Guessing game: When Sambora will be back?

Bruce won't tour in 2017 as somebody already stated. He might do few shows in Japan & Australia but that's all. (He might tour in 2018 or 2019 where he might come up with a new album though).
With U2 on the road it will be hard. Metallica touring ain't a big problem for the band regarding the 'tour battle'.

In general, Bon Jovi avoid to tour while Springsteen/U2 are on the road. Anyway, Bon Jovi can tour any part of the world and every country in Europe. Springsteen on the other hand chooses to tour West European countries and that matters in ticket selling.

If the band fails to get a very successful tour, then retirement might be closer than some of us might think, but, god, there ain't a chance Sambora coming back to the band cause a tour would fail. It'd make Jon look desperate and weak.

If Shanks was fired and Jon decided to take the risk and bring out a heavier sound to the band with Sambora on board then they could even produce a last massive hit.

I'm really interested for whether the UK dates will be stadiums or arenas. They are on the cusp of switching back indoors, the WAN tour still sold early tickets based on Richie being in the band and most of the rest still with a "Will he wont he" situation.

At the prices they like to charge, it's a hard sell for a big stadium tour like previously- maybe 2 or 3 dates tops.

Although I'd like them to hang on long enough to play the new White Hart Lane in a couple of years

How? This bollocks line has been traded around here for a while and there is no evidence of it happening in reality.

Right, he has to prove that yet when it comes to studio records.

COncert-wise, I would say so - even if I didn't have the honor to see Bon Jovi with Richie, mostly due to my age, and I have to judge things according to Youtube videos and the concert with Phil I was at.

Well if you didn't see Richie with Bon Jovi live then you can't compare them. Phil hasn't the charisma, stage presence or skill that comes close to what Richie brought to the band.

This is your opinion, but I think I'm also entitled to my own opinion and jugdment. I'm perfectly aware that own experience is (in the most cases) worth more than reports and videos.

It might be that I hold subconscious feelings or something against Richie as I was particularly looking forward to see him just to see him jump out of the tour... But don't get me wrong, I would love to see Bon Jovi with Richie, or better would have loved to have the opportunity. I'm also a fan of Richie's solo efforts.
But I also decided to look forward and accept things the way they are, and at the moment I'm perfectly happy with Phil doing the job. Even if he might have less charisma or stage presence than Richie, I can't imagine that everybody would be simply 100% happy if Richie appeared in the BJ again all of a sudden, after all what happened. Plus, if Richie isn't fully motivated to do this, it wouldn't make things better either.

Also interesting that you mentioned skill. I think that is something you can indeed judge by using videos and audio tracks. And though Richie is surely one of my favorite guitar players (not saying that he is one of the best, I'm of the opinion that his skill has decreased, that he lost his sound and he has become more and more sloppy and ... yes, unmotivated. I'm far from being a great guitar player, but I think I understand some things related to this. Maybe all what was going on in the BJ camp over the years might have be a cause for this, but this would change nothing about this degeneration (perceived by me and obviously a few others). In his prime, there was no doubt that Richie is a great guitar player, band member and co-front man, but what I've seen over the last years... I'm not so sure.

So I guess the guessing game is over?

I would have to respectfully disagree with that. I saw a million shows with Richie and a few years toward the end he was really struggling.

I have seen many shows with Phil X and he is enthusiastic, always smiling, and playing guitar like Sambora hasn't in years. Unfortunately he doesn't have Richie's voice - so that is missing. But Phil can light up a stage.

i wonder if jon any reason called richie and said i want u back in bj now would he accepted? and if richie called jon and said all the right things would jon agreed? i believe they would