Can turf help the nats? Carl Robinson comments

[sstackho]

Interesting comments from Robbo on how knowing how to play on fieldturf can give an advantage.

News

Switch bid means we have got Russians worried

Chris Wathan

936 words

10 July 2008

The Western Mail

70

English

© 2008 Western Mail and Echo Ltd

CARL ROBINSON has admitted Wales face a trial by turf if Russia get their wish over their plastic pitch switch.

But the MLS star reckons the Russians have made their stadium U-turn because Wales have got them worried.

Midfielder Robinson is the only member of John To shack's team to have played on the synthetic surface Guus Hiddink's men are favouring for September's World Cup qualifying clash.

The 31-year-old has spent the past 18 months with Toronto FC, whose BMO Field home uses an identical artificial pitch to the one at the Luzhniki Stadium, the venue the Russians are desperate to meet Wales at after originally opting for the smaller Lokomotiv Stadium.

And the 46-cap international is only too aware of the home advantage gained when 3G pitches are used.

"It's pretty high-tech stuff," said Robinson, speaking from Vancouver where Toronto were in action last night. "I train on it every day and obviously play on it regularly, so I know all about the pros and cons.

"And there's no doubt it's an advantage for people who are used to it.

"I know that from my experience here so there's no doubt in my mind the Russians are thinking the same.

"Even if a few of their players don't use it regularly, they are used to it as a team and they are obviously looking to capitalise on that.

"But the very fact they want to change venues can be seen as a back-handed compliment to us.

"They've got to the semi-finals of the Euros and the expectation will be huge going into the qualifiers, so the 80,000 will be going there demanding a Russian win - they will not want to even think about slipping up against us.

"And we've shown against sides like Holland and Germany we are any-thing but easy opposition. If Russia have seen those games, they might think playing on their preferred pitch will give them that extra edge.

"But we won't be thinking like that because it's still a football game where it's 11 against 11 and one we want to get a result from."

Still, Robinson concedes Tosh's side will need to get to grips with playing on the artificial surface should Fifa give the go-ahead for Russia to switch venues for the Group Four fixture.

And, although many of the top-flight and Championship stars in the Welsh squad may be used to the synthetic turf in training, the former Wolves, Portsmouth and Sunderland man says playing a competitive game on it is a different ball game.

"I think some of the lads will have done bits on a similar surface before because a lot of clubs train at indoor facilities with it, but it's not the same," he said.

"Of course, it's not like the old Astroturf that used to burn your legs if you made a tackle; this is a bit like blades of plastic grass with rubber balls surrounding them.

"It's not difficult to play on full stop, but it is difficult to play on if you're not used to it because of things like the bounce of the ball.

That's totally different and you have to get to grips with that pretty quickly; a ball may bounce eight or 10 feet on grass, but it can go as high as 15 feet on the synthetic stuff.

"The ball sits up a lot and it can disrupt your passing if you're not aware of that."

Yet, possibly the biggest concern for Wales is the injury factor surrounding the modern surface, with several players having complained about sore joints and muscles after playing on it.

But, while Robinson reckons talk of resulting muscle problems is rubbish, he does accept the unforgiving surface may be an issue for players with a history of knee injures - a statement sure to cause concern for skipper Craig Bellamy.

Bellamy has undergone six operations to correct knee ligament damage, while James Collins' hopes of making a surprise comeback from his own knee woes could be curtailed if the game goes ahead at the Luzhniki.

"I don't agree with the complaints that it causes injuries," insisted Robinson, who moved to North America last January.

"I've not missed a game since I've been out here after playing on it for more than a year now and I've not picked up any muscle injury from it.

"But it can be a problem at times for people with knee injuries because there can be a lack of give in the surface.

"But all things like that have to go to the back of your minds, even if Russia are trying everything in their power to get the upper hand.

"We always knew it was going to be tough going there, no matter what surface it was played on.

"But perhaps this messing around will just give us that little bit of extra determination when we go out there."

And being one of the few surviving members of the Wales squad that saw their Euro 2004 qualifying hopes go up in smoke against the Russians five years ago, Robinson added: "We had done the hard work in Moscow, but we lost at home and that game broke my heart.

"So for me there will be a bit of extra spice there already - perhaps this latest thing will add a little bit more."

[ndgboys]

I don't think it will help the boys that much. except for brennan and sutton the majority play on natural grass. They are used to the grass. I think it will help sutton if he starts and i don't know if he will but at least he is used to the bounce of the ball. I don't think it will hurt them per se because they have played on the pitch before. I don't about the jamaicans though.

[paul-toronto]

I feel we should use the turf at BMO to our advantage.

I would say we should also have Harmse join Sutton and Brennan for this game against Jamaica. I actually would want all 3 to be starting just for this one game...at the very least Brennan...I guess DM likes Onstad over Sutton... sometimes you can justify starting a player like Onstad just because of his winning ways in Houston and not just ability.

[Grizzly]

I don't we should call inferior players like Harmse just because he is used to Field Turf. However, we need to get the team practicing on it as soon as possible to get them used to it. We also need to limit Jamaica's practice time on the field to the minimum allowed by FIFA.

[BearcatSA]

quote:Originally posted by Grizzly

I don't we should call inferior players like Harmse just because he is used to Field Turf. However, we need to get the team practicing on it as soon as possible to get them used to it. We also need to limit Jamaica's practice time on the field to the minimum allowed by FIFA.

I agree on all points, but especially the first one.

