Cue Ball

You may well be right, was getting my years mixed up and was thinking Boocock had left Sheffield by then

Didn't Hoggy choose the team involving Parker that everybody adored?

Greenwood is definitely worth a go full time, was very impressed last year when he guested

Crisis averted!!! Phew. Hopefully Stead, Lawson or Roynan - need a good positive first signing

So.... It's sale or bust according to Machin. That doesn't sound good, but a further announcement to be made after the AGM and so that will hopefully be better news

It is just the speedway for sale

Normally November time isn't it?

Personally, I wouldn't have Lambert - he had a decent season with us, but before and after he hasn't pulled up any trees. Would prefer to see Greenwood given a run. Likewise with Skidmore, his average has stayed the same pretty much since he started with us, to win the league you need to find riders that will up their average vastly. Albin, I would try to keep. I think being at reserve from the start of the season will pay dividends in that it will earn him some decent points money so that he can keep his machinery etc going - points make prizes (or something like that). Andre is head v. heart. On balance I don't think that he would be a bad rider to have on that average and he will maintain that or increase after playing catch up on set ups and match fitness this year. Wells would get in on the basis of his away form alone - bit like Sanchez used to be in that he would more often than not score as well away as he did at home. Now that he has got to grips with Sheffield his average can only go up. Not necessarily exciting to watch, but gets the job done. Roynan is always going to be a gamble given his injury history, but from we saw this year he is probably worth that gamble. Stead. No brainer. Why wouldn't you want him in your team! Lawson is another who I wouldn't oppose seeing in the team, think he did a good job for us this year as his second team and, despite the differences of opinion off the track, he formed a decent spearhead with Roynan around Owlerton at least. Anyways, any conjecture about the team is probably pointless untill 1) Machin finds a buyer 2) the league structure is decided. Will those sneaky Elite league promoters want to join forces when the inevitable happens to the Sky contract??

Yawn. You really are a bit miserable aren't you? You won't go, but still feel the need to add negative comments. Maybe you need to get out a bit more.

Machin did ask for a message to be passed on via the Sheffield facebook forum to say that he is selling the club, not closing it, so hopefully the unthinkable won't happen

Sure I remember in the dim and distant past being told that there is something in the stadium deeds or a covenant that says there has to be a speedway track and they can't get rid. Even if true there will no doubt be a way round it though

The Eagles used to play at Owlerton, can't see what difference their presence or non-presence makes.

Gutted. Love or loathe him, he has been bloody fantastic for this club. Hope we don't go "elite". I prefer regular racing to paying an additional few quid to watch 1 decent rider who may or may not turn up.

Out gates / out classed on an extremely difficult track. Facu and Wells finished for the Tigers with credibility. Over heard one of the Sheffield riders commenting after it was called off 'we did them a favour getting it on, you would have thought that they would have seen it through to the end'. I'm guessing the decision to abandon the meeting was on the Somerset side of the pits - that said I was expecting to be heading home after heat 3. Not an exciting nights racing.

The forecast was wrong!!

Hopefully Sheffield can keep it close, but without either of our regular number 1's it's going to be a tough ask. Inspired choice for the Rebels to snaffle Greenwood as he has proved himself to be a half decent reserve at Owlerton in past weeks. Rebels to win, but not take all 4 points

Maybe it was the hardest thing he has had to do. In any event what has Knight got to do with Maassen? Knight was swapped for Roynan, not Maassen, and Knight was (with all due respect) out of his depth at Premier league level - Maassen has at least shown glimpses of potential, maybe not at Ipswich due to mechanical problems, but he has had decent rides in his 2 other meetings for us. Just not sure what your problem is with the kid

In relation to Maassen, isn't it the case that he was the German under 21 champion a couple of years ago and so obviously has a bit of talent? Not looked at his scores in Germany, but he is a kid that has brought himself over to the UK to try and make a go of a speedway career, prior to Sheffield signing him he was seen getting track time wherever he could around the country, so he's got determination and a will to improve himself. Finally he has come with the recommendation and under the mentorship of Robbie Kessler, one of the better German riders around and one of Sheffield's best riders in the past 15-20 years. What did Sheffield have to lose in signing him at this point of the season? He has had the guts to come here and put himself in the shop window, has come recommended with support behind him and once settled could be a really good rider. As I poi ted out when he was signed, he was always going to struggle being thrown into a highly competitive league on tracks the type of which he will never have raced competitively on before, and at a point of the season when everybody else has been riding for a number of months and have all their set ups dialled in. At Sheffield last week he showed that he wasn't too far off the pace and in one race held second for a fair chunk of he race before coming unstuck in the deep stuff. He was never going to score double figures for us, his signing was always about next year and giving him a shot to show that he may be capable of living up to his average once settled. From Sheffield's management point of view they were damned for not signing anybody and damned when they did.... Poor bastards!

Agree with Grazgp, Barker would have got a few less than Doyle. Andre looked like his old self for 5 heats, hopefully he can carry that on for the last few meetings. Facu had a couple of good races and showed what he can do when he gets himself in the mix from the start line. Greenwood again showed he has potential and had a solid meeting. Lawson was solid, but coming up against Doyle so many times was always going to limit his score. Wells.... Has definitely got Owlerton dialled in now and just gets better and better, hope he stays next season. Maassen looked ok, he debuted against a very strong team who are in form and after everybody else has been riding at this level for the past 6 or 7 months. He showed promise in his 3rd ride and looked fairly tidy on the bike, think he will do ok but will need a decent team around him to let him settle in on a 5 point average. Think tonight was a point gained by Sheffield and 2 points dropped by Ipswich

Coke cans on your shoe.... I'd completely forgotten about doing that!

Unless Andre finds the right set up and scores heavily, I think we will be chasing Ipswich from start to finish. I hope new boy proves me wrong, but not expecting him to score - first match against tough opposition, at the business end of the season when everybody else is up to speed .

Here's hoping he continues in the vein of our previous Germans of Wolter and Kessler and hits a 9 point average

In Sheffield's case, we will be looking to making tactical guest appearances rather than substitutions I did hear a rumour on Thursday night that there would only be the 2 league matches and the PLRC before we closed our doors for the season, it hopefully looks like that won't be the case.

Rider replacement for Howe and Nelson in place of Birks definitely makes Scunny stronger... With Roynan out for us, I fear that another defeat could be on the cards

Before you get your pants in a twist, I had first read the news on the Sheffield forum and stated on there that I hoped he gets himself fit and then does an Andre , ie unretires next season. More than aware the he was dropped - not sure that he would be my first choice to be honest, but couldn't think who else would be available - maybe you would care to offer an opinion as to who you think would be a better choice tomorrow when you've finished a respectable period of mourning (bearing in mind we have meetings on Thursday and Friday)