Shearer interviewed on 5 Live, and asked about the state of the pitch. Shearer said they'd tried to put cattle out but even they refused to go out on it. :-)

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Answers

At the risk of being burnt at the stake for heresy, has anyone ever thought about exploring the new artificial surfaces that are now available? They have come leaps and bounds since the old astroturf - and the newest surface, called field turf, is about as close to grass as you can get.

The NFL's Seattle Seahawks will be playing in a new $500 million dollar stadium next season. After a lot of discussion and debate - accompanied by wailing and gnashing of teeth - they've decided to go with the Field Turf, rather than grass, because the players notice no difference and it never wears out.

I realize getting the powers that be to authorize something like that - both nationally and internationally - is probably next to impossible, but perhaps it might be tried somewhere on a trial basis?

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Is that US football or soccer? OK if you're all padded up and have long leggings on.... slide burns are not nice!

I read today that Fanny Blatter is mooting artificial surfaces for a WC in Africa as they couldn't guarantee top class turf.

It's a debate that will run but I'm a traditionalist and want to see at least some footy on a waterlogged pitch each season....

mud! I love it!

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

The Franophone games soccer final (u-19's) was played on field turf in Ottawa, Canada last year. FIFA has given permission for u-20 games to be played on the surface - but not for the senior game yet!!!

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Ajax are hoping to install an artificial pitch in their soulless new ArenA stadium having failed to get grass to grow indoors (they've relaid fresh turf 20+ times in 3/4 years). However they're counting on a couple of seasons before they can convince others that the quality of modern artificial surfaces is up to standard.

This is basicly the fault of a highly expensive design fault the doesn't let sufficient sun and air in to let grass take root. Is SJP's pitch so dreadful for similar reasons?

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

yes!

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

I think they play american football in the NFL =)

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Apparently, our whole pitch will have been returfed for the next home game. Bobby was furious it hadn't been done for the Leeds one.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

We definitely don't ant artificial grass. Some traditions in football should never be changed, grass is one of them.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Having played on astro-turf, if it's anything like that then we want to stay away from it.

However, some of the newer aftificial turf is meant to be great, it doesn't burn you when you skid on it and behaves like grass in all other ways. Grass is probably better when properly done, but if there isn't enough light to sustain a pitch then it might be worth doing.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2002

Well, it was just a thought. At some point in time, however, someone is going to come to the realization that there's not a lot of sense in having 10 million pound players running about on a playing surface that resembles the surface of the moon. My guess is that Field Turf, or something closely resembling it, will eventually be used in those places where either grass won't grow or, due to weather conditions, it can't survive during certain months. Perhaps not in my lifetime, however.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

Welcome back Southpaw - good to hear from you again. Where've you been?

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

We were talking about this in the Strawberry: why not just accept that we have to relay the pitch twice a year and get over it?

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

Works for me. Though I wonder if there is any kindof artificial light than can be used in place of sunlight? Though I suppose the electric bills would be as much or more than just relaying it.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2002

The first priority for artificial turf must be on the training pitches. If we qualify for the Champions League it'll be interesting where we spend the money.

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2002