Topic: Anfield Pitch

[jepovic]

Liverpool-Blackburn on a lousy pitch. Nice flashback from the good old days

[SerbianScouser]

I think their pitch is in the similar kind of state. We`ll feel at home there.

[KingKolo]

I think their pitch is in the similar kind of state. We`ll feel at home there.

Yeah, looks similar here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31471797

[KingKolo]

Thank fuck we'll only play on it 4 more times this season.  It was absolutely shocking today.

[Mamadou]

someone needs to get fired for this... we are Liverpool FC ffs, not some championship club... this is very amateurish and embarrassing

[gatcliffe]

What has happened?

Anfield and Highbury were always among the best pitches in Europe. Obviously Highbury was levelled but what's the reason for Anfield's demise?

have read somewhere that the pitch should have been replaced 3/4 years ago

[FernandoTourettes]

Better get used to it, looks like it won't be getting replaced next season either.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/blood-red-liverpool-fcs-hopes-8792133

[VamosLiverpool]

Better get used to it, looks like it won't be getting replaced next season either.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/blood-red-liverpool-fcs-hopes-8792133

Can't be replaced before the Utd game?

[rocco]

Better get used to it, looks like it won't be getting replaced next season either.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/blood-red-liverpool-fcs-hopes-8792133

I'm sure they will figure something out and lay the pitch

[rocco]

Can't be replaced before the Utd game?

Takes more time to bed in plus there's more work to do than just lay the pitch

[VamosLiverpool]

Takes more time to bed in plus there's more work to do than just lay the pitch

Need some miracle grow in that case until the game!

[rocco]

Need some miracle grow in that case until the game!

been doing that for years

[IndianRed]

The pitch has reached a state where it is now actively hindering us from playing at our best. And it would be preposterous if we can't get it relaid this summer.

[rocco]

The pitch has reached a state where it is now actively hindering us from playing at our best. And it would be preposterous if we can't get it relaid this summer.

id be very surprised if  they don't figure something out , only hindrance might be the cost .

[Americaner...]

id be very surprised if  they don't figure something out , only hindrance might be the cost .

Liverpool is a big club. A couple million quid should not be a big deal.

[telekon]

Better get used to it, looks like it won't be getting replaced next season either.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/blood-red-liverpool-fcs-hopes-8792133

I don't understand the article. It says only 3% of the current pitch is artificial, and they re-seed the natural grass every summer. What's the difference between re-seeding and laying a new pitch? The grass is new anyway? Or is it the actual dirt that needs to be replaced?

[Rob Dylan]

I don't understand the article. It says only 3% of the current pitch is artificial, and they re-seed the natural grass every summer. What's the difference between re-seeding and laying a new pitch? The grass is new anyway? Or is it the actual dirt that needs to be replaced?

I think they're saying that to fix the problem, they would need to dig the whole thing up and start again, as even with re-seeding it, these pitches only have a certain lifespan before they start to deteriorate. I think it was mentioned elsewhere that we probably need to put in a new drainage system as well.

I can see the problem if the cranes from the main stand development are going to get in the way, but the manager really needs to put his foot down here, and make sure they find a way to get that work done as quickly as possible so they have time to re-lay the pitch as well.

[Asam]

I don't understand the article. It says only 3% of the current pitch is artificial, and they re-seed the natural grass every summer. What's the difference between re-seeding and laying a new pitch? The grass is new anyway? Or is it the actual dirt that needs to be replaced?

The pitch has a lifespan of 10 years before it needs to be replaced, we've had it for 14 years so even if the grass is new it doesn't solve the underlying issue

[Fiasco]

I wonder if we'd request playing our first game or two away from home next season? Therefore if the pitch is laid later than planned it could be offset by not having to play on it until a few weeks into the season.

[007.lankyguy]

Anyone see Robbie Savage at the end of MOTD tonight thinking he knows more than our groundsmen? Goodness sake...

[Fiasco]

Anyone see Robbie Savage at the end of MOTD tonight thinking he knows more than our groundsmen? Goodness sake...

