Fitzhugh Fella Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 In the U21 game last Monday the pitch was sodden inasmuch when the ball was passed along the grass it was followed by spumes of water and players were losing their footing all over the place. It was similar yesterday and two players (Schneiderlin and Davies) got injured after slipping on the pitch. Add to that the injury to Fraser and I am just wondering if we are not watering the pitch too much making it dangerous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadoldgit Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Certainly several players lost their footing - not least the Spuds guy for our first goal. it might make the ball zip around a bit more but if it is the cause for so many falls it cant be a good thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 You mention Fraser getting injured when slipping but in the Hull game Kelvin slipped in that very same goalmouth too ! I think you have a good point. I know earlier in the season we had had a fair bit of rain in the morning and they were watering it in the run up to kick off which was a surprise. Deffo needs looking at, its too much of a coincidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leslie Charteris Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Mane is in charge of the watering, I hear, he likes to aquaplane a bit when his chest hits the ground in the box... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric The Red Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Absolutely agree with the OP. The evidence over the last few games is overwhelming, too many unexplained slips and 'unfortunate' injuries Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamwic Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 I am told that watering is intended 'to make the ball move off the playing surface much quicker and make the game more exciting'. All I can see is misdirected passes and players getting completely unnecessary injuries. Can we stop it please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyc Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Groundstaff will only be doing what they've been told by team captain/coaches, though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Groundstaff will only be doing what they've been told by team captain/coaches, though? absolutely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doggface Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 I just cannot understand how in the year 2015 with £150+ boots that players are still slipping regularly in professional football. Don't get it. This is not just a saints thing btw, happens all over the country Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaintLiam Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 I always thought it was Pelle's hair gel seeping onto the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OttawaSaint Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Only place for water in football should be in the half time teapot... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintsteve7 Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Nothing is done by accident at this level, the pitch will be watered the right amount to the nearest ml! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Nothing is done by accident at this level, the pitch will be watered the right amount to the nearest ml! Well seemingly not ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladysaint Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 This is exactly what I have been saying since Forster got injured. I can't see why there is a need to water the pitch so much it rained most of Friday night. I would rather have a fit squad than the bill zipping about, not that the club will say the injuries were caused by the pitch being watered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
igsey Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Somebody's angling for a pay rise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 I've thought this for some time. We don't seem to see as much of this at other grounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Absolutely agree with the OP. The evidence over the last few games is overwhelming, too many unexplained slips and 'unfortunate' injuries Yep. And the fact that we've been watering the pitch to the same extent for as long as I can remember with little to no consequence most of the time has no relevance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitey Grandad Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Yep. And the fact that we've been watering the pitch to the same extent for as long as I can remember with little to no consequence most of the time has no relevance. Our players have been slipping over for years. It never seemed to affect the opposition though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Dad Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 At the Saints vs Spurs match on Saturday, the sprinklers came on at half time for a long time. I thought to myself. "why have they got the water on?". There looked to be no need for it. Our players are just as likely to get injured as the opposition. There seemed no tatical advtage in watering the pitch. Does anyone have any contacts in the groundstaff? I just don't understand why the water was on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatlesaint Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 Yep. And the fact that we've been watering the pitch to the same extent for as long as I can remember with little to no consequence most of the time has no relevance. How do you know it's watered to the same extent as it's always been ? are you there from early each match day morning complete with stop watch, timing it ? Thought not, all you see are the sprinklers on before or after the warm up, that bit has been consistent but you can't know what happens earlier in the day ! As mentioned above the sprinklers were on at half time yesterday, that's not been the case for years ! perhaps you would care to explain why so many players, including two goalkeepers in the same place virtually, have been slipping of late ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toomer Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 At the Saints vs Spurs match on Saturday, the sprinklers came on at half time for a long time. I thought to myself. "why have they got the water on?". There looked to be no need for it. Our players are just as likely to get injured as the opposition. There seemed no tatical advtage in watering the pitch. Does anyone have any contacts in the groundstaff? I just don't understand why the water was on. I have a contact on the groundstaff will ask him the question and report back if he can give me a answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint_clark Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 How do you know it's watered to the same extent as it's always been ? are you there from early each match day morning complete with stop watch, timing it ? Thought not, all you see are the sprinklers on before or after the warm up, that bit has been consistent but you can't know what happens earlier in the day ! As mentioned above the sprinklers were on at half time yesterday, that's not been the case for years ! perhaps you would care to explain why so many players, including two goalkeepers in the same place virtually, have been slipping of late ? To the first three lines I can't answer, but then neither can anyone else. The fact that none of us know how much it's watered in the morning doesn't support either side of the argument. To the bit in bold - Yes it has, I never go down to the concourse at half time and they're on every game when it hasn't been raining. People slip over on all pitches, we just don't make a mental note of it happening in QPR V Aston Villa or Sunderland V Stoke. