Sheffield 2014

[thommo34]

In my view Damo deserves another chance, he was always ready to ride and practice, and finally, just before his injury, was looking a more than useful rider and probably the best gater in the team. I think he just wants more experience to go with his hunger to succeed,

I don't understand the fascination with Facu. For a rider with his reputation I felt he underperformed and I expected more than he delivered. OK he put plenty of effort in but often to little effect and his equipment was incredibly poor.

Having said that I think there is room for both of them to improve their averages for next season and I would be quite happy to include them both in next year's team.

 

 

[Halifaxtiger]

how about mark lemon ?

 

Read the Plymouth thread.

 

I think he's been dropped by the Devils because of the angry reaction of their fans.

 

From what I have heard and seen, Sheffield don't want or need him.

Stead

Compton

North

Roynon

Niemenen/ Bjerre

Greenwood

Albin

 

That would be a great team.

 

Its an impressive one which is just what the Tigers need after two starting line ups for the past two seasons that have been anything but.

 

In my view Damo deserves another chance, he was always ready to ride and practice, and finally, just before his injury, was looking a more than useful rider and probably the best gater in the team. I think he just wants more experience to go with his hunger to succeed,

I don't understand the fascination with Facu. For a rider with his reputation I felt he underperformed and I expected more than he delivered. OK he put plenty of effort in but often to little effect and his equipment was incredibly poor.

Having said that I think there is room for both of them to improve their averages for next season and I would be quite happy to include them both in next year's team.

 

 

 

Fair point about Koppe

 

I'd said it should be Greenwood but I think you're right to have them both. Two Sheffield assets on low averages and with a lot of potential - it begs the question why you wouldn't do it.

[spin king]

In my view Damo deserves another chance, he was always ready to ride and practice, and finally, just before his injury, was looking a more than useful rider and probably the best gater in the team. I think he just wants more experience to go with his hunger to succeed,

I don't understand the fascination with Facu. For a rider with his reputation I felt he underperformed and I expected more than he delivered. OK he put plenty of effort in but often to little effect and his equipment was incredibly poor.

Having said that I think there is room for both of them to improve their averages for next season and I would be quite happy to include them both in next year's team.

 

 

 

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.

[romans lovechild]

Can't believe Roman Matousek hasn't been mentioned yet!!!

my dad says he is retired from racing now.

[semion]

Why is Machin signing riders for an an incoming owner if a deal hasn't been done. You don't see Rick Frost signing riders at P'Boro.

[spin king]

Why is Machin signing riders for an an incoming owner if a deal hasn't been done. You don't see Rick Frost signing riders at P'Boro.

 

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.

[semion]

I see, that makes sense as he is still on the Management Committee.

[Charlieboy]

_{Great start to team building would like Compton and albin /koppe at reserve,Compton would compliment either with his experience.The rest needs freshening up.I would like to Bjerre in the line up then see what points are left for the other 2.}

[semion]

How's about Richard Hall he is a flyer around Sheffield

[spin king]

How's about Richard Hall he is a flyer around Sheffield

 

Been there, done it and bought the T shirt.

[OdsalBoy]

If Richard Hall was signed yet again I dont think many fans would be happy, as spin king rightly says - been there done that far too many times IMO.

 

We've had a great start to team building for 2014, we need it to continue going forward, not backwards !

 

Get Facu in to join Steady & Roynon, then freshen up the rest of the team !!!

[Halifaxtiger]

How's about Richard Hall he is a flyer around Sheffield

I don't think you are being serious but it was the signing of Richard Hall that killed stone dead last season the initial enthusiasm stoked up by the signing of Simon Stead.

 

Sheffield need new faces or signs of potential from old ones. Albin, Koppe, Compton, Stead & Roynon all fall under those categories; Hall doesn't.

 

Maybe we need to use Koppe, Albin and Compton to offset us putting together a quality and entertaining top 4.

 

I think that's right, the important point being that you'd have a big top 4 with a lot of potential in the bottom 3.

 

That is exactly what Sheffield (and probably every other team)needs.

[Blackadder]

I totally agree. If the intention is to go with Simon and Adam, plus 2 or 3 from Andre, Facundo and Damien, it is important that the remaining places go to the likes of Bjerre, North, Lanham etc., and not to riders who have not come up to expectations previously. Aside from the sale of the club, the most important things are signing the correct riders for the remaining places in the main body of the team, returning the track surface to what it was 3 years ago, and smartening up the presentation.

[spin king]

I totally agree. If the intention is to go with Simon and Adam, plus 2 or 3 from Andre, Facundo and Damien, it is important that the remaining places go to the likes of Bjerre, North, Lanham etc., and not to riders who have not come up to expectations previously. Aside from the sale of the club, the most important things are signing the correct riders for the remaining places in the main body of the team, returning the track surface to what it was 3 years ago, and smartening up the presentation.

 

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.

[workyboy]

Steady & Royno are class acts around any track. The only problem for me is, they have that la-al fella with "accident" on his back sitting on their shoulders.

 

Sincerely hope they both have a accident free season, then Sheffield Tigers can be a threat to any team. Ride well and safe boys, hope to see you both when you come to Workington.

[thommo34]

Well I guess it was only a matter of time before Richard Hall's name was mentioned.

Personally I'm looking forward to starting a season without the normal gibberish in press releases saying that this is going to be his season.

He's had more than enough chances to fulfil any promise he may have had, but I'd still like to thank him for some superb races round Owlerton over the years.

[Ben91]

If you can get Andre Compton to start at reserve that will be an important move especially at home. It means one of Koppe and Albin would have to go but that experienced reserve can be invaluable. It looks likely that Albin will be back so the decision is whether Koppe can improve enough to merit a reserve spot and negate having Compton as a second string.

[Shadders]

If Gathercole signed for Sheffield youd soon love him... remember Ashworth at Berwick? Punched Makovsky and the fans played hell.... now hes their hero.

 

Now been downgraded to a playfull slap

[jenga]

that was some slap.

[Halifaxtiger]

 

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.

 

 

Well said, mate.

 

I don't think that anyone should forget that Owlerton is a superb stadium and, with a track man like Graham Trollope (who is one of the best in the game), can have a track to match. Indeed, the combination is one of the(if not the) finest in the country.

 

Sheffield also have some of the best fans in speedway - in particular Tigerite, Sunglasses Dave and the other maniacs that travel round watching them everywhere regardless of league position.

 

While I respect what Neil Machin has done for the club, new owners will almost inevitably give cause for enthusiasm and a fresh start. That should be embraced.

 

Get a decent team out on track (the one named by Odsal Boy would do), let Graham do his stuff, get Hoggy on the mic and I see no reason why Sheffield can't return to the place where they have spent much of their time in the PL - at the top.