How dare you insult the intelligence of Robert William Savage? The man is a genius.

[Americaner...]

I wonder if we'd request playing our first game or two away from home next season? Therefore if the pitch is laid later than planned it could be offset by not having to play on it until a few weeks into the season.

Interesting thought.

[redbyrdz]

I wonder if we'd request playing our first game or two away from home next season? Therefore if the pitch is laid later than planned it could be offset by not having to play on it until a few weeks into the season.

Nice idea, but what if we do get 4th? Isn't CL qualification basically in pre-season?

[diegoLFC7]

Our pitch is a mix of natural grass and artificial turf. So if any reparations need to be done they will need some time, im not a groundskeeper so i cant tell you how long.

[Fiasco]

Nice idea, but what if we do get 4th? Isn't CL qualification basically in pre-season?

Yeah, that's a point. Also there is a chance we could play a league cup tie at home, isn't a round of games only a couple of games into the season? Something needs to be done though. It's not even a League 1 standard pitch. Perhaps given the rather wet and cold winter we've just had it's made it deteriorate faster.

[telekon]

Nice idea, but what if we do get 4th? Isn't CL qualification basically in pre-season?

It's after the first or second league matches.

[telekon]

The pitch has a lifespan of 10 years before it needs to be replaced, we've had it for 14 years so even if the grass is new it doesn't solve the underlying issue

Yeah, it said so in the artice. I'm just wondering what the difference is between re-seeding and laying a new pitch. Maybe the nutrients in the dirt are all used up or something, that's why there's patches of yellowish brown currently. I don't know, I'm just speculating. Any gardeners around? 

[GrkStav]

Nice idea, but what if we do get 4th? Isn't CL qualification basically in pre-season?

There's one round of 'qualification' involved for the club from England that doesn't automatically get to the group states of the CL.

When in doubt, think of when Arsenal plays and you'll know. 

[End Product]

Alan Titchmarsh spotted at John Lennon 

[TSC]

For years Anfield pitch was one of the best surfaces to play on in England.  Not sure what has gone on this season in particular to render it basically a park pitch.  It's impacting the effectiveness given the way the team plays.  Players like Sterling and Coutinho are having to take two touches to bring it under control instead of one and then accelerate away from opponents before they're closed down.  That second touch invariably mean there's little chance of getting away from the opponent without beating him first.

[Skidder.]

For years Anfield pitch was one of the best surfaces to play on in England.  Not sure what has gone on this season in particular to render it basically a park pitch.  It's impacting the effectiveness given the way the team plays.  Players like Sterling and Coutinho are having to take two touches to bring it under control instead of one and then accelerate away from opponents before they're closed down.  That second touch invariably mean there's little chance of getting away from the opponent without beating him first.

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/glen-johnson-anfield-pitch-hampered-8798723

[gatcliffe]

Anyone see Robbie Savage at the end of MOTD tonight thinking he knows more than our groundsmen? Goodness sake...

Robbie who ? never heard of him.

[red mongoose]

Need some miracle grow in that case until the game!

We need whatever Rooney has been using on the top of his head. The only problem is that it would sprout potatoes.

[leivapool]

For years Anfield pitch was one of the best surfaces to play on in England.  Not sure what has gone on this season in particular to render it basically a park pitch.  It's impacting the effectiveness given the way the team plays.  Players like Sterling and Coutinho are having to take two touches to bring it under control instead of one and then accelerate away from opponents before they're closed down.  That second touch invariably mean there's little chance of getting away from the opponent without beating him first.

This is the key for me,  why is it so bad THIS season,  what's changed from last season when it was also an old pitch?

[Lolo]

 

Pitch looked quite good last season. I can think of games  vs Arsenal or Everton and the ball was just gliding off the surface. Perhaps the pitch just deteriorated really fast.

We've only got ourselves to blame. All  this insistance on CL football and good long cup runs. What were we thinking of?
Finish 6th, pray for away draws in the cups and get knocked out.....problem sorted!
Honestly.......some people......tut, tut.

