in the Premier League this season, and already 5 of the 12 teams have confirmed their full line up, still plenty of decent rider to go aound.

Think Hugh Skidmore is more than likely to be at Redcar again next season.

I think it is either one of their Grandfathers is Scottish so they qualify for a British reduction.

Throwing in another name into the ring Kauko Nieminen. On a starting average of 7.25. Like I say still lots of riders who still don't have teams as yet.

I think the main objective will be or should be is make Owlerton a fortress again, and stop the amount of meetings we lost at home over the last two seasons. The other is get the balance of the team right, that's with having a set of riders are entertaining and those who are good gaters. Riders with passion for the club, Tiger Owl touch on this with Ricky Wells, and in a way I agree with him. When Ricky Wells won a race he never engaged with the crowd, in fact when he did win and did a lap of honour he looked everywhere apart from the crowd. I was never a massive Ricky Ashworth fan, but when Ricky won his races he celebrated and he celebrated it with the crowd, and he gave you the impression that he wanted and was proud to wear the clubs colours. We have done the right thing by making Simon Stead the first signing, he is one of us and cares about the club, and the club have said to him that he will have some say in how the team is made up. Oily Rag has a point that Damien Koppe did not pull up many trees last season, but lets not forget that before he was injured he did rack up some decent points and beat some decent riders. Personally I would agree with Oily and would rather go with a young Brit like Olly Greenwood, but with new owners none of us know what the budget for riders wages is going to be any maybe we might have to take a hit But there is still plenty of riders out there for us to go at. Most fans thought that Lawson was nailed on at Sheffield to be honest I was not too disappointed that the club missed out on him, I would have much preferred to have seen Olly Allen but we missed out on him too. I would be definitely be up for Adam Roynon .returning and I think he would jump at the chance of riding for the club again, like Simon Stead would be a rider that would get the fans up off their feet. One rider mentioned by Oily Rag, was Ben Wilson, who if he got the figures right would have a starting average of 4. If Ben is up for it and has the equipment then I think he has be carefully consider for a spot in the team. But I don't think anyone should panic at the moment as there are plenty of riders to choose from.

And Ollie Allen has gone to Somerset.

Looks like that could be the Somerset reserve pairing.

No Paul Starke at Berwick next season then.