[piltdownman]

quote:Originally posted by Grizzly

I don't we should call inferior players like Harmse just because he is used to Field Turf. However, we need to get the team practicing on it as soon as possible to get them used to it. We also need to limit Jamaica's practice time on the field to the minimum allowed by FIFA.

Harmse should only be used to break people in half. The guy is a goon

[Massive Attack]

There is a psychological advantage to playing on an artificial surface.

The only problem is that most of our players have a primadona and/or defeatist attitude toward it so it would totally defeat the purpose.

In the lead up to most TFC home games the opposition usually whines and bitches about the surface. I'm convinced it does affect them afterwards.

[Keegan]

CAll Harmse?!

I love Harmse but come on....

No way is he Canadian National Team material. He is a last last last last last resort look at the kids in Europe before him (Will Johnson, Andrew Ornoch, Nik Ledgerwood)

[youllneverwalkalone]

quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack

There is a psychological advantage to playing on an artificial surface.

The only problem is that most of our players have a primadona and/or defeatist attitude toward it so it would totally defeat the purpose.

In the lead up to most TFC home games the opposition usually whines and bitches about the surface. I'm convinced it does affect them afterwards.

Agree 100%. And as a result, it's probably advantage Jamaica because Marshall plays on it, and I would imagine their non-English players play on cow pastures at home.

[beachesl]

quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack

There is a psychological advantage to playing on an artificial surface.

The only problem is that most of our players have a primadona and/or defeatist attitude toward it so it would totally defeat the purpose.

In the lead up to most TFC home games the opposition usually whines and bitches about the surface. I'm convinced it does affect them afterwards.

You have hit the proverbial nail on the head bro!

[Guest Dave]

quote:Originally posted by piltdownman

Harmse should only be used to break people in half. The guy is a goon

Sure would be a shame if a guy like Harmse were to accidentally lay a hard tackle on Marshall in practice just prior to Aug 20...

or on Guevara a few weeks after that.

[trueviking]

quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack

There is a psychological advantage to playing on an artificial surface.

The only problem is that most of our players have a primadona and/or defeatist attitude toward it so it would totally defeat the purpose.

yeah...damn primadonas....the nerve of some players expecting to play on the same surface that they play on every single day of their lives!....what jerks...second rate should be good enough for them....are they canadian or not?....next thing you know hockey players will demand to play on real ice...imagine what that would cost to maintain.

[RS]

Hockey players already play on synthetic ice

[Massive Attack]

quote:Originally posted by trueviking

yeah...damn primadonas....the nerve of some players expecting to play on the same surface that they play on every single day of their lives!....what jerks...second rate should be good enough for them....are they canadian or not?....next thing you know hockey players will demand to play on real ice...imagine what that would cost to maintain.

Go to hell.

I said primadona OR defeatist. That's how I read it. No need to go off the handle.

Anyways, there is nothing wrong with good artificial surfaces. Only snobs and those who don't know better attack it. Its like preferring real Advil to generic Ibuprofen.

[trueviking]

^^^who went off the handle?....anyways, you're kidding right? grass and plastic are exactly the same except name?...ignorance is the only reason for opposition?

i might not know better, but are you suggesting that these people are simply ignorant about the subject as well?...or are they defeatist?

It [FieldTurf] kills the culture of the game." - Julian De Guzman, midfielder, Canadian national team and Deportivo La Coruna.

"The best salesman in the world couldn't sell me on it [FieldTurf]. I hope in my career I never have to play on it." - Paul Stalteri, defender, Canadian national team and Tottenham Hotspur.

"If they get grass in there instead of an artificial surface, it would be easier to draw better players and teams from Europe to play exhibition games." - Dwayne De Rosario, midfielder, Canadian national team and Houston Dynamo.

"Every game, every team, should have grass -- without a doubt. You can't ask any soccer athlete to perform at a high level on FieldTurf." - David Beckham, midfielder, English national team and LA Galaxy.

[trueviking]

to respond to the thread topic, our team has no advantage playing on field turf because the vast majority of our players never play on it and all of our players dislike it...if it was something that they all trained on day in and day out and the other team didnt, there would be an advantage...as it is, both teams have the same opinions and experience on the surface,so there is little advantage.

the problem is that this is a home game for canada and the players kind of expect that they will be provided with the conditions that will not create any distraction in their own minds....they might have a more defeatist attitude than a visiting team that knows it has to overcome adversity of all kinds anyways....so the advantage might be for jamaica.

[tmcmurph]

quote:Originally posted by Massive Attack

Anyways, there is nothing wrong with good artificial surfaces. Only snobs and those who don't know better attack it. Its like preferring real Advil to generic Ibuprofen.

Totally disagree with you on this one. This is like the "Song that never ends" routine. Several reasons I think they should put in grass at BMO for the MNT games.

1) The players want it! A lot more are used to real grass than fake. Even those that do play on fake turf when asked prefer real grass. Give them what they want. Take away all excuses and expect a first rate performance.

2) It is not "snobs and those who don't know better" who attack fake turf. Go to www.synturf.org and see all the issues with it.

3) Heat island. The crumb rubber and silica filled fields are much hotter (10 to 30 degrees F) than grass on a hot sunny day. So are a bunch of Jamaicans or Canadians going to be bothered more by the extra heat? Except for some who play in Spain and Houston it would favour the Jamaicans.

4) Any advantage we would could get from fake turf could also go the other way and cause us problems.

[Massive Attack]