Do we lack a yard of pace in defence on Wembley Pitch?

[tiger666]

Are you sure about that? There are minimum and maximum set pitch sizes so within that clubs are able to set their pitch. They are not allowed to change it from game to game. There was a dictate a few years ago laying down a size but then they also said clubs can be exempt from that if they have special reasons ... and I suspect we are one of those since only Stoke has a smaller pitch.

From the premier league handbook:

K.15. Unless otherwise permitted by the Board, in League Matches the length of the pitch
shall be 105 metres and its breadth 68 metres.

K.16. The Board shall only give permission to a Club for the dimensions of its pitch to be
other than as set out in Rule K.15 if it is impossible for it to comply with Rule K.15 due
to the nature of the construction of its Stadium.

K.17. A Club shall register the dimensions of its pitch before the commencement of each
Season by giving written notice thereof in Form 8 to the Board.

K.18. The Board may at any time require a Club to obtain and submit to the Board a report
by an independent expert certifying its pitch dimensions.

K.19. No Club shall alter the dimensions of its pitch during the Season without the prior
written consent of the Board.

K.20. The height of the pitch grass shall not exceed 30mm and the entire playing surface
must be cut to the same height.

K.21. Each Club shall take all reasonable steps to maintain its pitch in good condition
throughout the Season and the Board may require a Club to take such steps as the
Board shall specify if it is not satisfied that the pitch is being maintained to an
adequate standard.

K.22. Each Club shall provide and maintain at its Stadium an undersoil heating system for
its pitch and shall ensure, so far as is reasonably possible, that the pitch is playable
on the occasion of each home League Match.

 

[DiscoD1882]

surely we have played at big pitches in the prem and won. so cant se why the extra size at Wembley is an issue. Its not the pitch. we know its not the pitch. Its like beating Chelsea away. its Physiological. If you have a number of poor performances at a certain ground you must be wary or it going into a game. and regardless of how well you think you are playing somewhere at the back of your mind you are mindful of not making a mistake which will lead to the inevitable. so you play 5% safer. If all players are doing this we aren't playing the football we should be playing.

 

[tiger666]

surely we have played at big pitches in the prem and won.

Yeah half the teams in the league have the standard size.

 

[danielneeds]

surely we have played at big pitches in the prem and won. so cant se why the extra size at Wembley is an issue. Its not the pitch. we know its not the pitch. Its like beating Chelsea away. its Physiological. If you have a number of poor performances at a certain ground you must be wary or it going into a game. and regardless of how well you think you are playing somewhere at the back of your mind you are mindful of not making a mistake which will lead to the inevitable. so you play 5% safer. If all players are doing this we aren't playing the football we should be playing.

Yes but why do we have a poor away record against the better sides in the PL? I think we find it harder to pen them in and compress the space like we do at WHL. And we are more vulnerable to the counter with more space to run into behind...

Good Pat Nevin video on the affect a small pitch size difference can make...

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22646131

 

[theShiznit]

I think the length of the grass and slickness of the pitch was more a factor on Saturday, it's just too long and/or dry. some of our players looked very leggy and the passing was slow, we weren't able to zip it around like usual.

That said with the extra width and Son not knowing whether he was coming or going, Jan was often pulled into a true LB role which meant there was more space between the CB's than we usually allow and as a result the whole back line looked unsettled, making uncharacteristic errors.

 

[arunspurs]

Pitch dimensions are not the reason we lost. But it still remains the excuse we try to give. Chelsea also don't have such a big pitch as Wembley but doesn't stop them winning games.

End of the day , we lost the Semis because of Poch LB punt on Son going wrong and poor defensive errors and Chelsea being ruthless on the day.

 

[smallsnc]

Are you sure about that? There are minimum and maximum set pitch sizes so within that clubs are able to set their pitch. They are not allowed to change it from game to game. There was a dictate a few years ago laying down a size but then they also said clubs can be exempt from that if they have special reasons ... and I suspect we are one of those since only Stoke has a smaller pitch.

Not any more, there is a standard pitch size and you have to apply for a waiver if the pitch needs to be smaller due to stadium constraints. This rule was adopted a couple of years ago. Won't get an exemption for Wembley since it can obviously meet the standards.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

When thinking of potential summer targets, and ahead of a likely home campaign at Wembley next season, I would be tempted to bolster our backline with a quicker centre back.

Despite not getting in the PFA team of the year we arguably have the best centre back pairing in the league, but I am worried about the frailties they show at Wembley when coming up against a pacy forward. It is also very likely that Kevin Wimmer will leave this summer after his lack of first team action this season so we will most likely be in the market for a centre back anyway. I think with the bigger pitch at Wembley it will benefit the squad to have a faster centre back to either compliment Vertonghen and Alderweireld in a 3 or replace one of them in a back four.?

Wembley pitch size: 105 x 69
WHL pitch size: 100 x 67

With such a massive difference in pitch size, if i were Levy i'd buy twenty five pairs of these...............a lot cheaper than a new shiny quicker center back in my opinion..

 

[Hot Spur]

What's with the stupid title of this thread? A "yard" of pace??? LOL. "Pace" is a measure of movement, it isn't and cannot be measured in yards. That's like trying to measure the weight of a solid object in gallons !!!

 

[Time for Heroes]

What's with the stupid title of this thread? A "yard" of pace??? LOL. "Pace" is a measure of movement, it isn't and cannot be measured in yards. That's like trying to measure the weight of a solid object in gallons !!!

Its just a saying/phrase often used when talking about football, I thought any football fan would appreciate this.

Perhaps stop being so pedantic and chill out?

 

[millsey]

Pitch dimensions are not the reason we lost. But it still remains the excuse we try to give. Chelsea also don't have such a big pitch as Wembley but doesn't stop them winning games.

End of the day , we lost the Semis because of Poch LB punt on Son going wrong and poor defensive errors and Chelsea being ruthless on the day.

Hold on, we played really well and we are all proud right...?

 

[HobbitSpur]

2nd in Table. Most miserly defence in league (would have been 2 seasons in a row without that debacle against Newcastle iirc) and a settled defence in front of Lloris.

I would say no.

 

[bubble07]

Hull's pitch is maaaaaasive

oh oh

 

[tiger666]

Hold on, we played really well and we are all proud right...?

And you wonder why you get spam ratings.

 

[panoma]

Cameron Carter Vickers says 'Hello'.

If you bump into him again please say hello back to him!

 

[yiddopaul]

How will the new stadium pitch compare to Wembley? If it's the same size, then it's a good thing surely to play there next year?

 

[tiger666]

How will the new stadium pitch compare to Wembley? If it's the same size, then it's a good thing surely to play there next year?

The same size.

 

[yiddopaul]

Pitch dimensions are not the reason we lost. But it still remains the excuse we try to give. Chelsea also don't have such a big pitch as Wembley but doesn't stop them winning games.

End of the day , we lost the Semis because of Poch LB punt on Son going wrong and poor defensive errors and Chelsea being ruthless on the day.

The biggest difference between us and them, is they have big game players that have won things. Even if they don't perform well in some league games, they can lift themselves for the big occasions. We have a very young and inexperienced team. The games like the semi, painful though it was, are where we're going to grow.

 

[yiddopaul]

The same size.

OK, thanks. Playing at Wembley next year will help us transition much more smoothly.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

Yes, but our new pitch at WHL will be as big as Wembley so it's going to be putting off the inevitable. Also would kill the atmos even more having the pitch further from the crowd

That's what I would worry about; that if we made the pitch smaller, as Tony Pulis used to do at Stoke, that we would be no better off than West Ham at the Olympic Stadium.