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint86 Posted 26 April, 2015 Share Posted 26 April, 2015 How do you know it's watered to the same extent as it's always been ? are you there from early each match day morning complete with stop watch, timing it ? Thought not, all you see are the sprinklers on before or after the warm up, that bit has been consistent but you can't know what happens earlier in the day ! As mentioned above the sprinklers were on at half time yesterday, that's not been the case for years ! perhaps you would care to explain why so many players, including two goalkeepers in the same place virtually, have been slipping of late ? Lol - the sprinklers are on quite often mate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 How do you know it's watered to the same extent as it's always been ? are you there from early each match day morning complete with stop watch, timing it ? Thought not, all you see are the sprinklers on before or after the warm up, that bit has been consistent but you can't know what happens earlier in the day ! As mentioned above the sprinklers were on at half time yesterday, that's not been the case for years ! perhaps you would care to explain why so many players, including two goalkeepers in the same place virtually, have been slipping of late ? The sprinklers have been on at half time often enough this season for me to wonder why they insist on running the big inflatable Veho balls/last leg of the relay straight at the one sprinkler pretty much every time I see it. What made me laugh was watching the match back and Michael Owen banging on about moulded soles and players not wearing studs when they were looking straight at the bottom of Davies' boot showing a hybrid of metal studs mixed with the fixed plastic studs in the middle of the sole and the heel. Not to mention that he wore Umbro boots, and at one point they produced a sole with a built in circular design to aid turning that was linked to an absolute pile of knee injuries, including at least one of his own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The9 Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 Oh, and let's not forget that Ben Davies fell over at least 3 times, and Mason slipping gifted us the first goal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyc Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 At the Saints vs Spurs match on Saturday, the sprinklers came on at half time for a long time. I thought to myself. "why have they got the water on?". There looked to be no need for it. Our players are just as likely to get injured as the opposition. There seemed no tatical advtage in watering the pitch. Does anyone have any contacts in the groundstaff? I just don't understand why the water was on. I'm pretty sure the pitch can only be watered at half time with the consent of both team managers. Presumably they could see how it was performing during the first half but still said ok to more water at HT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevegrant Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 I'm pretty sure the pitch can only be watered at half time with the consent of both team managers. Presumably they could see how it was performing during the first half but still said ok to more water at HT. It's entirely up to the home team how the pitch is treated before and during the game. As long as the length of the grass is below a certain level, it's fine, which is actually a relatively new rule in the Premier League. Back in 2003 (I think) when we beat Man United 1-0, we basically stopped them playing by leaving the grass to grow really long, which meant they struggled to pass the ball. We knew what the pitch would be like, so played more direct, they failed to adapt and we won the game. Wouldn't get away with that these days though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marino Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 I've been banging on to my neighbours in the Chapel about the over watering of the pitch for a couple of seasons now. No matter how much rain we have had, the sprinklers are always on before the game and at half time. Ruins the ht relay too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint in winchester Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 Thanks for bringing this up, Fitzhugh. I meant to raise this myself after the Hull game. As we can all see, this is causing injury to our players. Forget 'ball zipping around to make it exciting'; it's a flippin' health hazard. Players, ours and theirs, are going flying base over apex. Should be stopped immediately voluntarily before we are investigated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 OH FFS you bunch of namby pamby Premiership primma donna's...have you seen Blackpool's pitch? How quickly you forget some of the ****e we played on in L1 and Championship yet because we put a bit of water down :-) Injuries happen in football, the modern day boots offer hardly any protection the poor souls having to play on a carpet of grass rather than the sand heeaped muddy dust bowls of the 70's 80's and 90's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Window Cleaner Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 Exciting football ? Perhaps but I'm sure that we wouldn't do it if we didn't think it gave us some sort of advantage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the saint in winchester Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 Exciting football ? Perhaps but I'm sure that we wouldn't do it if we didn't think it gave us some sort of advantage. Hardly an "advantage" to be without your first choice goalkeeper for 12 months, plus other short term injuries. Madness, I tell ye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Give it to Ron Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 Hardly an "advantage" to be without your first choice goalkeeper for 12 months, plus other short term injuries. Madness, I tell ye. Jayrods injury down to too much water? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyc Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 It's entirely up to the home team how the pitch is treated before and during the game. As long as the length of the grass is below a certain level, it's fine, which is actually a relatively new rule in the Premier League. Back in 2003 (I think) when we beat Man United 1-0, we basically stopped them playing by leaving the grass to grow really long, which meant they struggled to pass the ball. We knew what the pitch would be like, so played more direct, they failed to adapt and we won the game. Wouldn't get away with that these days though. Oh,ok. I work part-time as matchday groundstaff for another prem club and I'm sure that to water again at half time needed permission from both teams, at least in the past. Maybe it's changed now. I'll ask the boss next time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doddisalegend Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 I'm pretty sure the pitch at SMS is going to have pretty effective drainage it's not like peoples back lawns laid on clay and builders rubble Good article on the pitch up keep here https://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/saint-andrew.html The important paragraph is probably this one The stadium pitch is watered daily using a Hunter system with fourteen G995 sprinkler heads around the pitch and six I-90 turf risers in two sets of three within the pitch, these being installed in the summer break specifically with pre-match and half-time watering in mind. "Short and wet is what modern day players and coaches insist on," says Andy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cellone Posted 27 April, 2015 Share Posted 27 April, 2015 "Short and wet is what modern day players and coaches insist on," says Andy. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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