Sheffield 2013

[Bandit1991]

out of curiousity how many meetings did pepe miss last season due to other commitments?

[lionking]

I do fear for Sheffield again in 2013.

They are building what looks another poor side.

You can't afford to put a gamble like Koppe in your side on a 5.00 average then have a weak NL reserve who averages less then 6.00 in a lower level.

I just hope Machin & Hoghead have a trick up their sleeve because Sheffield deserve a good side after the shower of s**t they turned out in 2012.

[OILYRAG]

Cheap and cheerfull again ... it will be the fans fault for not turning up again though when they are moaning about the financial woes of 2013.

 

Yeah Stead will cost a wedge but I bet the club arn't paying the full whack for him . I would think someone like Ian Hunter has dug deep for him.

 

This club has gone to the dogs since Hoggart took a front seat !

 

Shane Colvin next ?

Edited December 3, 2012 by OILYRAG

[tigerowl]

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.

[Supersteady1984]

oh no its the end of the world!!! cheer up your team isnt even complete yet!!!!

im a comets fan 😊

[tigerowl]

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.

[montie]

If i were a Sheff fan i would want Hall back,,,,Sheff need to get back to not getting beat at home,and Hall is so good around there,plus great to watch,The PLRC would have been a bit dour without him.......

[Daniel Smith]

I'm absolutely astonished Sheffield have gone with Jake Knight. He's nowhere near ready for PL racing.

 

He's still at the stage where he can't even pass wind at NL level. If he doesn't make the gate it all over.

 

Jake needed a season somewhere else in the National League but PL with Sheffield??

 

Good luck to the lad, just hope this move doesn't destroy his confidence.

 

Massive career risk & a huge risk from Sheffield.

[OILYRAG]

I'm sure Jake is a nice lad but Tigerpig but if commitment is a criteria surely Andy Blackburn who turns up every week deseves a chance hey ?

 

Yes you need a solid top half of the team but IMO the ones that win trophys are teams that have reserves that chip in with double figure scores from thier 5/6/ or 7 rides , if they have to start tinkering after a few weeks or months it means some of those already there have not performed and they have got off to a bad start and you're down the league from the off.

Edited December 3, 2012 by OILYRAG

[OdsalBoy]

I like Jake Knight, however I fear he could just a little bit out of his depth, reminds me a bit of the Sam Martin signing.

[BILKO]

I'm sure Jake is a nice lad but Tigerpig but if commitment is a criteria surely Andy Blackburn who turns up every week deseves a chance hey ?

 

Yes you need a solid top half of the team but IMO the ones that win trophys are teams that have reserves that chip in with double figure scores from thier 5/6/ or 7 rides , if they have to start tinkering after a few weeks or months it means some of those already there have not performed and they have got off to a bad start and you're down the league from the off.

 

If a reserve is having 5/6 or 7 rides then your top 5 are not doing the job they were signed to do.

I would rather take a chance on a young brit at 7, as long as the heat leaders are up to there job. So Stead is a good start, let's get 2 more signed up, and a number 4 that can improve a bit as well.

[Friddy75]

Many are throwing suggestions around but I'd like to see who people suggest are the riders to up their average or riders who are going to be our other heat leaders to back Stead up?

 

The averages are on the BSPA website if anyone's unsure of riders averages.

 

To me these riders have already gone or won't fit with what's left. Or are just not realistic due to expense.

[Halifaxtiger]

 

I would rather take a chance on a young brit at 7

 

I doubt if many would disagree. But better to take a chance on a young Brit averaging around 8.00 in the NL than one averaging around 5.00.

 

On the basis of what we know (rather than what we might hope or even expect) this leaves Sheffield fearfully exposed at reserve.

[crescent girl]

Many are throwing suggestions around but I'd like to see who people suggest are the riders to up their average or riders who are going to be our other heat leaders to back Stead up?

 

The averages are on the BSPA website if anyone's unsure of riders averages.

 

To me these riders have already gone or won't fit with what's left. Or are just not realistic due to expense.

 

I admire Sheffield's mission statement in signing affordable riders, who will excite and improve (Koppe, for one) and guarantee the club's survival.

 

We've seen Glasgow and Edinburgh going right up the the wall after putting together title-winning sides. Let's be honest, who (apart from half a dozen on here) cares about away match results? Win at home, put on a show and the average spectator will keep coming.

 

You have a superb statium and a promotion who have been in place for years, keeping the ship stable.

 

Be careful what you wish for

[squall]

Tigerpig

 

[Halifaxtiger]

I admire Sheffield's mission statement in signing affordable riders, who will excite and improve (Koppe, for one) and guarantee the club's survival.

 

We've seen Glasgow and Edinburgh going right up the the wall after putting together title-winning sides. Let's be honest, who (apart from half a dozen on here) cares about away match results? Win at home, put on a show and the average spectator will keep coming.

 

You have a superb statium and a promotion who have been in place for years, keeping the ship stable.

