Anyone who was at the game or have read through the comments will realise our defeat wasn't down to the pitch, but it certainly didn't help.
I think some of us are a bit wary of talking about it in case we come across as blaming it for our woeful performance. Yesterday was my first game watching a 3G pitch - I thought the technology had come a long way but to me it was just so different (negatively) to playing on grass. I was pretty amazed by how the ball held up as if it was hitting standing water, if anything I was expecting more of a bounce.
I can see why non-league teams will install it (revenue, games not postponed etc.) but it still needs fine tuning. Also heard Maidstone laid new rubber crumb, perhaps that killed the ball a bit? (no different I suppose to clubs who water parts of a pitch to suit/hinder games). Considering we train on 3G can the pitches differ that much and are they allowed to? Maidstone's home record this season and last is very, very good (1 defeat all last season, none this year).
Hmm, if they had laid new rubber crumb it must be equivalent to leaving the grass longer, cute. Underdogs Maidstone sent somebody to Southport to film us. Underdogs, giantkillers - I don't think so, they are minted and we, unfortunately, are not..
I am a great believer in 'same for both sides'......bit like Bush getting trial by television....other 11 games the night before could have had the same or worse incident but it would have stayed as the ref missed it!
3G pitches if everyone had them would be fine but yes there is an advantage to the home side......now having said that....i am sure we wouldnt have won on wembley playing the way we did...so no..not sour grapes....well beaten
we were rubbish regardless but it didn't help and I'm surprised more people in general aren't moaning about 3G pitches (unless they are and I haven't noticed!)
Somewhat odd when the ball bounced on it that a ton of 'dust' seemed to bounce up after it!
If we were concerned about the pitch we needed to make sure we got off to a good enough start to get acclimatised. We patently didn't and it wasn't due to some slick passing move which was the result of the pitch being 'different', it was corners and long throws. Doesn't matter what the surface is in defending those!
The black dust you refer to is the billions of black rubber beads which allow the bounce to be even and true, unlike the astro ones. Every year duing the summer the pitch is inspected by the top bods of footy, roll and bounce of the ball ext. So far every season it has been given the highest grade it can get, which would mean its up there amongst the best 3G pitches in the world. In turn that would mean you could play European games, FA Cup games and internationals on it. We all know its not everyones cup of tea but finacially its a god send.
The game is over we got beat by 11 blokes who wanted to win, we had about 6 blokes who were trying. Nothing to do with the pitch. I have supported the Wings for a good few years, I have never seen a Welling player who was just a clean as when he came off the pitch, as what he was as when he went on it not a drop of sweat any were on him. I wonder if he had a shower there was no need for him to have one. Maidstone play the long ball long throw game. I could not what that every week, but it gets them results. So lets forget it, by beating Barnet Saturday
The game is over we got beat by 11 blokes who wanted to win, we had about 6 blokes who were trying. Nothing to do with the pitch. I have supported the Wings for a good few years, I have never seen a Welling player who was just a clean as when he came off the pitch, as what he was as when he went on it not a drop of sweat any were on him. I wonder if he had a shower there was no need for him to have one. Maidstone play the long ball long throw game. I could not what that every week, but it gets them results. So lets forget it, by beating Barnet Saturday
we don't have to watch it every week . It was a style of play chosen to exploit your perceived weakness. Now whether you were poor or we were good I couldn't say, but it worked for us on the day and that's what counts.
-- Edited by daveu on Tuesday 28th of October 2014 09:36:34 PM
Don't give me that ****, you telling me you don't take long throws every week? rubbish.
Well of course we do, but it's only one weapon in our arsenal. We're quite capable of playing the ball around on the deck, but bombarding your box with long throws and high balls was perceived as being the best way to get a result against you. You have to play different systems against different teams which is something we're a lot better at this season than last.
I have Two friends who are Maidstone supporters, on three occasions this season when I could not get to a Welling game I have gone to a Maidstone game with them. Each time Maidstone have played the long ball long throw game. My Two friends are both mature in years and joke about Maidstone's long ball game, they say the 3G pitch makes no difference as the ball is all ways in the air. But it win them the league and it probably will. As I live in Birchington I went to the Margate Maidstone game early this season and the long ball game did not work that night and they had no plan B that game.
I have Two friends who are Maidstone supporters, on three occasions this season when I could not get to a Welling game I have gone to a Maidstone game with them. Each time Maidstone have played the long ball long throw game. My Two friends are both mature in years and joke about Maidstone's long ball game, they say the 3G pitch makes no difference as the ball is all ways in the air. But it win them the league and it probably will. As I live in Birchington I went to the Margate Maidstone game early this season and the long ball game did not work that night and they had no plan B that game.
Sounds about right to me.
Stop away teams playing with the pitch and then just play hoofball to win games. It comes as no surprise to me they have a 100% home record