Dave
TFF member
Posts: 13,081
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Post by Dave on Dec 6, 2009 11:51:32 GMT
Reducing standards does nothing but harm to the overall standards, and do you know that nowhere is there once any mention of standard of playing suface in those regulations? To allow such a joke postage stamp size and multi sloping pitch such as Accies have in the nation's National Full Time competition is a pure farce. Absolute flat crown green consistency of ball travel should be a minimum criteria in my opinion. Maybe thats the strongest argument Merse for the new 3g pitches to be installed at all football league grounds, we discussed the many real advantages, IE clubs able to generate revenue and they could train and play on their own pitch, thus reducing costs etc. Expecting football to be played on such very poor pitches prevents players from playing the good quality football we all like to see and the sort of football people are happy to pay to watch. |
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Post by chrish on Dec 6, 2009 12:02:12 GMT
Weren`t they given 2 seasons to bring their tinpot shit hole up to scratch when they made it back in to the league?  They were and they have. That's the point, they have fulfilled the minimum criteria based on numbers: Numbers of seats, numbers of entrances and exits, numbers of lux in the minimal requirement for floodlighting, numbers of places in that the capacity barely creeps above the absolute minimum considered "suitable " for Football League status ~ even though such a tiny capacity renders them unable to even once benefit from a plum cup draw at home. The trouble with the Football League is that they lowered the standards some years ago to accomodate the critricism they werer taking over the likes of Kidderminster and Stevenage not getting in and to prevent Barnet being thrown out. Reducing standards does nothing but harm to the overall standards, and do you know that nowhere is there once any mention of standard of playing suface in those regulations? To allow such a joke postage stamp size and multi sloping pitch such as Accies have in the nation's National Full Time competition is a pure farce. Absolute flat crown green consistency of ball travel should be a minimum criteria in my opinion. I know even the old Highbury and Sid James's Park (the real one) slope, as does Leyton Orient; but not that you'd notice with their excellent playing surfaces. I fully agree with Aussie, Accrington Stanley have no place being in the Football League ~ I don't care how warm and friendly their fans are. Their gate potential is a joke being only a ten minute drive from Blackburn Rovers and twenty from another (Burnley) it's what got them into trouble before it does now, and will do for them terminally before long again. If the Conference cannot be trusted to eliminate these tin pot clubs from the equation before they even get anywhere near the Football League, the Conference should pay for that with their two promotion places being revoked. The Crown Ground is little better than Histon's, and the club's gate potential is no greater. It's an absolute farce!  Hey, at least we no longer have to put up with that "I support everybody" pratt, Urban Spaceman prattling on to us about Stanley these days.....................what a relief! They also had drilled holes in the ground just in case the two rows of seats weren't enough in that rickety corugated iron bus stop. We got the impression from the stewards that if Burnley are playing away then some of their fans swell the gate a little. Blackburn Rovers didn't seem to be as popular as Burnley is these parts, or it seems Rochdale. One of their stewards proudly told us he was once sacked by Accy for punching a Rochdale fan whilst being a steward. But he was a bit on the simple side. |
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Post by aussie on Dec 6, 2009 12:33:08 GMT
3G pitches will see more player injuries, more groins going, more hernia op`s, more knee ligament damage, the list is endless! Also you wouldn`t need little forkers like me! If we can maintain a playable surface that the officials congratulate us for and players enjoy playing on, given the weather conditions we have had lately, then I strongly suggest that football be played on turf ladies and gents! There would be a transitional period of mass injuries until players that have been bought up playing on grass can adjust to the relatively no-give astro turf, also how many juniors would be going from grass to astro as they improved and went from small clubs to larger ones, until every ground across the country can be changed to astro turf then there will always be people getting injured during the transitional period! Not a good idea when you think it through!