 

[Greyfox]

This from 2010.

The principle of a "jigsaw" pitch must still be available...

Grow it elsewhere, let the cranes do their stuff and then move it in when they've finished.


"Millennium Stadium welcomes new pitch


The Millennium Stadium welcomes the arrival of a brand new pitch as the iconic venue prepares to stage the best rugby in the world at the 2010 Autumn Series, which kicks off on Saturday 6 November with Wales v Australia (KO 2.30pm).

 Up to 125 trucks are making their way to the city centre venue to deliver the 7,412 pallets which complete the 120m x 79m stage for Wales to face the biggest names in rugby next month.

When the giant pallet jigsaw is completed at the home of Welsh sport, 40mm thick ryegrass turf will be transported from Scunthorpe to host all four Autumn Series games (against Australia, South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand), the 2010 RBS 6 Nations and throughout the remainder of the rugby season.

 The turf has been classified as excellent by experts following rigorous laboratory testing but Head Groundsman at the Millennium Stadium Lee Evans is mindful of the task ahead: "The plan is for the pitch to remain in situ for the entire international rugby season but, while I'm happy with the results that have come out of the lab so far, it is important that my team work especially hard over the coming months to ensure that the pitch is kept in optimum condition," he said.

 Thanks to the round the clock vigil of Evans' team and the introduction of the lighting rigs, results have shown that the highest standards of pitch quality will remain all season. "

[AnfieldCat]

Glen Johnson has had a moan about it:

“We can’t make excuses but the pitch didn’t help us. I know it’s the same for both sides but it slowed us down.

“Without doubt, it’s the worst it’s been during my time at Liverpool.

“You have to watch your touch more because it bobbles so much. And it’s harder for the likes of Philippe (Coutinho) and Raheem (Sterling) to dribble with the ball.

“It slows everything down because the bounce is so irregular. It’s different every time.

“It takes a bit more concentration and it’s harder to play one touch football which is what you need to open these teams up around the box.”

http://www.ourkop.com/2015/03/09/defender-slams-the-state-of-anfield-pitch-after-blackburn-draw/

[campioni]

This from 2010.

The principle of a "jigsaw" pitch must still be available...

Grow it elsewhere, let the cranes do their stuff and then move it in when they've finished.

From reading that Echo article, the growing of the pitch isn't actually the main issue and i dare say the club have thought about the 'grow it elsewhere' option. It needs a whole new drainage system and most likely new undersoil heating underneath the pitch. Those will take time to install, time that is obviously allocated to the cranes helping to build the main stand. And as said in the article there is uncertainty over the viability of using cranes on top of new pipework. If they were to cause damage, that would be a disaster that could have an affect on both the pitch being ready for the new season and the new stand staying on schedule.

I would imagine Carillion are already on a tight timescale with the amount of time they can use the pitch due to the close season. If they can't get that work done in the summer as a result of the pitch being relaid it could seriously impact the construction of the new stand.

[TSC]

From reading that Echo article, the growing of the pitch isn't actually the main issue and i dare say the club have thought about the 'grow it elsewhere' option. It needs a whole new drainage system and most likely new undersoil heating underneath the pitch. Those will take time to install, time that is obviously allocated to the cranes helping to build the main stand. And as said in the article there is uncertainty over the viability of using cranes on top of new pipework. If they were to cause damage, that would be a disaster that could have an affect on both the pitch being ready for the new season and the new stand staying on schedule.

I would imagine Carillion are already on a tight timescale with the amount of time they can use the pitch due to the close season. If they can't get that work done in the summer as a result of the pitch being relaid it could seriously impact the construction of the new stand.

If that's the case you'd imagine the pitch will be much worse next season, even considering how bad it is now.

[CraigDS]

Hasn't Rodgers already said the pitch will be sorted in the summer? I'm fairly sure the club have/will find a way to work around the stadium construction to get it sorted.