People are mentioning this far too often when talking about games at Wembley, as if the pitch is the facking size of a golf course or something. In fact, the pitch has the same dimensions as about thirteen other PL clubs if memory serves me correctly.
Comments like "We need pace on the wings to make the most of the big Wembley pitch" and "4-2-3-1 doesn't work at Wembley because we're too narrow for the zie of the pitch" are all too common.
People don't seem to say this when we play at away grounds with the same size pitch.
From recent memory we have won at Hull 1-7, at Leicester 1-6 and Newcastle 0-2, playing 4-2-3-1, on pitches with the same dimensions as Wembley.
So do you agree that the problem at Wembley is not down to pitch size, but more because of a psychological issue or the opposition raising their game?
Size of the Wembley Pitch
posted on 13/9/17
comment by ScouseR (U9675)
posted 1 minute ago
Feckin crazy that all pitch sizes are not the same in this day and age (105 x 68) given the amount of cash sloshing about in the game.
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They have to be unless the stadium can't physically do it. All new stadiums must have the 105x68 pitch
posted on 13/9/17
I saw a stat that said our chamces of winning were reduced by something like half last season if playing on the biggest pitches.
Not taking in to account all of our home games were on a smaller pitch so would skew the stats
It is the unfamiliarity of the stadium is all. The pitch size is a myth. Our worst two away games were at Liverpool and City, one small one big
posted on 13/9/17
comment by Hengy (U9129)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by ScouseR (U9675)
posted 1 minute ago
Feckin crazy that all pitch sizes are not the same in this day and age (105 x 68) given the amount of cash sloshing about in the game.
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They have to be unless the stadium can't physically do it. All new stadiums must have the 105x68 pitch
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Fair do's, typical of the knob-jockies at the FA to make Wembley wider than anywhere else then!
I suppose it gives them an excuse when we(England) play shiite?
posted on 13/9/17
comment by ScouseR (U9675)
posted 20 seconds ago
comment by Hengy (U9129)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by ScouseR (U9675)
posted 1 minute ago
Feckin crazy that all pitch sizes are not the same in this day and age (105 x 68) given the amount of cash sloshing about in the game.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They have to be unless the stadium can't physically do it. All new stadiums must have the 105x68 pitch
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair do's, typical of the knob-jockies at the FA to make Wembley wider than anywhere else then!
I suppose it gives them an excuse when we(England) play shiite?
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I'd argue West Ham was the worst.
posted on 13/9/17
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 31 minutes ago
Most of the big 6 have been & will be chasing our best players and we have beaten all of them comfortably over the past couple of years.
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Not strictly true is it. The last time Spurs beat Liverpool was in 2012.
posted on 13/9/17
I read an interesting view point due to familiarity being the biggest issue. If Kane (for example) picks up the ball with his back to goal and see's himself in line with one of the pillars at the old WHL he knew how far out he was.
With the fans being so close behind the goal at WHL you judge where you hit the ball based on their depth, and the fact that Wembley fans are further away may cause you psychologically to kick the ball a bit higher than before.
posted on 13/9/17
I'd be worried if this was an u11 team playing on a full sized pitch but grown men? Absolute cobblers. Evidently we have one of the fittest squads in the EPL so how can it be a negative factor. Bollox. It's mindset and teams raise their games playing at the home of football.
posted on 13/9/17
comment by White Wall (U1078)
posted 10 hours, 29 minutes ago
Jenas done an article pre season about how much extra the wembley pitch takes it out of you.
An extra few metres doesnt sound a problem but he was always more knackered after an England game than for his club.
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Maybe he ran more for his country,
posted on 13/9/17
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 9 hours, 48 minutes ago
I read an interesting view point due to familiarity being the biggest issue. If Kane (for example) picks up the ball with his back to goal and see's himself in line with one of the pillars at the old WHL he knew how far out he was.
With the fans being so close behind the goal at WHL you judge where you hit the ball based on their depth, and the fact that Wembley fans are further away may cause you psychologically to kick the ball a bit higher than before.
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I read or saw a piece by Danny Murphy, probably the same one.
He said he knew the sightlines at CC like the back of his hand, knew exactly what weight and direction of ball to play without even looking up or something similar
posted on 13/9/17
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/danny-murphy-sorry-tottenham-fans-you-might-not-be-able-to-lord-it-over-rivals-arsenal-after-all-a3526476.html?amp
"You know the pitch dimensions like the back of your hand. If I was playing for Fulham at Craven Cottage and I wanted to play a high ball to Clint Dempsey on the left, I knew exactly where to put it. I knew how long it would take him to run from his starting point to where he needed to be to challenge the right-back for the header. This all happened without thinking; it was just natural."