Steve55

I couldn't agree more as I've said so already. Think he will be one of the biggest surprises in the premier league this year, well I hope so because I'll be there to se him every week. Get the track right and weather permitting Sheffield will be up there with the most fancied sides!

I'm happy because I'm one of those that think he has a lot more to show than he did last year at Sheffield. Yes he did do a lot of 'following home' after poor gating. But he did start making the effort later in the season, putting in some good passes, although he did come a cropper on at least one occasion on the third/fourth bend, when he was lucky not to get hurt. However he did try and that's what I pay to see, riders putting in the effort to get a result. On top of that he also has the quality to get results away from Sheffield, something that other Sheffield riders didn't seem to have last year. You know who I'm referring to and if we want to get anywhere near the playoffs they're all going to have to get points away this year. I know it's wishful thinking, but I really want the team to stick it up those who are tipping Sheffield as 'wooden spoonists' this year!

Looks like you're right Spinny, guess he will be announced Thursday as you predicted!

Remember him the evening he rode Sheffield on the Berwick team bike that eventually gave up on him. He looked very stylish & ar*e to the wind! His mother and I think sister (or girlfriend) were just past the third bend with an Argentinian flag, cheering him on. Liked the look of him then, & think he'll go down well at Owlerton - glad we've got him & not Berwick to be honest.

Odsal boy, agree with you on Simon Stead, although I see him being more of an Andre Compton (in his best days), there to set an example to the rest of the team and keeping the points clicking up. Joe I also believe will give as good as last year, although this year in the main body of the team it will make it more difficult to add to his average and maintaining his average at there or there abouts will be good enough for me. Albin & Koppe are really unknowns, some see as a bit of a gamble, but both I think will prove the risk and one or the other (hope both) will maintain their assessed average. Jake, well saw him last year and to be honest I wasn't impressed. Both when he rode as number 8 in PL and in the second halves a couple of times, he just didn't seem to have the pace. Hope I'm wrong and that he comes on strong from the very beginning, but I can see him being an early casualty to team improvements. Richard Hall, yes he can be absolutely brilliant & breath taking at times around Owlerton, but doesn't do it every week, plus his away form is poor. I really would like to see him improve away from home and I might wander further a field this year - weather permitting! Ricky Wells????? well we all know what he needs to do!

Read in Speedway Star today that Wells says and I quote, "Last years deal wasn't anything out of the water - it was actually about the same as what I was on at Stoke in 2010." Well welcome to the real world 'cos guess what, my wages haven't gone up since 2010 either, and I'll bet there a loads of others that stand watching on the terraces that are in the same boat. The only way I can add to my salary is to prove my working competencies, (Basically that I'm doing the job to the best of my abilities) and as a result get a so called bonus. So it's a case of getting your finger out and get some points. (Points = you are doing the job to the best of your ability = more money.)

Got to agree with you on that, and yes I would like to see him back at Owlerton. He has unfinished business in Sheffield and I'm sure if the tracks right, plus his set up from first race to last, there are more than a few 15 point maximums to be earnt! If you read this Ricky there are plenty at Sheffield would like to see you back giving it 100% - remember to smile a little more and look like you really are enjoying it!

Facu Albin could figure here, especially if Argentina invade the Falklands again! He could be interned! But seriously I think the management at Sheffield will have everything in place for their non-EU riders.

Thanks for that Spinny. The point I was making, but obviously didn't high light, is that Albin is obviously on less than what Wells will be being offered and that Wells is already going to be earning with Wolves. I accept that they are both at different stages in their careers, but the cost of living over here is the same for both of them. Wells will probably earn a little more for riding for USA, if they can qualify for the World Cup again.

Apparently he does have until the end of this week to make his mind up. Do you know who these 'outside influences' are that are advising him? What I can't understand is how the likes of Albin can come over from Argentina just to ride in the premier league. Is he going to be on more money than whats being offered to Wells? A rider on an assessed average getting a better deal than the supposed second heat leader! Is he bringing some kind of super sponsorship deal over with him, surely he can't have another job, or is his dad a rich man? Suppose he'll be living rent free at Grenoside!

Having read all the recent comments about Ricky Wells, both on here and the 'official' side, it would appear that Ricky thinks he's worth more than the offer that's been put to him. Talk of an 'outside influence' on his decision making, all I have seen evidence of is that Sam Ermolenko has been involved on his behalf whilst he's been back in the USA. IMO don't think Sam would get too involved over money matters, more like getting him set up with a decent team (LOL). As I've posted before, think he'll sign this week, on a deal like Squall originally posted & others have since, on a performance based payment, which might make his Sheffield riding mirror that for Wolves. In the present economic climate, what he did last year for Sheffield and his apparent, current attitude that can only be fair for all concerned. As for the to riders who are knocking at Hoggies door, hope Squall is right about that too, but I fear it's more likely to be Sanchez and Jakobsen.

