Gerrard slates plastic pitches

[JFK-1 1,666]

Steven Gerrard says "every single manager at this level doesn't want plastic pitches" as Rangers prepare to visit Kilmarnock on Wednesday.

 

Rangers winger Jamie Murphy remains sidelined by a knee ligament injury sustained at Rugby Park in August.

At the time, Gerrard was critical of artificial surfaces.

 

"I've already given my opinion on plastic pitches at the elite level of football and they should be nowhere to be seen," he reiterated.

 

"I can't change that in 24 hours. I do know that every single manager at this level doesn't want plastic pitches.

"But we have to respect the fact that Kilmarnock have got one and we have to go there and perform.

 

"We've been there and done it before. Of course, it cost us Jamie Murphy, which was a huge blow.

 

"Hopefully both sets of players come through the game healthy because there's nothing worse than seeing any player suffer that type of injury."

 

On the day Murphy ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for the season, Rangers were 3-1 winners in the League Cup.

 

However, Kilmarnock fought out a 1-1 league draw at Ibrox in October and the third-placed Ayrshire hosts are just one point behind Gerrard's men in the Premiership.

 

"They are breathing down our neck and have done very, very well," said Gerrard. "Steve Clarke has done an amazing job there so from my point of view, I am very excited to see the team play."

 

While defender Connor Goldson misses out through injury, January signings Steven Davis and Jermaine Defoe will be available, with the manager explaining: "We are trying to build a very competitive squad and a squad full of quality.

 

"Having a player of Davis' quality in midfield and bringing in a striker of Jermaine's class, we knew the quality was always going to go up.

 

"What I would say, is before they arrived, the team was doing ever so well. The squad was competing at all levels so it is up to the two of them to come and show what they are worth."

 

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46967959

 

[the gunslinger 3,366]

They really should be banned. 

 

Im not sure if they actually statistically cause more injuries but the ridiculous things the ball does on them are a joke. 

[Frankie 8,145]

IIRC, the stats show they do cause more injuries - certainly in other sports such as American football that's the case.  Clearly Association football is different but not so much that I'd expect the stats to be better.

[Gonzo79 13,581]

The matches on these surfaces are rarely anything other than crap, so if the clubs are saving money, supporters should get cheaper tickets.

Edited January 23, 2019 by Gonzo79

[buster. 4,808]

56 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

The matches on these surfaces are rarely anything other than crap, so if the clubs are saving money, supporters should get cheaper tickets.

The League Cup tie in August was fairly eventful.

 

There was the obvious major downdside of the injury to Jamie Murphy but you also saw a four goal haul from a Rangers forward (only three were allowed) and IMO, the best save from a Rangers goalkeeper all season, ironically it was Wes in goals that day.

 

[compo 6,106]

All these pitches are good for is five a side in the public parks 

[pete 2,499]

6 hours ago, Gonzo79 said:

The matches on these surfaces are rarely anything other than crap, so if the clubs are saving money, supporters should get cheaper tickets.

Then you will see worse players which leads to less supporters and less money so the circle goes on

[ian1964 10,409]

'If this is the flagship league, which it is, we shouldn't have it': Brendan Rodgers makes a plea to scrap the plastic pitches in Scottish Premiership

9 November 2018

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6373853/Brendan-Rodgers-makes-plea-scrap-plastic-pitches-Scottish-Premiership.html