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merse
TFF member
Posts: 2,684
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Post by merse on Dec 6, 2009 15:51:45 GMT
3G pitches will see more player injuries, more groins going, more hernia op`s, more knee ligament damage, the list is endless! Is there documentary evidence to this effect? If there is I have yet to see it and rather think an "Urban Myth" has built up on the back of the old style, unforgiving surfaces of the Astro Turf of old. Unsuitable footwear is a major contributory factor in so many injuries being incurred these days and the standard of professionalism or lack of it; that so many players apply to the tools of their trade these days appalls me. In the old days a pro' wouldn't dream of playing in new boots but would wish to "play them in" during training before he ever took part in a match in them. Now you see players turning up with bags of boots that they have been given by their boot sponsor (sourced by their agent)with the primary aim of giving exposure to the latest fad, colour or marketing gimic and they will unquestionably wear these contraptions putting the monetry gain ahead of their podiatric welfare. Chris Hargreaves recently alluded to the current "fad" of wearing boots that are too tight at the moment and confessed to following suit..................it's ridiculous. My son took part in a "Talent Sourcing" event (it was promoted to us as a "trial" ~ it patently wasn't (and I'll turn to that later) ~ where even a Premiership football club didn't pick up on the FACT that there were youngsters out on a 3G pitch in screw in studs and some without shin guards; in blatent disregard to FA regulations and common sense practice. Greavsie also mentions the disgraceful state of the Accie pitch and other facilities yesterday and as for leaving drainage slits open with sharp sand defies belief! But that is the sad state of the way football is being run these days and the absolute disinterest of the Football Association in imposing standards that are there to protect players and their physical welfare. |
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Post by yorkgull on Dec 6, 2009 17:03:56 GMT
They also had drilled holes in the ground just in case the two rows of seats weren't enough in that rickety corugated iron bus stop. We got the impression from the stewards that if Burnley are playing away then some of their fans swell the gate a little. Blackburn Rovers didn't seem to be as popular as Burnley is these parts, or it seems Rochdale. One of their stewards proudly told us he was once sacked by Accy for punching a Rochdale fan whilst being a steward. But he was a bit on the simple side. Was it asking if Torquay was in London that gave you that impression? Definitely from a shallow gene pool - in fact he'd have fitted in quite well with that section of Torquay fans we were so endeared with at Dagenham. You know the ones - all look the same, thick as pigshit, all mouth safe in the knowledge they're getting on a bus parked outside the stadium... One of the reasons I don't go to as many as I used to because they make you feel embarrassed. The recession obviously doesn't impact on their parents' giros. As for taking the Michael out of my soup Mr Hayes - at least I wasn't drinking gravy... teachers today, eh? |
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Post by aussie on Dec 7, 2009 12:06:50 GMT
3G pitches will see more player injuries, more groins going, more hernia op`s, more knee ligament damage, the list is endless! Is there documentary evidence to this effect? If there is I have yet to see it and rather think an "Urban Myth" has built up on the back of the old style, unforgiving surfaces of the Astro Turf of old. Unsuitable footwear is a major contributory factor in so many injuries being incurred these days and the standard of professionalism or lack of it; that so many players apply to the tools of their trade these days appalls me. In the old days a pro' wouldn't dream of playing in new boots but would wish to "play them in" during training before he ever took part in a match in them. Now you see players turning up with bags of boots that they have been given by their boot sponsor (sourced by their agent)with the primary aim of giving exposure to the latest fad, colour or marketing gimic and they will unquestionably wear these contraptions putting the monetry gain ahead of their podiatric welfare. Chris Hargreaves recently alluded to the current "fad" of wearing boots that are too tight at the moment and confessed to following suit..................it's ridiculous. My son took part in a "Talent Sourcing" event (it was promoted to us as a "trial" ~ it patently wasn't (and I'll turn to that later) ~ where even a Premiership football club didn't pick up on the FACT that there were youngsters out on a 3G pitch in screw in studs and some without shin guards; in blatent disregard to FA regulations and common sense practice. Greavsie also mentions the disgraceful state of the Accie pitch and other facilities yesterday and as for leaving drainage slits open with sharp sand defies belief! But that is the sad state of the way football is being run these days and the absolute disinterest of the Football Association in imposing standards that are there to protect players and their physical welfare. Don`t know about documentary evidence, play on one and you`ll find out! The give is different in the surface it`self, say you went too turn sharply and sprint off, the "edge" if you like is different and slightly harder, whereas turf you feel more traction, 3G the "edge " is there but you don`t feel it until you`ve passed it and your sat on your arse or your ankle goes, I`m not even going to get started on sliding tackles! 3G is great fun when it`s dry and you don`t have to go down on it, when it`s wet it becomes a surface that makes you a bit more apprehensive when stopping and turning. It does have good aspects like bounce consistancy and the ball running on and you would never get another goalkeeper beaten by a bobble! Enckleman was so funny for Villa against Birmingham but I`ll bet he wished that day he was playing on 3G! |