 

Be careful what you wish for

 

Given the statement made by Dave Hoggart recently regarding the financial position for Sheffield last season, you can go 'right up the wall' by putting out a cheap side and finishing at the bottom too. That's not me being wise in hindsight either, as it was predicted by many at the start of the year.

 

One thing Sheffield 2012 taught speedway was that if you do things on the cheap you are as much asking for financial disaster as you are if you start paying silly money.

 

Its very easy for anyone to speculate with other peoples money but there is a balance here. Sheffield got it badly wrong in 2012 and I am yet to be convinced that they have got it right for 2013.

[OILYRAG]

If a reserve is having 5/6 or 7 rides then your top 5 are not doing the job they were signed to do.

I would rather take a chance on a young brit at 7, as long as the heat leaders are up to there job. So Stead is a good start, let's get 2 more signed up, and a number 4 that can improve a bit as well.

 

 

R/R or injuries not come into it then ?

 

Given the statement made by Dave Hoggart recently regarding the financial position for Sheffield last season, you can go 'right up the wall' by putting out a cheap side and finishing at the bottom too. That's not me being wise in hindsight either, as it was predicted by many at the start of the year.

 

One thing Sheffield 2012 taught speedway was that if you do things on the cheap you are as much asking for financial disaster as you are if you start paying silly money.

 

Its very easy for anyone to speculate with other peoples money but there is a balance here. Sheffield got it badly wrong in 2012 and I am yet to be convinced that they have got it right for 2013.

 

 

Go back a few years and sheff got crowds of around 800 to a 1000 with a decent team ... fast forward to now with the cheapo team and they will be struglling for 300 maybe 400 on a warm summers day !

 

The fanbase is there and all the promotion have to do is provide us with a team worth watching ... invest in proven talent or gamble on never have beens ... do the maths to see which way,generates most cash !

[wjm]

Sheffield are fine with signing Knight if they subsidise their side with balance IMO.

 

I appreciate others may have a better NL average than him, but is that NL average their limit? Maybe in some case yes, maybe not in the case of others.

 

If I was an EL promoter I would invest in a few PL riders on 5 or 6 averages who I would see as a “project” before I would a few riders on higher averages.

 

If an EL promoter was to sign a Bellego, Aspegren or Campton as part of their squad it would be pretty understandable IMO, guys on a lesser average but with that bit more potential.

 

Won’t be able to make a true judgement on the signing of Knight until the rest of the side is announced IMO.

 

I like the idea of clubs signing riders with the understanding that it will take time for them to improve and find themselves, they key is being able to manage the situation.

 

I hope/would think Knight will be in the NL as well next season which should in turn help with confidence issues if he finds the PL a bit hot at times, and he will, as long as he shows progression, good on him, and Sheffield for taking it on.

 

There is a bit of a shortage of riders in this country, every club needs to take on the responsibility of growing riders.

Edited December 3, 2012 by wjm

[OILYRAG]

Sheffield are fine with signing Knight if they subsidise their side with balance IMO.

 

I appreciate others may have a better NL average than him, but is that NL average their limit? Maybe in some case yes, maybe not in the case of others.

 

If I was an EL promoter I would invest in a few PL riders on 5 or 6 averages who I would see as a “project” before I would a few riders on higher averages.

 

If an EL promoter was to sign a Bellego, Aspegren or Campton as part of their squad it would be pretty understandable IMO, guys on a lesser average but with that bit more potential.

 

Won’t be able to make a true judgement on the signing of Knight until the rest of the side is announced IMO.

 

I like the idea of clubs signing riders with the understanding that it will take time for them to improve and find themselves, they key is being able to manage the situation.

 

I hope/would think Knight will be in the NL as well next season which should in turn help with confidence issues if he finds the PL a bit hot at times, and he will, as long as he shows progression, good on him, and Sheffield for taking it on.

 

There is a bit of a shortage of riders in this country, every club needs to take on the responsibility of growing riders.

 

 

I would echo your sentiments if a rule was in place to say all clubs have to do it but doing it of your own back puts you at a disadvantage from the off , but not let us kid ourselves ... Knight will be on 30 quid a point and thats the reason he's in , nothing to do with developing young brits !

 

What pee's me right off is when you see foreigners like Bager get a team place and the likes of a Ben Wilson a Brit on a similar average and arguably a better rider get over looked.

Edited December 3, 2012 by OILYRAG

[Halifaxtiger]

 

Won’t be able to make a true judgement on the signing of Knight until the rest of the side is announced IMO.

 

 

I think you can.

 

Nielsen, Jacobs & Sarjeant all average far higher in the NL and all are younger. Nielsen won the U19 championship at Sheffield last season and rode for the Sheffield/Scunthorpe side in 2011, while Jacobs finished 3rd. Sarjeant is from Sheffield.

 

They would all come in on the same PL average and none are yet fixed up with PL clubs.

 

To me its fairly obvious that any one of them would have been a better option, and a case could be made that the likes of Reade, Hopwood, Halsey, Greenwood, Ritchings & Morley would be preferable.