8000 seats or new pitch ....or both

[Weststander]

Gus blames pitch -official. In the papers today Gus blames the pitch for 5 players' injuries. So should we dig it up AND add the new seats?

Reading beyond the naff-Argus headline, it seemed the problem was more the contrasting Amex and training ground pitches, which is causing the problem.
After all, the pitch is based on proven PL pitches. Perhaps something can be done at the University until the Lancing facility is built.

And, are away team players breaking down with hamstring injuries at the Amex?

 

[APACHE]

Yes it's the pitch, haven't you seen all those visiting teams players falling with hamstrings ribbed to bits. You've got to laugh sometimes.

 

[The Brighton Buzz]

Yes it's the pitch, haven't you seen all those visiting teams players falling with hamstrings ribbed to bits. You've got to laugh sometimes.

Totally agree If I had seen visiting teams dropping like flies I might have blamed the pitch. I personally think it is the style of play that Gus plays. Going forward and then suddenly expecting your players to turn sharply and boot it back into your own half

 

[woodster]

JCL........Think you'll find the ground staff are bit more sensible than that with regard to what they say and who they say it to...........

 

[Mutts Nuts]

i imagine bringing in lorries and cranes would f*** the pitch up anyway so we'll have to replace it...

The lifting plan includes positioning of the crane to cause minimum or no damage to the pitch

 

[Drumstick]

Perhaps away teams aren't as effected as ours as they don't play on it every week and sometimes train

How many of the injured have hurt themself at home? Compared to those away?

 

[JCL]

JCL........Think you'll find the ground staff are bit more sensible than that with regard to what they say and who they say it to...........

Maybe my friend, but that's what I was told!

 

[pauli cee]

Went I went on the tour I actually stepped on the hallowed turf, admittedly when the guide turned his back. Felt & smelt like normal grass to me but what would a shitty old plumber know about turf

not a lot i reckon! should stick to the soil pipes i think. ( sorry, only joking) sent from a sparky...

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

regarding the pitch, I was chatting to a fellow ST holder on Saturday who knows one of the ground staff.

According to him, the pitch needs to be "Loosened up" and is considered to be a contributory factor to some injuries.
It is state of the art, but the grass/fibre mix doesn't have quite enough give in it and can therefore stress out ligaments / muscles etc when doing sharp turns or awkward tackles.

Apparently it doesn't involve re-laying...

All double-dutch to me!

This does sound plausible. I have some knowledge regarding pitches, mainly cricket but maybe relative, if the root mass has combined too well with the fibres it will not allow any twisting movement when a stud is in the ground. This is similar to effect that the blade boots have and players who wear them have suffered from twisting injuries. The advancement in green technology in regard to golf and the understanding of root growth has led many clubs from banning metal studs and instead asking players to use the rubber spikes. This is because a lot less damage is caused by golfers twisting their feet on the green as the rubber spkies do not penetrate the surface. A lot more sand or similar substances are used close to the surface of the grass. This causes a heavy root ball to grow for every grass plant before it reaches the "better" soil below thus combining the surface together in a tight knit "carpet". The fibres combine this further. This helps the grass to be far more resilient and stops divots but restricts give in the surface. Its simple really where before if a player "skids" or his studs dug in the surface it would come away in a divot, thus destroying the surface. Now the player is more likely to dig in the surface and the "shock" taken in his knees/ muscles and the pitch left unscathed. Look how many injuries are suffered in the EPL not attributed to tackles there's loads, ask Arsenal (post Highbury)

I suppose it depends what you want, a perfect "billard table" of a pitch regardless of conditions or the ploughed fields of years gone by.

 

[peterward]

Rather than blowing loads on brand New padded seats, we could get the Pitch fixed and then see if we can buy and refurbish 8000 seats from selhurst.

Should save a packet and they don't need them.

 

[cloud]

the pitch .. is considered to be a contributory factor to some injuries .. and can therefore stress out ligaments / muscles etc when doing sharp turns or awkward tackles.

before if a player "skids" or his studs dug in the surface it would come away in a divot, thus destroying the surface. Now the player is more likely to dig in the surface and the "shock" taken in his knees/ muscles

So this explains why Gus doesn't want to play Vicente - the pitch could make his injuries worse. Also explains why it's all so hush-hush about Vicente - he doesn't want it to get out that the pitch is a liability.

 

[nomoremithras4me]

not a lot i reckon! should stick to the soil pipes i think. ( sorry, only joking) sent from a sparky...

another bright spark

 

[magoo]

It's only Lua Lua pulling up for no apparent reason and maybe Buckley. The rest are injured through challenges and a fair few of them at away games.

 

[woodster]

Everyone keeps comparing it to arsenals......but is it??

 

[pauli cee]

another bright spark

 

[Storer 68]

maybe if the groundstaff understood the pitch structure more.........................................? Perhaps watering it less than a traditional pitch..................?

The pre match watering will have very little effect except for dampening down the top level/soil and making it firmer under the top level.
the problem is playing at this pace wearing blades for studs. They give the player very little lateral support and so changing direction , or accelerating over a short distance, is more jarring on muscles than if wearing a normal stud.

 

[woodster]

So this explains why Gus doesn't want to play Vicente - the pitch could make his injuries worse. Also explains why it's all so hush-hush about Vicente - he doesn't want it to get out that the pitch is a liability.

You're joking.....right??