Source: Team_Talk
Taylor concerned by Wembley pitch
Professional Footballers Association chief executive Gordon Taylor has branded the Wembley pitch "an embarrassment".[LNB] The surface caused huge concern over the weekend, with players from all sides struggling to keep their feet during the FA Cup semi-finals.[LNB]Although Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti claimed it was fine, the pitch seemed to suffer from excessive watering and Tottenham's Michael Dawson slipped at a vital moment as Portsmouth claimed the lead on Sunday.[LNB]With England due to play their penultimate World Cup warm-up against Mexico at Wembley on May 24, two days after the Championship play-off final and nine days after the FA Cup final, there are serious fears about a member of Fabio Capello's squad getting injured.[LNB]So far the Football Association have opted to keep a discreet silence, but Taylor has waded in with a fierce attack.[LNB]"The pitch is a big concern," said Taylor. "It is becoming an embarrassment for the FA and it needs to be addressed and addressed properly.[LNB]"There is no point worrying about the finances of Wembley if people are going to be wary of playing there because the pitch is not up to it and you don't get a fair contest."[LNB]In order to complete their £757million revamp of the stadium, the Wembley authorities committed themselves to holding a number of events, aside from football and the Rugby League Challenge Cup final, which had traditionally been held at the stadium.[LNB]This weekend, Saracens will be in action at the stadium, which has also hosted NFL games and even speedway.[LNB]It gives credence to the belief that rather than the actual playing surface, the fault lies with what the pitches are laid on, with watering this weekend making it far too skiddy.[LNB]"It was ridiculous," said Tottenham striker Peter Crouch. "Everyone was slipping all over the place and it proved more costly for us because it caused Michael Dawson to slip for their goal.[LNB]"No one could stand up, there is no getting away from it. It's weird because I've played for England in night games at Wembley and I've had no problems.[LNB]"Yesterday was the first time I had realised. It had been okay with England but in the semi-final it wasn't."[LNB]Crouch's comments were echoed by Spurs boss Harry Redknapp, who offered some fairly blunt advice.[LNB]"Dig it up and put another one down," he said. "It's rock hard and wet on the top. They don't run race horses when it's like that because it's dangerous."[LNB]The FA can do without any further problems as they are due to host the 2011 Champions League final, prior to which FIFA will decide who hosts the 2018 World Cup, with Wembley scheduled to host the final.[LNB]"It is a matter that has been brought to our attention on more than one occasion," Taylor added.[LNB]"You expect the priority for a stadium which is going to be predominantly used for top football games would be the quality of pitch.[LNB]"There is great experience in this country about the building of new stadiums and the difficulties you can have.[LNB]"You would have thought this is the one area they would have concentrated on, knowing it was going to get a great deal of use.[LNB]"There is no point having the stadium if we don't have a pitch that is worthy of staging big international games, cup finals and a World Cup final in years to come."[LNB]Sir Trevor Brooking, the FA's director of football development, does not believe the number of events staged at Wembley is the problem.[LNB]He told Sky Sports News: "I don't think that's the particular issue. It has to have other events to pay its way, but if you do have those how frequently can you change the pitch?[LNB]"We put a pitch down which worked pretty well the latter part of last year, this one didn't, so what was different on this one?[LNB]"It's something we want to get it right but some of the bigger league clubs have had their problems earlier on (with new stadiums) and it's something we have to hope the technical people will get right."[LNB]Football pitch experts have called for an independent inquiry into the controversial playing surface.[LNB]Geoff Webb, chief executive of the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG), said: "The IOG believes UK grounds management leads the world and, therefore, the expertise to overcome and solve the Wembley problem does exist.[LNB]"We would suggest that an independent inquiry would be in the best interests of everyone to understand the nature and cause of the ongoing issues concerning Wembley's playing surface, and the IOG would be a willing partner in facilitating a possible solution.[LNB]"We would welcome the opportunity to lend our expertise to solve the problem."[LNB]The Wembley pitch has been relaid 10 times since the rebuilt stadium was opened in 2007, something that is thought to have contributed heavily to the deterioration of the surface.[LNB]"Many Premier League stadia serve as excellent examples of football surfaces," said Webb.[LNB]"Their playing surfaces are clearly sacrosanct and non-football events are limited in scope and nature.[LNB]"Surfaces are not replaced regularly; they are managed and maintained year-round to a very high level."
