Match Thread Away V Newport Tue 9th March. 7pm kick off.

Are very warm when it's sunny?

 

Quick to forget that our pitch was garbage. Boot on the other foot and all that.

 

I'd hold ourselves to that same standard. A reasonable standard of football pitch is a pre-requisite for playing a game of professional football. At the same time as our pitch was a quagmire, we were paying a combined 8 grand a week for Hope Akpan and Josh Wright to play in our midfield. I'm not sure which was the greater embarrassment.

 

Over three hundred and fifty grand a year for Akpan and Wright. What a bargain!!!!

 

I'll give you a clue.

It wasn't the pitch.

 

Cardiff would be the obvious nearest choice.I am sure Mick McCarthy would give us a warm welcome,and they have no game on Tues.9th.

 

Yes but that request was made prior to the season commencing and was for them to play the full seasons matches at that venue. Newport want to change to a different stadium part way through the season because they have a pitch that they do not like playing on.

 

Its not just a matter of them not liking the pitch,its also a matter of player safety.If the ref. deems the playing surface unsafe,he can postpone or abandon the match,with all the problems that would bring.

 

I don’t think anybody is quick to forget and City fans have been just as critical as away fans/clubs, we had to upgrade our bloody changing rooms about 5 year ago because they didn’t meet EFLs standards but a potentially dangerous pitch which ruins the game as a spectacle is acceptable? Pitches are an important part of modern football, the EFL needs to crack down on them and if clubs can’t afford them then maybe some of the funding that comes down from the PL needs to made by the EFL to be put aside for pitches. Peterborough’s is a disgrace as well, DMac on his podcast was even bragging about how when he has a meeting with staff he talks about what can we cut today to save money, well it won’t be the grass...

 

Define minimum standard though ! Therein lies the problem. The pitch may be up to standard at ten to three.....It razzes it down and turns slippy slidy. Then what?

Going by the number of times we have seen a grassless VP in the last 5 years we would never have played at home after Xmas.

Let’s be sensible.

 

Defining it objectively could be tricky, I agree. You look at Newports pitch though - its been a problem for weeks. As has ours been at times in the past.

 

Who is suggesting it’s unsafe? Not seen any comments tbh?

 

Didn't Rochdale re-lay this mid season a couple of years ago? (That happens a lot out here and the girly rugby players keep falling over when the newly laid sod moves under their weight, kind of dangerous when the only issue with the field prior to re-laying is a couple of bald bits).

 

Perfect pitch for a knee slide. Probably be able to reach Cardiff.

 

but to be fair they did their best to avoid cutting it up

 

Yes, prior to fa cup tie with spurs, whom I believe made a huge/majority contribution.

 

I am sure I read somewhere they share it with 2 Rugby clubs - if they do it will get some stick.

 

You probably did Briggus. When we played there before the first Lockdown they definately shared with Newport Gwent Dragons and Newport RFC who I think are a junior club. Rodney Parade has always been a Rugby ground, in the old days County played at Somerton Park but left there when they lost their League status and for some time played 'over the border', hence their nickname The Exiles. They came back and have been at Rodney Parade for a few years. I don't know if the two Rugby clubs still share, the Dragons certainly do. Even in Rugby only times the pitch was always poor due in part to it being next to a river, as is the National Stadium in Cardiff which also suffers.
The ground is owned by the Welsh RFU, everyone else is a tenant, although from what I saw the Dragons rule the roost, everything corporate is branded Dragons.
The pitch was poor last season and I was told they would replace in the summer but that has clearly not happened and it will be impossible now as there are too many games planned, as opposed to Leeds and another two League teams (can't remember who) replacing mid season.
Personal opinion only but I doubt the EFL Board Meeting Thursday will allow a change of venue, it will create a very dangerous precedent, plus by the time the change is announced, if they allow, it will be Friday and playing somewhere else when hotel bookings made for the team will be very difficult given a lot of hotels are closed or part operating,
I would feel the pitch is not dangerous unless there is a frost, just difficult which won't help us but we just have to get on. Having seen the pitch at Harrogate this week, there isn't much difference to Newport and there are plenty of others not in good nick so just get on with it I think will be the EFL attitude.

 

Time for the FA/EFL to look at allowing clubs to use artificial pitches again in the lower divisions, The latest versions like 4G are much improved and as close to grass as is possible and for smaller clubs could also provide extra income

 

Will never happen.