Steve55

Apparently Josh Bates grand dad is one of the consortium, (name unknown to me!). Would agree Ian Hunter is still involved in some way, if not one of the new consortium, think he'll still be sponsoring the team, or individual riders to some extent. Not be going to Argos for a while so won't know anything more soon!!!!!

Back to Sheffield business after the interlude with our 'critic' from Somerset. My previous posts on this thread (nos 949 & 951) are now irrelevant as with Compton & Neilsen both coming in on 4.36 averages means the total remaining is only .49, so Facu wouldn't have fit in. However it did create some interest from posters far and wide. The one I particularly liked was from 'The Scotsman' and the video clips he included from Edinburgh. I was particularly impressed with the riding of Josef Tabaka on those clips, he really can handle the tight lines on their track! The race 11 which others were raving about Josh Bates, well that's down to Newman almost taking the other two riders out on lap one. Give him credit though Josh saw the gap in the inside and went for it! Having seen this and hearing of his exploits at Mildenhall last year the lad might prove his worth riding away at some of these smaller, more 'technical' tracks. The big question now is have we got an air/foam fence, or the funds to acquire one? If the new consortium haven't the funds and want assistance in raising some then (as already has been mentioned) why don't they make themselves known to the fans so we know who is running the show. It can only aid in getting things going in building a new era in Sheffield Speedway!

Like you say - Opinions they are like ar*e holes, everybody's got one!

Make your mind up!

Sorry I must have missed something especially after you posted just yesterday, 'but nearly February and team plans still up in the air'.

Thanks for your observations, seen your posts on other threads in the past. At least you're consistent! Be interesting to see how Somerset go on this year, when you've got your team finalised!

The point I was trying to make Spinny was regarding the young fella' we've got on 3 points. I'm all for bringing on young Brits, but after watching poor home sides at Owlerton for the last two years I'd like to see seven home riders that can score week in week out - from the start of the season! Josh is no doubt far better off in the Premier League than with Swindon (can't see the point of this draft business thing in the Elite personally. Think it's going to de-value the EL TBH.) Anyway from what I saw of him in the Prem last year I wasn't impressed, neither were Rob Godfrey and the majority of Scunny fans. I think it's pretty poor of the management to leave the little guy in Argentina, especially after all the time it's taken to sort out 'new owners'. This gave no time for him to be offered to other clubs, I'm sure one or two would have seriously considered him on that average! Anyway that's just my opinion. I now eagerly await tomorrows announcement.

Well if Koppe is going back to Oz and Albin doesn't return (posts by Ariel75 - who seems quite close to him- seem to suggest that the promotion haven't been in contact with him, would like to be corrected if I'm wrong) then it might be a new face, but then again perhaps another old one! If things are to be as above then if there are any points from 0.62 and over left, they will be sadly wasted IMO. (If you see where I'm coming from!)

C'mon Kieran, you should've changed your name to 'SillyKent'.

Where've you heard Albin's not coming back then?

He's not shown in any of the line-ups confirmed in Britain, but he could be referring to his Danish team, presume he's riding over there this year? His tweet was posted a month ago!

Looking at who is available it might be that if Andre is coming back he might have to go into the top five with A.N.Other at reserve. IMO can't see that being a major issue, but what a rider to have at reserve he could prove to be. Plus he'd be a big help to young Josh and would allow him to be brought on, allowing him to develop at a steady pace. Personally I would like to see Albin return to the team, with some better machinery, as I think having a second year might release some of that potential I believe he possesses. Back to Andre though as I've posted before I think he could easily improve, at least two points on that average. Still lets wait and see what's delivered this week by the new promotion!

Tsunami is absolutely right, let's concentrate on what's coming. Steady's been training with Ash Birks and Josh Bates at Ryan Rhodes boxing gym, so he's really pumped up for the new season and apparently very happy with the way team buildings been going. I'll take this opportunity to wish Ash (another Sheffield lad) good luck for the new season after his horrific injury, although bizarre how it occurred.

So this means that the sale of the Club still hasn't been completed, c'mon Neil let go.....

And my point is this: Joe Screen has been a master of the shale sport for 25 years, so he's got to be one hundred times better at managing a speedway team than a retired Police Inspector (as good as his intentions have been over the last two years!) Looks like Joe will have a better septet to deal with than Nigel did over the last two years, but IMO this has got to be one of the best moves Sheffield has made in the last three years!

Heard from a source in Scunthorpe that Josh Bates has a relative who is a member of the consortium that's taken over the Tigers and that it was a condition of their involvement that Josh ride for Sheffield! Might be a load of Bull, probably is, but he didn't do very well at Scunny last year did he! Think he'll have a better chance of developing at Sheffield rather than Swindon, more local involvement, might be more chance of new sponsors!

Might've been, but he is fast and wouldn't have any problem catching me! Let's have him then! Cheers. Didn't think I'd seen his name mentioned, but just wondered if he'd been an 'Also ran'.

Might've been, but yes he is a 'Big bloke' and he wouldn't have any trouble catching me 'cos he is fast!

Has he been riding in the Aussie Championships?

What's Big Joes average? As I remember it was around the 9 mark. Think that'll make us a bit top heavy if it is!

Can't see what's wrong with having the season run into October, as long as the weathers ok. Makes the 'closed season' seem shorter! It's not that long ago that Scunny and Sheffield organised a 'Halloween' meeting to end the season. When was that Rob, 2007 or 2008? Remember getting wrapped up for that one, fireworks also seem better and more appropriate at that time of year rather than the end of August!

Think we'll all be happy when the news comes about the take over being completed and the team being announced officially. However after what Neil said on the official site on 22 November that he wanted to hand over the reigns as soon as possible in order that everything could move forward smoothly for the forthcoming season, it don't half seem to have taken a long time and it's understandable why a lot of fans have been wondering what's happening. Especially after the first two signings were announced and then nothing more could be done until all the 'paperwork' was completed. From all this it must be concluded that all the negotiations were done with Neil being on his usual Australian winter visit. We know it's not that difficult now with electronic mail and face to face computer conferencing, but it must be awkward crossing all the t's and dotting all the i's. Still there's nowt' like keeping all the fans/paying public guessing and it has helped pass on a few dark winter nights!

If you look at the fixtures I think you'll find that these 'extra' fixtures have been fitted in throughout the season and not at the end so the factors you are alluding to shouldn't be that much of an issue. As for Somerset struggling to complete their fixtures I think that was down to them being involved in all competitions to their completion and their number one having a similar situation in the Elite League.

Enjoy your two extra trips to the 'reasonably close by clubs'.