My apologies, didn't realise he only rode in Britain last year!

Haven't we been here before? Nedermark is based on the continent so would cost more due to flights, machinery etc. If 7.99 is the amount why not go for someone with or near that average if they're going to have to pay the money? Wells will come, he's a bit short on what's available to him as well as the money on offer!

I thought it was the same deal that he had last year. If it was good enough then why isn't good enough now?Plus like many others have said 'it was down to him to get the points to make it pay.' Also it isn't very professional nor even polite to go about letting on what potential employers are offering him whilst negotiations are ongoing. It sounds like he doesn't want to ride for Sheffield this year, but if there's only Sheffield that can accomodate him, he's going to earn more from them than not riding in the Premier league at all! There are still a few others out there who could fill this last berth, but if these stories are true lets hope they're desperate for money!!!

If he can gate like he did last year (IMO) I don't think he will struggle. Besides if Koppe & Albin ride to their potential then we might see both of them in the main body of the team after 12 or 24 meetings. Here's hoping & keeping my fingers crossed, not only for the riders, the track prep & most of all the weather!!!! Must agree, I watched him riding round behind away riders - there could have been 20 laps in the race, but no way was he going to attempt a pass, he just rode around the inside kerb.

I wish!!! And I'll bet a lot of others also do. But 3-2-1 "you're back in the room."

Weren't these two the first signings for last years team? Please don't start rumours like this - they sometimes come true!

How many did stay and watch the second half that night when Albin rode at Owlerton? He was on a Berwick team bike which had mechanical problems, but before that he looked the biz. As I said before this kid could be a star with the right machinery & some decent sponsorship behind him. Reading the articles in the Sheffield Star it looks like this is what were watching next year. Just hope Hally gets himself sorted out early doors & the track is sorted & remains the same throughout the full season. Do the Stock cars really have that much effect on the track? That's another question that needs looking at!

He's a character - really? I must have missed something then, because every time I've seen him he gives the impression that he has the personality of a slice of bread. On track he never seems to interact with the fans after a decent win, and I've seen him ignore a young boy asking (nicely) for his autograph at the rear of the pits. Character - yes, but not one I want to see thanks. As for being a good rider can't argue with that, although some of his home performances were dire to begin with, he worked at it and seemed to have the measure of most riders when at home (Sheffield that is).

As they say "Your only as good as your last race!!!!!!!"

There are quite a few on that list I wouldn't mind seeing in a Sheffield race jacket next year! I'll probably be watching Richard Hall & Ben Wilson though. Oh well it was nice thinking about it!!!!!!

Think you'll be far better off with Josh, Vissing is injury prone & a lot of his injuries are self inflicted. No doubt he is a skillful and courageous rider, however he sometimes gets carried away & is far too aggressive on tracks he is not that familiar with. (The crash at Ipswich wasn't his fault & how he was excluded I'll never work out!) Unfortunately his aggressive streak is a reckless one & I've seen him on at least three occasions where other riders have been lucky not to also suffer serious injury as a result of this! You've got a good looking team there with bags of potential (jealous) if you don't finish in top three I'll be very surprised. By the way Jason Doyle should be PLRC champion, if only Rene Bach could have stayed on his bike - Cook had no chance!

I think that this has been a big part of the problem over the last few years, Track Preparation. It seemed to me that every week the track was prepared the same, you'd see Andre & Ricky from race one onwards perform because they knew the track. If they had a bad gate you'd see them wind it on and pick their moment. Now the track seems different every week and home riders take one or two races to get 'dialled in' - ridiculous! Ok so we all have our opinions on who should be in the team, I think there's a lot more involved than money which some people don't seem to understand. We all know it's important, but how do you instil loyalty into people? That goes for fans too. The years I've been going to speedway you go to see your team at home on a track that they know and have mastered and see if the away riders can beat them on it. This doesn't work if the tracks different every week and it's a toss up as to who gets the right set up first! The same goes for when you go to watch them ride away, unfortunately the other teams usually seem to have got their track preparation right, but as long as we give it a go then fair do's. Get the track right and no team (even Belle View) wouldn't beat us at home - LOL. As for Hally like my metal work teacher put on my report - "Must try harder!"

Well he's not riding for Sheffield that's for sure! A year or two away from Owlerton won't do him any harm, look at Ricky - really enjoying himself. Pity he picked up the injury, he'd have provided stiffer opposition for Cook in the PLRC!

Remember seeing him in the second half after one of the Berwick meetings last season. IMO he looked the business, had style, passed on the outside and with decent machinery could be a star of the future!