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Post by buster on Dec 7, 2009 13:19:17 GMT
Nice photos. There was me thinking accy didn`t have a "pot to p*ss in" but Chris has clearly found it. ;D I blame myself for this performance & result. Dave quite rightly corrected me for foolishly suggesting we should adopt slick link up play ala Cheltenham. Bucks even told them to hoof it, but apparently the message didn`t get through. case of pride before a fall as i really felt we might take all 3pts. sorry folks  buster |
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Post by aussie on Dec 7, 2009 13:33:03 GMT
Nice photos. There was me thinking accy didn`t have a "pot to p*ss in" but Chris has clearly found it. ;D I blame myself for this performance & result. Dave quite rightly corrected me for foolishly suggesting we should adopt slick link up play ala Cheltenham. Bucks even told them to hoof it, but apparently the message didn`t get through. case of pride before a fall as i really felt we might take all 3pts. sorry folks buster You soppy git, how were you to know the pitch was crap and they were gunna play in ya face football? I`m not havin it at all, it was so not your fault! The players ignored the instructions given to them and thought they could play pretty football against thugs in atrocious conditions! We got a wake up call, it`s now time for the team to smell the coffee and battle, especially against Stockport, if it ever gets played that is! |
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Post by stewart on Dec 10, 2009 0:33:39 GMT
Rather belatedly, I have just watched the video highlights on the BBC website several times and, poor pitch or not, the defending for the three goals in open play was dreadful. There was hardly a Torquay player in sight for the last one.
We have all gone on about missed chances by the forwards, but the marking and positional play displayed in that game are surely also a source of some concern.
It's all very well to rave about the performance against Cheltenham last week, and it's also quite surprising to reflect that we now appear to have one of the best playing surfaces in the division.
However, there will be plenty of other games on faraway muddy pitches to come during the winter, and if we don't start to shape up in these games, then we will surely struggle to maintain our status in the Football League which we have fought so hard to regain.
It's fortunate that we have two poor teams in Grimsby and Darlington to contend with in avoiding the bottom two, and our inconsistency is highlighted by the fact that we lost at home to one of them in a truly dreadful game.
A win against Darlington on Saturday is likely to condemn them to another season, at least, in the Conference, but it is now apparent that winning home form is essential if we are going to avoid joining them, because we won't be winning any away matches if that performance is anything to judge by.
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Post by aussie on Dec 10, 2009 7:47:31 GMT
Rather belatedly, I have just watched the video highlights on the BBC website several times and, poor pitch or not, the defending for the three goals in open play was dreadful. There was hardly a Torquay player in sight for the last one. We have all gone on about missed chances by the forwards, but the marking and positional play displayed in that game are surely also a source of some concern. It's all very well to rave about the performance against Cheltenham last week, and it's also quite surprising to reflect that we now appear to have one of the best playing surfaces in the division. However, there will be plenty of other games on faraway muddy pitches to come during the winter, and if we don't start to shape up in these games, then we will surely struggle to maintain our status in the Football League which we have fought so hard to regain. It's fortunate that we have two poor teams in Grimsby and Darlington to contend with in avoiding the bottom two, and our inconsistency is highlighted by the fact that we lost at home to one of them in a truly dreadful game. A win against Darlington on Saturday is likely to condemn them to another season, at least, in the Conference, but it is now apparent that winning home form is essential if we are going to avoid joining them, because we won't be winning any away matches if that performance is anything to judge by. I`d try dropping Robbo and pairing Charnock with Ellis, after all the only thing that Robbo seems capable of nowadays is de-robing the opponents, he never wants to swap shirts after the game though! |
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