4thbender

Naaaah! Bjerre and Bates have to be at 3 and 4 respectively - theirs is a talismanic partnership.

That's not the impression we're getting.

Injuries aside, this team now has all the appearances of a title -winning side. I can't see any of the declared Championship teams being able to live with us in 2018. My New-Year predictions: 1) In years to come Kyle will join the list of all-time Sheffield greats alongside Wilson, Wyer, Moran, Compton, et al; 2) The Bjerre & Bates partnership will become for speedway what Torville & Dean were to skating, Lillee & Thomson were to cricket, Keegan & Toshack were to footie and salt & vinegar were to chips; 3) Joining Sheffield will do for Charles Wright what it did for Kyle two years ago; 4) Todd will never match the finesse of his younger brother but will become a consistent and reliable 7-point performer; 5) Shanes and Smith will give us a dependable 5 points in every heat two from day one of the season; 6) Simon Stead will be the next Team GB boss.

Kurtz is a good signing. I reckon this indicates Sheffield are confident of landing Kyle, otherwise they would be keeping their powder dry on the TK signing.

I agree wholeheartedly.

Guess they're waiting on announcing Kurtz until they're sure of securing Kyle. If Kyle goes back to Worky they may have to re-think the balance of the team dependent upon who they can find to replace Kyle.

...or wanting him back in the Worky team!

Strikes me the lad has had a fallout with his bird and gone off on a strop. We've all been there and know what it's like to feel broken-hearted and desolate. Give him time - he'll come round. Once the icy blast of winter turns into the thaw of spring he'll start to realize that stacking shelves in Lidl is no way for an all-action Barnsley lad to earn a living. He'll be back on the bike by March.

James Shanes signed for Sheffield: http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.33667

Wood out, Shanes in: http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.33667

Wright is a great signing. It leaves 17.66. Howarth + Kurtz + Wood adds up to 16.08; I reckon there might be a further change of personnel still to be announced. I wondered about replacing Kurtz with Kenneth Hansen but that would push us 0.01 over the limit!

Can't envisage how there can be a balanced side with Smith and Wood at 6 & 7. Being able to call on the experience of Graversen at no.6 is what won matches in 2016. Who will provide the trump card when it matters if we have two 2-pointers at reserve?

Josh Bates back for Sheffield. Josh Bates back for Sheffield.

Who the hell....?

I seem to remember a Workington fan (oft seen contributing on this forum) saying the same about Kyle Howarth!

...But they've parted company with Aaron Summers. Anyone fancy seeing Summers at Owlerton?

Yeah, they're teasing us.

Are we being softened up for a Bates announcement soon?.... http://www.sheffieldspeedway.co/news.php?extend.2467

Don't rate Nicholls - In the play-off meetings he took part in for Sheffield he only shone at Ipswich. Round Owlerton he looked no better than average.

Something I encountered recently in a completely non-speedway context gave me an inkling that Ty Proctor may be on his way back to Owlerton.

No Josh Grajczonek? From no.2 on 1st September to nowhere on 4th November.... How does that work?

Only in speedway can organisers shoot themselves in the foot so spectacularly - it wouldn't happen in any other walk of life. By the way, what happened to the fireworks the kids had been promised? I'd left in disgust long before then anyway, but I know some of the kids look forward to it.

For the first time ever, I left the meeting before the end. By 9.45 I'd had enough - thought it would never end (it didn't!) Having no ambulance there at the official start-time and keeping the paying customers waiting AN HOUR before we saw any speedway is unforgivable. But then a further 20-minute delay for no explicable reason midway through the match is just taking the p155. There has to be changes before I pay my entrance fee next season.

Lasse definitely wants to stay according to today's star: http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/speedway/sheffield-tigers/sheffield-tigers-lasse-bjerre-keen-to-ride-on-for-the-champions-1-8813516

Don't understand your thinking here. The present team all claim they've had a great time at Sheffield and team spirit has never been higher. Added to which they've won the league championship. Seems to me that it would be to everyone's advantage to keep the team intact as far as averages will allow. Personally I'd settle for the same 1 - 7 for 2018, but I know averages will get in the way of that. I can't see any reason why there should be a mass clear-out though. Whatever else, the first two signings should be Steady as Team Manager and Howarth as captain.