Pitch

[Adester]

So one of the reasons given by Davis was the pitch is naff in the middle, so they were forced to play it long which as Steve said, isn't really our style!!!

It's far past time we had something done about the persistent pitch issue! If it's costing us games and points then surly we should be investing in sorting it out??

Perspex in the roof to let the light through, mirrors to reflect the light, better drainage, better covers??

It won't cost as much as dropping a league

[MikeSB]

I mentioned the pitch to Dario yesterday and said how good they are now compared with the 'old days' when at this time of the year there was no grass on it and all the training was done on it as well...

Some great games as well and of course some poor ones...In fact as poor as yesterday! ;)

Its rather ridiculous to blame pitches nowadays imo.

I saw Steve Davis watch the same match as me yesterday which was crying out for some changes in the first half and it was what? 60 mins before a change was made? Usche and Moore should have come on for Pogs and Park much much earlier.

Not sure it would have made any difference but something was needed sooner!

[MikeSB]

Just remembered everyone had a reserve team back then which played on alternate Saturdays which wouldn't have helped the pitch conditions at all..

But 60 years is a long time as a fan and most changes are very welcome apart from the money which has ruined football in some respects.

Just in passing..

Its obvious all the matches are videoed now as we see all the goals and highlights and so my question is why don't the clubs offer all the matches via subscription via the internet as all the technology is there??

We could watch all the games especially the away games or even just the big ones?

I don't think it would affect gates as it doesn't in the PL but it could bring in more revenue for the smaller clubs and worth a try isn't it?

Listening to the wireless..;) is so old fashioned nowadays..

[jimmyboldon]

. Re mirrors and Perspex roofs, do premiership and championship clubs with FOUR tall stand employ such measures? I think not, and yet they still have perfect looking pitches.
The care of grass is something that, budget permitting we should be able to do as well as any premiership club

[alexmick]

Poor excuse from the manager to blame the pitch. This is the same pitch that we hammered Sheffield United on a month ago. In fact, it was wetter and had fewer blades of grass on it for that game. I noticed Inman slipping three times down the wing during the first half. Obviously was wearing the wrong type of footwear. Blame the players and the tactics, Steve, before getting on about the pitch. It has had a three week to dry out.

[itwasin]

Mike i would prefer to listen to Alan Green on the Radio than Alan Shearer in the TV studio any day,am sure many would agree.

[MikeSB]

I don't watch match of the day because I can't stand linekar or Shearer mate..;)

No, I was thinking of just streaming the match to our computers without the need of any commentary. ie just like when we see all the lower league goals late on the Saturday. ie Just need to hear the crowd for atmosphere if needed.

I believe most football viewers don't like all the pundits and seeing that bloke on ITV on millions as well proves the point yet again.

As I said, it can't be that difficult or that expensive to stream the matches to our computers or phones and something that I prophisise will come about one day. ;)

[bigroof]

Poor excuse from the manager to blame the pitch. This is the same pitch that we hammered Sheffield United on a month ago. In fact, it was wetter and had fewer blades of grass on it for that game. I noticed Inman slipping three times down the wing during the first half. Obviously was wearing the wrong type of footwear. Blame the players and the tactics, Steve, before getting on about the pitch. It has had a three week to dry out.

It's the fact that it's dry, Mick, that makes it more difficult to play on - not that I think it's an excuse, as I've said elsewhere.

[ALEXKNOWALL]

. Re mirrors and Perspex roofs, do premiership and championship clubs with FOUR tall stand employ such measures? I think not, and yet they still have perfect looking pitches.
The care of grass is something that, budget permitting we should be able to do as well as any premiership club
Sorry but this is simply wrong. Clubs of our size cannot afford to buy (or run) the type of light units used to promote grass regrowth at big grounds. Also Premier clubs have probably 3 times the staff and spend a lot on pitch treatment. We do have to realise where we are on this one!

