Wembley Pitch

[PieEater]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8616969.stm

After 'arry's comments about the pitch after the FA semi final the FA are considering relaying the pitch *again*. Have already done that 10 times in the past 3 years, you'd think they'd realise that relaying it isn't the solution.

Really how difficult can it be, if Arsenal can manage to get a cracking playing surface why can't Wembley?

[Wax Jacket]

because of the other events they host there apparently - so they'd rather have a cheapo pitch that can be relaid after all the summer concerts rather than the look after the people who will effectively pay for it - the players (don't get all worked up, I mean if there are no players there's no game)

[Messiah]

Bless Harry. Its the same for both teams. Get over it.

[Hoop Blah]

Bless Harry. Its the same for both teams. Get over it.

It does remove an element of skill from the game though if you can't even trust being able to stand up on it for 90 minutes!

As they said on the TV this morning, imagine the uproar if Rooney does himself in playing on it in our last home friendly before the World Cup!

[Silver Fox]

Bless Harry. Its the same for both teams. Get over it.

On a related note it seems that there is a ray (excuse the pun) of moral light deep inside Chelsea with Butch wilkins' halftime comments in the first semi. He said that Villa should definitely have had a penalty and that there was nothing wrong with the pitch and if there was it was the same for both teams.

[PieEater]

After trawling through the blog on the BBC, the consensus seems to be that they keep relaying turf on too hard a surface then water it too much so you end up with a surface like a carpet that's not tacked down. Watering it too much adds to the problem as the grass has no need to grow roots.

They need to reseed it and give it 3 months to grow during which time they can't use the stadium. Now I can see their problem but the answer has to be one year of pain for the longer term solution.

Also interesting to note that the head groundsman gets paid the same as someone selling tickets.

[BReal]

because of the other events they host there apparently - so they'd rather have a cheapo pitch that can be relaid after all the summer concerts rather than the look after the people who will effectively pay for it - the players (don't get all worked up, I mean if there are no players there's no game)

is there really that many more events there now than @ the old wembley


sure there's the semi finals of the cup, but there's always been concerts n that ennit

[Wax Jacket]

problem is they built the pitch properly back then, as mentioned here it's not been laid deep enough

[Compo's Hat]

Wembley's hosting the Champions League final next season, what an embarrassment it will be if players are sliding all over it then in front of the world's media!

[Compo's Hat]

http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Wembley/News ... -Statement

Wembley statement
Tuesday, 13 April, 2010

Wembley Stadium has issued the following statement.

A Wembley Stadium spokesperson said: "We accept and understand the frustrations around the standard of the pitch at Wembley for last weekend’s FA Cup Semi-Finals.

"The problems faced on Saturday were due to the way the surface was prepared and the measures used overnight were unable to resolve the situation sufficiently for the match on Sunday.

"There is a unique challenge with the surface at Wembley and we are working with expert pitch consultants to get it right. Wembley Stadium is a multi-purpose venue and we have to hold other events as part of the business plan, which means regular pitch replacements each year.

"Football is the number one priority and we understand we have to find a way to deliver and sustain a consistent quality pitch and replicate the successful formula that we developed in the second half of last year.

"We are currently reviewing all options to provide the best surface for the busy period going forward, including a probable pitch replacement. We will make this decision after the weekend."

[From Despair To Where?]

They need to reseed it and give it 3 months to grow during which time they can't use the stadium. Now I can see their problem but the answer has to be one year of pain for the longer term solution.

The only viable option really, reseed it and send England back out on the road for 9 months.