Watford manager admits Vicarage Road pitch is causing problems

9:20am Wednesday 28th March 2012 in Herts' Headlines

Picture: Action Images Picture: Action Images

Watford manager Sean Dyche has admitted the deteriorating Vicarage Road pitch is becoming a problem for his side and is looking forward to a new surface being installed in the summer.

Dyche has referred to the out-of-date pitch after the last two home matches and opposition managers have also commented on its poor condition.

The pitch has been in better condition during the 2011/12 campaign and in recent years has deteriorated much earlier into the season.

But Watford owner Laurence Bassini has insisted, on several occasions, that the new pitch will be installed this summer.

When Dyche was asked for his thoughts after Saturday's 2-1 win, his immediate response was: "I thought they were two good finishes and two real moments of quality in a game where it was hard to find quality, partly due to our wonderful surface which is interesting."

He added: "They have tried to improve the pitch this year and we are hoping for a new one in the summer but it is getting to the point now where it is very difficult to play on."

"There is nothing we can do this season but we are hoping for a new pitch in the summer so it is in progress," Dyche added.

Comments(12)

WFC4ever says...
9:58am Wed 28 Mar 12

Lets hope there is a new one soon then next season!

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Sahorn says...
11:40am Wed 28 Mar 12

Have no fear, a new pitch is on its way.
Bassini has paid the deposit and has made several references to it in his PR statements.
Suitable for both football and rugby before Saracens leave at end of year(! ? !)
So it WILL happen, won't it Bas?
Dyche saying he 'hopes' it happens is just being diplomatic with his boss.
I look forward to next season on a brand new surface because we have shown we can play quality one touch fast football on the deck this season - and with the likes of Sean Murray and a confident manager who has passed his first and probably greatest test with flying colours after the doomongers relegated us early season, we can look up the table next season with confidence and less hoofball tactics.
Exciting times.

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bushey tales says...
11:56am Wed 28 Mar 12

Interesting. Do we sense the Manager applying a little gentle PR pressure to his Chairman? Well done Dychey. The issue doesn't appear to be installing the new surface, but rather keeping Saracens well away from it. If the consequential lost revenue is the problem, then a ground-share with Barnet would surely be preferable to yet another season of rugby.

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Mickey Quinn, not so thin says...
12:40pm Wed 28 Mar 12

I thought these part synthetic surfaces were supposed to last c5yrs with both rugby and football being played? So if we do install a new pitch this summer would it be possible to allow Sarries use of it for a little longer for the right £££s? Or is the issue that Sarries would need to use it before the grass had properly taken root ?

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Eastsussexhornet says...
7:28pm Wed 28 Mar 12

The new pitch will definitely be laid in the close season. But, the pitch looked in good condition against Ipswich, especially bearing in mind the rugby - better than it ever has at this time of the season.

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Johnny Ryden says...
8:32pm Wed 28 Mar 12

When you think about it, the pitch is the most basic thing for a football club; the players want to play the best they can on as good a surface as possible and the fans (and the TV) who pay to watch them want to see the very best football their side can produce. It should be the top priority above PA systems, new pubs and even new players (new players are more likely to come when they know they can play on a good pitch). It's not rocket science is it? But at our club the manager has to 'hope' for a new pitch after 13 years shared with rugby, a sport which does most to ruin a level surface!

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Roger Joslyn says...
10:35pm Wed 28 Mar 12

Nah! keep the pitch and give us STHs a free year!

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Bush Hornet says...
10:41pm Wed 28 Mar 12

Johnny Ryden wrote:
When you think about it, the pitch is the most basic thing for a football club; the players want to play the best they can on as good a surface as possible and the fans (and the TV) who pay to watch them want to see the very best football their side can produce. It should be the top priority above PA systems, new pubs and even new players (new players are more likely to come when they know they can play on a good pitch). It's not rocket science is it? But at our club the manager has to 'hope' for a new pitch after 13 years shared with rugby, a sport which does most to ruin a level surface!
Exactly. We should make it the aim of this club to be playing attractive, not just effective football, so remove an obvious obstacle like a shoddy pitch.

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bushey tales says...
12:14am Thu 29 Mar 12

'The Pitch deposit has been paid for and is 100% being replaced.That pitch cost on near a million pound.'

Any ideas? Nor me. I'm 100% with Johnny Ryden on this one. (By the way, how many people on here saw Johnny Ryden play for the Horns? Can't be many of us!)

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Back from Hammerau says...
9:56am Thu 29 Mar 12

Johnny Ryden wrote:
When you think about it, the pitch is the most basic thing for a football club; the players want to play the best they can on as good a surface as possible and the fans (and the TV) who pay to watch them want to see the very best football their side can produce. It should be the top priority above PA systems, new pubs and even new players (new players are more likely to come when they know they can play on a good pitch). It's not rocket science is it? But at our club the manager has to 'hope' for a new pitch after 13 years shared with rugby, a sport which does most to ruin a level surface!
Whilst PA systems can be replaced and pubs can be refurbished at any time of the year, pitches can only be replaced during the summer.
The pitch stood up well to the 10 years of both sports for which it was designed, but when it was due for renewal the money had already been spent on the likes of Nathan Ellington and on the player salaries that were not reduced on relegation from the Premiership as should have been done (and as the contracts allowed for).

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Johnny Ryden says...
9:59am Thu 29 Mar 12

Hi Bushey,
Yes, it was a while ago since Johnny played. I took my name after him because he scored the finest headed goal I have ever seen at Vicarage Road. It was in a Reserves match at home versus QPR (in those days the Reserves used to play at home when the first team were away). We were 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go and won 3-2; Johnny scored with a bullet header throwing himself horizontally on the edge of the area at the Vicarage Road end; it fizzed into the net like a Cliff Holton shot! I'm sure Cliff can tell us about a few of those?

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bushey tales says...
6:54pm Thu 29 Mar 12

I stand to be corrected but my recollection is that he'd played in the Scottish League for some time (can't recall for whom) before joining Accrington Stanley and then moving to Tottenham, where I think they made him captain. Like other kids at the time I had eyes only for Big Cliff and barely remember Ryden, but I'm pretty sure my Dad didn't rate him!

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