[Mojofilter]

You're right, but this has been an ongoing problem ever since the big stand was built.
Considering our preferred style of play, a permanent solution would have long term benefits

I know that the things you mentioned are out of reach but I do wonder why the roof can't be replaced with transparent perspex (assuming that this would make a difference).

[jimmyboldon]

At St James Park, Newcastle, four lighting rigs which have been moved across the pitch every 48 hours this winter, have eliminated the need to re-turf mid-season, saving the club 120,000k.

"Grass never grows here in winter, and we were always on a knife-edge to see how long the pitch would last before re-turfing," says Newcastle United's stadium manger Eddie Rutherford. "We have never had a pitch of such consistent quality as we have now. Annual costs with depreciation and energy to run the lights, is around 64,000k but this is cheaper than re-turfing. The lights have made a real difference to us."

Seems to me that 64 grand would be well spent. About the cost of one senior professional player?

[grestyraider7]

I can't reckon to know the cost of purchasing the lighting units that prem. league clubs have, or the cost to run them, but it can't be cheap. Surely a bit more thought when the stand was built would have benefitted??. We talk about the pitch issue every season, and re-seed/relay every close season. How much would it cost to put perspex cut outs into the stand roof/ back of the stand to let some light in and onto the "grass"??

[Mojofilter]

If the A£64k figure is correct (and again considering our preferred style of play) I'd say that's money well spent.

Dunno how much we spend when we re-turf, but it seems to happen fairly frequently so that needs to be deduced from the cost.

I'd prefer to have 1 less player and a decent pitch simply because we play better on a decent pitch.
Plus we'd probably pick up less injuries.

[AstonAlex]

Agreed, if a solution could be found costing between A£50k and A£100k that sounds like a good investment.

Then just sit back and wait for the first poster next season , after a run of bad results, who asks why the club has 'wasted' money on this when we have millions in the bank and should be spending it on players!! You KNOW they will and you KNOW who it will be!!

[bonehead]

thought we had a man on the board (Mr Clayton) who is involved in groundworks grass and the like - if not why is he on the board with so little shares

also we dont hear that "The Heath" isnt good to play on - so is all the money going on there and not the Alex Pitch

surely our problem is the players not the pitch - we played just as poor as oldham but without hurting them , gave them the confidence and they upped there game - we only started after they scored

[Crewe313]

It would be interesting to see all the costs with how to maintain our pitch better.

I remember a dfew seasons ago we were on terrible form and were getting beaten by everyone. We then play Luton away on a pitch which could have been a carpet and won 5-1. The arguement is, if a better pitch results in better results then surely that would be worth the money. The higher you finish up the league the more money or the further you go in cups then again more money and perhaps a lucky draw with a big club.

Thats why Wembley is our second home, as that pitch is perfect for our style of football.
Obviously it does all cost money but would better performances and results ofset the cost?

[D4zer]

The pitch is dreadful, and it's not the first time Davis has mentioned it (bucket and spade comment last season). Even the Oldham boss mentioned it in his post match interview.

This seems like common sense to me. Why isn't the club doing more to help when this can only have a positive effect on our favoured style of football, and therefore performances?

[alexmick]

Poor excuse from the manager to blame the pitch. This is the same pitch that we hammered Sheffield United on a month ago. In fact, it was wetter and had fewer blades of grass on it for that game. I noticed Inman slipping three times down the wing during the first half. Obviously was wearing the wrong type of footwear. Blame the players and the tactics, Steve, before getting on about the pitch. It has had a three week to dry out.

It's the fact that it's dry, Mick, that makes it more difficult to play on - not that I think it's an excuse, as I've said elsewhere.[/quote]

If the pitch was bone hard, because of our current drought, then why on earth have they not used those sprinklers? For the simple reason that they have been out of action for a while now. Get them fixed Mr Bowler!

[southred]

The standard of the pitch has gradually got worse since one of the groundstaff left a while ago.
It certainly affects our play imo