is our pitch big enough?

[adiepf]

dimensions i mean?

seems like we have very little space at WHL for our expansive pace & passing....

a quick look suggests its one of the smaller pitches in the prem (obviously not counting the fact Stoke rugby club shrink theirs whenever they please)

 

[agrdavidsfan]

Somebody brought this up in the pub when we played our last game on sky think it was villa or somebody I agree it is a bit small and it seems to let teams drop really vs us and as a result the pitch is really compact and crowded!

You certainly have a point

 

[ajspurs]

It's funny 'cos I've always thought it may have been too small but then all I do is think about some of the games where we've completely dominated and just generally played very well there, scored a lot etc.

It does make me think though, a lot of us moan that teams will come and sit back against us and that it can be quite a good tactic at times which is true and I have wondered if our small pitch makes such a tactic more effective but I just don't know really to be honest. It's just something I've wondered like yourself.

 

[Spurger King]

It clearly hindered us in the first half of the season didn't it....

 

[adiepf]

i know we cant change the dimensions cos we are hemmed in but just noticed that both maine road & the etihad had/has one of if not THE biggest dimensions in the prem & we almost always play superbly there....

big spaces suit our pass & move style....small pitches suit direct long ball sides...

big shame for me!

 

[adiepf]

It clearly hindered us in the first half of the season didn't it....

im not moaning about the pitch or our results....im merely pointing out that we dont tend to score as many as our possesion deserves because the size doesnt suit our style....

we smashed pool but thats it.....perhaps cos the fact they had 9 helped us regards space etc?

of course we would have won anyway...but maybe not by 4?

who knows, just a general question

 

[Mr Pink]

I think its a fair point. I would bet its one of the smaller pitches in the League, maybe not in the top 3 say, but there are plenty of pitches that look a lot bigger.

Villa Park looks much bigger IMO.

 

[tony0379]

It never stopped arsenal at highbury did it?

 

[Spurger King]

im not moaning about the pitch or our results....im merely pointing out that we dont tend to score as many as our possesion deserves because the size doesnt suit our style....

we smashed pool but thats it.....perhaps cos the fact they had 9 helped us regards space etc?

of course we would have won anyway...but maybe not by 4?

who knows, just a general question

I'm not sure how much of a difference it really makes. Highbury was pretty much the same size as the Lane, but it didn't stop them playing fast, dynamic football (well for a couple of years anyway).

 

[Mr Pink]

It never stopped arsenal at highbury did it?

They didn't have anybody who would match the pace and stamina of Bale though did they?

Different players with different strengths....good teams but not identical about how they go about their business.

 

[SpursMad]

We have one of the smaller pitches in the league. Heap that into the list of reasons to get a new stadium, I suppose.

I would think that with our pace on the wings and ability to keep possession that a wider/larger pitch would benefit us. But I am not certain.

 

[Blake Griffin]

we're using the size of our pitch as a reason for us not winning? really?

 

[Mr Pink]

we're using the size of our pitch as a reason for us not winning? really?

Read the thread again, nobody is moaning....its an observation.

 

[adiepf]

http://soccerlens.com/premier-league-pitch-sizes/3683/

its 2007 but you get the jist

 

[bigpalacios]

Camera view!!!!!!

 

[al_pacino]

Baffling,if a team is going to defend the 18y area I fail to see how a few more yards in front of them and maybe one to the side will make any difference. They just care about the grass in front of their goal, it wont make them spread out more.

 

[adiepf]

Baffling,if a team is going to defend the 18y area I fail to see how a few more yards in front of them and maybe one to the side will make any difference. They just care about the grass in front of their goal, it wont make them spread out more.

because the way we play means the "few more yards" either side of them are really quite important!..

just looking at the link on the other page it does seem that we have done better away from home against the sides with bigger pitches...we are a passing side....always have been...give talented players more space & they will create...

its not a critisism of the team or the pitch or anything....its just an observation....

you give arron lennon & gareth bale 3 extra yard all over the pitch to get into stride & they are gonna cause major issues...

we are a great side on an amazing run...just think how good wed be on a bigger pitch lol..

 

[joevictory]

This is a great point to be fair. It seems that when we play a team that is prepared to park the bus the pitch gets so cOngested it's nearly impossible to create anything

 

[Brewster]

I was just thinking this watching Man United on MOTD. With more space, its alot harder to park the bus like everyone does at WHL. Also corners and set peices are easier to score from at a place like OT compared to WHL.

 

[L-man]

I made a post on this last year, but it never really got looked at. The thing is, it's not just "an extra few yards", compared to Old Trafford, WHL is almost 800 yards smaller across the entire pitch. That's a massive difference and would give players much more room obviously, that extra space is clearly more beneficial for Bale, Lennon, VDV etc.